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A Flight to Manila & School Visits

December 8, 2012 – 10:26 am
Fire Extinguisher Practice at a School in Taipei

Saturday December 8, 2012
10:00 a.m. at the 7-11 on Chang-an Road in Taipei
It has been a busy week for me. I went to three different schools and had a ton of recording to do at work. But let’s go back to Sunday. I’m a bit tired right now. I was out until midnight last night chatting with a coworker. He got me talking about my …

Chinese Opera at Dadaocheng Theater

December 2, 2012 – 8:31 pm
Poster at Dihua Theater

Sunday December 2, 2012
9:15 a.m. 7-11 on Zhongshan Road, Taipei.
I don’t think I have much to say this morning. I spent a good chunk of time yesterday morning just waiting for the opera. It rained the entire time and I set off to the opera in the rain. I don’t mind the rain, really. It’s just rain. But it does mean that it’s much more …

Tapdancing Giant Flies and Other Wonders – A Performance at Wenshan Theater

December 1, 2012 – 8:09 pm
The Puppet and Its Double Theater

Saturday December 1, 2012
9:37 a.m. 7-11 on Chang-An Road in Taipei
I am at a second 7-11 very close to my apartment in Taipei. I thought I’d give my usual one a break and hang out at this second one. It’s December 1st. It’s not pouring rain right now, but it is still gloomy and overcast. Sprinkling a little bit. It is supposed to rain all …

Sandiaoling Waterfall Trail

November 11, 2012 – 1:37 pm
Rope and cable suspension bridge.

I’d been interested in hiking along the Sandiaoling Waterfall trail for a while now. I’d read about it on Richard Saunders’ blog here and Stu Dawson’s blog here. It appeared to be a relatively easy hike without a lot of long climbs yet with a lot of scenic spots along the way. I haven’t gone in the past partially because I wasn’t sure about the …

Photo Post: Teapot Mountain Lookout Point

November 6, 2012 – 4:44 pm
A Lookout Point on the Trail to the Top of Teapot Mountain

These are the steps leading up to the top of Teapot Mountain. Many of the shorter trails in Taiwan (and even some of the long ones) have stone steps built into them. I began the hike up this trail from the Gold Ecological Park in Jinguashi, though it appears it’s possible to drive most of the way to this lookout point below. That’s Keelung Mountain …

Photo Post: Blue Sky Temple Ceiling

November 6, 2012 – 4:08 pm
Blue Sky and Clouds Ceiling at a Temple

I was quite taken with this blue sky and cloud-filled ceiling at this temple. You see lots of bright colors at temples in Taiwan, but I don’t think I’ve seen blue very often. I’m fairly certain that is a statue of Guanyin, the bodhisattva of compassion and mercy, in the temple. On the plate on the table are small wooden objects used in fortune telling. …

Photo Post: Censer

November 6, 2012 – 3:52 pm
Looking through a censer at a temple in Taiwan

Just as I can’t resist taking pictures of the guardian lions at temples, I also can’t resist taking pictures of the censers. This one was taken looking through the censer  in toward the temple and the ceiling. I like the large sticks of incense one often finds in the middle. I’m not sure how much more they cost than the smaller sticks. In fact, I …

Photo Post: Temple Statue

November 6, 2012 – 3:38 pm
Statue at a Temple near Taipei

I don’t know who this figure is, but I’m curious to find out. The statue was at a temple on Route 106 between Taipei and Pingxi. The temple appeared to be dedicated to gods of wealth and fortune, so I assume this fellow has something to do with money. The fact that he is painted all in yellow gold seems to support that idea.