CNY-13

Our mini vaca up the east coast of Taiwan was more beautiful than I ever imagined it could be. The west coast is packed with cities and giant buildings. The other side is quite different. Scattered with mountains, Taiwan's east coast drops off in to the ocean creating quite the scenery for your viewing pleasure.

Our first night we stayed in a small town with hot springs at every hotel. The beds were hard but the hot spring water was delightfully warm. We stopped for dinner at this wonderful man's restaurant who just loves our friend Jeff. He almost jumped out of his skin when we walked up. We settled on some of our favorites, fried rice, kung pao chicken and this odd leafy-stemy deliciousness. We then of course added, what Danielle and I thought to be, Frog DayLily soup. Full of actual lilies the soup was fantastic. I was even adventurous enough to try the "frog" chunks. As we polished off our meal Jeff finally realized that we actually thought it was frog in the soup. He was insistent on it being something else but we made him ask just to be sure. The owner gave us a quick laugh and said, "Oh no! This is pork. Frog is must softer!" Good to know...? Come to find out it was FOG DayLily soup. But you can see in the sign....the cursive is deceiving.

The next day we headed further up the east coast with a few stops along the way. I insisted we stop to pick strawberries of course!

 Rice Fields along the way!

That night we stayed at a lovely camp sight and got up nice and early for a hike up to a beautiful waterfall!

The rest of that day and the next were used making our way up the east coast and enjoying all of the oddities that accompany living in Taiwan!

Who knew good ole TW could just be breathtaking! It was a wonderful drive sit in the back seat and look out the window. Thanks to the wonderful Jeff for driving us all around the island!
As we headed out on Thursday from our creepy camping spot we took a nice wandering road up through the Northern tea fields. I had been hoping to see them and we just happened upon them. I was quite thrilled!

Thursday was spent in the cities surrounding Pingxi. Every chinese new year they have a giant lantern festival. In one of the towns on certain nights they let of anywhere between 500 and 2000 lit paper lanterns. It is a scene straight out of a movie (Tangled to be exact) Early on in the day we bought a lantern, painted it with our well wishes and sent it high in to the sky. We spent the day exploring the towns and watching people let off their own lanterns. Only to find a few caught on fire in the trees...OOPS! The best part was that everyone was letting them go on the railroad tracks. About every 45 minutes people would blow whistles and everyone would scream and scamper off the tracks. Always with one confused woman who was pulled off by her friends. It was something that wouldn't occur at home...thats for sure!
As dusk fell upon us we found a perfect spot for watching the large lantern show. There were still tons of people on the tracks letting them go around us as well. Seeing hundreds in the sky was so fantastic. A definite must if you ever plan on touring Taiwan.

The next morning we woke up and headed to the coast to see these odd rock formations in one certain area. I couldn't quite understand the geology behind their formation because all the signs were in Chinese but it looked like we were on another planet none the less!

We took the rest of the day to drive to Sun Moon lake located near the center of Taiwan. It is a beautiful lake with one large oddity...they simply wont let you swim in it. With no reasoning that I could deduce either! It was a clear day when we woke up for our last day of the roadie. Apparently its always quite foggy there so I guess I got first timer's luck!

We finished our time in SML on a deck...one of my favorite locations. The food was sub par but the drinks and company were fantastic!

It was a FANTASTIC trip and I can't thank Jeff and Danielle enough for the laughs, putting up with my questions, my lack of music knowledge and their willingness to let me just tag along! It was the perfect way to see Taiwan!

the year of the snake

This year in Chinese culture will forever be known as the year of the snake. Until moving to Asia, my knowledge of these years and animals was all based upon the nice place mats they provide to you at the fine Chinese dining we have in small town America. Under each slightly misprinted and greenish picture was a list of the years. Each visit we would double check that our birth year hadn't changed. (You never know when someone will go messing with ancient chinese tradition)
I do remember them looking somewhat like this...

Now that I've been emerged in Chinese culture my horizons have broadened immensely.

Some of the few things I "knew" about the new year celebration are mostly true. Most people do clean their houses on/before the big day to start fresh and get rid of bad spirits.

They often eat fish for a large family meal in which everyone in the family congregates in a much to small room.

The colors red and cold are also extremely significant in the new year. Both meaning to bring luck.

As for all of the chinese symbols I've seen printed on banners and such around the city...I may never know what they mean but they sure look cool in the mean time!

We have a week off for the holiday. I'll be joining two friends in a road trip around Taiwan, with a planned stop at the largest lantern festival in Pingxi, Taiwan.

It sounds amazing and I can't wait to share when I return!

So, next time you head to a sticky boothed, pink carpeted, overly bright chinese meal in your town...Ask for chopsticks and think of me!

gettin junky wit it

Nahhh nahhh nah nah nah nah...Nahhh nahhh nah nah nah nah...gettin junky wit it! (sorry I think I'm funny)
Within a 5 minute drive from our house is, what is known as, the junk market. A place, where every Sunday, Taiwanesse people bring their used, new, slightly broken, well loved goods and other odd items to one large covered yard sale....AKA my personal paradise.
For those of you uneducated on the oddities of my life....I love junk. Junk piled high and wide. I particularly enjoy pawing through people's belongings to see if there are any trash to treasure types of finds. Back home I fein for DIY projects and would be buying up all sorts of things from the junk market. Alas, I would have no place for my treasures since they wouldn't be too practical to bring back with me when I come home. So I must walk past old windows, doors and strange asian things will leaving a chunk of my heart behind.
It was a good thing I went with my roommate, Kelsey. She made sure I wasn't going to hog wild in that place!
I must say...I came away with a few gems that will help perfect my semi asian decorating style upon owning a house some day!

Kid Prez

Recently in the twitter, facebook, pinterest sphere a really poignant video has been circling. He goes by the name of Kid President and he is quite possibly the cutest-smartest-most inspiring little human being I have ever heard.
Watch!
He's got it right. I get so tired of people constantly complaining. If its either in person or on the internet people seem to think that its more productive to sit around and talk about it, rather than getting out there and making a change.
Often I hear, "But, me alone, I wont make a difference." But who is not to say that you can't be the change. Maybe you are that last drop of water that finally made the bucket overflow. 
There are too many excuses we use. I am guilty as charged as well but rather than sitting around we need to get out there and do things.
Sure...treat yourself to some TV shows and watch that movie with friends. But when you're feeling slightly motivated get up and do something!
Want to start small? Make a change in your own life to simply make you happier. If all you can do is be a happier person it will make this world a better place. We need far less grumps and wayyyy more smiles.
So dance, sing and be merry! Do your part and I will too!

Macu for the soul

This saturday as I woke up at nearly 12:30 I wasn't certain that the day would turn up with much or that I would even make it out of bed for that matter!
However, with some more motivated friends than myself we decided to head to the Ocean Side cafe. A small restaurant along the road looking out over the edge of the Kaohsiung harbor. Once we got there I was so thrilled that I had made that decision. The food menu is just snacks but we all chose some great options and debated about which drink to pick.
We ended up with the quesadillas and an assortment of artsy drinks!

As we enjoyed the view and of course the company, we decided that after lunch we would head up the side of Monkey Mountain for an afternoon hike. It was a beautiful, but very smoggy, Taiwan day. Its been warm lately which has been nice because it was pathetic that I was starting to think low 60's are cold!! We didn't see too many monkeys along the way just a few that startled me too much to even snap a photo! Plus I've heard they could take your camera if their feeling feisty! Side note-- I feel like if Kyndell were a monkey she would snatch people's cameras left and right :)

As I headed home I stopped at our favorite tea shop, MACU, and got a GIANT passion fruit, orange green tea. One of the best parts about asia are these teas!!

Tomorrow we're headed to some near by mud volcanoes. I'm sure you'll hear my take on them quite soon! 

Happy Ground Hog Day!

PS-- If Phil and Willy (the canadian g hog) dont agree which one gets the call? 

Peace

Ooops I did it again

Not to make a terrible Brittany joke or anything but....I sure did it again. One of my biggest resolutions was to work more on my blog. However, I must say, the rest of my resolutions are going quite well!
I always say that in the new year I will eat better, workout more, get more rest, drink more water and take better care of myself. But, for some reason, this year its stuck for a month!! About 29 days longer than it ever has before!
So, now that I feel like I have a few things controlled and under my belt I can focus on another resolution!...this BABY! This is not only a great way to keep people updated but also fun for me to share my adventures as well! 
Recently, I've been addicted to reading Rosie's blog http://www.thelondoner.me
I often refer to her blog to people who have never even heard of it. She is a genius though! She has become my "blogspiration" for the coming year. She posted a long piece about creating your own blog and it really lit a fire until my bum!

So here are some photos from my jaunt back to the States for a week! It was beyond wonderful seeing family and friends once more. It reminds you just how wonderful life is!