Another weekend adventure

Yesterday's adventure started in Hsinchu at the glass museum, and ended up in Miaoli.

First, I met up with Linda and Peggy to see the glass museum.  The guy we talked to at the train station said it was just "okay."  But he was nice enough to translate for us to the cab driver to get us there.  And the museum was more than "okay," it was beautiful.

"Christmas Eve" 

"Sky Lantern"

My tea, at lunch.  They get creative with the drinks here.  I think Peggy's latte had a teddy bear face.

Then after some ice cream and people watching, we headed to Miaoli for the Dragon Dancing competition.  They had an opening ceremony with music by one of the elementary schools.  That's one thing I love about Taiwan, they really appreciate and encourage the arts here.  The orchestra that was playing was made up of kids maybe 10-12 years old.  And they were just as good as any professional orchestra I've ever heard.

After a long opening ceremony, the teams were presented.  The competitors came from Korea, Malaysia, Macau, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, The Philippines, and there was a team from Taipei.

When we went in, they handed everyone small light-up buttons.  I didn't understand the purpose until they turned out the lights.  The dragons are black lit, and the effect is awesome.  This team is from Hong Kong.

We watched four performances, and then it was time to go.  

Lantern Festival, Hakka Style

Last night, Linda and I went to the Lantern Festival in Miaoli City.  They do the Chinese floating lanterns every year in one city, but Miaoli hosts its own festival each year.  It has something to do with a god who didn't like the cold, so they throw firecrackers at his feet to "warm him up."  It's still damp and cold in Miaoli, so throw all the firecrackers you want.

After two trains and a 20 min. delay to get there, I arrived in Miaoli City, and Linda and I had dinner.  After that, we made our way to the festival.

There was dancing, lots of talented performers

And fireworks, it's not a celebration without fireworks.  I had to put my hood up, not because of the cold, but because the shells kept hitting me on the head.

They weren't just throwing firecrackers, they were throwing smoke bombs, too.

There's a dragon dance, and they throw the fireworks at the dragon.  I can't imagine having to operate the dragon, I had earplugs in, and the smoke was so thick, there were times when we couldn't even see the dragon.

It's hard to tell, but the eyes light up.  I didn't get very close, the smoke was so thick.

A very fun evening.  

Afterwards, Linda and I had tea in a little restaurant, and then I caught the last train(s) back to Tongxiao.  I also tried something new on the way home, I used the bathroom on the train.  While it was moving.  I described this to my good friend Jen this morning, and I may start a new blog: bathrooms around the world.  I've got some pretty interesting stories from my travels.

What's up, Tongxiao?

Not much.

I'm almost recuperated from the Bali trip.  I surprised myself by getting unpacked in one day, unusual because it always takes at least a week.  Then I put something in the closet yesterday, and realized I didn't unpack the bag from the inservice that ended January 24.  I think it's a new personal record.

School starts again tomorrow (I think).  I was told I was supposed to be back on the 4th, which wasn't quite right, so technically, today is my first full day back.  Although it was supposed to be last Wednesday.  That's the hardest part about working here, usually I have no idea what's going on.  Not that it was different in Ohio, but it was more minor there, like surprise assemblies or meetings.  Here, I don't even have a school calendar, and there's big discussions going on the office that I don't understand.

I still don't haven't decided about next year, everybody keeps asking.  However, Linda informed me yesterday that a new cross stitch shop just opened in the Toufen/Zhunan area.  This might sway my decision, ha ha.

Chinese New Year is almost over, the fireworks are pretty much constant now.  I don't even hear them anymore, except if they go off in the middle of the night.  It's windy, rainy, and cold.  It should start to get warmer in March.

I didn't watch the Super Bowl, or the Olympics.  I'm just not a sports person.  I'm not sure there's any reliable way to watch either event anyway.  If I'm missing anything good, please let me know.  I did hear about a small controversy with a Coke commercial.  Here it is:

Personally, I like it.  Here it is in Mandarin:

Very talented little girl, and I like her message at the end.

I just have this to say:   Technically, I'm an immigrant.  I came here legally, I pay taxes to the Taiwanese government, and I'm contributing to their society (I hope).  Wednesday, it'll be six months that I've been here.  In that time, not a single person has come up to me and said "Go back to where you came from" or "You're in Taiwan, speak Chinese."  I've even had people look at my obviously confused expressions and offer to help when I needed it.  If they can't speak English, they'll find someone who can, to help.  So let's be nice to each other, because it makes things so much easier.  Just something to think about. 

Bali!

新年快樂!

Happy New Year!  January 31/February 1 is officially Chinese New Year, which means it is now the year of the horse.  Most people travel this time of year to visit family, but I went to Bali for five days.  I stayed in Taoyuan Sunday night, and flew to Bali on Monday morning.

Highlights:

Got to hang out with some awesome people, and meet some new friends.  

 Tuesday-I went snorkeling in the Blue Lagoon

I don't have an underwater camera, but I saw some of the most amazing underwater life.  I was cautious getting off the boat, because I didn't want to hit the bottom.  Then I realized that the water was so clear, and the bottom was at least 15 feet down.  There were times when it felt more like flying than swimming.  Watching the coral, and the fish, it makes you think:  these creatures are not beautiful by coincidence, there has to be some design involved that we can't begin to understand.  

Unfortunately, the sunscreen I so diligently applied that morning washed off quickly in the salt water.  So by Wednesday morning, I was a little....crispy.  I got a massage at the hotel spa that morning, which was nice.  And a little painful on my sunburned back.  At one point, the masseuse rubbed a sunburned part of my leg, and the other leg flipped in the air involuntarily.  She asked "Too hard?"  I told her no, because I figured if she tried to take it easy, it wouldn't do me any good, but I think she thought "Then why did you stop breathing a few minutes ago?"  in Indonesian.  

Spent a little time on Kuta beach.  Watched the sunset several times.

Got to ride and feed elephants.  Again, almost a spiritual experience.  The ride was so peaceful, and I was amazed that such huge animals could be so gentle, and have such personality.

We fed them bamboo shoots.  When a two-ton animal reaches for the food, you give it to them, ha ha.

Since a large portion of the population on Bali is Hindu, elephants are sacred here.  Jacie, who I met on this trip, is a commercial producer who frequently works with elephants.  When they use the elephants for a shoot, the crew is required to wash the elephants the next day, as a "thank you" for their work.  

Spent some time at the hotel pool.  In the shade.

Took a carriage ride through Kuta.

I went to several markets, the one in Kuta was for tourists, but the one in Badung was more traditional.  They had everything, four floors of spices, fruits and veggies, fabric, toys...

Offerings.  These are on the sidewalk in front of just about every business in Bali, and on the shrines.  And apparently you can buy them premade.

And of course, enjoyed good food there.  The Indonesians like their food sweet and spicy.  As soon as I learned that, I thought "I will do well here."

Banana fritters for dessert.

I flew back Saturday morning, and spent one night in Taoyuan again before returning to Tongxiao this afternoon.