Saturday, May 29, 2010

Bunun aboriginal tribe

There are a number of aboriginal groups in Taiwan and on a group trip to the Taitung area we stopped at an aboriginal cultural center for the Bunun tribe, one of the most dispersed tribes in Taiwan.  They are known for their music and songs so I was excited when I learned we would watch a traditional performance - they didn't disappoint!





Close up of the traditional fabrics

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Four year olds perform

At a local mall young princes and princesses prepare for a disney-themed performance 
to show off their newly learned english skills

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Going up?

For when cars are just too lazy to take the stairs:


This parking system adds a whole new dimension to remembering where you parked.

Friday, May 14, 2010

Sunday Driver

Today I inadvertently caused some confusion with a group of people in my neighborhood.  It happened while I was driving home - always a prime time for an adventure.  Driving in the evenings here can get a bit dicey; it's hard to see the scooters zipping around and cars continue to do as they like with just a smidge of regard for the rules.  I was close to home when I had to stop for a group crossing the road at a crosswalk.  The walkers suddenly froze in the middle of the road and scooters slowed to a stop.  Everyone was looking all around to see what was going on.  I checked all my mirrors to see what the hold up was all about and saw nothing.  It took a second but it dawned on me that I was the problem.

(cute kid on a scooter next to me)

Did you catch what I did to cause the confusion?   I can see how it would be easy to miss.  Here it is: I stopped for the walkers.  Can you believe I would do such a silly thing?  Everyone was looking around for the reason I was stopped before they started across the intersection because they couldn't believe it was just for the walkers.

I think I've adapted pretty well to driving here, but I will probably continue to stop for people crossing the street even though it usually causes more problems than just flying past them would.


Monday, May 10, 2010

Out to sea

View of the ocean on a trip to southern Taiwan

Friday, May 7, 2010

Sanyi: a small glimpse

Sanyi is a small town located just north of Taichung and is well known for mudiao - traditional wood-carving.  Alongside groups of small children on field trips from Taiwan and Hong Kong I experienced just a small part of Sanyi - an old decoy duck factory turned do-it-yourself wood painting shop.  Much like the pottery painting that was popular when I was in high-school, this duck factory provides all sorts of pre-carved wood products for customers to paint.  Printed pictures are available to help guide you in your painting if you are feeling insecure about your creative capabilities.  When you are done, the staff glaze and cure your finished product for you. 

Many types of birds available to be painted


My neighbor's choice

 First coat on my project - these are inspired by traditional jiaobei, or moon, blocks

 Clear coat


Finished product drying

My favorite of the items for sale in the showroom

After painting I had to go home so I didn't really see the town at all, but I look forward to going back and walking the streets to see what else Sanyi has to offer. 

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Camping in our kitchen

When we moved to Taiwan we got rid of everything we owned, save some boxes that are sitting in our parents' houses, packed our clothes and moved into an empty apartment.  For a stuff-loving pack-rat, this was both scary and liberating.  Now in an effort to own less "stuff" we are conscious about what we buy.  Occasionally there are things we want/need that just aren't in the house.  This week it was a microwave - but Jeremiah came home with a great solution. 


Jiggle Corn!

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Road construction made a little better

There has been quite a lot of work on the roads since we moved here.  Often when there is road construction there is little warning; all of a sudden there are cones in the road and you have to change lanes.  If you are lucky though, you are warned by the flagger.  I was able to get a picture of one such flagger with my phone the other day:

 
I'm not sure if this is a testiment to the dangers of the job, or simply a way to save some money.  Either way, I love it.