Goodbye Kaohsiung, Hello Taichung

Since my last posting, the month of July has just flown buy. Last weekend, the Doctor and I have moved house. I have moved to Taichung and the Doctor moved to LinKou.

My new home is quite modest, in fact modest is probably an understatement. I have seen hotel rooms bigger. However, what I have now is bigger than many I had seen while looking for this place. In Auckland, there was buzz word for small apartments called "Shoebox size apartments". I think my place is a little bigger.

The picture to the right is looking in from my front door. You can see the back window (door) at the back, my bed just in front along with part of the sofa, TV cabinet and cupboard in the front. I have a bathroom just off to the left side.

The advantages, that I can think off, are cheap rent (about 14% of my net monthly salary), easy to keep clean, about half way between Taichung city centre and the university where I work, and has the feel of being in a hotel...

However, the doctor's place is a little different and much more interesting to talk about. The area that the doctor has moved too has been called New Taipei City. So there is a lot of new developments going on. The doctor's place is no exception. In fact, he is the first resident living there. In Taiwan, most new buildings are given names and the Doctor is really pride in his building's name; The Four Seasons. The same name used by a five star hotel in America. Can you see the pride on his face showing off his new home?


In the lobby, it would appear that no expense has been spared. There is a grand piano (but I really like the rug underneath, it is soft; especially compared to the tile floors throughout Taiwan), a fireplace (not that it will be used), and lots of comfortable expensive chairs.

I think with a foyer like that, who would want to actually go up to their apartment. I think I could live in the foyer alone...

If you want to look at some more photos, there are links below to:

• My apartment in Taichung
• The Doctor's apartment in LinKou

On a side note, I have just arranged my Internet and Cable TV today, I am watching one channel called "Australia Network". Isn't the modern world of telecommunications wonderful.

Till next time, haveagoodone...

What's happening...

Geez, it has been quite a while since I last posted something about my life here in Kaohsiung. Now, I have only about three weeks left before I move. Well, I guess I better give you some updates...

Earlier this year, the Doctor was offered a new job that was more permanent that his current year-to-year contract. Hence, he accepted it and is due to start on the 1st of August. So, we have been planning to move at the end of July; which is now rapidly approaching.

One of our main concerns was the logistics of moving from Kaohsiung (southern Taiwan) to LinKou (northern Taiwan). We don't have that much possessions to move but more than a few suitcases. So, during my week holiday during the end of May, the Doctor encouraged me to go for my driving test.

I thought it was a good idea because it is another part of Taiwan living that I can embrace (I also knew that the Doctor was looking to get me to do a bit of driving). Well, I started to study up just as I did for my Scooter license test that I did last year. And this time I didn't have a need to deliberately crash the computer test (not that I did it intentionally the first time - it just happened... really).

After the computer test came the real challenge - doing a driving test. Now in Taiwan, people sit in the left side of the car and drive on the right (literally right) side of the road. In Australia and New Zealand, it is the opposite way. So my driving test in Taiwan was the first time I have driven a left drive car. Also, the assessor spoke very little English and I did not understanding that much Chinese. But he was very kind because he took me for a practice drive through first.

When I did my test in Australia many years ago, I had a lot of trouble with parallel parking. And this was with poles sticking up in the air so I could see them. In Taiwan, I just had a yellow line that I had to kept with in - plus using opposite logic for reversing in. The other part of the test that was particularly challenging was driving forward through a tight "S" bend. Then I had to reverse back through the "S" bend I just drove through. I have never encountered this before.

Then just to make matters worst, during my actual test run, some wild dogs ran in front of me - but the instructor had a sense of humour when I suggested this was another test he didn't warn me about. Anyway, after all that, I successfully passed my driving test; and with a better score than I did in Australia and New Zealand...

The next bit of news that I have for you is regarding my job hunting experiences. I have been to three job interviews at different Taiwan's universities. I have to admit that I was getting a little despondent, especially after my second interview where I thought I did really well - but ended up them telling me that my skills do not match the university's requirements. Anyway, for my third interview I thought that I would receive a similar answer. However, to my surprise they offered me a job.

I received my contract earlier this week along with a twenty page document in Chinese that I have to complete for their personal office. It has taken me about three days to work my way through it using an online translator and asking the Doctor for the other bits I don't understand. So now with that complete, my next task is trying to get some information about what the university wants me to teach. During the interview process, it was only briefly discussed and their job offer came without a second interview.

So after securing a job in Taichung and the Doctor has a job in LinKou, we have decided to live in our respective cities where we work and visit each other on the weekends. So this weekend, we are going on a road trip. First to Taichung to find a place for me, and then to LinKou to find a place for him.

I think that brings up to date on what's happening with me. The next three weeks, I will be busy catching up with all my friends in Kaohsiung - and hopefully they will come and visit me in Taichung. Plus I can also visit them in Kaohsiung for time to time.

I am quite excited about the next phrase my life is about to enter into.

Sorry, no pictures with this post.

Till next time, haveagoodone...

Introducing Kaohsiung...

Last night while watching TV, there was a program on the Travel and Living station about Kaohsiung. The host was an American born Taiwanese; they are affectionately called ABC (American Born Chinese) or as the Doctor corrected me ABT (American Born Taiwanese).

So I wondered in the episodes where on YouTube. Unfortunately this particular host was not, but the Doctor did find something very similar. So I have put them below. Enjoy...

Taiwan style BBQ

Last Saturday, my Chinese Language class decided to have a BBQ Taiwanese style. The chosen location was on the outskirts of Kaohsiung City at a place called Cheng Qing Lake. We were lucky as the weather was not too hot and not to cold. Also there were some clouds so the sun was not beating down on us.

The food that you can see on the BBQ was from prepared packs that Cheng Qing Lake sell. Very convenient! They even manage to cater to my tastes - no meat, no dairy, no seafood, and definitely no hot spices. However, not everyone has the same tastes as me. My classmates had seafood, chicken, pork, and lots of other things I can not remember.

The BBQ's had to be manually lit and there were some old charcoal rocks left for this. However, they did not seem to light up very quickly. There was a lot of huffing and puffing! Not quite the method I remember when I was younger where you start by scrunch up paper, then putting small sticks (kindle wood) and then the bigger pieces on top while making sure that plenty of air can flow around. But to the Taiwanese's credit and perseverance, they got the fires started.

As as you can see from the photos, the food was cooked and being enjoyed. So it was mission achieved.

The only thing I would have liked to do was to explore more around the lake, but I will have to leave that for another day.

Till next time, haveagoodone...

Taiwan and its Pets...

One aspect of living in Taiwan I find amusing is what the locals choose to have as their pets and how they treat them. As an example, take the photo to the right. One couple brought their dog into the shop rather than leave it outside. Furthermore, this shop is not a pet shop but a food shop. What is even more intriguing is that this shop has a small number of trolleys specially for the purpose of owners who want to bring their dog into the store. On the bottom of the trolley, there is a cardboard box to make it easier for the dog to sit on. There is even a sign reserving these trolleys just for dog uses only.

The special treatment for this dog is nothing compared to the other things I have seen but not taken a photo. Most of the dogs I see have been outfitted with the latest designer clothes and shoes. They are carried around it bags with their head popping out. And they are the poorer dogs. The richer ones have doggy push strollers. So to say it is a dog's life is actually one of opulence.

Apart from dogs as pets, there appears to be a new breed of pet. When I was walking back from the department store this afternoon, I bumped into some locals out walking their pet. Can you guess what they are? They are a couple of nine day old fragment pigs.

Can you imagine how they must live in an apartment, what food to feed them, how to bath them???

They may look cute now, but imagine what they would be like when they grow up???

One other pet that I have seen but unfortunately don't have a picture is a sugar glider possum. I copied this picture from the Internet.

I thought that there were Australian native animals so how they become household pets - I do not know...

I wonder what will be next???



Till next time, have a good one...

Day trip to Chai Yi

Sorry, for the lack of writing and I hope that you will forgive me. I am posting this at 10:30 in the evening.

Taiwan recently had two National holidays; Children's Day (4th April) and Tomb Sweeping Day (5th April). On Monday, I had a day trip to Chai Yi. To make up for the lack of writing, click on the link for the photos I took. I think the captions have a bit of explanation.

Photos of Chai Yi

Enjoy...

Till next time, haveagoodone....

A positive result of the past year's work...

I have been eagerly awaiting for this day to come and in particular 3:00pm (Taiwan time).

Just on a year ago I embarked on a venture that I thought I would never do.

My academic background is not one that is particularly bright.

After I completed my Bachelors, I was more than pleased of that achievement and that I did not want to study anymore.

However, the Doctor persuaded me to attempt the next step in climbing the academic ladder.

This last year has been spend studying day and night juggling between Chinese language and English. This was a challenge in itself because living in a Mandarin speaking place has two effects on my English abilities.

The first is that my English tends to slip because I have to use simpler words, phrases and expressions. Using complicated (or what seems normal to a native speaker) simply are not understood.

The second effect is that I have to analyse the English phrases that I do use to explain exactly what I mean. For example, when you use the word "something", how do you explain the meaning to someone who hasn't heard that word before.

Anyway, after a year of studying and at 3:00pm today, I found out the results of my last piece of assessment (an exam that consisted of 5 one page answers and 3 essays). I had passed sufficiently.

Now I have a Masters at hand.

My next challenge is to sell myself well enough to land a job with one of Taiwan's universities teaching English (hopefully Business English)...

Now it is time for me to rest my weary brain and prepare for my language exchange in a couple of hours.

Till next time, haveagoodone...

To catch up on a few things...

Yesterday I sat my final exam (well I hope it was my final exam) for my Masters that I have been studying for over the past year. Now that I have some free time and not constantly reading, I can catch up on some things.

Last November when I was on my one week of Chinese Language class holidays, I decided to go for my Scooter licence. When I have travelled in Taiwan, the Doctor has hired a scooter and I sat on the back. Although this is common practice in Taiwan, when travelling with each of us having a backpack, it can be a little crowded on the scooter.

After searching on the Internet, I found all the details including a practice test. It even had English so I didn't need to rely on my Chinese. Mind you, the way the English questions were asked, Chinese may have been easier to do.

Anyway, after doing lots of practice, I went in for my test. At the testing centre, they also had a computer to practise before the test - so it was good to get a bit more practise in before sitting the actual test. The thing that worried me was there were new questions that I hadn't encountered before. I think the Ministry of Transport did that deliberately just to just the young kids off.

Then I finally went in to the proper test. They sat me down at a computer, changed it to English and said off you go. Working through the questions, I found even more questions that I hadn't encountered before; so it took a bit of guesswork. Then, I came across one question that had me really confused. Bearing in mind that I am sitting a 50cc scooter test, the question was:

"When you are driving a truck and are pulled over to a weighting station. You are found to have loaded the truck too heavy. Who pays the fine?"

I raised my hand and asked the tester why is this question in the test? He proceeded to tell me that a truck was a really big car. This I knew (even in Chinese), but I don't understand the relevance. I am testing for only a scooter and not a big truck... After a bit of consideration, the tester said just ignore it and he will give me a credit point at the end if I needed it.

I proceeded on with the rest of the test and found that I had a bit of time left over. So I decided to review before submitting. In the process of going back through the questions, the computer froze. I raised my hand again and I am sure that the tester was thinking foreigners have so many problems... After a bit of playing around, the tester said he couldn't fix the computer and I had to go to another computer and do a different test. OK, that is not so bad; maybe I will get more familiar questions this time around.

New computer, new test, I got asked more familiar questions and passed it with two questions to spare. I walked out with my new 50cc scooter licence quite happy that I not wasted my time and money. Now all I needed was someone to teach me how to ride a scooter. The moral I got from this story that I shared with my friends:

If you sit a computer test and don't like the questions, flip through the pages quickly and the computer will freeze. Then you can start a fresh...

But please don't tell Taiwan I did this because they may think I did it deliberately (I didn't honestly).

By the way, my friend Xiao Zhu taught me how to ride a scooter and I take every opportunity to practise. Here is a picture of a recent trip where I did get to practise.

I have a few more stories to tell, but I do them under different postings.

Till next time, haveagoodone...

Weekend Trip...

This weekend just gone, I spent in TaiChung on the central west coast. I had seen a couple of travel shows about TaiChung that showed the artistic side of Taiwan so decided to go and see it myself.

The photo to the right is the greenhouse conservatory exhibition. You may be able to see the giant butterfly to the left of the entrance. The first of many artworks scattered around the city.

After entering the conservatory, it was just like a small rain forest. In the centre there was a big waterfall that would be hear all around the conservatory.












The tree to the right, I was told that they call this tree a bomb tree because of what it looks like.











Just inside the entrance, they had this little display. It took a while to get a decent photo as there was a queue with parents and their children.











They even had a small aquarium with some really large fish in. I hadn't seen these type of fish before. There also was something like an eel but it was about the size of a shark.










Also in this area, and I am not sure why, they had frogs everywhere. The only live frog related display I saw was a tank but the frogs were so small and hiding so I couldn't get any photos.

I





Then visited a place that did paper cut outs similar to what I did at the Senior Citizens Centre. The photo to the right is a chess board believe it or not. Very clever.








Then I had lunch where these cute little creatures greed customers at the front door.











After lunch I wondered around the many parks they had around and most of them were filled with artwork similar to photo to the right.

Then after spending the afternoon walking around, I got a quick drink before heading back.

Taichung is a really beautiful place and should a job opportunity come up there, I could easily move there.

Till next time, haveagoodone...

A different type of Chinese class

Today, my Chinese class was a little different. Usually, my class consists of new words, sentence patterns, grammar and a lot of conversation I don't understand. However, today my class went on a field trip.

Close by there is a Senior Citizens centre and they had invited all the foreign students to participate in a paper cutting class. This class was in anticipation of Chinese New Year on 3rd February 2011.

The first character I created means "Spring". This character may also be hung upside down. Apparently the reason is that spring has almost arrived and spring brings new growth and fortunes.

Personally, I think the characters are confusing enough the right way up; so I'll keep my right way up.





The next character is actually two joined together. The meaning is lucky goat. If you look closely, you can maybe see the floppy ears in the middle??? Well maybe not. This character also involved having a border around the outside. It was a little more challenging that the first one.


As for it's meaning, I am not really sure why a goat is lucky, but someone decided it be so; so it is.


When I thought it was starting to get difficult, the next character was taken up a few notches.

As you can see from the picture to the right, it is three dimensional.

The red paper had to be folded like if I was making a hat. Then the template placed over it and cut very carefully.

This character is the same as the first one, that means spring.


To the right is a picture of the captured audience.

Oh, by the way, I think that this may make the local news. My Mexican classmate, who happens to be considered handsome by many Taiwanese girls, was interviewed by three different reporters. How he had time to finish his cutting, I am not sure....

I think all that attended had fun; well I know I did anyway.

Till next time, haveagoodone...

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year to all!

Last night I decided to break with my tradition of going to bed at my normal time (I am not a night owl) and went out to watch fireworks in Kaohsiung.

One of the major firework shows was at a place called Dream Mall. I had heard from the media and a language exchange that this is one of the better places to see the new year in. Not only do they have the fireworks, but also lots of concerts and stalls to entertain while waiting for midnight to arrive.

I had arrived about 10:30pm and things were already in full swing judging by all the people and scooters everywhere. I should mention that this photo only captured a small area of whole area. The whole event area went for almost a kilometre in each direction.

One thing I did notice was that the environment appeared very friendly despite so many people of all ages coming along. I remember from my days living in Christchurch that groups would form quickly and then the aggression would soon follow. However, none of that in Taiwan.

At many spots around the complex had these really big screens set up that showed what was going on the main stage along with the sound. I think it was a good idea to spread the people around rather than congregate in one place. The advertisement under the screen is for one of Taiwan's local non-government banks. This bank is called E-San Bank and it named after Taiwan's highest mountain (Jade Mountain).



In addition to the entertainment that was going on, Dream Mall also had the rows of night markets stalls that lined the streets. I think this is an essential element of Taiwanese social function; that being have night market stalls set up with Taiwan's delicacies usually consisting of BBQ squid, Sugar Cane juice, and lots of other things that I can only guess at.




Then at the strike of midnight, the fireworks when off. I had heard that the fireworks were to go for exactly 610 seconds. It was a very good show.

After the fireworks show, I along with about ten thousand people headed to the MRT station to catch the train home. Initially, I was a bit worried being a place with so many people converging on a small place. But the Taiwanese officials handled the situation very well and I ended up getting home is about fifteen minutes without waiting to long to enter the station, or board the train. I did have visions of Melbourne's crowded trains after a few cancellations; tighter than being in a sardine can. But Taiwan demonstrated their forward planning ability and proved how well orgainsed they are.

The video here is the last three or four sections before midnight.



Anyway, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Till next time, haveagoodone...

Christmas Day

On Christmas Day, I was lucky enough to be invited to a friend's (XZ) Church Christmas function. As usual, I didn't know what to expect, but I think that adds to the enjoyment of it (without having expectations). As it happened, it was a night of acting, singing and dancing.

One of the performances that XZ was in, I actually understood what was going on (big surprise). She was dressed in white and was dancing around the stage with another man also dressed in white. The only other prop on stage was a tree with a single apple. Can you guess what this is? Anyway, XZ ate the apple and afterwards both of them went looking for the fig leaves.

Below are some of the photos of the different performances:

A choir singing Christmas carols








A bit of modern pop music








Children participation; by the way, there were adorable...









XZ doing the dance that lead her to eating the apple. The other person dancing with XZ, I think, was temptation.










I think this may have been Noah's arc but I didn't see any animals...









More dancing (yes with XZ).











And there were a few more performances but I sat and enjoyed them rather than get too many more photos - sorry.

After all that performing, there was a feast for all the hungry performers and their friends.

Oh, also during the performance, the audience was given a heart shaped card to write a Christmas message on it. Here is what I wrote, in my bad Chinese grammar:

It says, all Taiwan people, may you receive everything that you heart desires.

It is the only thing I could remember from my text books...







At the end of the evening, XZ and her friends that she bought had a group photo.


Some Christmas this year was pretty good.

Till next time, have a good one...

Trip to NanRen Lake

Last weekend, the Doctor and I travelled to NanRen Lake. You can see where it is by the red marker in the picture to the right. This is the southern area of Taiwan.

The p

ark is special because it is one of the last areas in Taiwan that hasn't been overly damaged by human occupation. In fact, the Taiwan have become so protective of it that entry permits must be issued.

The picture below gives you a bit of information about this area.

The tour guide told the bus group that the lake has grass growing around and into it. In about four years from now, they guide said that the lake would probably be gone forever.

In order to get to the lake, we had to walk about four and half kms. The return walking trip would take at least a couple of hours. We were also told that there are no toilets along the w

ay so it is important to go before starting the walk.

On the way to the lake, part of the bus tour price was lunch and a drink. The Doctor didn't want to drink his drink so I had it. Unfortunately about one and half kms

into the track, I had to turn back and return to the starting point because I think I drank too much. When I caught up with the group, the Doctor told me that the local Taiwanese girls started to giggle

when I initially turned back thinking that a foreigner cannot handle the walk. But there were a little surprised when I caught up with th

e group. The tour guide also noticed that I was gone for a while and wondered where I had gone. When I t

old him that I needed to head back for the toilet, he laughed and said I should have found a tree. So I think next time, when the tour guide says no toilets; I will presume that it means that trees are the exception.

Anyway, after walk all the extra distance, we finally arrived at the lake.

I have a few more photos, but Google Chrome and Windows is giving me a few problems. I need to switch back to Ubuntu, so I'll leave this adventure here for now.

Till next time, have a good one...

Is it a bus, or it is a boat???

Today my Chinese class had a make up lesson that was due to two classes cancelled by typhoons that past through Taiwan last month. When the typhoon comes, a warning is given that there can be no classes or work so people are not outside when 100km winds are blowing. Mind you that doesn't stop the media; but that is another story.

Anyway, rather than sit in our classroom for three hours, my teacher organised a field trip. Those who could attend, were to met at Dream Mall. There we bought our tickets and prepared to board the bus.

After a short drive through the city streets and driving along Love River, the bus suddenly took aim at the river bank. Then it drove straight into the water.

Once in the water, turning off the road engines and starting up the water engines, the Amphibious bus started to travelup Love River.

One of the classmates, who didn't expect the bus to float on the water, became very excited when he realised the bus was driving into the water. Admittedly, he was probably at a small disadvantage as he is Korean and doesn't speak much English; apart from the slang that another Australian classmate and I teach him (we should stop that as the Korean classmate tends to say the words at inappropriate moments - but is it fun). The Korean classmate's Chinese is pretty good and I thought he would have known what we were doing. Anyway, after a few moments, I think that he found better things to occupy his time with.

Do you see his pink cell phone? It has a dancing lady on it when he receives a phone call. He does have a good reason for having this cell phone. It was originally his sister's and it is a hand-me-down.

Here are some photos as I travelled up and down Love River.

After doing a circuit of Love River, our ride we to come to an end. I did wonder how well the types would grip the ramp when they have been submerged for so long. But I didn't notice any problem. They must be good wet weather tyres.

The only thing that the bus had to do was to empty the water that it had accumulated.





After all that (and one hundred and eight NT dollars later) that was the end of my Chinese make up class.

I wonder if I can talk the teacher into more lessons like this rather than studying Chinese grammar...

Till next time, haveagoodone...