獅子丹在台灣 @shizidan - Tumblr Blog

July 30th -- My Last Day in Taiwan

All good things must come to an end. A quote so overused it's corny. However, I enjoyed my corny last day in Taiwan. It truly was the bow on top to a month long adventure, not just of discovery of another culture, but discovery of myself.

I woke up in the morning around 10 AM, and I had time to buy one last present for a friend. Did I say I was done shopping? I lied. Whoops. Anyways, I dragged myself out of bed still sore from 2 days ago, and I got on the metro to Chia Te Bakery, where I bought some Taiwanese Macrons to take home to a friend with a sweet tooth. It was the first bright sunny day in a while, with the sun beating down on Taipei like it was when we first arrived. Not a rain cloud in sight.

I was back at the hotel by 11:00 for our 11:30 departure to our farewell lunch together. The food was good, and Yeh Laoshi got me a father's day cake for my birthday. I couldn't help but laugh. Farewell gifts were given to Yeh Laoshi and Peter from my classmates, and we bore through one last 一二三 to take a group photo with the flag one last time.

After that, I was left to my own volition, and I decided to end things my way. Taipei 101, which I missed on the first day of the trip, was calling. I took the metro over, and arrived at the massive building. It was so cool to see up close. I went inside to see how much it would cost to go to the observatory. After being told it was 540 元, I was prepared to leave. But, I gave in in the end. I don't know when I'll be in Taiwan again, and I'm glad I did. From the top of Taipei 101, I got to look out across the mountains, remember everything I did, and point out locations I recognized. It was truly a lovely experience to wrap up the adventure.

I could see the Tamsui River and the great Guanyin mountain, whose beautiful views captured my imagination and love for the summer here on the first day. I could see the Grand Hotel and the Palace Museum, the memories and the feelings I had that day coming back. I could see Mt. Qixing, whose climb to the top left me breathless both literally and figuratively. I could see The Grand Chiang Kai Shek Memorial, who now looked like a speck form the sky. I could see Maokong and the Gondolas. I could even see the Taiwanese Costco in Neihu District, and much more. In a way, I'm glad I missed this on the first day; because it became perfect on the last.

Considering I was sore, and needed of some much needed relaxation, I decided to pay a visit to my favorite place in Taiwan: Xinbeitou. One last dip in the hot spring for old times sake. Sadly, Long Nice Hot Spring was closed, so it was just me myself and I in my own hot spring. I'm going to miss this in the US. I was truly relaxed and loved feeling the water on my skin, stretching all my sore muscles and sweating out my stress. 150 元 for 40 minutes of mental and physical well being is well worth the price.

Coming out, I felt so clear of mind. With my wet towel resting on my shoulders, I walked along the lovely Beitou stream for the last time, as the sun was setting. I looked up to see the orange streaks dance off the Japanese styled buildings, the birds and bugs flying in the summer air. I grabbed some Japanese Curry to fill my now empty stomach, a recipe I will have to learn, and I found myself cornily saying "再見新北投" on my way to the MRT station. Why didn't I take a picture of the sunset?

Goodbye Xinbeitou, and goodbye Taiwan. Until we meet again.

July 29th -- TSMC, Happy Birthday

Today was our final excursion of the trip. We took a trip to the TMSC Museum of Innovation to learn about Taiwan's semiconductor industry. TMSC produces 90% of the world's advanced chips are produced in Taiwan, and the company alone accounts for 15% of the national GDP.

Entering Hsinchu felt somewhat surreal. All around us were towering futuristic buildings either owned by TSMC or some other tech firms. It felt like entering a city built entirely by them. Like a military base for making a fortune. The museum was very small, but it was extremely clean, and the employees were very well trained. It is to be expected from a billion-dollar company.

We were guided by the tour guide through the short, semi informative museum. The museum was very interesting, but only gave a very surface level view into the technicality of everything, additionally, obviously everything is painted to praise and credit the company itself. Though there were some cool displays, and I especially enjoy the section at the end with the shadow-artwork.

After our tour, we left and we were given the afternoon to our disposal. I took a quick nap at the hotel, wrote some blogs, tied up some loose ends at the club, and set out to the streets for my last trip to buy some presents for friends. I first went to Rahoe Night market where I finally found a Taiwan beer shirt like I've always wanted. I then hopped on the MRT to the Taiwan Metro Mall, where I was able to get wood bracelets for 100 元 for a friend back home. Then, I went out to Ximen where I happened into this very punk and weird shop, where I bought a Taiwan flag bandana for a friend at fencing that collects bandanas. Then I went home and slept.

Academic Reflection

Though TMSC is the pride of Taiwan's industrial sector, it is one that is in a very insecure position. It is dependent on other countries, possibly making Taiwan's economy vulnerable to changes on the global market. Taiwan's energy output is dependent on imports, and it's outdated power grid only serves to make Taiwanese industry vulnerable. It's important that Taiwan is able to secure a stable power grid in order to secure the stability of it's silicon shield.

The massive towering buildings of Hsinchu are representative of the power that these companies allocate and consume. They stand like towering monuments on the landscape, a monument to the future. The future needs to be powered by something, the future of our world starts with the future of power.

July 28th -- Choose Your Own Adventure #4

I woke up today around 9, and grabbed some breakfast. Today I had been invited again to fence at Fighting Fish Fencing Club, where today the Hong Kong team was coming to practice for a competition in Taiwan.

Much of my day before the 2:30 practice time was spent going on somewhat on a shopping spree, buying little gifts for friends back home. It originally started with a gift for one, but then I thought it would be unfair to get gifts for one and not all, and that quickly compounded and ended up with me buying gifts for a lot of people. I'm in a bit of a dilemma, but I always feel better spending money on other people rather than myself. I'm sure that the favors will be returned eventually.

At 2:30, I arrived back at the gym, where me and the club members warmed up with a game of "basketball" while we waited for Hong Kong to arrive. The game consisted of one person acting as the hoop on your team, and you were only allowed 3 steps before you had to pass the ball again. Then, when Hong Kong arrived we did some drills and we were soon in our whites to take a photo. Coach Chen Huangwen gave me his personal jacket to wear today! Fencing the Hong Kong team was fun. All of them were super good, extremely coordinated and strong fencers. I didn't get completely crushed, but I don't think I won against a single one of their male fencers. Their whites are also so cool, they boast these brilliant red designs on them.

After the first practice session ended, I quickly headed out to grab something to eat. I ended up perusing Ximen looking for more gifts. I ended up wandering into a few model stores looking for stuff to get. Then, the second practice session came. Much of the same deal, practice wrapped up and I headed home. I had to adjust my strategy and approach since the first practice, because I was getting my ass kicked by these Hong Kongers. I still got my ass kicked. I was so sore after, I could barely walk. Worth it.

July 27th -- An Alishan Awakening

I didn't sleep at all. The bus to Alishan departed at 2:00 and the winding mountain roads upset my hotpot filled stomach. It was dark, I had no idea how far up we were climbing until the way down.

When we arrived and got off the bus, the air was brisk and fog filled the air. Even with my rain jacket on, it was still very cold. We wasted no time getting on the train, while I kept trying to find intervals to catch some sleep at.

The fog on the mountain coupled with the warm lanterns made for a picturesque experience. The air was truly haunting - but in a good way. Alishan is positively beautiful, a beauty that could still be appreciated on 0 hours of sleep. We got on the train to the sunrise viewing point.

So we waited to see the sunrise on Alishan. Some of us freezing, some of us collapsing. And we waited. And waited. The sun's rays never pierced the fog. Not the intended experience but surely a memorable one.

We then left to get back on the train to the bus. On our way out, I saw some of the most interesting moths, and spiderwebs.

The scenery on the train ride back was mystical. Take a look:

We then went to the Alishan hotel for breakfast, but instead of eating I laid head down on the table sleeping. After that, we went for a short hike around the area. It was pouring, cold, and kind of depressing. I was barely keeping it together, but there were red faced monkeys! Very cool. We went to see some of the tallest trees I've ever seen in my life, but I'll be honest the only thing on my mind was when I could lay down again.

After that, my saviour in the dark, Terry, arrived with the bus. I managed to fold myself onto the space of two seats and sleep. Halfway through I woke up to find clouds touching the nearby mountains. I had no idea we were this high up.

After that, my objective was just to survive until I got back to a bed Taipei. I got back, slept for 5 hours, and then headed out to Rahoe night market to look for presents for friends. I saw an interesting shirt that I ended up getting for a friend.

Academic Reflection

Alishan's abundant forest slopes made it a primary target for Japanese logging during the colonial era. This is an aesthetic that was carried over into the design of the national park. The railway we took was originally built for lumber transport, evidenced by the narrow gauge tracks. Everything here seems very rustic, very "put up" so to speak. Every building is either made of wood or made to look like it, preserving the feel of the Japanese camps and constructions of the loggers who once ruled the area. The Alishan mountains act as a rain shadow - as humid air from the west blows towards the mountains, it is thrust up and condensed, where it rains down onto the mountain side. This creates a temperate rainforest, similar to those seen in Northwest America. The abundant rainfall provides sufficient nourishment for some of the tallest trees in the world to grow there. Some of the Formosan Red Cypress trees are over 2,000 years old. The fog and the steady downpour of rainfall we experience while there was a result of this phenomenon. I wonder how often a good view of the sunrise really comes. In 2001, it was designated a national park, and now attracts tourists from around the world.

July 26th -- Travel Day

Most of today was travelling on the bus, so there's not much to write about.

Before leaving the South of Taiwan, Ye Laoshi made a detour to go see Mikan (蜜柑) who was working at the Qiaotou station today. Everybody was trying to hop over the metro gates to go see Mikan, and there was a group of onlookers at the ticket booth gawking at him. I've got to say, this has to be the most successful advertisement campaign ever. It was very comical to make a pitstop for a cat we couldn't pet.

After seeing Mikan, we grabbed some steamed buns from a nearby stand, who was selling mikan shaped buns.

Then it was a long boring bus ride to the foot of Alishan, Our hotel was nice, it even had a place to sit for tea. A hotel however, that we could not enjoy for long sadly...

Then, it was hotpot. Hotpot, and I'm not paying? You can bet I'm going to stuff myself. The place we went to was so bougie, they had robots that would pick up dirty plates and bring you food. I never thought I'd ever eat somewhere like this in my life. I ate two plates of meat, 3 packages of noodles, and 2 plates of vegetables finished off with a bowl of icecream . I felt full for the next 8 hours, king for a day.

Sadly, this delicious full meal could not be met with a good night's sleep. I had to be up at 1:30 AM the next morning for tomorrow's excursion, and the full stomach only made the winding mountain roads unbearable...

July 25th -- Drums, Mangroves, and Trees

Our first excursion of today was another abandoned Sugar Refinery - however this one has been converted into somewhat of a theme park. The Old Refinery had been transformed into the Ten-Drum Cultural Village. Here, they held performances and held activities such as archery, ziplining, train rides, and had restaurants to eat at, build on the overgrown remains of the old refinery. Our first activity was to watch a performance by the Ten Drum Percussion Group. It was such a lively an entertaining show, very theatrical. It seemed very Japanese in nature - The performers used Taiko drums and enjoyed representing things artistically through rigid body forms. Perhaps I don't know much about Han theatrics, but it seemed to be a cultural blend which is fitting for the old refinery build during Japanese colonization.

After the show, I spent the time wandering the park with some friends, where I got to do some archery, a taiko drum lesson, and explored the attractions and bought a really cool shirt from the store. I also finally managed to find a glass coke bottle, which I bought to bring back home to my coach who is a fiend for Coca Cola.

After the Ten Drum Cultural village, we headed to Sicao green, where mangroves grow along canals for something of a nature watch. I spied a few crabs and mudskippers during the short ferry ride, but couldn't get any good photos.

After that, we went to the Anping tree house, an old warehouse now reclaimed by nature. Almost every surface of the structure has been overgrown by the roots of large trees.

Finally, we went to Anping Fort itself. Originally built by the dutch, it is one of the oldest standing structures in Taiwan. We didn't stay for long, because everyone was exhausted from what we did earlier today. However, in the nearby nightmarket they had the airgun balloon game that I always wanted to try, so I decided to finally go ahead and do it. I won a goose plushie that I ended up giving to Yeh Laoshi. I didn't take any pictures, except this Hibiscus at the fort. Oops.

After that, we headed back home where I took a much needed nap, and spent the rest of the day coordinating things with my club and doing work.

Academic Reflection

I thought something felt off about the Sicao green, though beautiful, I could tell it was not natural. Well, this is obvious from all the sandbags lining the edges. It turns out that it was an artificial canal built in the Japanese era. While marketed to tourists as a genuine natural attraction, there is an edge of unauthenticity.

The Anping Treehouse, the former Qing-era warehouse overtaken by nature, was originally used for sugar storage. In the Japanese era, it took it's place as Salt storage. The site, left abandoned since WWII, now is overgrown with Banyan roots. Banyan trees grow prop roots from their trunks, allowing them to expand indefinitely.

Built in 1634, Fort Zealandia is one Tainan's oldest standing structure. In this city of history, the fort stands tall, and tells a story of the rebel Koxinga, whose 9 month Siege of the fort drove the Dutch out of Taiwan. Part of the original Dutch walls still stand to this day. This story of heroism is one that Chiang-Kai Shek would use 3 centuries later to legitimize his rule over Taiwan. However, Ironically, the fort's renovation had begun in the Japanese Era, and the structure you see today is it's completion in 1975.

July 24th -- Confucian Temple, National Literature Museum, and National History Museum

Today was a pretty long day, and I was fairly exhausted by the end. Our visit to the national history museum was my favorite part, but sadly the time spent there was too short and I was way too hungry and tired so my mind was fogged out.

Our day started with a visit to Tainan Confucian temple. The temple architecture is very different from taoist and buhddist structures: for one, red is a far more prominent color. There we spent some time walking around viewing artifacts, and also took the time to create some seals to leave at the temple. I didn't take a photo of mine, but it had a drawing of a cat.

After that, we went to the National Literature Museum. While the architecture of the building was very impressive and enjoyable, the museum itself did not interest me too much. I'm not fluent in the language so I couldn't understand the significance of the displays. Maybe if I took the time to translate one or two, I would've learned some new words. I wasn't in much of a mood to learn because I was pretty tired.

After that, we went to the National History Museum which was my favorite visit of the day. The wax figures and diorama made the history come alive. It was lots of fun. I spent the majority of my time reading in the early history section, so sadly I didn't get to learn too much about the Qing and Japanese eras. I wish the museum shop had more interesting souvenirs, I would've loved to buy some vintage posters or seals or recreations or whatever looked old. Something like a minature model of a dragon bone water pump, buildings, or a ship. Even a T-shirt with some cool designs. Oh well.

After that, when we returned to the hotel, I gorged myself on the hotpot place next door, then went to my room and knocked out. I woke up later to go to a night market, but it didn't end up having much interesting things. No jewellery stands, no stickers, no toys, no clothing. It was fairly bare when I got there, I guess it was an off day. On my way back I met a gecko.

Academic Reflection

The Tainan Confucius Temple is Taiwan's oldest academy. Established in 1665, here that the imperial examinations were held. The structure is a monument to Taiwan's 4 century tie to mainland China. It is built in the southern architectural style, boasting a curved roof. Here rituals to worship Confucius are still held, such as the three animal sacrifice of the ox, goat, and pig. Though appearing brand new, the architecture itself left an impression of age and learning - and the beautifully cultivated gardens added to the experience.

This deep rooted history is further exhibited in one of my favorite excursions this trip: The National History Museum. Here, I got to learn more in depth about Taiwan's history, with the lovely opportunity of visualizing it. I spent most of my time reading in Taiwan's early history, and how Taiwan's location in the ocean made it a very important trading post for Chinese and Japanese merchants, who settled on the island in it's early days. It was awesome to see the wax figures and dioramas which really brought history to life.

July 23rd -- Calligraphy at Tainan University

Today's program consisted of a special visit: our group visited Tainan University's Chinese Language College, where we were taught calligraphy by Yeh Laoshi. No, not Yeh Laoshi, but Yeh Laoshi's brother: Yeh Laoshi.

We were formally welcomed by the dean of the college, and then we were given a brief lecture on fans in China. We were then invited to practice calligraphy with Yeh Laoshi to make our own fans. (Sadly, they were not real paper fans, but still a fun artistic endeavor nonetheless.) We were taught how to use the ink stone, how to hold the brush pen, and how to make strokes to write characters. We were given a few prompts to follow, but I wanted to pick my own Chengyu to put on my fan. I ended up deciding with 真愛無敵 which means "true love is unconquerable". Yeh Laoshi wrote a reference for me to follow, and I got to practicing. I took a lot of time to practice each stroke, but my version didn't turn out as good as Yeh Laoshi's.

On the back of my fan, I drew an image of a dog on the back, and decorated it with sketches of nature that were reminiscent of the Chinese style, incorporating blank space and focusing on emotion rather than painting a real picture.

To the very left of the fan, I wrote a poem in Chinese to emphasize the message on the front, and tie it to the back. It is written in a 3 character meter in rhyming couplets. It reads:

Traditional Chinese: "給犬愛犬回報愛像犬你找道真的愛沒有意給大家你心裡"

Pinyin:

“Gěi quǎn ài, quǎn huíbào, ài xiàng quǎn, nǐ zhǎo dào, zhēn de ài, méiyǒu yì, gěi dàjiā, nǐ xīnlǐ"

English Translation (Literal):

"Give dogs love, dogs return. Love like dogs, you find the way. True love hasn't thought. Give everybody your heart."

English Translation:

"When you give dogs love, they have no entitlement. When you love like a dog, you find enlightenment. True love has no thought. Give to everybody your heart."

After today's demo, I believe I spent some time perusing Tainan, and I ended up going to Focus square mall, and "蕾莉歐台南遠東專櫃", where I had lunch and went window shopping. At Focus I bought this awesome three-in-one set of miniature action figures of the mechs from Neon-Genesis Evangelion (my favorite anime) at a toy store they had there. It was the only one they had on the shelf. Lucky find.

After that, I returned to the area near our hotel, where I looked at the toys in the nearby stationary store to buy as small gifts for my friends back home. I found some interesting toys of dubious authenticity there.

That pretty wrapped up my day, I spent the rest of the day inside writing blogposts, and headed out shortly around 10:30 to grab street food before everything closed.

July 22nd -- Welcome to Tainan

We soon departed at 11:00 from Kaosiung to head to Tainan, the oldest city in Taiwan. This city was first established by the Dutch in 1624, and celebrated 400 years of history last year. Our first stop was Chikan tower, an old Dutch fort. Here the old foundation still lies, however what would be a European construction on top has been replaced with a temple. It seems the site was converted into a temple during the Qing Dynasty. I forgot to take pictures of the whole structure, but there was a lot of scaffolding surrounding it, so it did not make for the most photogenic shot. Still, here are some photos taken in the area, including a beautiful Buddhist monastery.

We then also took a small walk around another nearby temple. I forgot what it was called, but it was very cluttered and old. Ye Laoshi teased me to pray to 月老 there. I swear to God she can read people like a book.

We then took a trip to the Hayashi department store. This is the second oldest department store in Taiwan. Built during the era of Japanese colonization, it has been standing since 1932. At the top of the store, you can view machine gun bullet holes in the walls, because this building was captured and used as a defense point during World War 2. They had a lot of cool old knick knacks as decoration, I enjoyed the visit.

Then, we were dropped off at our hotel in Tainan. I took some time to rest and recharge, and then me and 王子維 headed out to the night markets. We first went to Yule street, where we popped into a ramen place. The old lady who ran the place was very nice, she said I was very handsome and had good Chinese. When I finished my meal (which was very delicious) she gave me an apple for free. We then walked for a bit, and went to Dadong night market. On the way, we passed by on of Tainan's old city gates. At Dadong I browsed the shops, especially this one stand that was selling stickers. I found a really good one there. Me and 王子維 walked around a bit watching people play the carnival games, and grabbing a few snacks, but we soon headed home.

Academic Reflection

Tainan, One of Taiwan's oldest cities, would naturally contain some of the most ancient landmarks. Here in Tainan, vestiges of parts of Taiwanese history can be seen: from the narrow streets, to the grand city gates of the Qing Dynasty, the forts of the Dutch, and even the Department stores of the Japanese.

Here is Chikan tower, one very appropriate representation of such a history. Each incoming regime laid their impression on this structure. Originally built by the Dutch, those who established the city, the imposing fort stood as a way to control the land and the people on it. Later, Koxinga drove the Dutch out. Then, Rebels trying to overthrow the Qing dynasty further destroyed the iron gates. Then, a different type of conquering happened: religious. Temples were built on the remains of the old fort. Then, plunged back into war, which during the Japanese period were used as an army hospital. Then finally, with demolishment the remains of the old fort were found, and it's final state as a museum has been established, signifying the beginning of the new Taiwan we see today.

July 21st -- The Tiger and Dragon Pagodas

Today, we were headed to the Zuoying District of Kaosiung for temple sight-seeing. Here, the Tiger and Dragon Pagodas (one of Taiwan's famous buildings) are built over the Lotus Pond. I talked briefly with Ye Laoshi, and she explained to me that this area is something of a Maritime cathedral. The temples here were so wealthy, because fishermen would pray for safety before going out to sea, and when they come back rich, they would donate to the temples. The Lotus Pond itself, is also apparently a manmade water feature.

Inside the dragon, murals line the wall on the left side telling stories of faithful sons and daughters' devotion to their parents needs. Stories about boys who would get bitten by mosquitos for their sleeping father, or go ice fishing in the dead winter because their mother craved fish. Even one mural, depicting a child testing a parent's feces for sickness. By taste. Truly Confucianist. The right side depicted scenes of the underworld. Lovely imagery. Besides that, the pagodas themselves were very beautiful. I always enjoy temple architecture. The reliefs in the stone is always very impressive as well.

We then also visited the other structures that jutted out into the Lotus Pond from their respective landside temples, which Ye Laoshi explained to me occurred because as temples amassed enough wealth, they would then build a structure into the lake across from them. One of them being a temple dedicated to 玄天上帝, the deity of animal slaughtering in Taoism. It was an interesting visit and the temple was riddled with fortune telling machines and little knick knacks.

Following that, our official excursions ended for the day. However, an optional excursion to go to Cijin beach. At the beach, typhoon weather was still very much active. Wind blew the sand across the beach and the waves grew to heights of 2 meters or more. Me and my classmates spent the time swimming close to the shore, racing on the beach, building sandcastles. I even got buried and turned into a mermaid. Fun day!

The rest of the day I spent inside the hotel room tying up some loose ends and doing work. I went out for 麥當勞 because it was only thing that was open. On my walk, I met a very polite cat.

Academic Reflection

Just like in America, Religion in Taiwan take on many forms. It's varying waves of immigrants have always provided a soil for a population of diverse religious backgrounds to grow from. In Taiwan today, religious freedom is state sponsored, and many citizens practice the teachings and faith of multiple religions. This much is evident from the great amount of temples, each with different deities, varying art, and most importantly, varying adherents. The temples we saw today at Lotus pond are reminiscent of some of the earliest periods of religion in Taiwan - those of the immigrants. While these temples, all Taoist in faith, exist in the same area. Each is frequented by different members - and each one of them seeks to enlighten the population in their respective teachings.

This kind of localization was apparent with the first immigrants to Taiwan - whose religions focused on celebrating their origins - an attempt to continue the ancestor worship on the mainland. This is reflected in this "Maritime Cathedral" of old Kaosiung, where sailors would pray to their temples, for safety and wealth, and when they returned rich and intact, would donate back.

One question can be answered by looking at the wealth and prestige of the temples here: which one's prayers worked best?

July 20th -- Choose Your Own Adventure #3

Today was fairly dull. I spent most of the day reflecting, but reflecting is important. When I woke up, I decided I had to do something to get me out of my hotel room. I headed oit the door, and bummed a ride on the LRT 2 stops west to Hamasei Railway Yard

Hamasei Railyard has a bunch of old trains out on display. I enjoyed looking at the trains. It was the perfect activity for reflecting, where you're doing something but you're not so distracted and you're also thinking. One of them even started driving, It was one of the small orange deisel engines.

I didn't want to waste my day, so I thought to organize a karaoke night for everyone. I sent the invite out, and got a roster organized. I made the booking, and I discussed prices and terms in Chinese over the phone with the employees. After that was settled, I spent my time waiting for karaoke writing. I headed out for lunch for a bit, but mostly I decided what I needed was to write.

At 8:00, it was time to gather everyone to head off to karaoke. I lead the way and emphasized to everyone we had to walk briskly. At the bar, we bumped into Peter who I also invited across the street. We walled into the bar and Peter did the talking. The first thing the employee said to me when I walked in was, "you have chinese". He then proceeded to speak to peter a mile a minute.

So then we had fun. Me and peter ordered some 台灣啤酒, and we had fun. It's hard to recount just about everything, but everybody had the confidence to sing! I was happy to see everyone be so brave, it helps when you have 4 people singing instead of you alone. However, I'm going to go up there and sing alone even if I mess up, because I love singing.

July 19th -- Hakka Village and The Sugar Cane Factory

More bus rides, It seems that all of our trips in Kaosiung has taken us on a road trip. Out again past the sprawling cityscape, we again met the mountains and the country of Taiwan, through it's paddies to the Hakka village. The Hakka people are a subgroup of the Han Chinese. They were often viewed as outcasts, so many of them chose to settle in Taiwan after not being able to make a life for themselves on the mainland.

We soon arrived in this small wonderland of traditional arts, architecture, and crafts. I loved and enjoyed the feel this place gave me, and the fact that it was raining only added to it's beauty. There was something so wonderful and comforting about the light rain pouring on the lovely wood constructions, with art and plants, and fountains left and right. It really gave an air of comfort. Lovely flowers adorned the walls and created a small paradise, here in the Taiwanese countryside.

We soon had to say goodbye though, and we made a short stop to see the old city gates. It only spoke to the age of residence here, to know that this place had existed since the Qing era, to see that it had walls around it once reminding of a more hostile time - in stark contrast to what is seen today - open and safe.

After that, we made our way to the Old Sugar Factory. This was apparently a place Yeh Laoshi went a lot as a kid. She bought us all ice-creams as we walked through the old factory. Here, also the station where Mikan the cat, the Kaosiung Metro's stationmaster works. This trip felt like a guilty pleasure for Yeh Laoshi more than anything educational, to be honest, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. The factory made me feel haunted, and the fact that it was raining was perfect. It seemed like an opening to a horror videogame. I LOVED IT!

Sadly, when we visited the Station, Mikan was not working there that day.

On our road trip back, we sung Karaoke. I tried to get the bus excited, and more people to sing, so I offered to sing with the people who wanted to sing, and tried to encourage more people to sing. I ended up getting LAOSHI and PETER to sing. Awesome. Surely a memory everyone on the trip will remember.

I decided to spent the rest of the day relaxing in the hotel room, but went out to hotpot with 王子維 later. The place we ended up finding had good prices, and the food was good.

Academic Reflection

The sugar industry in southern Taiwan is a centuries long powerhouse, that exploited peasant labor to fuel production. Over the course of the Qing Dynasty's 400 year reign, advancements were made in the field of agriculture, however not ones of diversification and advancement. In imperial governments, the main form of wealth propagation is to expand the borders of the empire, placing taxes on new citizens and allocating more raw resources. The consequence of this however, is that little technological advancement is made at the frontiers, Taiwan which, was one of them. As agriculture developed into the double cropping of rice, increasing the population of the Island. However, this population excess was further fuelled into menial labour, providing more workers for the fields with an opposite consequence (more mouths to feed).

With the introduction of Japanese colonial rule and the modern era, industrialization was brought to Taiwanese agriculture, an industrialization that was made apparent with our visit to the sugar factory today. Soon trains were transporting huge bundles of cane to the factories, where they were soon to be processed in huge machines. This allowed a more stable workflow for the those in the rural community (especially in the winter months), aswell as increasing the total output while decreasing the labor needed: a commodity that would soon to be appreciated in Taiwan in the following century.

July 18th -- The Southern Coast

Today's trip was bit of a bore if I'm being honest - a lot of time was spent on the bus and we didn't seen too many places.

The bus departed at 9:30 because some students were late. We were headed to the southernmost tip of Taiwan. Our first stop on our road trip was a rocky beach complex. It was a bathroom break, but the beach had some interesting sights to see. They also had these turtles in a tank there. There I also happened to catch a glimpse of some military vehicles.

Off on our way, we passed by a township that had my name in it. Outside was a giant sign saying "I ❤️ 獅子鄉". I made a few jokes about what the villagers would give me if I walked into town. Ye laoshi said they would give me "女朋友".

After that, our next stop was a sandy beach with some of the bluest water I've seen in my life. Apparently some scenes from life of Pi were filmed here, atleast that what I could guess from a sign that was displayed with the movie poster on it. I was suprised to find out later that many of the movie's scenes were filmed primarily in Taiwan. However, we weren't allowed to go to the beach, because there was a typhoon warning. But, the bus driver treated us all to coconuts because of the dissapointment.

After that, we headed to a small village where we were allowed to get lunch. I ate some 紅燒牛肉麵 at a local place with Laoshi and much of the rest of class. There they had a mountain named "大尖山" or "Big pointy mountain" in English.

After that, we were headed to the southern most tip. Along the way, there was a rock that locals named the "Nixon rock" because it's profile looks like Richard Nixon. Aptly dubbed.

We soon arrived at the southern tip, so see what is apparently the most powerful lighthouse in southeast asia. Along the way, vendors selling jade objects were calling out. I entertained their sales pitches even though I had no money. It's fun to haggle even if you don't buy anything.

After that, we left and visited 龍湯公園, where we took in the breezes of the vast pacific against the rocky cliffs. I felt like I was standing on the Atlantic cliffs of Ireland again. I found the most windy spot, and stood there, letting the wind hug my skin.

Academic Reflection

Rice consumption in Taiwan is a field that once again ties back to the same story of Taiwan's modern goals of self-sufficiency. As eating habits changed, more of Taiwan's population is eating rice produced locally, and farmers are making an effort for buyers to purchase Taiwanese-grown rice.

This interest is further expressed by NTU's cataloguing on Eikichi Iso's work, and a museum dedicated to the history of Taiwanese rice. The import of Japanese rice into Taiwan started with the hopes of developing a variant that would grow well in Taiwan's climate, but suit the texture and tastes of the Japanese. However, this is something that did not work, as the variants grown flowered too early in Taiwan's plains. Eventually, after trying to create a variant of Taiwanese rice that fit the taste of the Japanese, the researchers moved back to the Japonicas, finding a way to delay their flowering and decrease the time to sprouting, creating varieties specific to Taiwan. Today these varieties flourish, and amidst the imports, farmers are finding ways to sell their rice to the Taiwanese public: To meet the taste standards of the consumers, and reduce the needs for imports.

July 17th -- Fo Guang Shan Monastery

Our excursion to Fo Guang Shan Monastery was probably my favorite excursion on the trip. On top of the weather being perfect, it was a day filled with beautiful architecture, art, nature, stunning views, cultural immersion, and learning. It truly was an all in one experience for me. Off on the bus, we were off to the monastery. I didn't know what I had in store for me, or what awaited.

We arrived at the grand gates of the monastery around 9 in the morning, and we were dropped off to the the information center where we were welcomed by our very quirky tour guide, a German Buddhist monk who has been a monk of the temple for more than a decade. We sat down for our welcome tea, where our guide and some monks welcomed us to the monastery, offered us sweets and gifts. Soon enough we were off on our tour, where our tour guide made some of the most outlandish remarks ever. He was loud, always cracking very button pushing jokes on everyone. He really knew how to humble someone, and that is a skill I can admire. He was a real jokester. He made fun of Peter for holding an umbrella for shade, claiming he was like a Chinese lady who did not want to get dark skin and look like a farmer, and then said he wasn't fooling anyone. The answer to some questions he answered with "that's a pointless question", there is no point in asking that question. He was very odd, but honestly he made the tour entertaining. I can really only look back and laugh. The views of the temple he guided us through were Grand, Beautiful, and Peaceful.

So he took us left and right through the monastery, showing us the great sights, among the silence of the mountain, and the swallows flying peacefully, above the heights of construction, that and the beautiful architecture, combined with our tour guide of questionable social etiquette, filled the day with tranquility and laughter.

We were soon toured through the first section of the temple, where we then were to eat lunch with the monks. Following monk table etiquette was so fun! I was so immersed when the monks entered in single file, bowed and prayed before sitting down for their meals. In the silence of the massive lunch hall, swallows flew in from the open entrance and chirped amidst the silence, before that silence was broken by chants. The meal, though vegetarian, was surprisingly palatable to my tastes. I definitely enjoy eating carbs and meats more than I do vegetables, but the way they cooked everything and the diversity of flavors was very pleasing. The rice was also really good. I don't know what was in it, but it was purple and also had oats mixed in with it.

After that, we went to the second section of the temple, our tour guide gave us an exclusive tour of the Dharma Hall where the ashes and a large wax statue in honor of the now deceased founder and master of the monastery exists. If I remember correctly, the scriptures of the monastery are kept here. The architecture behind this building was a sight to behold.

Following that, we parted ways with our tour guide. We went to the Buhdda Museum, the last section of the Monastery, where one of three teeth of the Buhdda is housed.

Our last activity at the temple was a tea ceremony, where we were invited to make tea with a monk (the challenge being, you were encouraged to make as little noise with the tea ware as possible). It was a very calming and reflective experience. I'm a fairly impatient person at heart - and taking time to breathe, and drink the tea slowly, and do everything slowly, really calmed me down and helped me reflect.

Our bus took us back to Kaosiung, and dropped us off at Liu-He night market, where I had my first taste of grilled squid. We walked to the nearby MRT station, which contains a display that Ye Laoshi has used photos of for her course pages in canvas. It was cool to see the real thing, nicely wrapping up that day.

Academic Reflection

Fo Guang Shan monastery's wealth of art and impressive architecture, juxtaposed to the jumbled and dirty buildings just outside it's walls tell a story of strife and conflict between two peoples. The monks were very nice, but reading about the history between Fo Guang Shan and it's neighbors was very eye-opening. Through the lived experience it became apparent. The beauty of Fo Guang Shan - everything is made possible by it's wealth.

Buhddism, like most religions is a religion that finds itself with contradictions and difficult decisions. This is something that is bound to happen, because despite our attempts to break free of our sufferings, we are all able to still see that we are human. Suffering is a part of our existence. We make mistakes it is only natural. Myself, I find myself following Christian Doctrine, but I have respect for the Buhddists. While personally a lifestyle I cannot live, they are to be admired for their kindness and selflessness - even more so than of my own faith. But personally, I do not believe that the answer to life can be found by letting go of everything - and I don't think I would have the willpower to do something like that. I digress.

The Buhddists intentions are as such: think good thoughts, do good deeds, and say good things. However, the complex relationship between Fo Guang Shan and it's neighbors does not seem like like one that can be solved by those doctrines alone. Fo Guang Shan's closing of their gates, signify an attachment to the material, a contradiction in their thinking. Honestly, it reminds me of relationship drama. The way that Fo Guang Shan's administrative body and the local residents are pointing fingers at each other. Sometimes it's comforting to know that even the monks are human too.

There is also always bound to be controversy surrounding the leadership. This is no different for the practitioners of the teachings. Hearing about Master Xingyun's political dealings was surprising. He obviously cares very much about keeping his monastery and it's mission going, and he should - but that is not necessarily in the teaching of the Buhdda - either that or I'm too unversed in the beliefs of the religion.

I especially enjoyed the article's talk on secularity and sacredness. I thought it was an interesting philosophical discussion, and reflected the controversy surrounding Fo Guang Shan.

July 16th -- The National Science Museum and Museum of Fine Arts.

Today was our first excursion to out in Kaosiung. The bus took us to the huge National Science and Technology Museum. Today had a great deal of learning with a tinge of emotional exploration. The staggering size of the Museum was surprising when we first arrived. I really enjoyed the sculpture out in front of the building.

Our first experience in the Museum was the earthquake simulator. I've never been in an earthquake... it was kind of fun. I made it a challenge to stand up for the entirety of it. I was able to, but probably would be a good idea to hide under a table in a real earthquake. We then were set free to explore the rest of the museum, where I started with along with the rest of the group, the industrial history of Taiwan. It was such an interesting exhibition. Did you know that 90% of the world's tennis rackets are made in Taiwan? I loved getting to see all the old technology and stuff. It took me back in time and I loved that.

After that I spent some time exploring the exhibits with the others. Exploring, having fun, talking, taking pictures. Soon enough our allotted time was up.

After that, we grabbed lunch at an all you can eat buffet. Ye Laoshi and Peter challenged me to eat 5 plates after my seeing my performance at Hotpot. I was able to do "5" but I filled up on rice and bread too early. I could've definitely costed the restaurant more money if I chose to eat things that were more valuable. They probably broke even with me. There we also waited for the military exercise being held in Taiwan that day to end, before we headed off to the Fine Arts Museum.

An art museum is kind of hard to write about, but I took pictures of my favorite pieces, and I'll try to explain why I like them.

I enjoyed this painting of a flower. Besides the impressive artistry, it made me feel a certain way. It was hidden behind some objects in the display room, and it the color scheme gave it an air that made me feel of abandonment, or of being forgotten. Despite being such a beautiful flower, it was not bright in the sun, bringing joy like most flowers that are painted. However, some light still shines on the flower, bring it form, shape and shadow. The feelings it gave me were mixed - it had a somber air yet also had some hint of hope to it, because despite being lost in the dark, this flower still has some light shining on it. Without that, we would have never seen it or come to appreciate it in the first place.

This poem I read on the wall also resonated with me. I'll share it here for you to read.

These next two pieces, I chose simply because there was a unique strangeness to them. An otherworldy feel that I did not know how to describe or interpret. They are interesting to look at and wonder what was going on in the painter's mind.

These next two, I favored because of the artist's skill and unique way of representing a constructed reality. I've always looked up to and respected comic artists. They make so much work with just two colors- and they have a fundamental understanding of how to not only convey form, light, and color with a limited tool set, but also to convey feeling, as well as draw the eye to the important details - all in the name of storytelling.

This next one kind of reminded me a bit of my own art because of the simple color palette. Part of the paintings feel too perfect, while others feel a little off. It represents reality, but that reality is slightly distorted. Something could be said about the validity of the reality we interpret.

The next piece I enjoyed for it's ability to represent a lot with little.

After that, we headed to the Kaosiung Main Public Library, where we went to the rooftop for a view of the harbor. That was our last location of the day.

After that, they took us back to the hotel and I crashed out. I only got 2 hours of sleep the previous night. But not before snapping a photo of this Catholic Church on the way back.

Academic Reflection

The "Industrial History of Taiwan" exhibition have a lot of insights into Taiwan's efforts to make itself distinct on the world stage. Because Taiwan's land area is so small, not much is freedom is afforded in industry. As a result, Taiwan has to import a lot of goods. But one word can be used to describe industry in Taiwan: specialization. Because it is hard for the Taiwanese economy to diversify, they focus on what they are good at. For example: Taiwan makes 90% of the world's tennis rackets. Taiwan also makes a sizable market in the electronics and semiconductor industry. 60% of the world's semiconductors are made in Taiwan, and 90% of the world's most advanced chips. Taiwan is a leader on the world stage, something impressive for a nation so small, something that would not have been possible if they tried to diversify.

The fine arts exhibit offered an outlook into the health and mind of the Taiwanese. Art is a reflection of the inside. Many of the displays gave an air of disconnection, disorder, and misdirection. Many of the exhibitions had an eerie air about them. I know that the work culture here can be toxic, and that people are reserved and keep things to themselves here. It left me wondering what the mental health of most Taiwanese are, especially the young people.

July 15th -- Bullet Train to Kaosiung

Today was another travel day. Departure time was at 12:00. You already know what that means. I wish I could be more disciplined with my wake up times. We quickly went to the station where we were allowed to have some free time to grab lunch. I spent my time popping in and out of stores at the Taipei City Mall and window shopping before grabbing a to go meal for our trip on the bullet train.

The bullet train tunneled into the station from the darkness - and it was time to board. Despite going so fast, I honestly expected the scenery pass by faster when lookkng out the window. We were however, still travelling at breakneck speeds. I wonder how they keep the tracks clean and safe? We arrived in Kaosiung in an hour and a half - a distance that's comprable to a trip between Orlando and Miami.

Arriving in Kaosiung, Ye Laoshi took us to see Kaosiung station's mascot. It all makes sense now.

The bus then took us to the hotel, where I enjoyed some brief respite before meeting with others to see the town. We walked around, watched a street performance from a troupe, looked for food to eat, and checked out stores.

Academic Reflection

Kaosiung's status as the second largest city in Taiwan, and the birthplace of democracy in Taiwan, is one that is reflected in it's urban landscape. Kaosiung is in sharp contrast to Taipei. One thing I've noticed is the extreme lack of traditional architecture and art in the cityscape - everything has been replaced with modern art displays. Much of the built environment is also newer. Streets are wider, buildings are taller, store and building fronts are cleaner.

This move towards the new can be seen in the harbor area - where old warehouses have been converted into a new, modern, and trendy shopping district. Kaosiung offers an interesting dichotomy to the northern captial in architecture, people, and culture.

July 14th -- Choose Your Own Adventure #2

I have to say, I feel like this was my best day on the trip so far. I got to practice Chinese, interact with locals, and have tons of fun.

I woke up today late - I'll admit I'm a chronic snoozer. I usually never stay in bed past 10 but im supposed to wake up at 8. Anyways, I handled some stuff in the hotel and then I got dressed and headed out to Ximen.

The previous week I've been exchanging emails with a local fencing club in Taipei called "Fighting Fish Fencing Club". I explained how I was team captain and treasurer for the UF fencing club, and that I was in Taiwan studying Chinese. In Ximen while I waited for the club to open, I paroused around looking for gifts for folks back home.

At 2:15, it was time to head to the gym for their first practice session. The gym is in underground, a kind of hole in the wall place. When I entered, it was a bit awkward talking to everyone, I wasn't understanding completely. They lent me some gear and we got to fencing. There were only about 5 people there for the first practice session, but those that were there were pretty good. There was a dude named Mason whose family was here on vacation, so I talked in English with him for a bit. His mom is a Chinese teacher in Virginia, and I talked with her a bit aswell.

At the end of the first practice session, we were all friendly. The fencers there respected me for my skill, and I taught one of them, Paul, a few things. He respected my fencing and was curiously asking questions that I couldn't understand, so Mason had to be a real time translator.

After that, the coach showed up. He was the one who I was emailing. He excitedly welcomed me to his club, showing me all of his autographed items. He had just come back from a trip to Japan. Then he gifted me a keychain, and a fan autographed BY KOKI KANO. THAT'S THE GUY THAT WON THE LAST OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL.

Then, Mason's family invited me and Paul to dinner, and I would come back later in the evening for practice again. Mason's family was so nice and welcoming, and interested in talking with me. Masons mom kept serving me and putting food on my plate. We ate at a restaurant where we had bottles of Taiwan beer to drink with our meal. Then, Paul took us to get bubble tea aswell. I didn't pay a cent! So nice.

(Paul, Mason, Me)

After that, Mason sadly had to go, and me and Paul returned to the club for round 2. The coach was excited to see me back, and introduced me to the whole room like I was the President of the United States. I went ahead and joined the club for their drills and warmup, where the coach made an active effort to make me feel included. I swear, coaches just like me.

After that well, I fenced. The fencers here are very well disciplined and trained, but they have not been introduced to the kinds of techniques I see in America. I got my ass kicked a few times, but I also kicked a lot of ass. It was tons of fun, and everybody was asking me to fence them, waiting for their turn to fence the American. The last guy I ended up fencing was really good, and he kept asking to fence one more point even though we had already gone over the 5 point bout.

The gym eventually closed, and to signify that it was time to wrap it up they played Fei Yu-Ching's 晚安曲. I would fence here everyday just for that detail alone! I said bye to everyone, and that wrapped up my day. Goodbye Fighting Fish Fencing Club!

Academic Reflection

Fencing in Taiwan, and Asia in general, is growing at an alarming rate. The sport of fencing, has traditionally been dominated by its area of origin: Europe. However, today Hong Kong is considered the fencing captial of the world, and just this past Olympics, Koki Kano from Japan took gold in Men's Individual Epee. What is the cause of this shift eastward? What about the sport appeals to the people from Eastern asian cultures, and more specifically, why has fencing found a home in Taiwan?

Taiwan is allowed to compete in the Olympics under the name "Chinese Taipei", an arrangement made in 1984 to accomodate the complex political situation [1]. So this naturally includes fencing, one of the first Olympic sports. Some have pointed to the root of popularity for fencing being its practice as a martial art, in which Asia shows great cultural respect and involvement in [2]. Parallels can be drawn between the practice and that of Japanese Kendo, which Taiwan has shown national interest in since it's colonization in the late 19th century [3].

In the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Chueng Ka Long took home Hong Kong's first gold medal in fencing, becoming a national star overnight. Since his victory, interest in the sport rose by 30% in Hong Kong. Fencing is now recognised as Hong Kong's national sport, with many of the best Olympic fencers representing Hong Kong. Similarly, in the 2024 Olympics, Koki Kano took home gold for Japan in Men's Epee [3]. One could argue that Taiwan may be headed on a similar track. Due to the growing popularity of the sport, and Taiwan's close cultural ties with both Japan and Hong Kong, it may only be a matter of time until Taiwan wins its first gold. Many of the fencers here look to Koki Kano and Japan for inspiration, an ideal I have encountered first hand here in Taiwan. The coach of Fighting Fish Fencing Club's excursions to Japan to learn and bring back knowledge to his fencers only serve to reinforce this. Furthermore, his hospitality towards foreign fencers show his desire to expose his fencers to different styles in order to adapt and prepare them for competition, as well as grow the name of his club.

In the 2024 Olympics, Taiwan entered it's first fencer into the olympics since 2012, Chen Yi-tung [4]. Chen Yi-Teng took home a gold medal in the 2024 Asia Oceania Zonal Olympic Qualifiers in Men's Foil. However, Despite a close win in the second round, he came to a narrow defeat in the table of 32 against France's Enzo Lefort, who ended up taking home a bronze medal for France [5]. As the 2028 Olympics approaches, we may hope to see more Taiwanese fencers, and possibly some medal finishes. Currently, Taiwan does not have an official national sport, so one could argue that a medal finish could bring this sport into the limelight similar to Hong Kong, creating a new passage for national identity in Taiwan.

[1] Chan, Gerald (Autumn 1985). "The "Two-Chinas" Problem and the Olympic Formula". Pacific Affairs. 58 (3): 473–490.

[2] https://www.asianews.it/news-en/European-tradition-becomes-Eastern-discipline-as-Asians-rake-up-medals-in-fencing-61246.html

[3] https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2013/07/25/2003568130

[4] https://fie.org/articles/1380

[5] https://focustaiwan.tw/sports/202404290011

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