#3 Filling up my passport

364 days ago my passport was blank. I had been to exactly one country...America. My real motive for getting a job overseas was not to make money or become a better teacher, although I hope both of those happened, it was to travel. And travel, I did.

Taiwan is located on the tropic of cancer, and a four hour flight to nearly every must see East-Asian location. And flights are cheap. So I saw quite a few places. I've been to 7 new countries since leaving America. Japan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and of course Taiwan. Im sure everyone will want to know about my favorite places I have traveled so here are a few. I didn't include Taiwan in any of this because that isn't fair.

Favorite city: Tie- Singapore and Hong Kong-Both of them are city-states. Both of them speak English. Both of them are expensive. Both have jungle and ocean in the city. Both are clean. They are both beautiful, and most asian cities are not.

Favorite country to relax: Bali, Indonesia- The island of the gods. Temples at every turn. Beaches that bring the shopping and drinks to you. Bali can be as wild as you want or as relaxing as you want. But not matter if your laying on a beach, exploring a temples or biking through rice terraces, your pulse is slow.

Favorite country to eat: Thailand- Thai food duh

Best outdoor activites: Halong Bay, Vietnam- Kayaking into caves and through the bay is cool. Treking up mountains was fun. But rocking climbing on a secluded beach, with no humanity in sight, in one of the most beautiful places I have ever been, is something I will never forget.

Most culture: Hanoi, Vietnam- Hanoi is crazy. Like seriously crazy. It is exactly what I pictured SouthEast Asia to be like. Do not go here to relax.

Country I would most enjoy living in: Japan- It is most similar to Missouri in terms of weather. It has mountains with good skiing. The culture is very different from anywhere else I went and the people are kind. The only problem is that I might get mercury poisoning from all of the sushi I would eat.

Sorry for the poor grammar, Ive been super busy saying my goodbyes. Tomorrow is my last full day. Sadness

#4 Cost of living

This post is pretty plain and simple. Living in Taiwan is cheap! I mean it’s not Vietnam cheap, but compared to America it’s very cheap. The difference between a place like Vietnam and Taiwan is the standard and quality of life here is much, much higher. Nearly anything you can do or buy in America can be bought or done in Taiwan, and usually for a cheaper price. When I can afford basically anything I want and still be able to save, life is good.

The luxuries in Taiwan are typically the same price someone in America would pay.(Or maybe just a little less) So if you are coming to Taiwan to find super cheap electronics or cars, you will be disappointed. The real saving happens on every day things. For example:

-I spend about $3 on gas every week. Sure, I’m driving a scooter instead of a car but in my opinion scooting is more fun.

-My rent and utilities combined are less than $200 a month.

-Food. You can eat a delicious meal that will fill you up for $1-4. No, it’s not what you’re thinking. “Well I can eat McDonalds for that price.” The food is legit good, homemade food. Cheap food is also incredibly convenient to get. Actually eating out is cheaper than cooking for your self. Perfect for me.

-Medical bills. 20 minutes with a doctor, 2 hours on an IV, 1 month of 4 different types of medicine cost me $12. Getting your teeth cleaned cost $1.60. Getting an eye exam, frames and lenses is about $17. Seriously, when going to the doctor doesn’t cost an arm and a leg people are more likely to go and prevent future illness. What an idea (cough America cough)

-Anything from the night market is dirt cheap, but the quality isn’t always awesome.

-Buying a house in Taiwan costs around $24,000usd

Altogether I would say that I can live well on $600usd a month. (everything included) That’s pretty awesome!

A couple days ago a friend asked me how I was feeling about leaving Taiwan and this is how I replied. It’s most similar to the feeling when you realize you need to put your dog to sleep. You try to enjoy your last few days with it, but everything you do makes you sadder. It is an understatement when I say I am going to miss this place. 

#5 Being a Big Deal

Finally, somewhere in the world gets it. I'm a big deal! 

I can stop a crying baby with a crack of a smile. Girls giggle and blush as I walk by. I cannot spend a night in the club without ten guys telling me I am handsome. Infants stare in amazement at my awesomeness. People ask to take pictures with me. Random mothers hand me their babies and then take our picture. Strangers try to sneak pictures of me and my friends. Basically, I'm a rockstar.

Okay, maybe I am exaggerating a little bit. But when you live in a city that has very few white people, you definitely draw more attention. Some people just want to practice their English. But most others are just really excited to have a foreigner in their city. Everywhere we go people go out of their way to make sure we have a good time. 

People love to sneak a picture of us as we walk by. This is especially true when we are in large groups. I would say that people ask to take my picture or take a picture with me at least once a month. Four times now there has been a professional(ish) photo shoot going on where they ask me to join in. One time in public a random woman handed me her baby without speaking any English and then took our picture. Shop owners and restaurants are so excited(or intimidated) when a bunch of use white people walk in. Girls will approach me at clubs...and thank goodness because we all know I'm too much of a wimp to approach them. I mean seriously, what's going on here? Whatever it is, I love it. (BTW I think it is just because Taiwanese people are awesome and they want everyone to love their country...I do). 

In too short of a time I will go back to being a nobody. Oh well, I enjoyed it while I had it! Hopefully I didn't come across as an arrogant, conceited idiot.

Number 4 will be posted sometime this weekend.

A professional photographer was doing a photo shoot with a Harley and they wanted an American made person on the American made motorcycle.

This was early in the year. We were playing football in the park when a Taiwanese boy asked me if I would take a picture with his friend. Without knowing who his friend was I said sure. Turns out this happened....I mean, who wears clothes like that to the park?

#6 Time for two wheels

When I got off the plane 12 months ago I remember seeing a sign, "Taiwan: Time for two wheels." They sure were right. I've spent the last year scooting almost everywhere I've gone. Scooters give you a freedom few other vehicles can match. Driving through a crowded night market in a car would be impossible, it's a breeze with a scooter. Parking nearly anywhere in Taiwan with a car is a huge hassle. Not with a scooter. If you are out of the way of traffic and your scooter fits, you've found yourself a parking spot. A trip to Taiwan isn't complete without a ride around town on a scooter.

My scooter (named Sasha after J.D.'s scooter on Scrubs) wasn't the prettiest scooter on the streets. Actually it was one of the ugliest. It had Mizzou ducktape holding the front casing on and scratches everywhere else. She also wasn't the most legal as she was in a past teachers name (past as in 4 years ago), with no paperwork or insurance. But she always started, never broke down, and got me to anywhere I needed to go whether it was high in the mountains or a trip to the beach.

A drive through the streets of Taiwan can be sensory overload. But there is no better seat to watch the world go by than a scooter seat.

Less than 2 weeks left. Ill try to post #5 in the next couple of days.

Random picture out the window of our apartment

I'm so cool!

I took the Mizzou ducktape off to sell it.

 Below are random videos of scooting and a typhoon. The first two are near a night market. The third video is down the busiest road in Taichung...altho it was nearly empty during the video. The 4th and 5th are near the coast on our way home from the beach. The last video is Typhoon Soulik. Sorry if the videos make you nauseous.

#7

Traveling within Taiwan

From modern cities with enormous skyscrapers to mountain villages. To the alpine top of Yushan Mountain overlooking the vast jungles that leads to the coastal plains and beaches. You can surround yourself by millions of people or find a mountain trail and be utterly alone. A hot and muggy day in the city can turn to a chill, crisp day with a 2 hour bus ride. Save a ski resort, Taiwan has just about everything. And as discovered this island is by its 23,000,000 people, it has been relatively untouched by the Southeast Asian backpacking circuit.

Beaches

            My favorite beach experience was with Mike, Jodie, and Greg on Penghu Island. I don’t know if it was just being with family that made it better. Or it could have been the perfect water temperature on that late November day. Or the golden sand. Or maybe it was because there were no other people. (Taiwanese people hate being out in the sun) Or maybe it was because there were no beach chairs or umbrellas or restaurants or resorts or anything. Taiwan doesn’t do tourism very well, but that makes it better for once you actually get there. There are better beaches in the world, no doubt, but something about having an abandoned beach with no trash makes this rank near the top of my favorite Taiwan beaches.

Mountains

            The mountains are as rugged as they come. Having mostly soil and jungle rather than exposed rock making the stability of the mountains questionable during heavy rains. The American Rockies are large gradual mountains in comparison. Taiwan is only 80 miles across, yet the tallest mountain nearly reaches the height of the tallest mountain in Colorado. They are incredibly steep.

            My favorite memory has to be my trip across these mountains to Taroko Gorge with my mom, Sarah F. and her family. This was a crazy, uncomfortable and dangerous 10 hour drive that I really didn’t enjoy until months after it was over. But it is definitely a memory I will have for a long time.

Cities and villages

            Each city and village has its own identity and vibe. I liked the southern cities vibe much better than Taichung or Taipei. The mountain villages are all cool in their own way, my favorite is Pingxi where the lantern festival is held. But Taichung was my home and I that always makes a place a little more special.

Lakes and rivers

            Sun Moon Lake is really the only lake I have been too and it is very pretty. The only river I am partial to is the one we whitewater rafted down. There wasn’t anything special about the river, but the experience was pretty epic.

I didnt attach photos because I have posted them all on here before.....and I am lazy!

28 days until I leave and growing sadder by the day.

Get the El Rancho nachos and Flatbranch beer ready. I’m coming BAAAAAACCCKKK!!!!! I will being teaching 3^rd grade in Columbia, Missouri next year. M-I-Z!!!

Night Markets

#8 Night Markets

Night Markets are a microcosm of Taiwan. Everything great about Taiwan can be seen and experienced at a night market. The sights, smells, tastes, feel, people, and prices are all what make Taiwan great.

If it’s food you’re after, there is no better place. My last meal in Taiwan will undoubtedly be at a night market. The options and prices cannot be beaten. Now it may not always be the healthiest food, but who really cares about that. You can go from starving to stuffed for around $120nt which is $4usd. The variety of food to be purchased at any night market is outstanding. You want dumplings, sausage, fruit, sushi, fried….anything, stinky tofu, and just about every other type of food in Taiwan, you have come to the right place. (Ask Cousin Jodie about the things that are available on sticks) I would name all of the food that you can get at a night market but that would be boring. Pictures are better for that. What you cannot experience by reading this blog is the tastes and smells. The smell of stinky tofu is enough to make any green traveler gag….but I have grown to appreciate it. (notice I didn’t say like) It has a special place in my heart.

Now on to the shopping. Some of the girls I work with can blow a lotttttt of money and time at the night market. They love it. For me, it’s what’s keeping Night markets from being higher on the list. Waiting around for the girls to shop is about as exciting as a ku football game. Only there are more people at night markets than at ku football games. However I do enjoy being able to buy a new pair of prescription glasses or sunglasses with eye exam for $15-$20. I also enjoy the amount of random stuff at unreal cheap prices, most notably the t shirts with incorrect English or ChEnglish as we call it. I can handle watching them shop as long as I have food and banana milk with me, once those run out I get antsy to leave.

There are many different types of night markets. Some focus on local food and fruit, some on entertainment, and others on shopping. Here are some random pictures from a few night markets. I focused mostly on food. 

No clue what it is, but it smelled good.

Oyster Omelet

Alcohol ring toss

We won 2 beers

Snails anyone?

Sausage

Fried duck neck

Not joking, chicken feet are good.

Fried squid

Always crowded

Night market sushi

Fried pork belly. Need I say more?

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#9 The Unexpected

Really, this should be in my top 3. This is my favorite part about traveling. It's hard to put this into words. Its just a fun feeling I get when being in new places. Predictable trips, predictable vacations are what some people look for. Not me. I love exploring. I love not knowing what you will find around the next corner. And in Taiwan, you can find some pretty crazy things.

Random night market, temples, people "shrimpin" out of swimming pools(yeah I did that), scantily clad girls selling betel nut, parades through the street for some reason I don't know, people burning money to keep the ghosts away, elderly people beating the shit out of themselves. All things you might come across on a short scoot across town.

Taiwan's weather is very predictable compared to Missouri. Typhoon season is pretty fun. But one thing that always catches me off guard is earthquakes. On Sunday we got hit by a 6.3 magnitude earthquake. I was up in my apartment on the 19th floor. It was pretty freaky. The quake lasted for a minute, according to my students, and I believe them. I really wanted to feel an earthquake when I came here. That appetite is satisfied. I'm okay with stable ground for the rest of my time here.

Sooooooo I havent exactly been keeping up with this every week. And I know my effort wasn't the greatest this time. Ill do better next time, I promise.

52 days until I fly home.