Well, this post is starting on Saturday night at around 11PM. I really just wanted to check in and say I may not be able to post much tomorrow. We leave for the Airport at 630AM on Sunday (630PM Saturday for those at home). I'll be sure to put up more videos and pictures when I can.
As for today, it started out a little rough. For some reason the screen on my NEW camcorder decided to quit working! Luckily, we are 1 block away from the camera street here in Taipei! There must be 20 different camera stores within one side of one city block! I tried to get the old one fixed first, but they don't do that. So I caved and bought another new camcorder. I just couldn't be without one for the rest of the trip; We still have Tokyo to go! The new camcorder cost about the same as the last one I bought. Although this one has a MUCH better camera in it and actually takes much better video too! So I guess it wasn't all a loss. I am very happy with this new camera. I was able to barter some with the lady in the store too. That is another nice part about the culture here. While she wouldn't move much on the price, I did get her to throw in some extras (battery, bag, etc...).
We finally got our massage today. It was great at some parts, but downright PAINFUL in others. Those ladies twisted and turned us in ways that are just flat out unnatural ;)
After the massage it was on to an all you can eat and drink buffet. The food was excellent there too!
We walked over to Taipei 101 after that and some people went up in the tower. I didn't go again though. There was still a few stores I had to check out around town.
Well, it's about 90 degrees and humid outside right now (where I'm posting) and it's 11:15PM. I need to get finished packing since we leave in 7 hours. I'll post more soon.
Showing posts with label Taiwan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Taiwan. Show all posts
Saturday, May 16, 2009
5/15 - Friday
Once again I'm a day behind my blog posts. It's Saturday night and I'm ready to talk about Friday night. We're told we will have internet access in Japan in our rooms, so hopefully I will be better then. For now I'll have to continue posting from outside our hotel room (where it's 88 degrees at 10:45PM and humid!)
Friday we took a 3+ hour bus ride to a company called Taiwan Biotechnology Inc. They are a subsidiary of AGV Beverage. The company makes drinks that are meant to improve your health, e.g. lower cholesterol, etc.... Their plant was really amazing! It was 95% automated. The automation allows them to keep a sterile bottling environment. They told us that the bottling area is as sterile as a hospital operating room! They fed us there while we listened to a presentation. The food was great! It was rice and turkey (and a few other odds and ends in the mix).
After AGV we went to Cheng Chung University and visited our pen-pals. I continue to be impressed with how well everyone seems to speak English. We ate more food with our pen pals and made a scented perfume purse. These purses are said to ward off evil spirits.
We stopped for food at the 2nd largest city in Taiwan on the way home. Some members of the group ate at Chili's. Melody and I continued to be brave and went to a local eatery. What a mess. This particular location did not have people that spoke English serving the food. I "thought" I knew what I was doing, as I had eaten the pork on a stick before. However, this time it turns out that you are supposed to take the pork of the stick and drop it into a broth as a soup. The lady tried to tell me, but I couldn't understand a word. She took my bowl and filled it for me to save me any more trouble ;) She then tried to ask if I wanted noodles or dumplings with it (in Chinese). She kept pointing at the menu (in Chinese). Thankfully our professor was nearby. Charlie was able to translate and save the day for me. :-)
We went out again at night. We went to a bar called Barcode at first. However, after waiting literally 30 min for 1 drink we were left. We ended up back at the same bar we had gone to a few nights before - Barbados. The bartender was impressed that I remembered her English name (Alison). I mentioned that it was our last real night out and she was sweet enough to come up and tell us a story. The short version is that the bad man went to hell and the good one went to heaven. The really impressive part is that she was cutting a piece of folder paper as she told the story and the pieces of the cutout spelled out Hell and then had a cross. I had her sign the cross for me with her real name. Here's the picture:
Friday we took a 3+ hour bus ride to a company called Taiwan Biotechnology Inc. They are a subsidiary of AGV Beverage. The company makes drinks that are meant to improve your health, e.g. lower cholesterol, etc.... Their plant was really amazing! It was 95% automated. The automation allows them to keep a sterile bottling environment. They told us that the bottling area is as sterile as a hospital operating room! They fed us there while we listened to a presentation. The food was great! It was rice and turkey (and a few other odds and ends in the mix).
After AGV we went to Cheng Chung University and visited our pen-pals. I continue to be impressed with how well everyone seems to speak English. We ate more food with our pen pals and made a scented perfume purse. These purses are said to ward off evil spirits.
We stopped for food at the 2nd largest city in Taiwan on the way home. Some members of the group ate at Chili's. Melody and I continued to be brave and went to a local eatery. What a mess. This particular location did not have people that spoke English serving the food. I "thought" I knew what I was doing, as I had eaten the pork on a stick before. However, this time it turns out that you are supposed to take the pork of the stick and drop it into a broth as a soup. The lady tried to tell me, but I couldn't understand a word. She took my bowl and filled it for me to save me any more trouble ;) She then tried to ask if I wanted noodles or dumplings with it (in Chinese). She kept pointing at the menu (in Chinese). Thankfully our professor was nearby. Charlie was able to translate and save the day for me. :-)
We went out again at night. We went to a bar called Barcode at first. However, after waiting literally 30 min for 1 drink we were left. We ended up back at the same bar we had gone to a few nights before - Barbados. The bartender was impressed that I remembered her English name (Alison). I mentioned that it was our last real night out and she was sweet enough to come up and tell us a story. The short version is that the bad man went to hell and the good one went to heaven. The really impressive part is that she was cutting a piece of folder paper as she told the story and the pieces of the cutout spelled out Hell and then had a cross. I had her sign the cross for me with her real name. Here's the picture:
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Wednesday
Ok, yet again I only have a few minutes in the morning before we start our day. The days are so full here. We generally have some free time every other night, but I'm pretty exhausted then and typically just pass out.
Wednesday we went to the presidential palace. It was the typical historical tour that you'd expect. Although, for this particular tour we had a "substitute guide." He hadn't given a tour in English in 15 years - you can guess how easy it was to understand. Some interesting things there, but the tour was 2 hours. That was especially rough for some in our group that were quite hungover - and no, I was not one of them. I've been pretty good thus far on the trip. :)
We then went to a karaoke bar to learn how to do business in Taiwan. This bars are private rooms for karaoke for a group of 15 or so to go and have drinks and sing. It started slow, but was actually quite fun!
I'll have to post the videos and pictures later. Hope everyone is having fun back home! Thanks for following!
Wednesday we went to the presidential palace. It was the typical historical tour that you'd expect. Although, for this particular tour we had a "substitute guide." He hadn't given a tour in English in 15 years - you can guess how easy it was to understand. Some interesting things there, but the tour was 2 hours. That was especially rough for some in our group that were quite hungover - and no, I was not one of them. I've been pretty good thus far on the trip. :)
We then went to a karaoke bar to learn how to do business in Taiwan. This bars are private rooms for karaoke for a group of 15 or so to go and have drinks and sing. It started slow, but was actually quite fun!
I'll have to post the videos and pictures later. Hope everyone is having fun back home! Thanks for following!
Bathroom somewhere in Taiwan
This is a somewhat random video, but something that has taken me by surprise a couple of times since we got here. This video shows the general concept of how the public restrooms work. The sinks are usually shared by men and women outside the bathroom. This particular bathroom was even more open for the guys. Yes, that is just a swinging half-door behind the urinal. The girls bathroom was just past this. Good thing I'm not shy ;)
Bathrooms in Taiwan from Joshua Belliveau on Vimeo.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Tuesday
Ok... Not much time again. Today was a company visit with Giant bicycle. Followed by lunch with local business people. We then went to a winery and on to a local specialty... "the love hotel". Pictures to follow. Now we are heading out for drinks. Talk more soon. :-)
Here's some windmills that we saw on the way to Giant bike.
One of our interesting meals from lunch:
Me taking the head off the shrimp for Melody at lunch:
Love Hotel videos will have to wait. That place was CRAZY!!!
I noticed I'm missing Monday's details too. Monday we went to make ceramics (I'm terrible at it.. lol). We then went shopping a little. We had noodle soup for lunch. It was an all Chinese menu, but the waitress spoke some English. The best part was going to the spa and relaxing and then going to bed early for the first time in days!!!
Here's another random tidbit... everyone here is so friendly! Very polite!
Here's some windmills that we saw on the way to Giant bike.
Windmills from Joshua Belliveau on Vimeo.
One of our interesting meals from lunch:
Doesn't Look Like Chicken from Joshua Belliveau on Vimeo.
Me taking the head off the shrimp for Melody at lunch:
Me - No shrimp head for Melody from Joshua Belliveau on Vimeo.
Love Hotel videos will have to wait. That place was CRAZY!!!
I noticed I'm missing Monday's details too. Monday we went to make ceramics (I'm terrible at it.. lol). We then went shopping a little. We had noodle soup for lunch. It was an all Chinese menu, but the waitress spoke some English. The best part was going to the spa and relaxing and then going to bed early for the first time in days!!!
Here's another random tidbit... everyone here is so friendly! Very polite!
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Beach
Heading to the beach... two hour drive... more to come later...
OK, I finally have a chance to upload some stuff from the beach. It's now Monday morning around 8:30AM. Yesterday we went to Fulong Beach and stopped at a cute little town called Jiufen too.
Wikipedia can explain Jiufen better than me right now (not enough time).
It took us about 10 minutes to get up there, with many steep stairs.
Here's a view from the bus area:
Here's a view from walking up the stairs.
Here's a clip of Fulong Beach. Apparently it's in a resort called Bellevue hotel, or something similar. Mel has a picture of me with the sign in the background. I'll get it later.
And since I'm writing this later and saw Dad's comment... here's what we had for our "fast food" lunch yesterday at the beach. We had called in an order ahead so they packed it up for us in little boxes. Only one box had a fly embedded in the meat... most of us didn't learn that until later, but I'm not sick yet... so I'm still trying the food while I'm here. BTW, no silverware here for meals... thank goodness my parents taught me to use chopsticks while I was young!
OH! Someone just reminded us about our dinner experience yesterday. I'm not quite sure what we had for appetizers, but they said Chicken innards, another was Cartiledge, and the last was some beef looking something.
that's all for now :-)
Today is ceramics and the spa :)
OK, I finally have a chance to upload some stuff from the beach. It's now Monday morning around 8:30AM. Yesterday we went to Fulong Beach and stopped at a cute little town called Jiufen too.
Wikipedia can explain Jiufen better than me right now (not enough time).
It took us about 10 minutes to get up there, with many steep stairs.
Here's a view from the bus area:
Jiufen - View from Bus Stop from Joshua Belliveau on Vimeo.
Here's a view from walking up the stairs.
Jiufen, Taiwan - Stairs to Marketplace from Joshua Belliveau on Vimeo.
Here's a clip of Fulong Beach. Apparently it's in a resort called Bellevue hotel, or something similar. Mel has a picture of me with the sign in the background. I'll get it later.
Fulong Beach - View from Bridge from Joshua Belliveau on Vimeo.
And since I'm writing this later and saw Dad's comment... here's what we had for our "fast food" lunch yesterday at the beach. We had called in an order ahead so they packed it up for us in little boxes. Only one box had a fly embedded in the meat... most of us didn't learn that until later, but I'm not sick yet... so I'm still trying the food while I'm here. BTW, no silverware here for meals... thank goodness my parents taught me to use chopsticks while I was young!
OH! Someone just reminded us about our dinner experience yesterday. I'm not quite sure what we had for appetizers, but they said Chicken innards, another was Cartiledge, and the last was some beef looking something.
that's all for now :-)
Today is ceramics and the spa :)
Friday, May 1, 2009
Itinerary
- Thursday May 7 - Depart Charlotte at 9am EST
- Friday May 8 - Arrive in Taipei, Taiwan at 7:25 PM (their time)
- Saturday May 9
- National Palace Museum
- Jinaguo Holiday Flower & Jade Markets
- Taipei 101 - The Tallest Building in the World (for now)
- Sunday May 10
- Fulong Beach Resort
- Northeast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area
- Monday May 11
- Babangan Spa and Hot Spring Resort
- Yingge Ceramics Street
- Tuesday May 12
- Giant Bicycles Inc.
- I-Cheong Machinery Inc.
- Saxfone Museum
Wednesday May 13- Presidential Office Building
- Hsimending
- Singing in a Karaoke Box
- Massage Therapy for Relaxation
- Thursday May 14
- Joy English Enterprise Inc
- National Taiwan University
- Calligraphy Class
- Friday May 15
- AGV Beverage Inc
- National Chung Cheng University
- Saturday May 16
- Farewell Party (to Taipei friends)
- Farewell Party (to Taipei friends)
- Sunday May 17
- Arrive Tokyo, Japan at 2:10 PM (their time)
- Subway to hotel - arrive around 5PM
Monday May 18- Meiji Jingu Shrine
- Welcome Party at Gakushuin College
- Flower Arrangement Class
- Tuesday May 19
- Japanese Calligraphy Class
- Japanese Tea Ceremony
- Japanese Business Class
- Ernst & Young
- Social Activities with students from Michigan State University
Wednesday May 20- Kimono Shop
- Japanese Business Class
- Evening time with Japanese students
- Thursday May 21
- Harley-Davidson Japan
- Sumo Wrestling Tournament
- Friday May 22
- Sony Inc.
- Sony Inc.
- Saturday May 23
- Nikko World Heritage Site (optional)
- Nikko World Heritage Site (optional)
- Sunday May 24
- Yokohama Harbor City (optional)
- HSBC or Navin Gupta's home for tea
- Monday May 25
- Leave for Charlotte at 11:30 AM (their time)
- Arrive in Charlotte at 3:20 PM (our time)
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