Ambassador Kaohsiung

Yesterday we woke up and went to a little place that made western-style breakfast sandwiches. They were fairly good and incredibly cheap. After that we went to the zoo and saw a crocodile that recently bit off it's care takers' arm. We also went to an incredible little area called Lotus Pond that has a number of pagodas and temples. While we were there we happened to witness a ceremony for the 10/10 celebrations. It consisted of lots of money burning, music, dancing, people ...

... Yifa lectured us (previously after class, all the girls were pulled aside and targeted specifically for the same reason) about how everyone is getting sick. The staff's message was pretty much 'suck it up,' as if people were just skipping activities when they really didn't need to, whereas Yifa asked why we think everyone' getting sick. People are complaining about not enough free time, not enough sleep, low salt/blood sugar- big ...

... funny. Did I say something wrong? Irene explains that its not supposed to taste good, they just want me to taste the difference between the beans. Oh. It still tasted good to me. What do I know? We order some coffee to be roasted and kafe jojo orders us some too, which is really nice. If the Taiwanese know you likes something, they will buy it for you so you will enjoy your stay. They are really, really hospitable.

We leave the coffee shop ...

... of books and reference materials for purchase. It's almost time for the Key Note talk, so we wander upstairs to the main presentation hall. It appears that not many people are interested in hearing the Key Note Speaker talk about investigating earth science using a diamond anvil, because the hall is relatively empty. However, I am surprised when I realize that the speaker was part of the group at dinner last night. I am embarrassed to admit that I had problems ...

... was built a house for the director of customs. In order to get to the house, we had to walk up many steep steps. At the top of the steps is the house, which has now been converted into a small museum displaying historical relics, drawings, and photographs. On the Taiwan Strait side of the fort there was a large observation tower that we could walk up into and see the Tainan City from above. It was neat to learn some of the history behind Tainan City and Taiwan. We left the old fort ...

... noch kleinere Nebenaltaere mit kleineren Gottesstatuen, Ritualgegenstaende zur Weissagung, kleine Laempchen, die man sich kaufen kann, um glueck zu haben. Und die Tempel sind innen wie aussen mit wunderschoenen Relieffs und Wandgemaelden geschmueckt. Alle Tempel sind sehr aehnlich, doch jeder ist auch ein irgendwo speziell und sehr schoen. Es gibt auch immer eine Verkaufstheke fuer Raeucherstaebchen, Ritualgeld und Gleucksbringer. Die Tempel werden sehr ...

... Computer in Kaohsiung). Tainan ist eine der aeltesten Staedte Taiwans und historisch sehr bedeutsam. Es wurde von den Hollaendern gegruendet, hatte zwei Forts, wurde dann von einem Quing General befreit (der es als Rueckzugsgebiet vor den Ming Erorberen nutzte, hat aber nichts genutzt, die Quings waren Geschichte). Der Quing General Koxinga ist dadurch aber einer der wenigen, die von allen verehrt werden ...

... und int**essant fand und mich angequatscht hat - gewonnen hat natu**lich **, ab** nur beim **sten Mal :) Ansonsten haben wir mal einen bunten, lauten, riesiegen Nachtmarkt besucht, haben chinesische Spiele, wie Kreisel und Fuss-Fed**ball ausprobi**t od** ein bisschen TaiChi gemacht und einfach die Stadt durchwand**t um dies und jenes zu besorgen od** um von A nach B zu kommen. Ein ganz eigenes Kapitel nimmt hi** in Taiwan das Essen ein. Es ist ...