Majesty Hotel Taoyuan

... that I wanted to take to India with me because it was a bit smaller and less space consuming. I had managed to pack that one with all the things I was going to need/use in both India and Thailand so I was so happy. I ran around and could not find a box big enough to fit my backpack in. I also discovered that boxes going to Thailand cannot be more than 50 cm in length...and my backpack was longer than that. Result: I had to take all the stuff I ...

... the zone and was just enjoying swimming around underwater trying to get the best pictures and videos ever. I always went with a wicked group of people and we just had so much fun, it was insane. This one weekend there were 9 of us. 5 new SCUBA students (Micheael, Jimmy, Kat, Gill, Josh), me, Emil, Dawn (Emil's friend) and Derek. It was quite a large group...but we all managed and had a great time. In September we went diving once, during the first weekend ...

... confused looks from the Taiwanese people when you say it. Or they will simply laugh at you cuz you've said something incredibly funny. I think that things are going well though. I've picked it up rather quickly and have retained a lot of vocabulary. Of course...even before I started taking Chinese classes...I did a lot of vocabulary and oral practice with my various co-teachers. I would just ask them how to say certain things and then ...

What to do with 4 hours with nothing to do in Taipei airport? Summon Mom and Grandmom to the rescue, of course. I was whisked away to a random market in nearby Taoyuan City where I enjoyed delicious sui-jian-bao (water-fried-bun), guo-tieh (potstickers), dan-bing (egg pancake), mi ...

... a giant castle from the outside. As soon as I take some pics...I will post them for you all to see. It's pretty cool. Anyway...she found this gym and then she joined. I had been post-poning the joining until I got a scooter because bussing and taking a taxi everywhere is an expensive pain in the ass. LOL. On Saturday though I was able to purchase a scooter from this teacher who is leaving Taiwan to go back home. This ...

... U.S. Canada, and Australia, after China and Russia, and even after Brazil and Argentina, I haven't had a chance to visit this second most populous and 7th biggest country in the world. Another ancient civilization with a lot great cultural heritage sites, it is now the country I want to visit most. Among all of India, the area I would like to see most is the northwestern region of Rajasthan, an area with a lot temples and palaces. Jaipur, Udaipur ...

... place for a week night with many worshippers attending placing their incense and candles. It made for quite an atmosphere and spectacle with the smoke rising from around the various altars against a highly colourful background of painted and guilded temple fittings and building. Taipei 101 - the world's tallest building - great night views. We figured with this one that the air is rarely clean enough to see more than a few hundred metres at any time so we might as well go up th ...

... I hear two cars coming in my direction within two minutes - I had not expected any car at such early hour. I wave a hitch hiking sign, but both cars pass. Then the second car, an open transpoter, stops and I tell the driver where I want to go and he says its his direction. I throw my backpack on the open back of the car and off it goes. We talk as good as it goes and I learn that he is from Yilan and goes to a small village on way to Lishan for some ...

Well followed the MRT to the end of the red line and what is there but a huge port city that has a year round carnival. Yep they have fun houses and food shops and arcades 365 days a year. so after throwing darts taking pictures and eating some BBQ squid we ate on the water. they served whole fish in tin foil and a fire pit to grill them on.

... tomorrow night to apply for a visa there, so that means I will miss two days of classes here. Any prayers for safe travel and that getting my visa will go smoothly would be much appreciated. I'm excited though just to see another Asian city. THE SOUNDS (at the moment) Just one last thing, but apparently the wireless internet in our apartment is not working, which is unfortunate since now I can't use my laptop to check my email, nor as often. I'm right now in an internet cafe ...