Too Long Since The Last One!

‎It's been far too long since my last post, but i'll try to keep this on brief.

Shortly after the last post was an important holiday that my mother insists that I celebrate.   As an Irish citizen and passport holder, I'm obligated to have a few pints on St. Patrick's day.   I had just one green pint this year as well an obligatory black one.

The next major event after St. Paddy's day was Easter. As with most western holidays Easter is a non-event in Taipei.   Luckily for me the Canadian Easter Bunny was able to find me East-asia.
In a series of spring holidays, the next to follow was Mother's Day. Mother's Day is a major promotional event for Taiwanese English Schools. The holiday is used as an opportunity to have parents and their children come to the school to do English activities together.  My school asked me assist them in hosting an event the Saturday the preceded Mother's Day. The event was very sparsely attended, and very boring for me as I sat alone in an empty classroom for most of three hours.

Taiwan has a couple of holidays at the beginning of April that are not celebrated in Canada.   Children's Day, a day similar to Mother's or Father's day when children are celebrated, allows children a day-off school and consequently means a day-off work for teachers. Children's day fall's just before the Tomb Sweeping Day holiday, a day for cleaning and making offerings at familial burial sites, resulting in a nice four-day weekend.    

Private Karaoke room with friends

This weekend is effectively "spring-break" in Taiwan, and much like an American spring-break, young people from across the island travel south for booze fueled music festivals and beach parties.  While I the past I had passed up opportunities to attend because of a lack of willing travel companions, complicated travel arrangements and unavailable accommodations; however, this year I was intent on attending. Once again, I failed to find any friends who would also attend, and in my effort to find someone, I put off any commitment to going, such as booking travel and accommodations till very late. When I eventually decided to go solo, most trains were booked up, and only the most over-priced hotels had vacancy.

I was fortunate to have a friend recommend that I take a direct 'party bus' from Taipei to the beach, which was reasonably priced and uncomplicated.   In addition, I was able to secure free accommodation, through the website couchsurfing.com.

After a sleepless, seemingly never-ending ride on the party bus, I arrived in Kenting for a wild and fun weekend of partying on the beach. I was also able to get a free press-pass for the party because of my nightlife blog: thirstyintaipei.com.

As summer started, I began my summer teaching schedule.   Throughout the months of July and August, I taught both mornings and afternoons, leaving little time for my acting work.    In addition to the extra hours, I also was asked to teach at an English baseball-themed summer camp.  The extra summer hours made a nice addition to my bank account.

As summer came, the heat and humidity returned to Taipei, and while the high temperatures dampen my clothes, they don't do the same to my spirit.  The best relief for the soaring summer temperatures is the frequently held pool parties. This year, i'll admit, that I attended nearly every weekend.

In June I celebrated my 29th birthday, just one year left until I'm in my thirties.   I didn't do very much to celebrate the day this year, but I did go to an all-you-can-drink bar that is free on one's birthday.

Just over a week after my birthday, Taiwan gives me the gift of a long weekend.   I chose to utilize it to travel to Saigon, Vietnam.I had been to Saigon (or HoChiMinh City) twice before, but it had been several years since my last visit. Yet, the choice to travel there again was primarily based on finding extremely cheap airfare.

I'm glad I made the choice. Exploring the streets of Saigon was highly enjoyable, as were the many delicious things that I ate while there.

View from a bar in the tallest building in Vietnam.

My purchase in Vietnam

The weekend following my Vietnam trip was a special occasion far all Canadian expats in Taiwan. The annual Canada Day celebration is foreign national day celebration in Taiwan.   The event features live music, Canadian food and beer, and somewhat oddly, mechanical bull-riding.  

A Canada Day Ceasar!

Every year, there is a mechanical bull-riding competition, with the top prize as a round-trip ticket to Canada. I came close to winning last year, holding pole position for most of the day before I was defeated; therefore, I knew had a decent shot at winning this year.    My time of 94 seconds atop the robotic-bovine was enough to earn me a nearly 30 second victory over the next best competitor and best of all the round trip flight home.

In mid-August Taiwan was visited by Typhoon Soudelor, the largest typhoon to hit Taiwan in Nearly 20 years.   While most people battened down stayed indoors, I chose to go out a a bar with some friends.   I underestimated the strength of the typhoon as, since I've been in Taipei, every typhoon that had come had been little more than some rain and wind; however, Soudelor was different.   This typhoon packed fierce winds and endless rainfall.  Getting a taxi home that night was a challenge that left me soaked, head to toe, with a torn up umbrella. The following day revealed the destruction around the city.   Trees, signs and scooters were scattered across the streets.

One of the highlights of my summer was a major international concert series called Road to Ultra. This concert featured major international DJs playing for massive crowds in a large park within the city.   Tickets for the ever were over $100 CAD, and I was reluctant so spend so much for a Sunday party.  Luckily i have like-minded friend who was willing to accompany me as we tried to get in for free.   When all other connections and attempts failed, we decided we have to find another way in.   As, it turned out squeezing past a couple of porta-potties, was an ideal solution to our problem!

The remainder of the summer was a joy with nice weather and plenty of work.   One venture that I thoroughly enjoyed was a visit to a very local swimming area, in a river, to the south of Taipei.  i rode a bike along the river to get there and was not disappointed by the cool river and a truly local experience.

Now that fall has come, I've settled into a busy teaching schedule. The weather has turned to comfortable and pleasant coolness.

Recently I was fortunate enough to see some the familiar faces of my cousin and his wife.  It was nice to spend time with them and i am always happy to have visitors here.

As it is October now,  I'm beginning to prepare for my favorite holiday, Halloween!  But more important than my holiday preparations are my preparations to visit home!   I will be back in Vancouver from November 27th, until December 13th, so anyone wishing to see me, pleas mark it on you calendar and get in touch.  While I wish I could be home for Christmas, the limitations of the previously mentioned free-ticket, won't allow it.  I'm looking forward to coming home for the first time in two years and seeing the city and people who are dearest to me!