31 May 2008

我已经厌倦 (I'm Tired)

What a long day. And two posts!! Luck you.

The day started with the pics of the dorm building, and after I read a bit of the Analects, I decided to go for a walk around the university. We ended up at Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall (link opens in GoogleEarth), and the place was bustling. Some shutterclicks later...


...and we were off for breakfast and shopping at the markets. We visited the handicap market, at which handicapped individuals sold their handicrafts; the flower market, where plants from bonsai to orchids to jasmine were sold; and the jade market, with more handmade jewelry than you could shake your beading needle at. People kept getting spooked or embarassed by the camera, so I had to resort to sly, even underhanded methods: I turned the flash off and started snapping with the camera at belly-button level. Thusly the following images were born:





Later, we went to the electronics part of town (where I tasted pig blood rice cake...not terrible...and) bought a new memory card for my camera. Then professor Smith took us on the subway...


To taste the best tea I ever hope to have in my lifetime: Bao Chang Cha. And the best Oolong tea in the world. And spent far too much on some for myself. It's my vice.




Lastly we met up and all went out for delicious Taiwanese food. Delicious!!! Here's the smorgasbord: 

That's all for now! Hope you enjoyed, but now, it's time for bed!! Zai jian!

30 May 2008

我到了! (I have arrived!)

Hi to all! I arrived last night at around 7:00 pm Taiwan time (7:00am EST), and we were ushered into a bus and had a rainy ride to NTNU. After arriving and getting all of our stuff inside (soaking wet) we went out to the night markets to buy umbrellas and get something to eat. A hearty meal of 牛肉飯 (beef and rice) we returned to our rooms to unpack and get some sleep.
I woke up this morning shortly after sunrise and have been snapping photos on my NEW CAMERA!! and answering emails this morning. Now I'm sipping Oolong tea (Taiwan's famous for the stuff) and wrting to all of you!

Oh, here are some of those pics:

A balcony view

3rd floor hallway



I like the blue in this one.



Check out all the motorbike parking!


Hope you are well. More updates to come!

Yours,
  Joshua