**Note: the blog is in Chinese, so you'll have to use google translate to read it! Go here and enter the web address and language to be translated.
Showing posts with label Taiwan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Taiwan. Show all posts
friends.
Check out our friend Tom's new blog.
Tom is a friend from Taiwan. He and his wife, Alice, moved into a new apartment last spring which had it's very own OVEN! A very rare thing for Taiwan. We spent a number of weekends hanging out and enjoying delicious food with Tom and Alice. They are very adventurous in their cooking and love to try a variety of new recipes. We're excited to be able to keep in touch and see what they're cooking up. We miss you guys!
**Note: the blog is in Chinese, so you'll have to use google translate to read it! Go here and enter the web address and language to be translated.
**Note: the blog is in Chinese, so you'll have to use google translate to read it! Go here and enter the web address and language to be translated.
Yehliu.
Last weekend we finally visited the North East Coast of Taiwan. This has been on our list all year and we decided to make a day trip out of it on Sunday. We were up early and on the bus to Taipei by 8. From there we took the bus to Yehliu which took about one hour, arriving just after 10:30.
Yehliu is know for it's beautiful rock formations on the coast which are thought to be 10-15 million years old. Unfortunately because of the number of tourists visiting each year, some of the formations have been damaged and are disappearing. The textures of the rocks are fabulous.
We were glad to arrive when we did, as the weather was perfect and the crowds were small due to predicted rain. We spent nearly 3 hours just wandering around and enjoying the views.
Weekend Adventures.
Last weekend our friends May & Andy took us out for a hike and dinner. We headed to the beach to see the mangrove and do some crab fishing. Then we hiked 1.5km up a mountain that overlooks Hsinchu, Nanliao, Shinfong, and the Taiwan Strait.
It was a nice, sweaty, hike. After the hike we went to a Japanese Barbeque for dinner... and I think Dan has a new favorite food. Here are some not so great photos (obviously taken on my point and shoot camera), but wanted to share our experience...
Thanks May & Andy for a wonderful afternoon and evening!
Wuliaojian
When discussing weekend activities with students, I almost always encounter a student who says he enjoys mountain climbing. Since day one, both Dan and I have corrected these students and explained that what they enjoy doing is called hiking in English.
That is, until we visited Wuliaojian.
Wuliaojian comes with warnings and prerequisites...
"Gloves are a good idea otherwise the ropes will take a toll. DON'T do this hike on wet or windy day, it's just too dangerous and wouldn't be fun anyway."
Wuliaojian is, afterall, mountain climbing!
Heeding these warnings, we had planned many weekend visits that were postponed due to rain. We were finally able to visit a few weekends ago on a spontaneous trip.
Saturday night we decided that we'd try to do the hike on Sunday. We got up (not too early) and headed to the bus station by 10am. The bus to Taipei took about an hour as usual and we hopped on the MRT Blue Line to Yongning, arriving a little after noon. There we were supposed to ask a taxi driver to take us to the trail head, however the two we asked did not know the location. So we checked the directions again and found a bus headed for Sanxia, the town near the trail head. Unfortunately in our haste, we boarded the bus headed back toward the city and failed to realize until nearly 45 minutes later. When we realized, we got off the bus and back on the MRT to Yongning! This time we were able to find a taxi driver who knew exactly where we wanted to go...2.5 hours and $300NT later we were standing at the foot of a high staircase at the trailhead.
The trail is not published in our Lonely Planet or Taipei Day Hikes, so we used these sites as our guides.
The hike began with a steep steps that soon faded into rocks. We were thankful for the advanced suggestion of gloves as rocks turned into boulders and our only way up was by using the ropes. About an hour into the hike, it started to level off and allowed for a more relaxed pace. Since we had arrived in the afternoon the sun wasn't as hot and there were absolutely no other people. However, it was quite humid as the trees trapped the hot air in and allowed for little breeze. Plus with all the climbing, we were sweaty!
After hiking/climbing for about 2.5 hours, we came to the crest, a beautiful overlook into the city. We rested for a bit, taking in the views, but the time and the impending clouds forced us to keep moving. Our research told us that the hike would take 4+ hours, but we had no way of gauging our progress. We didn't want to end up in the woods after dark, or get stuck in a rainstorm! So we pressed on...the descent was much quicker and took us in a loop. Soon we were back on the main road near where we started. The entire hike took just under 4 hours.
Unfortunately, due to the intensity of the climb (and the need for two hands), we were unable to get many pictures. Here are a few more to give you an idea of the hike. Also check out YouTube for some videos others have taken.
Recent Happenings
Dinner at the Leo's
Western Style Cooking Lesson
This past weekend we went back to the Leo's for a Western style meal. Sherry's mother wanted to learn how to cook steaks "Western style." So we had a great meal, complete with baked potatoes, green beans, broccoli, salad, rolls, and American beer. The family had a great time enjoying some of our favorites. We even got them to eat raw broccoli for the first time (in the salad), and the baked potatoes were a hit.
Making Zongzi - Rice Dumplings
After dinner Sunday we stopped by Shao Hu's house and learned how to make zongzi with Sherry's aunt. These rice dumplings are a traditional food eaten mostly during Dragon Boat Festival.
Sun Moon Lake
This past weekend, our school sponsored a trip to Sun Moon Lake for all employees. We took advantage of this opportunity to visit one of the must-see places in Taiwan. The rain held off and the sun appeared, making for a fun day with friends.
We left early, 7:20am, taking a bus south to Nantou County. The ride took about 2.5 hours to get to the Aboriginal Cultural Center. In essence, this is an aboriginal themed amusement park...fully equipped with roller coasters and street venders. We headed first to the gondola ride that takes visitors to the actual lake. This is where traveling with a group pays off...our tour guide lead us straight to the front of the line and we boarded in less than 20 minutes, while others waited upwards of an hour to board. The gondola ride is about 5 minutes and goes up and over a few hills/mountains, before opening up to this vast lake.
The gondola made for spectacular views of the lake and surrounding mountains - these pictures don't do it justice.
Our day ended with a a wonderful buffet in nearby Taichung. It was nice to be able to just sit and talk with these people we've worked so closely with over the past few months. We had a great day and enjoyed getting to know some of our co-workers better.
Lion Dance
A few weeks ago, our friend Sherry and her family took us to a Tung Blossom Festival. While there, Dan learned how to dance! The mask is a traditional mask used during festivals and parades - it's paper mache and is sold for $25,000NT ($787US).
Rueili
This weekend we took a little trip to a small town called Rueili in Chaiyi County. Saturday was Labor Day, so we didn't have to work, which gave us a few extra hours to enjoy our weekend away.
Saturday, we woke early and headed to Chaiyi via High Speed Train. The trip only took about an hour, and in Chaiyi, we caught the County bus to Rueili. According to our trusty guidebook, the trip was to take about 2 hours. However, this area was hit hard when Typhoon Markot hit the island back in August causing a number of landslides that washed out parts of the roads. A number of times we found ourselves looking straight down into the valley where the opposite side of the road had fallen, or coming head on with other cards due to an entire lane missing. After nearly 2 hours of traveling, we were sure we had to be arriving soon. We I asked the driver is we were in Rueili yet, he just laughed and said one more hour! Apparently, due to the road conditions, the trip takes much longer now.
**Note to other travelers: The Alishan Railway is closed currently due to typhoon damage - it is unclear as to when it will be open.
Upon arrival in Rueili, we checked into our hotel and ate some lunch before heading out on a hike. The weather was absolutely beautiful - and the view was spectacular! We decided to start at the Visitor's Center - however, didn't realize that it was nearly 4km away! The scenery was worth it though and after picking up a map, we learned which trails were passable and which were not - valuable information in the mountains!
We began with a short hike on part of the butterfly trail that followed a stream through various tea fields and ponds filled with coi. We then turned off and climbed UP into a bamboo forest called the "Green Tunnel." Here we spent nearly an hour wandering through the bamboo forest, enjoying the fresh smells and the quiet landscape. When we emerged from the tunnel, we were surrounded by fields of tea and peach trees. We bought some interesting fruit called mountain tomatoes.
(I don't think they were quite ripe yet!)
Back at the hotel, we enjoyed a nice dinner before heading out to see the firefly show. Rueili is one of the best places in Taiwan to see fireflies - and while the show is nothing new for us having grown up in the country, Taiwanese flock to this area specifically to see the beautiful lights after dark. We assumed they'd be all around, but after talking to the hotel owner, we found out that there was a particular trail we needed to head to in order to see the fireflies. Luckily a group of Taiwanese college students were nice enough to give us a ride as it was quite a walk from the hotel. It was fun to watch these college students experience fireflies for the first time and to hear their excitement!
Sunday morning Dan woke early for the sunrise - I was too tired to get out of bed. Unfortunately, the sun didn't make a grand appearance, but the lighting was great for some morning photos.
After breakfast, we set out on our hike for the day. The trail head began on a winding path through a number of tea fields and temples. Soon, however, the path turned to very steep stairs surrounded by bamboo forests. We had to take it slow at times due to the moss growing on the stone stairs - which made it very slippery at times. We descended a many, many stairs before arriving at the main part of the trail. During this time, we had some great views of the surrounding mountains and a number of landslides....such a beautiful place, sad that it's been hit by such destruction.
At the base of the stairs, the trail followed the river winding through stone cliffs and a bat cave. The trail ended at a suspension bridge. We were able to cross the bridge, however the trail was very damaged on the other side. We turned around and began the long trek back to the hotel for lunch. This is where we decided the count the steps on our way up...there was no way we could do it all at once, so we decided to climb 100 stairs at a time, finally reaching the top in an hour - completely 1618 stairs!! It was quite a victory to make it to the top! Felt good, but completely wiped out.
After lunch we waited for our bus back to Chaiyi. When it arrived, we were informed that it only went to Meishan, where we'd have to change buses - luckily there was a family traveling that same direction who could speak a little English to help us with this. The decent down the mountain was much quicker - less than 2 hours - however, it left both of us feeling quite carsick from all the twists and turns and the drivers gas-break-gas-break driving!
Upon arrival in Chaiyi, we were beyond ready to be home. After grabbing a quick snack, we boarded yet another bus to the High Speed Rail Station - nearly 40 minutes outside of town (this is typical, yet I can't seem to understand why!)
Back home, we enjoyed a restful evening together, dreading the start of another workweek - but thankful for such a wonderful weekend outside the city.
Tung Blossom
It’s spring time in Taiwan, and if the fluctuating weather weren’t evidence enough, it’s hard to miss the flamboyant display of the tung oil trees in bloom. One of the most famous springtime sights to see in our northern corner of the island, the tung blossom is emblematic of the Hakka tribe and the economic expansion brought by the Japanese during their occupation.
The trees begin showing their stuff in March and continue into May. This being the end of April, in most places they are now in all their glory and splendor. They grow up to 60-70 feet tall, with a massively wide spread of branches and large white clusters of flowers. To stand at the foot of a mature tree is quite breathtaking.
Over a century ago, at the behest of the Japanese occupiers, tung trees were cultivated in Taiwan for their wood and for the tung oil derived of the fruits. The oil was used as a cleaner and as an ingredient in paint, varnish, caulking, and wood finish. The oil has since been replaced in all these applications by cheaper synthetic alternatives, but the trees remain as a symbol of Hakka culture. Thousands of people retreat to the mountains every spring to see the blossoms (sometimes called the “May snow” when they begin to fall) and to enjoy cultural activities at The Hakka Tung Blossom Festival.
Tung trees are two very similar species of tree, formerly of the genus Aleurites but now called Vernicia. V. fordii is the less common, currently accounting for about 10% of the tung oil trees in Taiwan. It was known as the ‘three-year tree’ because it was quickly ready for harvest, but had a relatively shorter lifespan. V. montana is vastly more prevalent, called the ‘millennium tung tree’ because of its long lifespan. Together these two are known as the tung oil tree: you tong shu, 油桐木.
Some sources also list Paulownia taiwaniana, whose close Paulownia relatives have long been cultivated as ornamental trees and for desirable timber characteristics (tone wood!) around the world including in the United States. In Chinese the name is quite similar: 泡桐, pao tong, although I haven’t been able to establish a real link in Taiwan between the Paulownia and the tung, which differ in genus but are within the tribe Aleuritideae. (When I asked students about this particular tree, they hadn’t a clue what I meant. This may or may not be directly related to my Chinese pronunciation.)
Whether we’re traveling by road, by train, or even by foot, we see these trees everywhere dotting the mountainside around Hsinchu county. One can even be found in our own little neighborhood, lining a schoolyard we frequently pass on morning walks to the park. The blossoms don’t have a distinct smell, but they are a wonder to behold in their delicate beauty and sheer numbers. What better way to pass a spring day than by drinking tea under the ‘May snow’ of a tung tree?
For more information:
http://www.videotaiwan.org.tw/english/Hakka-Tung/Hakka-Tung/
http://tung.hakka.gov.tw/eng/main.aspx
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/arts-&-leisure/2010/04/15/252563/2010-Hakka.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernicia_montana
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulownia
The trees begin showing their stuff in March and continue into May. This being the end of April, in most places they are now in all their glory and splendor. They grow up to 60-70 feet tall, with a massively wide spread of branches and large white clusters of flowers. To stand at the foot of a mature tree is quite breathtaking.
Over a century ago, at the behest of the Japanese occupiers, tung trees were cultivated in Taiwan for their wood and for the tung oil derived of the fruits. The oil was used as a cleaner and as an ingredient in paint, varnish, caulking, and wood finish. The oil has since been replaced in all these applications by cheaper synthetic alternatives, but the trees remain as a symbol of Hakka culture. Thousands of people retreat to the mountains every spring to see the blossoms (sometimes called the “May snow” when they begin to fall) and to enjoy cultural activities at The Hakka Tung Blossom Festival.
Tung trees are two very similar species of tree, formerly of the genus Aleurites but now called Vernicia. V. fordii is the less common, currently accounting for about 10% of the tung oil trees in Taiwan. It was known as the ‘three-year tree’ because it was quickly ready for harvest, but had a relatively shorter lifespan. V. montana is vastly more prevalent, called the ‘millennium tung tree’ because of its long lifespan. Together these two are known as the tung oil tree: you tong shu, 油桐木.
Some sources also list Paulownia taiwaniana, whose close Paulownia relatives have long been cultivated as ornamental trees and for desirable timber characteristics (tone wood!) around the world including in the United States. In Chinese the name is quite similar: 泡桐, pao tong, although I haven’t been able to establish a real link in Taiwan between the Paulownia and the tung, which differ in genus but are within the tribe Aleuritideae. (When I asked students about this particular tree, they hadn’t a clue what I meant. This may or may not be directly related to my Chinese pronunciation.)
Whether we’re traveling by road, by train, or even by foot, we see these trees everywhere dotting the mountainside around Hsinchu county. One can even be found in our own little neighborhood, lining a schoolyard we frequently pass on morning walks to the park. The blossoms don’t have a distinct smell, but they are a wonder to behold in their delicate beauty and sheer numbers. What better way to pass a spring day than by drinking tea under the ‘May snow’ of a tung tree?
For more information:
http://www.videotaiwan.org.tw/english/Hakka-Tung/Hakka-Tung/
http://tung.hakka.gov.tw/eng/main.aspx
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/arts-&-leisure/2010/04/15/252563/2010-Hakka.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernicia_montana
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulownia
What a wonderful weekend.
Dr. Pepper's BACK!
We also invited our friend Sherry - a former student of both Dan and I. Sherry is a sophomore in high school - but by looking at her and talking to her, you'd never know! She brought her father to lunch because he wanted to meet us - though he couldn't speak much English, it was a great time chatting with Sherry (then listening to her translate to her father!). During the meal he listed off a number of local attractions - many of which we have seen - but then offered to take us to the ones we have not been to. We accepted this offer, thinking maybe next weekend. He and Sherry discussed something in Chinese for a few minutes, then Sherry said "How about 5:00?" "Oh, tonight!?" It wasn't at all what we had planned for the day, but we were not about to turn down his generous hospitality. We parted ways for the afternoon and planned to meet at their home - which is near our apartment - later that evening.
Our next stop was to feed the fish! Dan just loves the fish in the canal that runs through downtown Hsinchu. We bought some fish food from a local vendor and sat by the canal feeding the fish...
Once we had exhausted our food sources, we headed home to meet up with Sherry and her family. Her father was taking us to Baoshan Reservoir - many people frequent this place to ride bicycles or just walk around. When we arrived, we walked across the dam to a seating area where Sherry's mother displayed the dumplings she had brought along as a snack. They were dumplings made by a former chef of Din Tai Fung - some of the most amazing soup dumplings we've ever eaten.
(Enjoying dumplings, while a stray dog - though very well behaved - begs for food!)
We enjoyed dumplings and chatting - learning a little Chinese along the way - as the sun set and the dark began to surround us. As we were cleaning up to go Sherry's father said "On to Beipu."
Oh, there's more!?! =)
We arrived 10 minutes later in the small town of Beipu, known for it's cold springs and traditional tea. Sherry and her family led us into a traditional Hakka restaurant where we were going to have some 擂茶 (lei cha) , or pounded tea. Because you shouldn't drink tea on an empty stomach, we ordered some noodles to eat first. Then they brought out the tea for us to pound.
First you start with a bowl of green tea leaves, peanuts, pumpkin seeds, and sesame seeds. Then you begin to pound them in a large wooden mortar and pestle.
After a few minutes it starts to mix in a wonderful rainbow of colors.
We each took a turn at grinding...it was quite tiring!
Until finally we had a green paste.
Last, you add hot water and make your tea!
We drank the tea out of small rice bowls - unfortunately I didn't get an photos!
The tea was wonderful with my new favorite dessert...Mochi!! It's a sticky glob of steamed gelatinous rice that you roll in ground peanut sugar. Yummy!!
Sunday, though rainy, was a great day to take in a nearby pottery town. Yingge is known to produce 70% of the tile in Taiwan and continues to be a potters paradise. We visited the Ceramics Musuem and enjoyed some famous 包子 (baozi), or meat filled steamed buns. Our day ended with a stop at our favorite Indian restaurant before heading home.
What a wonderful, unexpected weekend!
Tomb Sweeping Day
Qing Ming Jie, Tomb Sweeping Day, is the day when Chinese families honor their deceased ancestors by tending to their graves. It occurs every year on the 15th day after the vernal equinox, approximately April 5th, although individual families may celebrate during the weeks slightly before or after this date according to their preference or family tradition.
I have been hearing a lot about this lately, so I decided to trouble my friend Sandra for the inside scoop:
Qing Ming is an important time for traditional families because it brings extended family together physically from all over Taiwan and sometimes beyond. It also unites the family in purpose as they celebrate their common heritage and xiao, or filial piety.
The ritual is comprised of the cleaning of gravestones and surrounding area, followed by the presentation of flowers and food offerings like fruit, meat, and Mijiu, a kind of rice wine. They additionally make offerings by burning ghost money, the paper money stand-in that allows their forbears to have lots of spending cash in the life yonder.
All the dearly departed are fair game, but people rarely go beyond their great-grandfathers. Apparently this is because most families either can not trace or have not traced genealogy records past this point.
The on-site festivities last for a couple of hours, after which the family cleans up the offerings and reconvenes elsewhere for a reunion-style get-together. The food that had just been presented as an offering may be later consumed by living family members.
This is a nationally recognized holiday in Taiwan, so most people get a three day weekend to aid with the travel that may be necessary to complete their responsibilities. I’m informed that most families are still traditional enough to honor this celebration, while some of the new and progressive generation are tempted to shirk their duty in favor of a nice, lazy spring day.
I have been hearing a lot about this lately, so I decided to trouble my friend Sandra for the inside scoop:
Qing Ming is an important time for traditional families because it brings extended family together physically from all over Taiwan and sometimes beyond. It also unites the family in purpose as they celebrate their common heritage and xiao, or filial piety.
The ritual is comprised of the cleaning of gravestones and surrounding area, followed by the presentation of flowers and food offerings like fruit, meat, and Mijiu, a kind of rice wine. They additionally make offerings by burning ghost money, the paper money stand-in that allows their forbears to have lots of spending cash in the life yonder.
All the dearly departed are fair game, but people rarely go beyond their great-grandfathers. Apparently this is because most families either can not trace or have not traced genealogy records past this point.
The on-site festivities last for a couple of hours, after which the family cleans up the offerings and reconvenes elsewhere for a reunion-style get-together. The food that had just been presented as an offering may be later consumed by living family members.
This is a nationally recognized holiday in Taiwan, so most people get a three day weekend to aid with the travel that may be necessary to complete their responsibilities. I’m informed that most families are still traditional enough to honor this celebration, while some of the new and progressive generation are tempted to shirk their duty in favor of a nice, lazy spring day.
A Return to Knitting
Last summer I was a knitting fiend! I worked diligently as we drove around the country and planned for our trip to Taiwan - I was working on a pair of gloves that were to be a Christmas gift for my mother-in-law. They were finished just days before we boarded the plane to Taiwan. Packaged in a nice Christmas bag, they waited in amidst our boxes and bags of belongings packed away in my in-laws house. After arriving in Taiwan I thought little of knitting for many months. The heat and humidity didn't encourage me to wear anything made of wool, let alone knit with it.
It wasn't until the weather started to get cold that I picked up the needles and whipped up a quick hat for Dan. We began looking for some yarn shops, thinking we'd have a plethora to
choose from but were lucky to find one. Unfortunately, this experience led me to hibernate my needles again - what's the point in knitting if you don't have good supplies? But when I found this sweater tee, I began to think I might be able to find some summer tops that I could knit and add to my slim wardrobe here in Taiwan and got motivated! I printed the pattern and headed to the yarn shop near our usual Saturday lunch - “Mr.Toast”, and was able to find this beautiful green yarn and the needles I needed. They weren’t the exact size, but I’m finding that they work just fine.
Day 1: I started knitting on the bus ride to Taipei - the bus ride is an hour each way, so I got a good hour and half of knitting out of it (due to lack of light on the return trip, I didn't get much knitting done!).
Day 3: I’m quite impressed with the progress I’ve made in just 3 days!
After a few days of hardcore knitting, I took a break and did some reading. I needed to put it aside for a bit so that I didn't get bored. When I picked it up again, I worked like a racehorse, it grew so quickly.
Day 8: It's starting to look more like a sweater.
And just two days later...
Day 10: FINISHED!
I have a special "package" arriving in a few weeks that will bring my next knitting project! Until then, I'll enjoy my sweater in what little cool weather we have left for me to wear it; luckily it's short sleeved!!
Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival
This weekend we headed to Taipei for the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival. We met up with our friend Susannah and a couple visiting Taiwan on a three month rock climbing tour of Southeast Asia. While we knew the festival attracted many people, we were unprepared for the actual turnout.The Sky Lantern Festival is an annual event held in various locations around the country. Depending on the location, lanterns are decorated with written wishes and either released into a river or into the air.
Here's how it works...
Step 1 : Decorate a lantern with your New Year's wishes
Step 2: Insert paper money soaked in lighter fluid into the wire support at the base of the lantern. Light and use your foot to hold the lantern to the ground and hands to hold the "corners" away from the flame until the lantern fills with hot air.
Step 3 : Once the lantern is filled with hot air, the paper will become tight and you can release your hands and feet.
Step 4 : Once you release your lantern, you pray that it doesn't float into a nearby tree, house, or power line.
Step 5 : Watch as your lantern floats higher and higher...
In addition to individuals setting off lanterns throughout the night, the festival scheduled the release of some 8,000 lanterns. They would release hundreds at a time, creating a beautiful image in the sky.
We even took some time and decorated our own lanterns to release...
Around 8pm we decided to make our way back to the buses...however ended up spending 2 hours in a mass of people waiting to board. They corralled people into two lines, one for sitting and the other for standing, however with the mass of people, there was confusion on which line was which. Luckily we were in the standing line which moved faster. We spent another hour standing/sitting on the floor of the bus and arrived back to the train station just in time to catch one of the last trains at 11:45. We finally arrived at the bus station around 12:45 where we caught the last bus back to Hsinchu and were in bed by 2:15am.
After sharing with our co-workers on Monday, we learned that it was broadcast on television not to go on the first day due to the expectation of such large crowds and that the crowds exceeded any previous years attendance. It was worth it, but, like Times Square on New Year's Eve, I don't ever want to go back!
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