So I accidentally climbed a mountain today...

Wanting to explore the city a little more by myself, I drove around Kaohsiung on my scooter and came upon this temple




So overtaken by its beauty I was that I decided to park my scooter and climb up to it....except that the stairs that I thought led to the temple, really led to the top of this beautiful mountain. And not being one to give up on such a challenge designed by a greater hand, I climbed on.





Caught off guard by the beauty, the heat, and the old people climbing, I continued my climb unaware of my unfit presence until an old man stopped by the shaded tree looked at me and said, "hello"
I said "Ni hao!"
He looked at me laughing, "you, just one?"
"yep, me, just one"
He then pointed to his shoes and then to mine and began laughing as if I had said or done the funniest thing in the world. I realize I was not wearing proper attire and that this mountain had never felt such heels as were on my shoes, but I did not consider myself to be so hilarious. He showed me on a map where we were and said, "this way, this way". I knew that I didnt know that map and he didnt know me, so who was i to judge his recommendation of going that way? Though looking back, I probably should have because though it led down through a beautiful and rocky pathway, it also led me down on the other side of the mountain. But such is life and the adventures we allow ourselves to get into.





I also realized that since the sun is no friend of the asians as white skin is revered as high society, all these senior citizens not only were climbing up this mountain in 100 degree weather and something like 100% humidity, but they were also doing it in pants, jackets, hats, and face masks. I gave all of them the "I am very impressed" nod when I walked by. They know what I meant.



So on my way down the wrong side of the mountain, I came across a few fun friends: an old chinese man that spoke to me for about 20 minutes...in chinese. I tried to laugh at the appropriate parts, like when he pointed up the mountain and then at me. I sometimes repeated what he was saying and this threw him into a frenzy, laughing and clapping his hands. I started thinking about becoming a comedian here in Taiwan because apparently I am just that funny.



Then I came upon a rooster playground and an old man giving a head massage. It's odd to me that these things dont seem so odd to me anymore...




Then once I was down the mountain, it took me about half an hour to find my way back to the scooter....realizing a little too late that the whole mountain is surrounded by oddly similar looking red temples.




.....I love this place.

Our New Home for the next year! The Babbaganoush!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5c-Vdw9M9Y

Scooter Story Time!

Now everyone gather around and let me tell you a story that will surely delight you with its humor, scare you with its rising tension, and leave you aching for more stories of Taiwan, even to the point where you will want to come see for yourself!

So take a seat, grab some tea, and read on my friends!

Once upon a time an Armenian and her Mexican friend decided to venture off to a faaaarrrr away land where they spoke a foreign language, where they celebrated cats by greeting them, saying “hello kitty”, and where they drove these motorized seated vehicles. On the eve of last night, their dear friends Anthony and Danielle invited them to a tea party at their teacher friend’s house to celebrate being a foreigner in this strange land they called Taiwan. They had promised the Armenian and Mexican that there would be a certain prince charming awaiting them at this party, so much were they excited that they got their hopes up and even dressed up for this occasion.

They arrived at the festival and there was an array of English teachers from all around the world and they introduced themselves one by one and then they got to this boy, nay, a man. A kind of man you don’t see every day, you can’t find just anywhere, THAT kind of man; the kind of man that has a mullet, and is very intensely tall and skinny, and has a pierced nose. THAT kind. To their shock and a little dismay, he was not the prince they had been promised to be betrothed to though he had quite the sense of humor.

A bit tired and ready to go home at 2 past the midnight, the four youngsters and their two scooters headed out into the streets as the rain began beating down first softly then so roughly that a shower was no longer necessary.

Two minutes into the drive, the breaks started acting a bit edgy on their motorized cart and suddenly it stopped, nay it died.

And it was 2 in the morning.

And it was pouring.

And it was an Armenian and a Mexican in Taiwan.

And they were alone with no cell phone and no idea of where they were.

And this story is not ended yet….

Not reacting too rashly or strongly, the two damsels take in their situation and decide to get a taxi back to their abode but what they find odd is that no such vehicle will stop for them. None will stop to their arms waving madly, to their soaked clothing, to their whistling and yelling and obvious signs of “help wanted”.

“So my dear, shall we walk?” asked the Armenian to the Mexican.

“……..I guess…..”

So they walked.

Twenty minutes into their trek home, they realized that since they were not well acquainted with the geography of the city, they might have been going to wrong way so they stopped at a family mart and when the little Taiwanese man came out this is what happened next:

Looking like this, Sandra yells at him with powerful hand signing:

“SCOOTER BREAK. TAXI CALL”.

A bit scared and too unsure of what to do, he did what he was commanded.

Xie Xie. Thank you, we are very grateful.

Inside the taxi driving for about 20 minutes and watching a music video of some terribly cheesy Taiwanese lost lovers, the two travelers found themselves in familiar territory and arrived home safely to live happily….but not ever after….and without any princes because who needs them when you can get lost in the middle of the night in a foreign country in the rain and make it back decently alive?

ZE END!

FootPath to Taipei

13 hours to the End of the Pacific

We sat, we slept, we used the bathroom, watched "He's just not that into you" and we were in Taiwan. Ni hao, hello we say. A few things about Asia already as we step off the plane....it's hot. And not like Las Vegas Desert hot, like I am walking into a sauna hot, where the humidity makes my hair a wild beast perched atop my head with its own agenda....untamed and untamable. The upside to this humidity, yes the upside, is the green. and I mean GREEN. LUSH. TROPICAL. it is a beautiful country with kind kind people who turn into predators on when they get on scooters.


This country is a beautiful juxtaposition of the ancient world mixed in with modern civilization. There are Mcdonalds next to grand temples and 7-11s by peace ponds.

All in all, let me just introduce you to my life here for the next year...or so.....
I am in Taiwan. I am a new traveler here, a very touristy resident...and I am in love. This place is home. Please take off your shoes before you enter.....

So GoodBye America I Guess

It is that time again in my life, the time to say goodbye to America and all that willfully belongs here including but not limited to: family, friends, salads, and the California burrito. I suck at goodbyes and honestly, I have a hard time missing people so do not take offense. Will you accept this as a general and yet very special and thought-out goodbye? I love you to the degree I have stated previously and if you are just a random reader, I guess you hold that potential for me to love you nonetheless. Goodbye to me means that things are about to change, and do so drastically. So as a part of acceptance, there is part of letting go. Here are some things I am letting go of:

Goodbye to the pronunciation of the letter r.
Goodbye to understanding (but not always hearing) everything spoken.
Goodbye to my room.
Goodbye beautiful family and friends.
Goodbye driving a car.
Goodbye Russians, though I am sure I might find some of you in Taiwan.
Goodbye people out in the sun.

Hello Hello Kitty.

Hello new life.

Ze End of this chapter in my life and goodbye America.