these dayz

Pretty low-key times leading up to Alexei's arrival, but once he's here, things will pick up, and travel adventures will be stirred up again. I've been conjuring up tentative plans, we will see which ones pan out. The routine has been a mixture of guzheng lessons and practice, calligraphy lessons and practice, late-nite cheap eats, self-studying the mandarin when i learn new vocab and such, and tutoring English to a friendly Taiwanese businessman. Guzheng is fun, but difficult for me since I've had no previous experience with stringed instruments. Calligraphy is also very challenging, although it is a relaxing activity.
所以呢 Shanghai in just a few days, very excited to see Alexei. The World Expo is going to be something else. If you haven't read much about it, just Google it. In particular I want to see the British and Japanese pavilions. With a one-day ticket, we shall see just how much we are able to squeeze in... As for the other days, guess I'll just have to give Shanghai another chance. Truth is, I never liked the place. I've thought Shanghainese are the nastiest of all Chinese people. Furthermore it is expensive and ritzy. But you know I remember reading an interesting perspective about Bangkok. Some people say Bangkok isn't at all a good representation of Thailand. Then I read another opinion about how really Bangkok with all its filth and prostitution is really not an exception, but the rule- it grew of its own accord from that very soil. Thus I will think of Shanghai as just another piece of diverse China, the natural conclusion of all the events that lead it to be what it is today.
But I have digressed. Here is a watercolor Shawna painted of me as The Joker, based on my passport photo and a conglomeration of deep pimple swelling on the edge of my mouth which arose out of nowhere:

大深海鱼粥 such a good meal

I don't think there is another place quite like Jinmen. That is why when I left there, in the back of my mind was a longing for the place much like feeling a longing for a person.



it was nice to swim in the ocean again...

Last night was the big expat beach party which we attended with our Taiwanese friends. Didn't stray too far into the hordes of Americans, Africans, and Europeans that were there, but the large number of people lent a nice atmosphere. As ironic as it is, I don't care much for expats. The beach party was fun though and we left well after 3am. Before calling it a night, we made a stop at a restaurant for the most delicious sea bass porridge and cooked fish heads. It was a meal like no other. You can see from the picture that the beach party was harder on some than others...
from left to right: mavis, her coworker who passed out, lydia, victor, and shawna

my first step in Taiwan... 金门

It's hard to believe I'm only 2km away from mainland China, yet I am in Taiwan. And this place feels very different. It is very charming in an old school sort of way. It is neither developed nor undeveloped. Not much tackiness to speak of. The only hint of globalization is the 7-11 stores found commonly throughout the island, but even those seem to fit well with the atmosphere. Blue skies, hardly any traffic, few buildings taller than 3 stories, and clean. Even poorer people don't look as miserable.
I arrived here via a large ferry boat, took a bus to the closest town and found it as I said earlier: charming. I got a bike and took off toward the beach and when I got there, not a soul was around. Just an abandoned tank and military gunning post. Indeed this island was the site of many a ferocious battle between Communists and Nationalists back in the day. Now it is a Taiwanese military island with high-security bases all over and warnings of landmines. Still, it is very peaceful. The beach was clean and the waters warm, so I went for a good swim in the ocean and continued along on my bike journey through deserted roads. Other than that, the story has been stopping off for food and the like and discovering that people here are very friendly. All in all, I very much like this place...