Homeward bound!

Goodbye Taipei, our imprint on you is small and will fade but we were here, darn it.

See what I mean? Them colours.

I fell off the blog wagon, sorry. Today is our last day in Taipei and we ended it in the same way we started it: Fresh Breakfast. Our faithful bagel breakfast sandwich never tasted so sweet. The employees know our order by heart. Ha!

We went for a long walk last evening. The last night in a city has a strange quality, colours seem to burn a bit brighter. The city looked really beautiful, the temperature was just right. Maybe it's not the city, maybe it's me. I'm not sure, but I've felt it before in other cities. Little things were really perfect and memorable - the steam rising from a late night noodle cart, a dog in the park silhouetted against the night sky, warmly glowing lanterns. Sigh...

When we first got here, I read this article about the top 50 things to do in Taipei (it wasn't really atourist list, more like some simple suggestions from local ex pats), and one of them was to stay up late to see the pig trucks. I guess late at night the butchers drop off the pigs to the shops - and by pigs I mean pig carcasses split in two lengthwise. Honestly, I didn't really feel the urge to cross that one off the list, but last night we saw the pigs. I guess that was a fitting goodbye from Taipei.

Flora Expo!

Taipei is host to this year's International Flora Expo. It's been going on since November 2010, and features garden displays (mazes, scented walls, living sculptures), indoor garden displays, floral arrangements, horticulture, performances etc. etc.

I decided last week that it was high time that I check it out, so I trekked to the expo site and saw the sights. It was pretty cool, but even though I went on a overcast Monday afternoon it was quite busy so I was slightly overwhelmed by the crowds. I saw lot's of lovely displays, including some very impressive bonsai trees (one was over 500 years old!), a drum performance, a succulent display and international garden display.There was loads more, but I have a hunch that as exciting as it was for me, if I went on this post would be a bit of a snoozer.


Okay Canada, we get it. All I'm saying is, is that the best we could do? Canada is made up of so many other wonderful cultures that are equally worth celebrating. This was a garden display, and those look like fiber glass salmon carcasses. At least cover them with plants or something. Sheesh. Where are the maple trees?

The USA's garden display was very good - you have to admit, when it comes to international competitions they've got game.
Bhutan's garden - now I don't know much about Bhutan but I'm assuming their GDP is a fraction of Canada's, and I would dare say this is a nicer display.

Thailand's display was the bomb, they had living sculptures, tropical flowers, little temples and walking paths. Yes, that is a giant elephant made out of plants.
This was in the Taiwan garden, and it's a giant bamboo "igloo" for lack of a better word. It was a huge dome structure woven out of strips of bamboo, with a fluid, curving entrance. I want one to camp out in, it was so beautiful and sculptural. Google "bamboo dome" and you'll see lot's of pictures.

hey guys!

I haven't been posting - I was feeling a bit sick the past couple days, so I was taking it easy. Sorry.

We're coming home soon, and I think we're ready. It's been GREAT not working, let's be real - but I miss Vancouver life. I'm excited to get back to some blooms and sunshine (fingers crossed) and bike rides. And in not-too-long the farmers markets will start up and we'll be munching on yummy fruit and veg. Basically, I miss y'all and I'm looking forward to seeing your faces in real life, not just on skype. Huzzah!

I think these cups speak for themselves:

"The life should waste on the fine things" Tell me more, wise cup...

"Coffee Time - Taste a cup of street that delicious coffee lets you place oneself in the foreign country up" - I wanted this to be a haiku so, so badly.

hidden corners.

tweet, tweet. I'm not sure what's going on here.

Before the nazis the swastika was a lucky symbol used in Buddhism. That said, I'm not sure how the orange spray paint artist wants you to interpret his/her colour accents.

I like this, it was quite big, but I only took a few patches.

Did somebody say cheeeeeeeeeese?

This is exactly how I look when I am forced to wake up early.

Oh my dog + cats!

I love dogs. I have dog-dar and can spot them in my vicinity like a sixth sense. There are lots of dogs in Taipei, I see people walking them or in stores or on balconies. These dogs clearly belong to people or are with people and they are domesticated dogs who act like dogs in Vancouver.

Then there are these other dogs that I keep seeing, and these dogs are just hanging out. Some have collars, some don't. There are no people nearby looking after them, these dogs are just chilling solo, and don't care who knows it. Crossing the street when they please, peeing on whatever they like, these dogs are basically having the time of their lives. And what I find most interesting about these dogs is that they are not mangy or aggressive, and people here seem pretty cool with these dogs just lounging around. It's kind of like the neighbourhood cats you see around Mount Pleasant, you know the ones? The "outside" cats that leave in the morning and come back at night, no questions asked.

I've been trying to take pictures of these dogs when I can, scrambling for my camera whenever they breeze by me in the street like they've got some poker game to go to. Here are my favourites.

Oh and for you cat lovers, I also have a couple of them captured (on film, har, har.)



I think this guy was with the people in the background, but I'm not sure. He was just having an afternoon snooze.

Cats lounging on a rooftop fan, but this is normal cat behaviour, right? While I was taking this picture a black dog walked past me, looking at me like "forget it, I've tried. If I'm not eating them, no one is".

Night time dog, perhaps he has a human friend that will come and sit on that chair and visit with him. Perhaps not.

What is it with dogs lying down at the top of the stairs? Could you BE any more underfoot, dog? This one was hanging out at the entrance to the metro, surveying the area and not-fussed by pedestrians - even ones putting cameras in his face.

Meow. Meow. Meow. Get off the road puss in boots.

Quality Mellow.

Stressed out at work? Deadlines? Running late? Life can be stressful. Chill out, Lipton's got you covered. Introducing "Quality Mellow" flavoured iced tea.

A few things

Kris is on a regiment of drops and pills, and the drops need to be refrigerated plus the doctor told him to not strain himself (blood/eye pressure reasons), so we've been close to home and we're both a bit giggly with all of the home time. It's not all bad, and I've been getting some solid Z's. Here are a few highlights:

- We've been drinking tea like it's going out of style. Right now we're on "Oriental Delight", we polished off the green and we're still working on the "health boost". We've got the kettle standing by at a moments notice.

- Kris has been craving Indian food, and luckily there is a place nearby that does really tasty take-out so I can pop out and get it. I've become such a regular there, and I think the fact that the chef and I have developed a flirtation bordering on smoldering doesn't help... or does it? I kid, it's an ongoing joke because he waves and smiles at me, and I wave and smile back and then he winks at me and I turn red.

- I finished my book "The Good Earth" by Pearl S. Buck. I'm not sure if I liked it, but I didn't not like it - does that make sense? I was engaged by the story and characters, but parts of her portrayal of China bothered me. I'm now reading "Everything is Illuminated" By Jonathan Safron Foer.

- My love of podcasts goes on. I've been mainlining "Stuff you should know" mixed in with "This American Life" and "RadioLab" as they come. I usually put it on and go for a walk, discovering little alleys and corners in the city. It's funny, as I listen to podcasts with topics as varied as Volcanos, the Mafia, Braille, Serial Killers, etc. the images I'm seeing become intertwined with what I'm hearing. One of the podcast listeners mentioned the same thing in a letter and now I can't help but think certain memories will be forever linked with volcanos, in a bizarre way.

- It's cold here again. I'm back on jeans and sweaters. The mini heat wave is over.

- I need a hair cut and there are lots of trendy looking salons in the neighbourhood, but I'm just not sure I can do it. I'm pretty easy going with my hair, but there's something about not being able to communicate with the person wielding scissors next to your head that is a bit of a turn off for me.

- As you know, I am a breakfast fan. I love breakfast. I've found that the traditional eggs 'n' bacon is a bit hard to find here, but we've got two spots that serve a pretty good spread. The only difference is that today breakfast was preceded by a corn soup, and the hash browns were french fries.

That's all for now, I've got to put the water on. Love and Pancakes y'all.