I admit it. This picture was taken a few years ago, but I think I still look vaguely like that. Depends on the day (and the time of day). And today, just before I uploaded this picture, an Indonesian English student told me how much she liked my nose. I heard that a lot in Indonesia. Apparently, a large nose like mine is a good …
Read the full story »Taipei Markets and Temples
Saturday March 26, 2011
10:00 a.m. Taipei
I’ve spent the last twenty days in Taipei. I’ve suddenly become more attuned to my surroundings here in Taipei, and I’ve been spending all my time exploring this city. On one weekend, Scott and I walked to another night market. This one was called the Shanhe Night Market. It is in the district (or city) of Sanchong, across the Danshui …
The River and Hsimen Ding in Taipei
Sunday March 6, 2011
10:30 a.m. Taipei
I love weekends. This is the first weekend in a while during which I’ve stayed in Taipei, and I’m enjoying it very much. I was wearing myself out with all the weekend trips. And in truth, there are an endless number of things to do and see in Taipei. I’ve been here a long time, but I’ve experienced very little …
Hsinchu County Scooter Trip 003 – Five Finger Mountain
Monday February 28, 2011
12:30 p.m.
I’m on the road and slowly making my way back to Taipei. I stopped at the Lion’s Head Mountain Visitor Information Center, and here I found a lovely outdoor coffee shop. I have a table in the shade next to a fish pond. A cool breeze is blowing past and pleasant music is playing. I had had some thoughts about doing …
Hsinchu County Scooter Trip 002 – Neiwan Day 2
Sunday February 27 2011
8:00 a.m. Neiwan, Taiwan
I’m back at the same little restaurant in Neiwan as yesterday. It’s not a perfect spot, but it has two key things going for it: it’s open and it serves coffee. As far as I can tell, it is the only place open in the entire town. To be honest, I don’t think it is open for business in …
Hsinchu County Scooter Trip 001 – Neiwan
Saturday February 26, 2011
8:25 a.m. Neiwan, Taiwan
The stage for this little trip in Taiwan will be pretty difficult to set, as there are very few places like this little town anywhere in the world. I guess you could call it a tourist town. At one time, Taiwan was a Japanese colony, and the Japanese built a number of narrow-gauge railways to serve mining and forestry …
North Cross-Island Highway 009 – Epilogue
Wednesday February 9, 2011
Taipei – Epilogue
I’ve been back in Taipei for a couple of days already. I got back on Monday evening and I went to work on Tuesday. Today is my second day of work, and it isn’t very exciting. As I expected, it felt very strange to arrive back in Taipei after my 8 days off. My apartment felt very small and dark …
North Cross-Island Highway 008 – Pingling and the Indy 500
Monday February 7, 2011
8:30 a.m. Pingling
Welcome to the Indy 500. Pingling is a small and traditional tea-growing village in the cool mountains south of Taipei. It is on twisty route 9, and the local motorcycle racing enthusiasts have claimed it for their own. That the police haven’t clamped down on these guys racing at unbelievably high speeds is typical of Taiwan. One pretty much never …
North Cross-Island Highway 007 – HsingHsing
Sunday February 6, 2011
8:00 a.m. Still in Baling
My goal for yesterday was to drive my scooter into the mountains southwest of Baling. When I drove to Upper baling, I could look across the valley and see other mountain roads climbing and climbing higher into those mountains. It was impossible to tell from my maps where those roads went or what was over there, but that …
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