MAX, Wii, and Mr.Donut

Happy Halloween 2010 from Taiwan

Mr. Donut Lion 

Wii Controller

My version of MAX from "Where The Wild Thing's Are"

All hand made costumes for our Halloween Massive at the Taipei World Trade Center on October 30th 2010. Benni Benassi and Dr Lektroluv rocked the house all night long. Slutty panda's, Naruto crew, Asian/American/European soldiers, indians and nurses, angels and devils, roosters and bull fighters, everyone was ready to party. The place was empty at 9pm but by 12am there was no room to breath.

LED lit Gundam was lifted in the air on cue with fireworks bursting from the stage. Only in Asia will you see fireworks indoors. The party lasted until 4 or 5 in the morning but we retired early. Doesn't change the fact that we had an awesome Halloween here in Taiwan.

Hope everyone's Halloween was full of drinks, music, and candy <3

Costco Domination

SO WHY ISN'T THERE ALCOHOL SAMPLING IN THE USA?

Besides food sampling and non-alcoholic beverage tasting, they give you samples of red wine, white wine, sake, whiskey, vodka and so much more. We basically got drunk walking around Costco. HOW GREAT IS THAT. Free alcohol AND food. 

They even had party size pack of dried Philippine mango! I'm set for the rest of the time here.

Taiwan Costco is THE BEST. amen.

Hualien, the East Coast

10.23.10

Michelle and I decided to go to the East Coast of Taiwan, Hualien. Our original plan was to stay at a small bed and breakfast on the coast, take a tour bus to Taroko (mountain side temples, waterfalls, bridges, and tunnels) and enjoy the night market.

Then, the second typhoon hit. Land slides and floods swallowed towns and took several lives. Taroko is known for dangerous roads and almost yearly deaths due to tour buses falling over cliffs. We decided our lives were more precious than the possibility of a great sight seeing tour.

Luck was on our side this weekend. The typhoon disappeared, to the worlds surprise, just for the one day we were there and Michelle's friend from school was in the city for a doctors appointment. He picked us up, found us a hotel, toured us around Hualien and dropped us off.

The view from our hotel room was awesome. The sun woke us up with a gift of the most bright and colorful day we have had in Taiwan so far.

This hotel was full of funky wooden furniture, statue, and interior decoration.

Bright and early, we walked around Hualien with no destination in mind. It feels good to be okay with being lost in a new and unfamiliar place.

I truly though they might drop something or fall out of the window. They were on the 5th or 6th floor of this building!

Pablo, Michelle's friend and our tour guide, took us to the Seven Star Beach. The water was extra clear due to the past typhoon.

According to Pablo, Hualien is also known for their stone art. They have stone carving contests and festivals every year. These were just a few of the statues displayed by the beach side park.

Taiwan has a famous snack called Taiwan Pizza. It's made like a taco with onion pancake with egg in the middle. They smother it with some special sauce and seasoning, which I believe may be crack. ITS SO GOOD.

This Memorial building is where the Japanese Kamikaze warriors came to bunk and eat right before their mission. Behind this specific building, there is a shack where it is said that one of the warrior committed suicide.

At the end of our trip we went to a night market that focused on carnival games and snack foods. We ate traditional Taiwanese corn on the cob and fished for turtles.

It may be cliché, but I am going to go back to America a bettered person. Even if that means I have learned something new, realized certain things, or just got to know myself a little bit more, I am certain that this trip has made me stronger.

Much love and thanks to my parents who made this experience possible.

I miss you.




but it's not over yet. TO BE CONTINUED...

Art & Animals

10.16.10

My first attempt to go to the Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA) of Taipei failed due to an installation period for the next exhibit. Definitely going back when it is open. However, the train station right under the museum and the streets near by were full of art and interesting things for me to see.

Ceramic art, traditional and modern, is allover the city. Taiwan seems to like tiles, mosaic, ceramics and such. The bunnies were keeping me company as I ate my lunch in the park near the museum.

After a cup of hot coffee at a cute street side cafe, I decided to check out the Taipei Zoo. On the tain ride there, I was approached by a traveler and we head to the zoo together. I guess he randomly decided to go to the zoo as well, just like me.

HIPPOPHOTAMUS?? Man, get a dictionary..

The weather was a bit gloomy and rainy but the animals didn't seem to mind. We saw dancing monkeys, swollen monkey vagina, fighting rhinos, pouncing lioness, and much more. The best part was the PANDAS! Too bad they were indoors and we were forced to walk through fast so I didn't get a picture.

a breath of fresh air

Taiwan National Museum is small but game me a brief insite into the origin and history of Taiwan. Located in the middle of Peace Park, away from the busy city, it was calming and insightful. 

 

 

There were many people walking, reading, chatting and sitting around the park. As if we were all here to escape the big city and catch our breath.