Just finished my second day in Hong Kong. Truly amazing. Think the only place that outdoes HK is Dubai. The residential high rises - and I mean HIGH - go on forever. Just out at the airport, there is a complex with 21 buildings - each the size of one of our Bellevue Towers building. And that is just one complex! The HK skyline is something to behold - a true testament to capitalism. Tons of financial towers all trying to be iconic. They are all lit up like Christmas trees. And speaking of Christmas - the Xmas season is in full swing here. Building sport "Merry Christmas", elves, santas, etc. They are nuttier than we are. Store clerks wearing santa hats - it is so crazy.
Did the walking tour of Kowloon yesterday, an around the island tour of HK today, and a little James Bond movie action this evening. Tomorrow it is the architectural walking tour if my legs don't give out - I've done a lot of walking the past week.
Wish you all were here to join me on this adventure. HK is a pretty vibrant place - especially at night. But fun even if one is alone.
Hard to believe I only have three more days. Have to make the most of them. Looking forward to seeing you all.
Sally
PS If you ever are in HK, the YMCA is a great place to stay! Perfect location and great rates. Thank you Lynn R. - Service First comes through again!
Friday, November 14, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Last Day in Hualien
I can't believe that this is the last day in Hualien. My going away banquet was last night and today is relatively open. Looking back, this has been an amazing journey. In 12 days I have visited 5 schools, 2 radio stations, 2 newspapers, 1 TV station, the police headquarters, the fire headquarters, the city council, the county council, the city department heads, the Taroko gorge, the countryside, the Hualien version of Seaworld, museums, art galleries, an artist's studio, aboriginal sites and restaurants, social service homes for the disabled, retirement homes, the environmental protection agency, the new bio-tech/sustainability business park, the East Coast, Japanese historical sites, a community college class in English, a Toastmasters meeting, and more restaurants than I can remember (I'm sure I'm leaving something out). Bottom line, this has been a true whirlwind and quite an adventure. It is going to be very hard to leave, yet I think I need a few days to decompress.
Off to Taipei tomorrow, then Hong Kong on Wed. I'll try to find internet cafes on the way. I still can't figure out how to download photos, but they gave me a photo album of every venue I visited, so I'll bore you all when I get home. Enough photos of me to last a lifetime. If I am never photographed again, it will be just fine.
Off to lunch at my host family's inlaws. Quite a house, hope I can take photos to show you. They have the biggest jade carving I have ever seen. It is used as a room divider and is approx. 16 sq. ft., depicting a mountain scene. Incredible. The marble and jade here is so beautiful - wish I could bring home more than my little pieces.
So ciao for now - I might get one more post in before I head to the "big city".
xiexie.
Off to Taipei tomorrow, then Hong Kong on Wed. I'll try to find internet cafes on the way. I still can't figure out how to download photos, but they gave me a photo album of every venue I visited, so I'll bore you all when I get home. Enough photos of me to last a lifetime. If I am never photographed again, it will be just fine.
Off to lunch at my host family's inlaws. Quite a house, hope I can take photos to show you. They have the biggest jade carving I have ever seen. It is used as a room divider and is approx. 16 sq. ft., depicting a mountain scene. Incredible. The marble and jade here is so beautiful - wish I could bring home more than my little pieces.
So ciao for now - I might get one more post in before I head to the "big city".
xiexie.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Only two work days left...
Ugh!!! It's HOT!! Taiwanese must be used to humid heat because they refuse to turn on their air conditioners.
Another busy day. Visited the Environmental Protection Agency for Hualien County. This is the "greenest" county in Taiwan and I must say, I'm impressed. All food grown here is organic - no herbicides or pesticides. The amount of garbage collected is so much lower than in the US and they recycle everything we do, including food waste (although all the oil in the food waste has been a problem). They have decided not to put trash cans everywhere so that people will not generate waste. Toilet paper is dispensed by the square, napkins are like a piece of kleenex. Will be interesting to see how Taipei and Hong Kong operate. Everyone laughs when you mention Taipei and sustainability. They have just completed development of a new green technology center and are trying to connect tourism with the sustainability movement. Apparently a lot of the younger Hualienians are moving away to get better jobs, so there is a real push to bring new opportunities here. No land use review like we have unless the parcels are large, hence a lot of illegal development.
Afternoon was spent visiting the 2 local newspapers. I have had a photograph is both many times. Too weird. The mayor is being photographed all the time. I visited the TV station last night and had a 20 second feature. Ah, it will be hard to be a mere mortal when I get home...
JUST KIDDING!!!!!
So tomorrow we visit the East Coast and Thursday is the finale of my stay and the banquet. Friday is open - but a new friend (Michelle - everyone is named Michelle) has offered to take me shopping. Then Sat. I go to Taipei. I was originally supposed to go on Sun., but the Mayor is kicking me out a day early. Said he wants me to see more of Taiwan. I can't believe my time here is coming to an end.
Anxious to hear about the election. It is Tues here, but I have to wait until tomorrow.
GO OBAMA!!! Everyone here wants Obama...I have my fingers crossed. So "vote early and vote often"......more soon.
sap
Another busy day. Visited the Environmental Protection Agency for Hualien County. This is the "greenest" county in Taiwan and I must say, I'm impressed. All food grown here is organic - no herbicides or pesticides. The amount of garbage collected is so much lower than in the US and they recycle everything we do, including food waste (although all the oil in the food waste has been a problem). They have decided not to put trash cans everywhere so that people will not generate waste. Toilet paper is dispensed by the square, napkins are like a piece of kleenex. Will be interesting to see how Taipei and Hong Kong operate. Everyone laughs when you mention Taipei and sustainability. They have just completed development of a new green technology center and are trying to connect tourism with the sustainability movement. Apparently a lot of the younger Hualienians are moving away to get better jobs, so there is a real push to bring new opportunities here. No land use review like we have unless the parcels are large, hence a lot of illegal development.
Afternoon was spent visiting the 2 local newspapers. I have had a photograph is both many times. Too weird. The mayor is being photographed all the time. I visited the TV station last night and had a 20 second feature. Ah, it will be hard to be a mere mortal when I get home...
JUST KIDDING!!!!!
So tomorrow we visit the East Coast and Thursday is the finale of my stay and the banquet. Friday is open - but a new friend (Michelle - everyone is named Michelle) has offered to take me shopping. Then Sat. I go to Taipei. I was originally supposed to go on Sun., but the Mayor is kicking me out a day early. Said he wants me to see more of Taiwan. I can't believe my time here is coming to an end.
Anxious to hear about the election. It is Tues here, but I have to wait until tomorrow.
GO OBAMA!!! Everyone here wants Obama...I have my fingers crossed. So "vote early and vote often"......more soon.
sap
Sunday, November 2, 2008
One Week Down...
Ni hao!
One week down and I'm still plugging away. I've finally gotten into the rhythmn here, and realize that two weeks will not be enough time to fully understand the working of the Hualien government. There is another staff member here from a small island in Japan and he is here for 6 months! Maybe that is a little excessive...
Great weekend visiting the Taroko Gorge (Hualien's Mt. Rainier) and the Ocean Park. I have been connected with a great group of women and it has been very confortable. Each day there are approx. 2 good English speakers. I realize that the little bit of Chinese I learned before going is not enough to do anything.
Today is the City Council, National Ministry and television station. It is going to be very hard to return home and not be a celebrity.
Still stinking hot and humid. I'm such a lightweight when heat is concerned. The street life only really gets hopping at night, and not I know why. In addition, the Taiwanese women do not like the sun. People do not "sun tan" here, but instead cover up with pants and use umbrellas.
Still having trouble downloading photos. Main page on the computer is in English, but none of the commands are. Three steps forward, two steps back. I long for my own computer and air conditioning!!!!
I'll keep trying to post photos. In the meantime, I continue to go with the flow.
One week down and I'm still plugging away. I've finally gotten into the rhythmn here, and realize that two weeks will not be enough time to fully understand the working of the Hualien government. There is another staff member here from a small island in Japan and he is here for 6 months! Maybe that is a little excessive...
Great weekend visiting the Taroko Gorge (Hualien's Mt. Rainier) and the Ocean Park. I have been connected with a great group of women and it has been very confortable. Each day there are approx. 2 good English speakers. I realize that the little bit of Chinese I learned before going is not enough to do anything.
Today is the City Council, National Ministry and television station. It is going to be very hard to return home and not be a celebrity.
Still stinking hot and humid. I'm such a lightweight when heat is concerned. The street life only really gets hopping at night, and not I know why. In addition, the Taiwanese women do not like the sun. People do not "sun tan" here, but instead cover up with pants and use umbrellas.
Still having trouble downloading photos. Main page on the computer is in English, but none of the commands are. Three steps forward, two steps back. I long for my own computer and air conditioning!!!!
I'll keep trying to post photos. In the meantime, I continue to go with the flow.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Go With the Flow
I am truly a stranger in a strange land, but it is getting easier with each passing day - and it is an amazing experience. Yesterday, Day 1, was a blurr. Meeting with department heads and the Mayor first thing, talking to each department head individually, a TV introduction from the Mayor, photographs for the newpaper that appeared in the paper today, a huge hot pot lunch, visit to the seashore, and a banquet in the evening. All fine until I learned that I would have to sing Kareoke at the banquet (third time I had a Kareoke microphone in my hand that day!) - definitely not my forte. But, when the Mayor's wife tells you to sing, you sing!!! I have "lovely" photos which I will try to post tomorrow.
Today was library and culture day - very fun, and of course there was more new food!! How these thin women can eat all of this food I do not know! Not sure what tomorrow will bring - my schedule is in Chinese and apparently hard to translate - even for the 17 girl with who I am living. She speaks great English (was an exchange student this past summer in Bellevue), as does the rest of the family, so I am lucky.
Otherwise, I am glad to finally get on a computer. It makes me feel a little less disconnected. Hopefully photos will come soon. Most everything on the computer is in Chinese, so we'll see how the downloading goes.
That's all for now - got to go "home". More soon...
Today was library and culture day - very fun, and of course there was more new food!! How these thin women can eat all of this food I do not know! Not sure what tomorrow will bring - my schedule is in Chinese and apparently hard to translate - even for the 17 girl with who I am living. She speaks great English (was an exchange student this past summer in Bellevue), as does the rest of the family, so I am lucky.
Otherwise, I am glad to finally get on a computer. It makes me feel a little less disconnected. Hopefully photos will come soon. Most everything on the computer is in Chinese, so we'll see how the downloading goes.
That's all for now - got to go "home". More soon...
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Itinerary
Itinerary:
Depart Seattle-Taipei: Friday, Oct. 24
Arrive Taipei: Saturday, Oct. 25
Caesar Park Hotel
Arrive in Hualien via train: Sunday, Oct. 26
Depart Hualien: Sunday, Nov. 9
Explore Taipei: Nov. 9 - Nov. 12
Caesar Park Hotel
Depart Taipei for Hong Kong: Nov. 12 (my birthday - whoohoo!!!!)
Explore Hong Kong: Nov. 12-18
YMCA Sinclair - Kowloon
Depart Hong Kong-Seattle: Nov. 18
Arrive Seattle: Nov. 18
Depart Seattle-Taipei: Friday, Oct. 24
Arrive Taipei: Saturday, Oct. 25
Caesar Park Hotel
Arrive in Hualien via train: Sunday, Oct. 26
Depart Hualien: Sunday, Nov. 9
Explore Taipei: Nov. 9 - Nov. 12
Caesar Park Hotel
Depart Taipei for Hong Kong: Nov. 12 (my birthday - whoohoo!!!!)
Explore Hong Kong: Nov. 12-18
YMCA Sinclair - Kowloon
Depart Hong Kong-Seattle: Nov. 18
Arrive Seattle: Nov. 18
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