- Smelled Cherry Blossoms in Japan
- Tried Japanese sushi
- Went to a traditional Tea Ceremony
- Ate raw Horse meat
- Watched a Kabuki play
- Learned to like white rice
- Came face to face with a sumo wrestler
- Wore a kimono
- Came face to face with an Amur Tiger
- Rode a bullet train
- Looked into an active volcano
- Sat in a hot spring
- Climbed Mt Fuji
- Went to a Japanese Hospital
- Had my palms read in china
- Laid out on the beach in Hong Kong
- Road a (Purple) Double Decker Bus
- Became a street performer
- Saw Giant Pandas at the only Panda Reserve in the world
- Danced at a preforming arts school in China
- Saw the biggest Buddha in the world
- Saw the terracotta soldiers
- Climbed the great wall
- Survived Beijing traffic
- Survived Beijing smog
- Learned to Barter (and kinda kicked ass)
- Time Traveled
- Snorkeling in Oahu
- Cut my knee on a coral reef
- Eaten Fresh Pineapple in Hawaii
- Went on a date in Waikiki
- Became a total beach bum
- Traveled for 24 hours strait
- Made friends with locals (Everywhere!)
- Traveled around the world in 80 days
Because of East Asia Term:
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After our adventure down town, most of us either went back to the hostel or to find food. My one other friend and I had a different idea. Across the street, up on a hill is what’s called the grand hotel. Its large, ten stories easy, with traditional oriental architecture and is hidden on this hill up in the trees only met by the elite. We were told about how fantastic it is inside, how it surpasses even the outside. There was a small footpath up that hill to get there if you wanted to just check it out. So that afternoon we trekked up these hidden steps among the trees and ferns. We expected it to be fairly easy to find, but once amongst the trees there was little to be seen of this grand hotel. We came across many structures on our way to the Grand. There were some hidden temples and shrines were we saw some people chanting and incense burning. We also came across some shelter looking things. Little homes made of tarp and rope, held up by the tree trunks.
Eventually and at last we made it us to the Grand Hotel. It was underwhelming at first. We came out of the trees to find ourselves in the small lot for motorbikes a little ways down. We walked up through the main lot, the Grand looming over us, massive and impressive, till we were finally at its doors. We entered into the cool lobby and both gasped as we drank it all in. The walls and beams were deep red with extravagant gold accents and fixtures. Huge lanterns, cream and red, hung from the ceiling emitting a soft glow complementing the warm light from the sun outside. On one side there was a sitting area were two women playing soft music in the corner on string instruments I’ve never seen before. On the other side were glass cases that held some of the most delicate ceramics I have seen yet. We, covered in dirt and sweat, tentatively crossed the lobby and climbed the grand stairs blanketed in a rich red carpet and a marble banister. As we explored the second floor of the Hotel we found more ceramics in class casing, Tea shops, restaurants and a grand ballroom. There was beautiful music that seemed to flow throughout the entire place and delude the babble noise of the people below the balcony still in the lobby. I have never seen such luxury in my life. After we were done gaping we walked back down our foot path and past our Hostel more, this time with food on our mind. There was this little place not too far from where we are staying, that has the BEST dumplings I have ever tasted. I must have gone there a dozen times already this week but man, nothing beats it. So good. We sat outside, watching the hustle and bustle of the people going by, eating our dinner of $2.50 until it got darker. Once it was dark we met up with one more friend of mine and walked over to the night market another few streets down. I had never been there before but my two friends had and let me tell you, I should have come sooner. This place was fantastic! all kinds of cool things, clothes, jewelry, knick knacks. You name it. I think one of the things that made this such an intriguing thing, to me at least, was the fact that it all reminded me, every so slightly, of America. The people, the sHops, the merchandise... It sort of reminded me of home. By the way, when we had originally left for the Night Market it had started to drizzle and by the time we left it was full on poring rain. And being the smartass kids we are, no one had an umbrella. So with nothing else we could do we walked casually in the rain, only mildly annoyed but completely soaked through. It wouldnt have been such a problem except we were leaving the next morning and there was no way our clothes were going to dry. Shout out to my Fantastic Roommate for helping me blow dry my clothes so they were only mildly damp for our day of travel. (Hong Kong coming soon!) EXPLORATION! Is a good way to describe today. We had a full free day to go and see whatever we wanted in Taipei and I’m happy to say it didn’t go to waste. This morning me and some friends took the metro to Longshan station and explored the area. Our professors told us about an amazing temple that was supposed to be around there and we heard about a lot of other cool stuff too. First stop was the temple but to get there was crazy! The streets were bustling with cars and motor bikes honking and swerving around each other but the sidewalk was even more chaotic. Canopies hung low trying to keep the heat out as shops owners and street venders littered the walkway. There were smells of every color and some of the strangest things for sale I’ve ever seen. There were extravagant clothes and food, herb medicine shops and 7/11’s. Sometimes the streets were so full you had to walk in the gutter of the street. It was hectic and just as bad when we got to the temple. It was packed with people. Some were burning incenses and candles, bowing and praying. Others were sitting along the sides trying to rest in the shade of the temple walls. There were tables set up full of fresh fruit and flowers that were put there as offerings by the visitors.
The architecture of this place was beautiful too. It’s different then when we were in Japan. Many of those temples were bold in architecture and definitely something I would call traditional for the culture, but is paled significantly by this temple and I’m assuming most of the temples in China. It was amazingly extravagant and fantastic. Every surface was covered in colorful cherubs and carvings. There were dragons and flowers painted and all the statues for worship were in gold. The majority of the temple was an outside courtyard surrounded by an intricately decorated wall. There were 2 main buildings inside that held the gold statues and candles. After we were done exploring and observing there we walked across the street to the ‘park’ which let me tell you was probably the biggest let down of the day. It wasn’t as much of a park as it was a paved homeless rest stop. Surrounding the spontaneously planted trees were people laying on tarps and covered in dirt, surrounded by small piles that contained their worldly possessions. Their faces looked worn and their eyes sad. It was grounding after being in such an ornate setting only a few feet away. A little unnerved we all decided it would be best to find the subway and try to head home. However we were surprised yet again to see that underground among the speeding trains we were only to find more shops! An entire underground bazar hidden from the surface. These shops held anything from fine jewelry and symbolic stones and statues to knick knacks. Eventually we managed to find our way to the train terminals and we got back to the street our hostel is on. This story will be continued in the next post! WHAT DAY IS IT? Mangrove day! I am so excited! But okay, let me back up. Earlier today was our first day of classes for our second half of the term. this time around we are taking Chinese Political science and Economics. Neither are really my thing so I opted to just take PoliSci. Crossing my fingers and toes that this goes well. ANYWHO.. Mangroves. For those of you who don’t know, Mangroves are a very specific kind of ecosystem similar to a wetland or marsh except that in a mangrove you have both salt water and fresh water. There is a segment on the BBC Life series that I really like if you guys are wanting a little bit more info. They talk a lot about the mud skippers that live in the mud under the trees. Mud skippers are these really cute, kind of freaky lung fish type things. They need to stay moist to survive and don’t have legs really, only these fin, tentacle things that help them scooch along in the thick mud. There are also these really bad ass crabs that are there too. The documentary doesn’t talk about them as much but they are all over the place. They make these little burrows in the ground and don’t like to come out except we found the trick! (Okay, we were told the trick but technicality!) All you have to do is throw some of the leaves on the trees down and they come out to feast! They love leaves but only get to eat them when they fall because the trees are too high. So freaking cute!
Ow, ow, ow! My hands! My poor poor hands. Today was My Geology final and let me just say one thing; 3 hours, 5 essays. They may never be at full working capacity again… Okay, I’m exaggerating. They don’t even hurt anymore, but still, one of the most intense finals of my college career. However, I am happy to announce that I think I owned that! I was on fire! My diagrams were amazing! And I think my essays went pretty well too. Nothing to do but wait for the results I guess but I’m pretty confident. After that painful start though I had a very luxurious day. Me and some classmates all went down and sat in some hot-springs for the afternoon which started off interesting and ended kind of gross but whatever! It was still really cool and fun. Then tonight we got to go to a classical concert. Now, I’m not usually one for classical music. I know, it’s beautiful and such great works of art but I just can’t handle a lot. It makes me sleepy. We heard some really great stuff tonight through and I managed to stay awake for almost all of it. (awkward shifty eyes) I may not be the best concert buddy but I’m really happy I got to go. It’s so cool I get to do all sorts of things like this while I’m away. I definitely feel I opportunities in Taiwan than I did in Japan. Or maybe it’s just my perspective. I know I have probably said this a million times by now (and get ready for a million more) I Love Taipei! Literature Exam… nailed it. Let’s go Taiwan some more!
Ooh! Ahh! I am in such a good mood! I have been craving a good museum day the past few days now. I have loved Japan, and Taiwan but all the touristy spots with their shops and restaurants, I just want to go to a nice quiet place. A place I can be thoughtful and reflective. A place I can go be educated and learn and see things I never thought of before. And today I finally got my opportunity in the form of a beautiful art museum! Though let me tell you, this was way different from Chicago. From the art we got to look at to the people who were visiting. Talk about a bit of culture shock. Everything was full of beautiful calligraphy and the paintings were exquisite. The people were… let’s say a little less than charming. A lot of shoving and pushing. I’m sorry to say that it ruined many peoples experiences but lucky for me I just viewed it as a Lolla repeat.
THE ISLAND OF TAIWAN IS ONE FOURTH THE SIZE OF ILLINOIS. Most of that is mountainous and borderline unlivable. The island holds and sustains the population of 24 million people. For some perspective, Illinois population is only 13 million. With double the population in a sixteenth of the strength, Taiwan had one of the highest population densities in the world. I don’t know if I will ever be able to describe Taipei in a way that will accurately depict what I have seen here, no matter how many words I write, because this is another world entirely. More than Japan, this is a place people must see for themselves. Even though my trip is only barely half way through, I’m going to go ahead and say that this is the most beautiful place I have ever been in my life and is my favorite city of the whole trip. To me, Taipei has everything a city should have and is distributed in such a beautiful way. |
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