The hills are alive..

Yesterday, Ashley, Eve, Gwyn, Thomas and I went on our first hike around the Yangmingshan National Park. The National Park is famous for its cherry blossoms, hot springs, sulphur deposits, fumaroles, venomous snakes and hiking trails.

Thommy, who had been hiking in Taiwan before, did an excellent job of picking a trail and planning our route. Eve, Ash and I set out from the girls dorms at 10am on a beautiful cloudless day. We took a bus to the station and a train to Beitou where we met up with Gwyn and Thomas.

We went in search of some supplies while we waited for our next bus

You can always find some interesting looking meal ideas at the convenience stores.

The bus from Beitou started to take us up the mountain to the Yangmingshan Visitors centre.

When we arrived and Yangmingshan we walked into the Starbucks across the road to get directions to the Visitors Centre and to use the restrooms and spotted this poor woman...

SHOULD HAVE MADE IT A DOUBLE SHOT!  

For Ciara. This little guy was just chillin' outside a cafe in the town.

From the visitors centre we then took another bus higher up the mountain. It was really difficult to hold on to anything and we were thrown around a lot as we stood in the aisle. Thomas and Gwyn eventually took to sitting up the back of the bus.

We FINALLY reached the start of the trail just after noon and realised that the journey was well worth it.

 THE START

1.6 Kms doesn's sound like much. But it is when it's all seriously UPHILL! 

The stairs, that we have come to know and love

These weren't even the steepest set of stairs. At one point you could almost climb the stairs like a ladder! 

 Having a stretch while reading the educational material provided at the lookouts. 

For some reason I really enjoy this photo. 

Sulphur in the air. 

All along the trail up the mountain were fumaroles. These are vents from which volcanic gas escapes into the atmosphere. In Taiwan, the rock has a lot of sulphur in it and as a result, these fumaroles smell like egg. I can tell you now, this was the least pleasant bit of the hike. Worse than the stairs was the overwhelming smell of egg as you passed by one of these babies! 

We worked out quickly that it is easier just to go charging up the stairs rather than take them one at a time. But you can only 'charge' for so long!

"Think of how great your butt will look!" - our motivation.

 SNACK TIME!

 Ashley brought some Goldfish.

This cute little guy was at hanging out at the top of the mountain. He looked friendly. He wasn't. 

Our descent down the mountain was a lot slower than our journey up. Because of the steepness of the slope we had to tread very carefully. All of us had at least one heart stopping trip or slip, but thankfully no big falls! Ashley, who injured her tail bone before coming to Taiwan was particularly careful on the journey down. 

As we started our descent we started to notice that people had brought their own boom boxes. Celine Dion was heard very loudly at one point! And the culprit, was this guy!
Why would you bring such loud and terrible music on a hike for all to hear!?
We retaliated with Azealia Banks.

Just to give you an idea of the incline we were dealing with. 

The view for most of the way down was actually your feet. Easy does it! 

 FINISH. 

#toomanypanoramics 

I took about 10 panoramics, but here are some of my favourites. The rest will go up on facebook at a later date. The first was taken from a little look out point on our way up. The second two were taken from the highest peak in Taiwan, Mount Qixing. 

 The View from the top. 

Kuandu Arts Festival

The start of the Opening Ceremony for the Kuandu Arts Festival. 

The view from our new vantage point. The guy on the left is one of the dance students. His name is Bone and he is really nice. 

During the ceremony, each faculty did a small routine for the crowd. Some of them went all out! I have some video footage of each of them, but have not yet been able to figure out how to upload it, if it is even possible at all. 

Why yes, that is a little santa/easter bunny dress. I guess when you don't practice the religion or observe the holidays then it is easy to get confused....

We have been very lucky to have the festival on while we're here because there are so many international shows happening all week.  The first performance I went to see with Ashley and Eve was called Monchichi.

The theatre attached to TNUA is a gorgeous little theatre. Bigger than the Geoff Gibbs at WAAPA, but even though I was in the very back corner, I could still see everything on stage really clearly.

Monchichi was choreographed by Spanish/French choreographer Sébastien Ramirez & German/Korean Hyun-Jung Wang. The piece tells the story of alienation in a foreign country, the search for identity and love. I found this piece particularly interesting as I am myself in immigrant, but also an exchange student in a country where I don't speak the language.

The choreography and dancing were superb! Ramirez is a B-boy and Wang, who could definitely hold her own in Hip Hop, was classically trained. There was one section where the two spoke about their experiences as being foreigners. This short dialogue was delivered in spurts of English, French, German, Spanish and Korean. I don't think I will ever see another piece like this! Ted you would have LOVED it! There were so many "flips n shit". I found this synopsis of the piece and I think it sums it up quite well.

 “Monchichi” is a declaration of love to dance and a bold statement against intolerance as well as an example of the great opportunities which the fusion of opposites can hold.

But if you still don't get it, here's a youtube link. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLdXfk7eFoQ

Last Thursday, as I was walking in to my ballet class, a black guy who was waiting outside the door asked if he could do our class. I had seen the pictures for the show on the weekend and so I knew he was a performer but assumed that the group was from the US. 
I asked him where he was from and had an instant "it's such a small world" moment when he replied that they were from Johannesburg! 

It was so interesting for me to see contemporary dance come out of my home city. And even more crazy that I got to see it in Taiwan! 


The show was called 'I think it's Hamlet'. I took a photo of the synopsis in the programme, but for those of you who can't be bothered reading all the tiny letters I will sum it up. 

'The performance mainly draws from the themes of death and suicide in Hamlet to explore personal, social, and political issues."


I spoke to some of the cast after the show because I was curious as to what it was like to be a contemporary dancer in South Africa these days. Their response didn't surprise me because it seems to be the same everywhere. The love for the Art is thriving, the funding is not. 

The physicality of the dancers was unlike anything I had seen in a while. Their floor work and tumbling skills were fantastic, but they didn't look as grounded and into the floor as Australian dancers. They were lighter on their feet and were able to move so much quicker! It's like their centre of gravity was higher. It was really exciting to watch! 

I stayed for the Q&A after the show which was interesting. The questions being asked by the audience members had to be translated into English and then the answers translated again. A few times I found myself being the only person cracking up over a joke made by either the choreographer or the cast, either because I understood the language or the South African sense of humour and slang. 

KUANDU ARTS MARKETS 

As part of the festival this weekend there were a number of stalls set up and arts markets were held over Saturday and Sunday. There were some beautiful hand crafted items and so many things that I wanted to buy but would not have been able to ship home. I did get a few little presents for a few special people though :)

This is a shot of the stalls the night before the markets as they were being set up.

And some of the markets in full swing. 

The weekends go so quickly.

Sorry that I have been so quiet lately. Things got really busy and then I got sick. But there will be a few posts uploaded in quick succession!

This photo was taken at Tamsui MRT station as we arrived for the Mid-Autumn or Moon Festival which is one of the most important festivals on the Chinese calender. 

These delightful things are Moon Cakes, which are traditionally eaten during the Mid-Autumn festival and are considered a delicacy.
Moon cakes are offered between friends or on family gatherings while celebrating the festival. 
These were given to me by a girl in one of my Eastern classes :) and they were delicious! 

The filling is usually made from red bean or lotus seed paste covered in a type of pastry. I typically don't have a very sweet tooth, but I got through one of these without a problem!

SHOPPING! Here is a bit of a collection of things that I found in the markets in Danshui.

The text on this phone cover reads:
Aromatically
I want your love forever
I need your love

Aromatically?

"Queer Aid"

Wasabi Chocolate - I wonder if this is anything like Chili Chocolate? Would anyone else like some? 

Deirdre! Curiosity go the better of me and I tried some of this.
It is exactly what you would expect. It tastes like some one put apple juice in milk, or milk in apple juice and then added some sugar.
I only got through two sips. That was enough.

THE BIGGEST TUB OF PEANUT BUTTER I'VE EVER SEEN!! This would be dangerous on Dehli Street! 

.... Eye tape.
Probably helpful for staying awake during long lectures? Or finishing off those pesky 2nd year BA assignments?

'Fried Pork Fiber for Baby'. None of that purified apple or pumpkin rubbish. Give baby the good stuff! 

And finally... 'Ginkgo Semen Almond Grain Powder'.
I just don't even know with this one.

SHILIN NIGHT MARKETS!!!

The first thing that MUST be said about the Shilin night markets is that the fruit stands are INCREDIBLE!! Taiwan is famous for it's fruit, and this is why!
Everything on that stand was ridiculously fresh, ridiculously tasty and ridiculously cheap.
I was in heaven. I already know I have to go back there just for this.

I didn't take as many photos as I would have liked to in the markets, but that is simply because I was overwhelmed. Shilin is the most famous of the night markets in Taiwan and by far the busiest. There are just so many shops and stalls down every little alley and side street.
The markets open every day at about 4pm. With the busiest hours being between 8-11pm and it finally winds down at around 1-2am.

After getting over the initial shock, Eve and I started to realise that a lot of the shops were selling the same things for roughly the same price. It is definitely too big to tackle all in one night so I will try and get some photos next time I make the trip.

For nick. Happy Hanukkah!












They sell so many jumpers and costumes for cats and dogs.
Hercules is going to be the best dressed cat in Perth!
Unfortunately there was nothing to fit a dog as big as Pepsi, but i'll get Lucky a Rat costume.

The Duck is for Hercules.