BECAUSE OF THE TET

Just back from a few days in Vietnam. I loved it! Mainly because of the food but for other reasons too. I went on a group trip with 9 others, by the end we had all really bonded and it was rather sad to say goodbye!

The Vietnamese celebrate lunar new year just like China, so there were so minor inconveniences. We got very accustomed to our guide saying "it's because of the Tet" whenever something didn't happen according to plan. I wonder what they use for an excuse the rest of the year?

We started in Hanoi which overwhelmed me with motorcycles, I think they are to Vietnam what scooters are to Taiwan.

LATE NIGHT SUGAR

Now back in the big city.

Consumed the night before I left for Vietnam (not all by me!!!)

More "American Style" chewy cookies and cupcakes with "frosting" (read: icing). Such a Taipei trend right now, particularly nearby university campuses. It's bad.

BANANAS IN BAGS

Anyone know why the wrap them up?

WAX APPLES

Kenting was all about the wax apple. Delicious, when you bite into them it seems as though they are 100% refreshing, sweet water. Heaven.

PINEAPPLE FIELDS FOREVER

I always wondered how pineapples grew. We found the fields on a bike ride down the road from the weird hotspring resort in the middle of nowhere. Unfortunately not the season to see them at their prime.

BUDDHA'S HEAD

Fruit of the moment in Taitung, also called the custard apple. The outside of the train station had stores and stores devoted to them. The thing to take home if you're visiting. We were in such a hurry to get away that I forgot to buy one!

THE COLLECTION

The sound of an ice cream truck in the distance...

 but here this announces the arrival of the Taiwanese rubbish truck. It comes most days and makes for a very social time, everyone comes out onto the street to throw their rubbish onboard. A truck for household garbage, one for plastic, one for paper and cardboard. Mine in Taipei comes at 9pm Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri and Sat. This one in Kenting came while we were having lunch.

I HAVE NO WORDS

A typical Taiwan breakfast, this from our Kaohsiung Hotel.

A piece of extremely thick white toasted bread, egg, and some bizarre stuff they call ham. It's not luncheon meat, it's not what I would consider ham, I don't know what it is.

FREEDOM!

photo: school, I don't have to come back for a whole week!!!

Flying to Hanoi today!

It's funny, this week has not been too bad weather and Taipei life wise so I'm almost sad to be leaving... almost!

Not taking my laptop so no photos until I return in about a week. In the meantime, I have some random pictures from our greater Taiwan escapades coming, not surprisingly, it's mostly fruit.

Happy year of the dragon!

BECAUSE I'M ADDICTED

Sportswear is big in Asia.

All the department stores have stores for the major brands and lets not get started on the 3 storey flagships. They have a selection that NZ customers could only dream of, colours, styles, limited editions releases, and it all looks so pretty in the displays!

I was never very interested in this kind of thing at home but now, I never miss an opportunity to pop into the store and see what's on offer. 90% of the time there is some kind of sales promotion happening and like I said, everything is so pretty!

I'm going to have a large influx of cash in the last few days before I leave here so I think I'll have to shop for a new gym outfit. For now though, I'll make do with the gym bag!

FOR G

I ate lunch at the vegetarian buffet for you today :)

They had a fabulous "Greatest Hits of the Eighties" type soundtrack happening today so I lingered over the complimentary green bean soup.... perhaps I will miss being able to eat like this for under NZ$4.

MID WINTER

Taiwan is gearing up for the election this weekend and the campaigners are in full swing, banners like the ones pictured are all over the show (it looks kind of messy in my humble opinion.) I did like this fellows name though - "Smiling George." 

In my recent news, C and G are long gone and I've spent the week trying to catch up on class after 3 weeks of absence/no studying. 

I'm finding myself just going through the motions really, there is that mid-winter lethargy affecting everything and everyone right now, it is tough to find the motivation.

Luckily this funk can't last long, next weekend marks the beginning of a week long holiday for Chinese New Year. I'm very excited. 

As anyone who has spent lunar new year in an Asian country knows, everything shuts down and everyone goes home, it is not fun at all to stay in the city so I'm going to Vietnam! My last hurrah before my homecoming and inevitable joining of the workforce. Also a good chance to hopefully get some sun, I think I am suffering from a Vitamin D deficiency....

Happy Weekend

FESTIVE QUINOA

I just learnt this new trick today, mix red and white quinoa together to make it look super pretty! Thanks to G for bringing the red quinoa from NZ, it is hideously expensive here.

I am loving this blog for recipes right now, I've bookmarked so many already to try when I get home.

THE KELLERMANS OF TAIWAN

I was happy to leave Kenting, and we got away early in the morning to catch a train to Taitung in the southeast. The train took us right around the southern coastline which was very pleasant. Unfortunately the train ride came to and end and we were forced to continue with our adventure.

KENTING

Kenting is a small town at the southern most tip of Taiwan. Surfing, snorkeling, seafood and sun year round.

We inadvertently spent New Years Eve here (not much sleep was had). It was a pleasant surprise to see that although the people on the beach stayed up all night letting off fireworks , there was none of the drunken ick that happens around NZ at this time of year.

A NIGHT IN KAOHSIUNG

 When you have one night in Kaohsiung, it is pretty obvious that it will be spent at the night market. C and G's first! If I remember correctly, it is the biggest in Taiwan? This can't be verified as the Taiwan Lonely Planet has been thrown in the trash after it lead us astray way too many times.

As we were near the sea, there was an emphasis on seafood, all kinds of crustaceans were on offer. An abundance of fried everything, but thankfully the fruit stalls to restore some kind of normality to your mouth after eating so much of the former, always coated in some kind of seasoning that makes me so thirsty. A kind of peppery MSG perhaps?

TOURING

It's been awhile since I've updated here... oops. Blame it on the fact that I've not been in Taipei for a while and that while I've been here, the weather has been so awful I've had trouble getting out of bed.

While C and G were here, we did a bit of a circuit of Taiwan. It was interesting to say the least. People say that you don't know the true Taiwan until you have left Taipei. All I know is I will be happy if I never have to leave Taipei again, save going to the International Airport!

Taiwan? It's just not for me.