Sunday, March 6, 2011
There's More...
Lovely. While out to lunch with my Taiwanese co-workers they ask if I've heard of this journalist and her story. It is plastered all over Taiwanese news. One sweet girl from Taichung (the city that the journalist focuses most of her nasty words on) turns to me and says, "I live there...it's not that bad is it?" My heart broke. You cannot talk about someone's home that way. I can see the humiliation and sadness and I feel it too. Now, what to do?
Shocked
I was really shocked to read this Taiwan-bashing article written by a Jounalist at the Montreal Gazette. What an awfully negative spin she puts on absolutely everything about the culture and environment here. It is alarming, offensive, and says much more about her sour personality and inability to embrace life and adapt to change than it does about anything that this beautiful country has to offer. What's worse is how is this going to look on Canadians? Take a read if you dare...
http://www.montrealgazette.com/life/Teaching+English+Culture+shock/4348511/story.html
http://www.montrealgazette.com/life/Teaching+English+Culture+shock/4348511/story.html
Monday, February 14, 2011
What's The Diff?
What’s The Diff?
Since this is the most common question I am asked I have decided to write a mini list of the things I noticed that made China different from Taiwan.
1. The language. Think Quebecois French compared to Parisian French. The Chinese, like the Quebecois, speak with a harder accent and have an “er” or “nar” sound to a lot of their phrases. The Taiwanese however, like the Parisians, sound almost bird-like, like they are humming a tune. Their language is fluid and musical and cute – not hard and gruff. Funnily enough, I found that when I spoke Chinese in China they understood me much better than they do here in Taiwan. TIE.
2. The cookies. Since I’ve been gone, I have been able to find satisfaction for my sweet tooth and love of cookies at different Subway sandwich locations around Asia. I have taken a particular liking to the peanut butter cookies here in Taiwan because they have these delicious peanut butter chips in them that just explode with goodness and mix perfectly with the crisp yet chewy texture of the cookie. But when I tried to get one at a Subway location in China I was met with disappointment. They do not incorporate those lovely little peanut chips I love so much in the Chinese version. No, they have stuck to just adding chunks of peanuts which I think completely ruins the cookie texture and takes away the sweetness that the peanut chips add so nicely. So there. TAIWAN WIN.
3. Style. I hate to say it, but the Taiwanese are definitely lacking style sense. Even in the big cities like I Taipei I walk around and am constantly cringing at some of the clothing choices these people make for themselves – girls in baggy bohemian down-to-the-floor crotch pants, pink star socks with black shiny heels, hello kitty T’s and my favorite, the opaque tights worn under baggy khaki shorts and some sort of leather laced boot. Now, I’m no style guru, but that just can’t look right. Beijing on the other hand has it going on a little better. At least I wasn’t cringing so much. Most women I saw were decked out in a sort of French fashionista way with their long coats and furs and leather boots. There is a bit more motivation in Beijing though with all that money and all those massive Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Gucci window fronts on display. CHINA WIN.
4. Dogs. Taiwan has an infestation of stray dogs. I don’t know how or why but they do. For the most part I have learned to ignore the itching, scratching little creatures that roam the streets (all except for the two that are always trying to fornicate on the path that take me to work), but it is definitely something that you notice when you first arrive. In China I don’t remember ever seeing one stray dog, and I would remember because Mandy has a soft spot for them and would certainly point it out if she saw one. I brought it up to one of my co-workers here and their explanation was that the Chinese don’t have the stray dogs, because they eat them all! Hmm. I think that’s a TIE?
5. Size. Taipei is the largest city in Taiwan and its size doesn’t even compare to the size of Beijing, or at least how small you FEEL in Beijing. In Beijing the streets are wider, the buildings are bigger, and everything just seems times 10. Some people might enjoy that but after the trip I decided, not me. I like the size of Toronto and Vancouver and all of our smaller Canadian cities where I feel like I can get across the city in a day, or wake up in the morning and walk to my favorite coffee shop and then to work all in the same hour. Verdict? TAIWAN AND CANADA WIN.
Looks like I’m in the right place
Since this is the most common question I am asked I have decided to write a mini list of the things I noticed that made China different from Taiwan.
1. The language. Think Quebecois French compared to Parisian French. The Chinese, like the Quebecois, speak with a harder accent and have an “er” or “nar” sound to a lot of their phrases. The Taiwanese however, like the Parisians, sound almost bird-like, like they are humming a tune. Their language is fluid and musical and cute – not hard and gruff. Funnily enough, I found that when I spoke Chinese in China they understood me much better than they do here in Taiwan. TIE.
2. The cookies. Since I’ve been gone, I have been able to find satisfaction for my sweet tooth and love of cookies at different Subway sandwich locations around Asia. I have taken a particular liking to the peanut butter cookies here in Taiwan because they have these delicious peanut butter chips in them that just explode with goodness and mix perfectly with the crisp yet chewy texture of the cookie. But when I tried to get one at a Subway location in China I was met with disappointment. They do not incorporate those lovely little peanut chips I love so much in the Chinese version. No, they have stuck to just adding chunks of peanuts which I think completely ruins the cookie texture and takes away the sweetness that the peanut chips add so nicely. So there. TAIWAN WIN.
3. Style. I hate to say it, but the Taiwanese are definitely lacking style sense. Even in the big cities like I Taipei I walk around and am constantly cringing at some of the clothing choices these people make for themselves – girls in baggy bohemian down-to-the-floor crotch pants, pink star socks with black shiny heels, hello kitty T’s and my favorite, the opaque tights worn under baggy khaki shorts and some sort of leather laced boot. Now, I’m no style guru, but that just can’t look right. Beijing on the other hand has it going on a little better. At least I wasn’t cringing so much. Most women I saw were decked out in a sort of French fashionista way with their long coats and furs and leather boots. There is a bit more motivation in Beijing though with all that money and all those massive Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Gucci window fronts on display. CHINA WIN.
4. Dogs. Taiwan has an infestation of stray dogs. I don’t know how or why but they do. For the most part I have learned to ignore the itching, scratching little creatures that roam the streets (all except for the two that are always trying to fornicate on the path that take me to work), but it is definitely something that you notice when you first arrive. In China I don’t remember ever seeing one stray dog, and I would remember because Mandy has a soft spot for them and would certainly point it out if she saw one. I brought it up to one of my co-workers here and their explanation was that the Chinese don’t have the stray dogs, because they eat them all! Hmm. I think that’s a TIE?
5. Size. Taipei is the largest city in Taiwan and its size doesn’t even compare to the size of Beijing, or at least how small you FEEL in Beijing. In Beijing the streets are wider, the buildings are bigger, and everything just seems times 10. Some people might enjoy that but after the trip I decided, not me. I like the size of Toronto and Vancouver and all of our smaller Canadian cities where I feel like I can get across the city in a day, or wake up in the morning and walk to my favorite coffee shop and then to work all in the same hour. Verdict? TAIWAN AND CANADA WIN.
Looks like I’m in the right place
Beijing - Final Stretch
Thursday was a pretty relaxing one. Cam and Will decided to go up and see the Summer Palace which Mandy and I had already seen so we head off in the other direction to check out where the Beijing Olympics were held.
We arrived at an MRT stop at the top end of the city, just on the outskirts of all the action. When we stepped outside it was a neat feeling because we stood in the middle of this huge wide open space that consisted of one really long and wide stone walkway that ran straight down the middle between all of the Olympic buildings.
We strolled down the walkway from on end to the other, taking in the size of the “bird’s nest building” and the “bubble building.”
Picture of Mandy and I in front of the bird’s nest – just to say we were there.
It was kind of odd because all of the buildings were taped off – no one was allowed in. I kept thinking about what they are going to do now with these massive buildings. How are they going to make use of all that space?
We didn’t stay long. The area was kind of uneventful, but definitely neat to see, just to imagine what it would have been like with all of the masses of people during the games.
After that we took the MRT to a place that I had wanted to see the entire trip – the Hutong’s.
By definition, a “Hutong” is a narrow cobblestone street in China. Now, it sounds less cool than it actually is. These Hutong’s run all around the city and were especially neat in this one particular area just north of our hostel. Along each roadside there would be these little alleyways tucked away and if you went over and looked in it was like something out of an antique photo: The cutest little doors, all decked out in colour with big brass locks on them, old brooms lying around and beautiful stone work crumbling from age.
Apparently at night the Hutong’s are a great place to go for food and snacking because residents set up BBQ’s in the alleyways and you can go in a sample some of the most delicious delicacies. Unfortunately we went during the Day on New Year’s Day, so the streets were pretty barren. We got a good feel for it though, strolling along, looking at all the cute shops and restaurants that inhabited these old Hutong areas: little cake cafes, art shops, pie places, and painting galleries.
Mandy and I managed to find one restaurant that was open. They had the biggest, fattest menu I have ever seen – I wish we got a picture of it. The selection of food was incredible and I ended up having these amazing shrimps sautéed in some spicy salt rub mixed with sweet potato fries and a tea – soo good.
One of the menu items - haha.
After that we walked back to the hostel and met up with the guys.
That evening we walked around one the busier areas in town – a famous pub street that surrounds a big beautiful lake with Christmas lights all around. It was cold out, so we tried to find a place with a nice atmosphere where we could grab a bite and a drink for a decent price.
When we finally picked a place that had promised cold beer and an extensive menu we were happy. But when we sat down and tried to order, the funny old Chinese women kept shutting us down, telling us that they were out of this or that. Finally after trying to order, “chicken curry..no? O.k…ceasar salad…no? O.k….the soup…no? O.k. what DO you have?” The lady admitted that they had nothing and that she was sorry.
I was a bit thrown off because I was hungry and getting cranky, but Cam told me that that sort of thing happens all the time in China. He wasn’t surprised. Needless to say we all downed our beers and went our separate ways for the evening – Mandy and I back to the lovely noodle shop that we found our first night, and Cam and Will out to a reggae bar where they had some drinks and hung out for the evening.
Friday morning it was time to leave Beijing – sadly. I said my goodbyes to Cam and Will (Liam and Kevin had left the day before on a trip around China) and off Mandy I am went in our cab to the airport to start our journey back to Taiwan.
We arrived at an MRT stop at the top end of the city, just on the outskirts of all the action. When we stepped outside it was a neat feeling because we stood in the middle of this huge wide open space that consisted of one really long and wide stone walkway that ran straight down the middle between all of the Olympic buildings.
We strolled down the walkway from on end to the other, taking in the size of the “bird’s nest building” and the “bubble building.”
Picture of Mandy and I in front of the bird’s nest – just to say we were there.
It was kind of odd because all of the buildings were taped off – no one was allowed in. I kept thinking about what they are going to do now with these massive buildings. How are they going to make use of all that space?
We didn’t stay long. The area was kind of uneventful, but definitely neat to see, just to imagine what it would have been like with all of the masses of people during the games.
After that we took the MRT to a place that I had wanted to see the entire trip – the Hutong’s.
By definition, a “Hutong” is a narrow cobblestone street in China. Now, it sounds less cool than it actually is. These Hutong’s run all around the city and were especially neat in this one particular area just north of our hostel. Along each roadside there would be these little alleyways tucked away and if you went over and looked in it was like something out of an antique photo: The cutest little doors, all decked out in colour with big brass locks on them, old brooms lying around and beautiful stone work crumbling from age.
Apparently at night the Hutong’s are a great place to go for food and snacking because residents set up BBQ’s in the alleyways and you can go in a sample some of the most delicious delicacies. Unfortunately we went during the Day on New Year’s Day, so the streets were pretty barren. We got a good feel for it though, strolling along, looking at all the cute shops and restaurants that inhabited these old Hutong areas: little cake cafes, art shops, pie places, and painting galleries.
Mandy and I managed to find one restaurant that was open. They had the biggest, fattest menu I have ever seen – I wish we got a picture of it. The selection of food was incredible and I ended up having these amazing shrimps sautéed in some spicy salt rub mixed with sweet potato fries and a tea – soo good.
One of the menu items - haha.
After that we walked back to the hostel and met up with the guys.
That evening we walked around one the busier areas in town – a famous pub street that surrounds a big beautiful lake with Christmas lights all around. It was cold out, so we tried to find a place with a nice atmosphere where we could grab a bite and a drink for a decent price.
When we finally picked a place that had promised cold beer and an extensive menu we were happy. But when we sat down and tried to order, the funny old Chinese women kept shutting us down, telling us that they were out of this or that. Finally after trying to order, “chicken curry..no? O.k…ceasar salad…no? O.k….the soup…no? O.k. what DO you have?” The lady admitted that they had nothing and that she was sorry.
I was a bit thrown off because I was hungry and getting cranky, but Cam told me that that sort of thing happens all the time in China. He wasn’t surprised. Needless to say we all downed our beers and went our separate ways for the evening – Mandy and I back to the lovely noodle shop that we found our first night, and Cam and Will out to a reggae bar where they had some drinks and hung out for the evening.
Friday morning it was time to leave Beijing – sadly. I said my goodbyes to Cam and Will (Liam and Kevin had left the day before on a trip around China) and off Mandy I am went in our cab to the airport to start our journey back to Taiwan.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Beijing - Day 4 - The Great Wall
“Bang bang bang!” Mandy and I woke up to the faint sound of Cam banging on our door at 7am. We had missed our alarm clock. I was feeling extra faint and foggy after all the drinks the night before and to top it off we got home at 3am which meant I only had 3 hours of sleep. Not the smartest decision I've ever made. Ughhh.
I don’t really remember dragging myself up and throwing on my clothes for the day, but I do remember the nice greasy breakfast of eggs and bacon they placed in front of me when I got downstairs and how it coated my stomach in such a way that I was able to feel somewhat perky and functional for the rest of the morning. What a lifesaver.
I slept all the way to the Great Wall which took about an hour and a half from our hostel. When I woke up we were at the base of a small mountain where we hopped on a chairlift that brought us up to station 6 of the Great Wall (I think there were 24 stations in total each about 200-300 meters apart). We all made a silent commitment to hike all the way to the end and back.
Cam and I - Our first steps on the wall. Look closely and see how far the wall weaves into the distance.
When we started making the trek along the wall my hangover vanished almost instantly. I think it was a mix of the clean, crisp air and the incredible view and also the fact that I had no choice but to muster up some gusto. Hiking that thing was certainly no easy task with the narrow corridors and steep stairs.
The boys up ahead.
Cam making his mark on one of the corridor walls.
A view from up high.
Mandy and I - nice face Shan.
Cam making it to the top. It was a steep climb.
It took about three hours to hike to the end and back and by the time we were done my legs were literally shaking, but what an accomplishment.
I think we all agreed that one of the best parts was sledding down the side of the mountain at the end. We each got our own little rickety sled with a joystick in the middle to break with (or to avoid completely if you are Will). We started at the top and rode down the small steel half pipe that was just barely wide enough to fit down with the sled. As I passed each turn I gained more and more speed, watching the signs that read “slow down” whizz by. It was a fast ride, fun and a bit scary. You can YouTube it online and see for yourselves – definitely something to try in a lifetime.
At the bottom we were greeted by the tour guide and a lovely lunch of kung pao chicken, braised tofu, grilled beef and a variety of vegetable dishes that everyone chowed down on. We met a few other young travelers at our table who were teaching Phys Ed. Classes in China and a quiet couple who just seemed to be enjoying listening in on the conversations.
We were all very relaxed on the ride back to the hostel:
A nice rest after an exhausting afternoon.
That night was the eve of Chinese New Year so our hostel café shut down for a staff annual party. Luckily, Cam with his magic charm worked his way in with everyone and by 10pm we were all enjoying food and drink with the staff and owners of the hostel. Music played and all the young girls drank too much, dropping glasses and spilling wine everywhere. Everyone just laughed and carried on the drinking and conversation.
At midnight one of the most spectacular displays of fireworks I have ever seen (or probably will ever see) happened all around the city and we were right in the middle of it. Literally, you stepped outside and no matter which direction you turned a gorgeous display of sparkling colour was being set off. It was as if every business and every home in that massive city set off their own show at the exact same time, and BOOM.
It seemed to go on for hours, what sounded like World War Two outside our hostel doors. When it finally started to calm down, Mandy, myself, David and his mom all settled on the sofas with some whisky and tea and we chat about life, love, travel, and home until it was time for bed - an incredible New Years experience to say the least.
I don’t really remember dragging myself up and throwing on my clothes for the day, but I do remember the nice greasy breakfast of eggs and bacon they placed in front of me when I got downstairs and how it coated my stomach in such a way that I was able to feel somewhat perky and functional for the rest of the morning. What a lifesaver.
I slept all the way to the Great Wall which took about an hour and a half from our hostel. When I woke up we were at the base of a small mountain where we hopped on a chairlift that brought us up to station 6 of the Great Wall (I think there were 24 stations in total each about 200-300 meters apart). We all made a silent commitment to hike all the way to the end and back.
Cam and I - Our first steps on the wall. Look closely and see how far the wall weaves into the distance.
When we started making the trek along the wall my hangover vanished almost instantly. I think it was a mix of the clean, crisp air and the incredible view and also the fact that I had no choice but to muster up some gusto. Hiking that thing was certainly no easy task with the narrow corridors and steep stairs.
The boys up ahead.
Cam making his mark on one of the corridor walls.
A view from up high.
Mandy and I - nice face Shan.
Cam making it to the top. It was a steep climb.
It took about three hours to hike to the end and back and by the time we were done my legs were literally shaking, but what an accomplishment.
I think we all agreed that one of the best parts was sledding down the side of the mountain at the end. We each got our own little rickety sled with a joystick in the middle to break with (or to avoid completely if you are Will). We started at the top and rode down the small steel half pipe that was just barely wide enough to fit down with the sled. As I passed each turn I gained more and more speed, watching the signs that read “slow down” whizz by. It was a fast ride, fun and a bit scary. You can YouTube it online and see for yourselves – definitely something to try in a lifetime.
At the bottom we were greeted by the tour guide and a lovely lunch of kung pao chicken, braised tofu, grilled beef and a variety of vegetable dishes that everyone chowed down on. We met a few other young travelers at our table who were teaching Phys Ed. Classes in China and a quiet couple who just seemed to be enjoying listening in on the conversations.
We were all very relaxed on the ride back to the hostel:
A nice rest after an exhausting afternoon.
That night was the eve of Chinese New Year so our hostel café shut down for a staff annual party. Luckily, Cam with his magic charm worked his way in with everyone and by 10pm we were all enjoying food and drink with the staff and owners of the hostel. Music played and all the young girls drank too much, dropping glasses and spilling wine everywhere. Everyone just laughed and carried on the drinking and conversation.
At midnight one of the most spectacular displays of fireworks I have ever seen (or probably will ever see) happened all around the city and we were right in the middle of it. Literally, you stepped outside and no matter which direction you turned a gorgeous display of sparkling colour was being set off. It was as if every business and every home in that massive city set off their own show at the exact same time, and BOOM.
It seemed to go on for hours, what sounded like World War Two outside our hostel doors. When it finally started to calm down, Mandy, myself, David and his mom all settled on the sofas with some whisky and tea and we chat about life, love, travel, and home until it was time for bed - an incredible New Years experience to say the least.
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