Taipei in May was hot and seemingly hotter everyday. The heat was only interrupted occasionally by torrential rain showers leading to many hours of teaching in soggy socks and shoes.
Early in the may I expanded my long list of 'museums
I've visited in Taiwan' by visiting the Taiwan Armed Forces Museum.
According to their own website, the museum "highlight(s) the
brilliant achievements of the National Revolutionary Forces from Eastward
Expedition, Northward Expedition, Communist-suppression, War of Resistance
against Japan, Counterinsurgency Campaigns and construction of Taiwan, and to
understand current situation of the strong Armed Forces."
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| R.O.C. soldier's names signed in their blood. |
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| Chiang Kai Shek's septor. |
With no entrance fee, the museum provided
some worthwhile afternoon entertainment.
To celebrate the opening of a new exhibit, complementary tours were
provided, unfortunately, the soldiers guiding the tours could not speak any English.
Mid-May, I attended a fair showcasing local Taiwan products in front of Taipei's City Hall. Lots of free samples were handed out and it was a nice opportunity to try some local foods and see what some local business have on offer.
While I was in the neighbourhood of City Hall, I paid a visit to the Taipei Discovery Center. Housed inside of the City Hall building, the Discovery Center is a free museum that focuses on the cities recent and distant history. The exhibits very well displayed and for the price, of nothing, it was a great little museum.
While I was in the neighbourhood of City Hall, I paid a visit to the Taipei Discovery Center. Housed inside of the City Hall building, the Discovery Center is a free museum that focuses on the cities recent and distant history. The exhibits very well displayed and for the price, of nothing, it was a great little museum.
On a particularly sunny Saturday a few weeks ago I convinced
myself to ascend the city-side hike up Elephant Mountain. The steep, 20 minute hike to the peak
rewarded me with spectacular views of the Taipei city-scape and the impressive architecture
on Taipei 101. I had a pretty nice
little Saturday including a post hike bike ride back home, and I could only
wonder why it had taken me over a year in Taipei to finally hike Elephant
Mountain.
Among the last of my must-have experiences to be had in
Taipei was to go to a KTV place. KTV is
essentially karaoke but in contrast with a karaoke bar, KTV places are divided
in private rooms each equipt with their own karaoke entertainment set up. In
Taiwan, KTV is a popular alternative to going to a nightclub and I'm surprised
I didn't have more opportunities to sing during my stay here. Nonetheless, when I finally did spend a night
belting out classics in the private company of friends, I found it to be a fun
and worthwhile experience.
Another of the thing I had been meaning to do for some time
was to pay a visit to Yehliu Geopark on Taiwan's northeast cost. Yehliu Geopark is a collection of interesting
rock formations carved out by tidal erosion.
I chose a very hot day to visit and amongst the many tourists from China
it seemed I was silly for not remembering to bring my umbrella for protection
from the sun.
Following a quick visit to the Geopark, I boarded a bus in
the direction of FuLong Beach. FuLong is
one of the most popular beaches that is within reach of Taipei, and one I had
yet to visit. An international
sand-sculpture competition that coincides with the coming of summer was a bonus
and some of the sculptures were quite spectacular.
I began the final month of my Taiwan adventure begins filled with both excitement and apprehension. There were a great deal of fun things still on my list of things to do in Taiwan in addition to the coming of my 27th Birthday.
My second birthday in Taiwan landed on a Monday, which is typically the worst night of the week for any type of celebration in Taipei. My birthday was a low-key affair, celebrated over dinner and beers with the people in Taipei who matter the most to me.
Two days following my birthday is a public holiday in Taiwan marking the Dragon Boat Festival. While last year I was keen to take in the culturally relevant races I found them to be, for the most part, repetitive and boring. This year I opted for a more entertaining option and attended an all day pool party. I had a really fun time at the pool party an afternoon downpoor.
Whenever I'm in a foreign country, I try to take in a live sporting event that popular with the locals. I left it nearly too late, but finally I attended a CPBL baseball game in Taipei.
Baseball is one of the most-watched sports in Taiwan and Taipei's local team, the Brother Elephants, draws a feverant crowd of revelers to the Xinzhuang Stadium. That atmosphere inside the stadium was unlike that of any baseball game I've attended in the past. Given the small size of Taiwan, games have a high attendance of both home and away fans, each accompanied by their own noisy musical ensembles and a chant-leading hype-man with a megaphone. Also unlike any baseball game, or any professional sports game, I've been to, spectators can bring their own food and drinks into the stadium. Though, bringing one's own beer isn't even necessary as a convenience store within the stadium sells cold Taiwan beer at uninflated prices. The baseball game was an exciting and unforgettable experience.
Another typically Taiwanese activity I had been longing to attempt was indoor shrimp fishing. Time and time again I have seen TV travel hosts visiting these indoor shrimp swamps during Taiwan focused episodes. I say "shrimp swamp" because the bubbling pool of water around which hopeful fishermen try their luck is invariably a cloudy green colour.
Feeling lucky, a friend and I shared a rod for 1 hour of shrimp fishing excitement. Much like baseball, the excitement level of shrimp fishing is much improved when beer is present. With the helpful advise of an experienced shrimp-fisher we managed to catch an unimpressive single shrimp each.
In addition to the fishing itself, the dining experience of grilling and eating the shrimp on site is a bonus. Luckily for us, the owner of the establishment took pity on our measly two shrimp and gifted us an additional four shrimp. Once salted and grilled the shrimp were damn tasty.
I finished up my final work week in Taiwan with my last evening adult class on Thursday. I showed up expecting a regular class followed by some brief goodbyes but was surprised and touched to be showered with gifts and heartfelt goodbyes from past and present students.
Following the emotional last class, I met up with my ABC magazine acting job coworkers for drinks and further farewells.
Yet another culinary destination I had too long neglected to visit was Modern Toilet Restaurant. Modern Toilet is world famous for it's oddness as a toilet and bathroom themed restaurant.
Sat atop toilets aside tables made from bathtubs, diners eat curries and ice cream from toilet shaped bowls and plates. The food was overpriced as expected but all in all the novel experience was valuable enough to make it a worthwhile meal.
My last weekend in Taiwan coincided with the coming of Canada Day. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce once again hosted a outdoor party featuring Canadian bands, food, and booze. This year the party was one block away from my apartment and was good for some Saturday fun in the sun.
Following the Canada Day event I dined at a renowned beef noodle restaurant that has now gained a reputation abroad. Chef Hung's Beef Noodle has a branch in my hometown, West Vancouver, so I find it necessary to compare the quality of Chef Hung's locations in my two homes. The beef noodle at Chef Hung's here in Taipei was very good, although not the best I've had, I'll have to wait to find out about Chef Hung's WV when I return home next month.
As I finish this post, I'm in the Hong Kong Airport awaiting my connection to Bangkok. It feels strange to have left Taiwan with no certainty of when, or even if, I'll be able to return. I am certain that I'll miss all the people with whom I shared my time in Taiwan and who helped me to have an amazing and unforgettable year and three months.
My second birthday in Taiwan landed on a Monday, which is typically the worst night of the week for any type of celebration in Taipei. My birthday was a low-key affair, celebrated over dinner and beers with the people in Taipei who matter the most to me.
Two days following my birthday is a public holiday in Taiwan marking the Dragon Boat Festival. While last year I was keen to take in the culturally relevant races I found them to be, for the most part, repetitive and boring. This year I opted for a more entertaining option and attended an all day pool party. I had a really fun time at the pool party an afternoon downpoor.
Whenever I'm in a foreign country, I try to take in a live sporting event that popular with the locals. I left it nearly too late, but finally I attended a CPBL baseball game in Taipei.
Baseball is one of the most-watched sports in Taiwan and Taipei's local team, the Brother Elephants, draws a feverant crowd of revelers to the Xinzhuang Stadium. That atmosphere inside the stadium was unlike that of any baseball game I've attended in the past. Given the small size of Taiwan, games have a high attendance of both home and away fans, each accompanied by their own noisy musical ensembles and a chant-leading hype-man with a megaphone. Also unlike any baseball game, or any professional sports game, I've been to, spectators can bring their own food and drinks into the stadium. Though, bringing one's own beer isn't even necessary as a convenience store within the stadium sells cold Taiwan beer at uninflated prices. The baseball game was an exciting and unforgettable experience.
Two of my adult students-come-friends invited me to join them on a one day roadtrip to the East-coast county of YiLan. While in YiLan we visited an architecturally impressive museum about the local region as well as the popular black-sand surfing beach, WaiAo. We had a dinner of local specialties at Luodong Nightmarket, which is said by some to be one of Taiwan's best. I'm truly grateful to my students/friends for introducing me to som great new foods and places.
In addition to the fishing itself, the dining experience of grilling and eating the shrimp on site is a bonus. Luckily for us, the owner of the establishment took pity on our measly two shrimp and gifted us an additional four shrimp. Once salted and grilled the shrimp were damn tasty.
Following the emotional last class, I met up with my ABC magazine acting job coworkers for drinks and further farewells.
Sat atop toilets aside tables made from bathtubs, diners eat curries and ice cream from toilet shaped bowls and plates. The food was overpriced as expected but all in all the novel experience was valuable enough to make it a worthwhile meal.
My last weekend in Taiwan coincided with the coming of Canada Day. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce once again hosted a outdoor party featuring Canadian bands, food, and booze. This year the party was one block away from my apartment and was good for some Saturday fun in the sun.
Following the Canada Day event I dined at a renowned beef noodle restaurant that has now gained a reputation abroad. Chef Hung's Beef Noodle has a branch in my hometown, West Vancouver, so I find it necessary to compare the quality of Chef Hung's locations in my two homes. The beef noodle at Chef Hung's here in Taipei was very good, although not the best I've had, I'll have to wait to find out about Chef Hung's WV when I return home next month.
As I finish this post, I'm in the Hong Kong Airport awaiting my connection to Bangkok. It feels strange to have left Taiwan with no certainty of when, or even if, I'll be able to return. I am certain that I'll miss all the people with whom I shared my time in Taiwan and who helped me to have an amazing and unforgettable year and three months.
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