train tracks

These train tracks are close to where I live. Trains are a big part of my new life, so I wanted to snap a shot of them.

Kau Mei Wetlands

I went to the Kau Mei Wetlands. It was beautiful, but SO STINKING COLD. As you can tell from the pictures, it was very very windy!!!

Janae and I.

Janae and Emily.

My Feet.

I was trying to take a picture of me jumping. It ended up looking like I was Godzilla coming out of the water to terrorize the city. Very funny.

But dedication triumphed and we got the picture I was going for.

A few actually.

Kevyn and I.

All of us.

BEAUTIFUL!!!

Kevyn touching the windmill.

Me on who knows what.

I just liked this shot.

End of my Favorite Bike Trail

This last Saturday, I decided to go on a bike ride all by myself. I have had the goal of making it to the end of the trail since getting here, but haven't had a day with enough time till now. In Taiwan, you are ALWAYS around people. So, every now and again you just need time alone. I figured I would have a beautiful peaceful ride in one of my favorite places all by myself. Usually when I go biking in the morning, there is no one else on the trail. Well, this isn't the case on Saturdays I found out. I think that me and and rest of Feng Yuan were on that trail. So much for getting alone time. It was still fun though. And I made it to the end. I think I biked around 14 miles (round trip), but I am not sure on the exact distance. I do know that I biked to the next town over. It only took me three hours, so I thought that was pretty good. Here are a few pictures from the day.

A cute bridge. There are a lot on this trail, and I had to stop at each one because I love to take pictures of bridges.

I laughed very hard at this sign. So, I guess that no farmers or Neanderthals pulling carts are allowed on the trail. What about Neanderthals with out carts?

Another Bridge.

There were three bridges in a row. I didn't get all three in one picture, but I was able to get two.

Another interesting bridge.

The next pictures are from the end of the trail. These are of the Hakka Cultural Park that I found at the end of the trail.

This sign says "Hakka Cultural Park". The Hakka are a Native Population of Taiwan. They have been on Taiwan for a long time (before anyone else). Archaeologist aren't sure where the people migrated from in the beginning. There is speculation on different places, but no agreement among the specialist. There is a Hakka language, and culture that is separate from the rest of Taiwan. However, I think it is becoming more and more sparse as people assimilate into the new culture of Taiwan. Taiwan is a lot like the US in that it is a mixture of many cultures and people who have migrated to the Island at different times. It is fascinating because it is a very diverse place.

Eli, I took this picture of the train for you!!! Does it look like James from Thomas the Tank Engine?

This was across the street from the park.

JiJi

Me, some of the teachers, and some of the secretaries went to JiJi. It was a cultural town about an hour or so away from where I live. We rented motorized bikes for the day, and went around to explore the town. The first thing we found was old army equipment, which we had fun playing with.

I guess they don't like foreigners.

I make that tank look good.

Pretty archway.

We went and walked on the train tracks to get to another part of the town. Probably not the smartest idea, but it was fun all the same.

I am guessing this is an old Hakka building. It was cool because it was in ruins and wild grass was growing up all around it.

Shiree, don't look at me messing around with the artifacts at the archaeological site. It may make you cringe.

Someone wrote this at the site. I wonder if the girl ever came. Konstantino might just have to keep waiting and being "konstant".

Still more of the site.

These have people's wishes written on them. They were hanging from lines that lined both sides of the street. I guess they are really old.

I relax and let everyone else do all the work.

I am in the front.

I don't know if you can tell, but all that is down there is a small creek. It was pretty funny. We were expecting a lot of water, and yet there was none.

Our bikes. They were motorized. I think our school should buy us all motorized bikes. Loved them!!!

This was all of us giving cheesy smiles. (Charlene, Kelly, Lisa, Wendy, and Sunny).

This is what happens after an earthquake comes through.

I loved this barrel. You see a lot of cool old things here. They sure know how to use and reuse things here.

I do love horseback riding. I couldn't help myself when I saw this cute horse statue.

A Funny Advertisement

Who knew that the terracotta warriors liked BK!!!

Halloween

My KBRb class for halloween. My costume was one that I threw together at the last minute. I am a beautiful lady bug!!!

Brandon (Squido).

Aden.

Angelica (Bosses daughter).

Corey and one of the secretaries.

Owen.

Irene.

Brandon.

Halloween preperations

Corey.

Brandon (Squido, as I call him).

Owen

Halloween masks that we made in our class.

The next pictures are from a thing I painted. It is the headless horseman. He is holding his head in his hand (where the head should have been, I cut out a hole).

I found out with this project that I actually enjoy painting a lot. Who knew. I felt like this was pretty good for the first ever paint project in my life.

This was for a balloon toss. Kids got to put their head in the hole and have water balloons thrown at them. They loved it!! Kids love throwing water balloons, especially at people. Sometimes the kids refused to be the target, so I got my fill of getting wet as well.

This was for the younger kids who weren't suppose to get wet. I cut a mouth out and they threw bean bags into the mouth. Not as fun as the other one, but they still enjoyed it.

A parade

I was in my bedroom, and I heard this music that sounded like an out of tune bag pipe accompanied by a banshee. I went and sat on my window ledge to watch this random parade passing the school. From the best I could find out, it was in celebration of a God's birthday. It had everything a good parade needs, including fireworks.

Taipei, again

I went to Taipei again. I go there once a month so that I can get to the temple. Afterwards, we went to the flower and jade market.


This is the best hot chocolate store EVER!!!!! I loved it. It has the best name too.

Orchids at the flower market.

This is a random cute old man who likes to kiss white girls on the cheek. He told us all that we were beautiful (just like his orchids he was selling), and then kissed us all on the cheek. It was funny.

An adorable monk. We asked if we could get a picture with him and he said yes. Look how cute and short he is.

Cute cactus plants.

Kaoshung

Went down to Kaoshung and spent the day with my friend Charles.


A temple.

A beach side spot.

Charles University.

What am I looking at?

This was what I was looking at.

Look, I am in Britian. This was at an old building that the British had built way back in the day. It is now a cute coffee house.

Oh, actually I am in Taiwan.

On a ferry over to an Island.

A view from the Island.

Pictures from a pier. It was SO PRETTY!!!!

Kenting

We went down to Kenting. That is the Southern tip of the Island. It is a beautiful ocean side town. It was a blast.

The high speed rail train. It was so fast, I loved it!!!

Getting suited up to go scuba diving.

All of us who went to Kenting.

The beach.

No beach would be complete with out a bar, and a wall of beer (well, at least to some people). David, don't look at this picture.

Me and one of the secretaries at the school. She is so cute and sweet!!

This is called Stinky Tofu. It it named that because it reeks. I thought I would try it. It taste better than it smells (which isn't saying much). It makes your breath smell awful though. Dating tip, if you don't want to kiss the guy just eat this. Believe me, he won't want to come anywhere near you after you eat this.

Sharks, I thought they were cute!

Fascinating bark.

Just some random shots from a early morning walk that I took while everyone else was still asleep.

The group of us in front of a light house.

Me.

Beautiful!!!

Scootering. One of my favorite things to do!!

Kenting National Forest. It was BEAUTIFUL!!!!

My new boyfriend.

Jeff, I snapped this picture for you. It was one of those motorcycles with a side bucket seat. SO COOL!

DON"T SMOKE!!!!!

Look at my cute students

birthday nonsense

One of my Classes

Pomello Hat

I got to wear a pomello hat as well, not just my kids.