Taiwan 台灣

I took these pictures with my little point + shoot camera. 

They're just little snaps to share with my family back home and my friends around the world. 

A sun shower in Taichung 台中Taiwan 台灣

An alley in Taipei 台北 Taiwan 台灣

 LuKang 鹿港  Taiwan 台灣

Chinese New Year in LuKang 鹿港  Taiwan 台灣

LuKang 鹿港  Taiwan 台灣

LuKang 鹿港  Taiwan 台灣
(this one was blurry, but I liked it!)

A view of Ying Cai Road in Taichung 台中Taiwan 台灣, Hotel One in the distance

An empty market at night in Taichung 台中Taiwan 台灣

My Love Affair!

There is something that has stolen my heart.
I am in love with Rilakkuma Bear.

In Taiwan there are several chains of 24 hour convenience stores:  Family Mart, Hi Life, and 7-11's.
They are almost everywhere you go, and each one has it's own promotion.
Family Mart has Astro Boy, Hi Life has teddy bears, and 7-11 has Rilakkuma Bear.

Click HERE to see the website and watch a commercial.

 

When you buy things they give you stickers. When you collect enough stickers you can redeem them for food or products, or get toys. At the 7-11 I always get a little Rilakkuma Bear.

The box looks like every other box, so you never know what's inside of it,
kind of like Kinder Toys (which I used to collect in High School).

Yup. This type of marketing works on me, and I've had a lot of help collecting stickers from people who really don't care that much about stickers (which is almost everyone).

Rilakkuma is everywhere!

And I have a wish. I want this costume for Halloween!
I imagine wearing it and walking around the halls of the school where I teach.
I think the kids would go bonkers!

"Rilakkuma Bear - Gummy Bear Song" 

Music Monday - Coming around again

Dear friends, Hello again.

It's been a little while.

Adjusting to a new life abroad was harder than I had anticipated.

"I'm a strong person!", I thought before I left.

"I'm positive and optimistic. I'm happy. I'm capable. I'm resourceful.

Life has thrown crazy and life-changing situations before me, and I've faced them head-on and standing strong. So this will be a piece of cake!"

As usual, I never go into too much personal detail in my public blog musings. And, as usual, I won't list the troubles because sharing them here would solidify them and make them permanent. 

And they're not permanent.

I am lifting and coming around. The emotional low is temporary.

And I am focusing on the positive, taking each day step-by-step, and noting and celebrating all the ways in which I am blessed - and there is so much to be grateful for.

I've been laying low, but I'm slowly reconnecting to myself again. I'll start shining soon!

Since it is Monday here in Taiwan, I'll share two songs that have been my "refuge songs". They've kept me buoyant during difficult times and maybe, if you ever need them, they'll resonate with you and keep you safe.

If you have some to share please send them through e-mail, or just comment!

These are mainly songs about letting go. Releasing whatever is inside of you. 

Acknowledging your strength, taking a leap, and trusting the landing will be soft.

Fearless - Matthew Good

Let It Be - The Beatles

E-I-E-I-O

Yesterday we went to a baseball game.
Earlier on that day, my friend Cousin Alex from Toronto had written to me suggesting that I go
to a ball game here. How serendipitous!

On the way we stopped off at 7-11 and I picked up some yummy hot pot treats. II chose one of each item because I wasn't sure what each one was. In the end, I liked the tofu cubes best!

The baseball game was a lot of fun! Taiwanese people sing and bang drums and make noise the whole time, so I sang and banged two water bottles together and made noise too.

We ate lychees in the stands.

Little bats flew around the field lights eating bugs, and there was a moment when the chanting turned into the tune of "Old MacDonald Had A Farm" and "E-I-E-I-O" became part of the chant!!!

Walking In The Clouds

8:00!! Wake Up!! Time for a hike!!

All of the veggies and fruits here are really fresh and delicious. We bought pineapple from a vendor on the street.

After a while of driving into the countryside we took a wrong turn and had to go back. 

The roads are pretty narrow! But we did it!

Here are these fruit trees where all the fruits have been wrapped in little bags. It protects them from bugs!

The further we drove up the more misty it became.

It's really beautiful here.

Here is a map of our path up the mountain.

There are so many beautiful pictures that I want to post, but I tried to choose the best ones to share.

Here is the beginning of the path. It started off relatively steep, with many roots underfoot.

The trees were so old and beautiful.

The path started to get steeper and steeper. 

Ropes appeared and we had to use them to pull ourselves along in some places.

After about an hour, I was panting, and sweating, and finally we got to this nice soft patch of flat-ish ground. "I'm so happy! So flat and nice" I say in my out-of-breath voice, "That would be CRAZY if suddenly there was this sheer vertical cliff in front of me! That would be so hilarious". 

5 minutes later, Andy, meet sheer vertical cliff.

Up and up and up we go!!

The top!!! HURRAY!!

Now to go back down!! The sun started to come out and we got some great views!

The hike lasted 4 or 5 hours in total. By the end of it my legs were shaking!

I'm definitely going to be doing this hike many times and hopefully I'll be able to cut down the time.

What an amazing day!

Sending you all hugs from across the ocean, Andy

Eagle Has Landed!

Hello to everyone around the world and back home in Canada.

I've landed in Taiwan, I've sorted myself out, 

and I'm going to share some pics from my adventure so far!

For the flight I bought a neck pillow that looks like a pig donut. 

He is filled with little teeny styrofoams and is SO soft and comfy. 

I call him PEEG. Here he is sitting on my hat.

Here I am a mile high in the sky, taking a snap in the washroom before conking out.

I was prepared for sleep: ear plugs, sleep mask, blankets, sleeping pills, and PEEG.

Waking up to fried rice. The flight across to Narita Airport was 12 hours long.

Narita to Taipei!!

Landing in Taipei!! I look super nerdy in my glasses.

 

Sculptures in the airport by Huang Yi.

Me with "Snoot", or "Uncle Happy" as titled by the artist:

"Uncle Happy comes from the North, and comes to visit Taiwan annually. The trip is the happiest and most anticipated time of the year for him, and as he enters into Taiwan to embark on his year's journey, he brings with him lots of gifts for his Taiwanese friends".

Sleeping on the bus on the way to Taichung.

The view from our apartment!

After dropping off our luggage we went to the 7-11 to get some late night snacks.

I ate a tea egg (an egg hard boiled in black tea), some sweet and salty peanuts with little dried fish, 

and a rice triangle filled with sweet meat.

Then it was time for sleep! The next day: Mountain Climbing!!

Uh-Oh

I am going here?!?

To the magical land of this?

cute gingerbread guys found here

and this!

Skechers "Rainbow Sherbet" sneakers

and this!!!

AND THIS?!?!?!

I'm in BIG trouble...

This big bear's name is Rilakkuma.

I hope he's waiting for me when I get there.  

Rufus would be jealous.