Also on Wednesday, March 21, we went to the Taichung City Seaport Art Centre. We saw some amazing works of art and although we couldn’t take photos, we were given two books featuring some of the art we saw. Which we were thrilled to receive.
The tour guides showing us around were all volunteers and they were amazing! We learned a lot and I found out that there are three elements that need to exist in a Chinese garden.
1. It must have a pavilion.
On March 21, we visited the Kao Mei Wetland. It was really windy, but not too chilly. It was really nice there and I was able to get some photos of the local birds, the windmills and people who were on the beach.
I also had Bobble-head Ted Blades with me!! This is a bobble-head figure of CBC Radio One’s Ted Blades who hosts On the Go. I won a contest when I wrote in and said that I was coming to Taiwan.
More photos and updates to come, this has been an amazing trip. I can’t believe we only have 10 days left in Taiwan!!
Virginia
Previously cross-posted to our group blog http://gsetaiwan2012.wordpress.com/
Words can’t really describe what we experienced yesterday.
We were having some dinner after an amazing afternoon of visiting the Lukang Temple when we heard some drums and music out in the street.
Today is Guanyin Buddha’s birthday! We had no idea that we would come across what you’re about to see. These are videos of a ceremony where other temples have sent their Buddhas to wish her happy birthday (it’s obviously more complex and spiritual than that).
Amazing!!
~Virginia
Cross-posted to our GSE blog.
Tokyo to Taipei
This plane is significantly smaller than compared to the plane we took from Toronto to Tokyo. With nine seats to a row (3x3x3 groupings), our final flight still has a lot of rows (I’m in row 34 and here are still a more behind me). And seating is 2x3x2 for each row.
Not necessarily exciting details I realize, but the sort of observation you may have while waiting for the flight to take off and this is your third flight in a day.
Now on to the food!
We were given the option to have either dinner A or B and I was coming out of a groggy sleep when asked what I wanted. I had already read a brochure on the plane that mentioned both a traditional Japanese dinner or a Western dinner was available. When the flight attendant asked (remember, I was only half awake), all I heard was “blah, blah, shrimp, blah blah also shrimp.” To which I said, “Yeah, sure, shrimp. Yes please.” I was hedging my bets that shrimp would lead to the traditional meal… And boy did it ever! Yum!!
It was all really good, but I couldn’t eat all of that food after the multiple meals I had had since my first flight. But I will tell you that the dessert (in the top right corner) was amazing! It was like two mini pancakes with red bean paste in between and a little whip cream on the side. I also want to note that the green tea was the best I’ve ever had. I drank as many cups as I could get my hand ons. After having my forth small glass, I think the flight attendant who served me multiple times thought there was something wrong with me to be so enthusiastic about hot tea…
Ironically, this flight has felt a big longer than I’d like. But after a full day of travel, I’m ready to arrive at our final destination. I wonder what the weather in Taiwan will be like? It’s milder and warmer than what we have in Newfoundland and Labrador, but I don’t think it will be that “warm and gross” feeling I experienced far too many times during summers in Toronto. It is rainy season in Taiwan, but I come from the province that’s well known for rain, drizzle and fog, so I really don’t think it will bother me.
Toronto to Tokyo
I never thought I would imagine myself thinking this, but a 15 hour flight doesn’t seem nearly as long as I thought it would.
My saving grace? Being able sleep for some larger chunks of time. I’ve never been on who has to get her full eight hours of uninterrupted sleep. But I’m normally not very good at napping. Luckily, I don’t have a lot of trouble sleeping on a plane.
The beverage cart has passed by a number of times and I usually get green tea since they have it steeped in a pot (pretty sure it’s just Tetley green tea, but that’s ok). I have to giant bottles of water that I purchased in the airport (as recommended by a friend in Toronto – thanks Tina!)
The meals have been good too. I’m not used to being served actual meals!
First up was lunch with a choice of chicken or beef. I almost went with the chicken until I heard the beef was “Japanese style” as the flight attendant said to describe it. There was also a small salad and a chocolate brownie. Overall, very tasty.
Hour later, we received Raman cup noodles, a mini roast slider (pretty dry, but it was good) and some cookies.
There hasn’t been any real turbulence and overall it’s been a good flight. There is a little boy (probably around two to three years old) who was asleep until just before take off. Then the screaming and crying started. Oh boy was he loud, but what can you do? His mother did everything to settle him down and in time he did… Only to start up again (and a few more times after that). But I didn’t judge or get any disapproving looks. I mean really, what can se do? Maybe the sounds of the plane scare him. Maybe his ears hurt. Maybe he’s just having a really bad day. And I have to say, when the little guy was in a good mood and walking around with his mom, he had a smile on that would melt your heart.
I haven’t watched any movies at this point, but have discovered a BBC comedy Trollied. It’s based in a grocery store chain and it’s pretty funny. The style is a little similar to Come Fly With ME, another British comedy, but this one is more of a mock reality show at Heathrow Airport focusing on a couple of fake airlines.
Me thinks it’s time to go and start watching Who Framed Roger Rabbit…