National Palace Museum and Taipei 101

National Palace Museum, Shillin night market and Taipei 101. It was my and Geena's Day today.

In the afternoon we've decided to go to Taipei, visit some places and enjoy Taiwan atmosphere. When we've arrived to Taipei, we've taken a bus to National Palace Museum. Wow, it was so big and beautiful! We went inside, paid the entrance fee, took information booklet and our tour around Museum has started. It has three floors and on each floor there are some historical permanent or temporary exhibitions. This museum is very precious for Taiwan, because when Chiang Kai-shek was in Taiwan he decided to move historical tools from China here. 

There are a lot of unique cups, plates, vase, sculptures, hand writing materials and so much more. It's forbidden to take a picture here, so you have to use only your memory or collect some papers with small pictures. Some of the things are only in Chinese and sometimes it all seems a little bit same, so it could be boring from time to time. But still, the building was very beautiful and I would recommed to go there. And if you want to go there, don’t forget your sweater – it’s pretty cold here :-)

Main Gate of National Palace Museum with Geena

Welcome to Nationla Palace Museum

When we've finished our tour de Museum it has been pretty dark. We've decided to have a dinner in Shillin night market and ten go to Taipei 101. We've done, what we've planned :-)

In Shillin night market we've bought some dumplings, sweet cakes and drinks. After eating our delicious dinner we've caught a bus, which should take us to Taipei 101. After a while it has turned out, that we're going to opposite site:-) We're lucky to realise it soon:-) It has been only one or two MRT station to opposite side.

89th floor of Taipei 101

After struggling with public transportation we've finally been in the Taipei 101.We've caught the last elevator on the top. The view has been so amazing! It's very hard to describe the view. I think you have to just experience it. You can see lights everywhere, moving traffic, turning wheel, flowing river and so much more..

Geena has bought for us Mango ice-cream. We've sit down on a coach, started to eat the ice-cream and enjoyed the view from 89th floor. I think this moment has been unforgettable. It has been so great, that I almost haven't words to express it.. Just great.

Mango ice- cream on the top od Taipei 101

Taipei 101 view

Look down! Taipei 101.

 Again a lot of new memories. Geena, I've really enjoyed it! Never forget!

Bon Voyage and Goats hot pot

Today we've been to see Bon Voyage (musical performance, where one of my friends has performed) and later we've had a dinner in "All you can Eat" with specialty - goats meat.

Poster of Performance

Bon Voyage has started around 2PM. Until that we've had an amazing sleep and relax :-) The Performance has taken about one and half hour. I think I've never been on such musical performance. It has been a final concert of high school students, who have been showing, what they have learnt. Our friend Pierre has accompanied them on trombone. There were around 50 participants and so many musical instruments, that I haven't known all of them :-)

Although I haven't known, what to expect, I was very surprised, that it was very interesting and I was listening whole the time. I like the most the music from One Piece (Japanese cartoon movie). And I've really admired how capable all of them were. I couldn't play a single tone. Really, guys, you were great.

Bon Voyage Performance

After the Performance we've stopped close to Xin Tian Gong (行天宫) and got in (Gong=Temple). This temple is dedicated to the great warrior, Guan Gong (the God of War). He is believed to have huge strength and courage, so the Temple is for people, who are seeking help in this area. There were some ladies (probably monks), who have been giving a blessing to some people - the queue was very long. A lot of people were interested in their blessing.

With Geena in front of the Xin Tian Gong

And because we've had some time before our dinner, we've decided to try to use oracle stones for future telling a picking the stick as an answer. I was pretty quick. First you ask, if your question is good - throw the stones and if yes, you can pick a wooden stick with number. My answer was yes for the first time. I've picked a stick with number. Then you have to ask again, if this stick is good for you. The answer was yes also immediately :-) Geena has a little bit problems with picking stick. She's tried so many times, but at the end, she was successful too.

Later, when you know your answer you can go to the office and ask for explanation - there are some people, who can help you, because to every number there is a legend, so it's difficult to understand. I think, that the stones might be not right, because almost always my future is bad :-D

Geena and Pierre are looking forward to see the Temple :-)

Monks are blessing people

Anyway later we've gone to All you can eat especially for goat :-) It is hot pot with many kinds of food, which you can try. Specialty was a goat leg - in the bone there is something you can drink - something like a marrow I guess. I've tried. It was OK, but maybe I can skip it next time.

The sign of the restaurant

I also like mochi very much. There were three kinds. First was from sea food, fill with the dough - very good, second dough filled with cheese - very bad and third - dough filled with sesame seeds - great! And there was also some kind of India cake - sweet filled with seeds - so good!

And there was a lady, who was taken a picture of me with her shop - the only word I've understood was: You're so beautiful! :-D

Well, I've eaten a lot again, but it was very good. The whole afternoon and evening was good. I've enjoyed it.

Our "dinner group" :-)

At home we've gotten with Geena a small chocolate present from Pete to celebrate Chinese Valentine's Day. We've chatted a little and went to bed very soon :-)

Another day has passed away. Sometimes I wish to stop the time and enjoy the moment even more! But I still have memories, right? :-))

Eating, Big Wheel and IMAX

Today we've had a lunch with Pete and in the evening I've been to Taipei to have a dinner, take a ride to Big Wheel and watch The Dark Knight Rises.

Lamb noodles

After long sleep we've been to take a lunch with Geena and Pete. Close to our house there is a street, where you can eat lamb rice. There are two kinds of this rice - fried and normal one. I've chosen normal one, it was very good! On the top of the rice there were pieces of lamb :-)

Later we've decided to go for a movie to Taipei. Geena hasn't felt very well, so I've gone to Taipei with Pete and we've met there his friends. Just on our way to Taipei has started to be quite fun. We've had some problems with car. We could not start without help - the battery was poor and later we've needed help again :-) But the journey was very pleasant. I've gotten to know something more about Taiwanese culture.


When we've arrived we've had a dinner. It was again very good - what a surprise :-) Pete has chosen some food (I don't understand at all :-) and I like very much the nuts drink and something like a sweet fried cake. We've also met there Pete’s' friends - Clouds :-D


Because typhoon has come earlier the rain has started very suddenly and we've to taken an umbrella. I was quite wet, but OK :-) What has surprised me was a place, where you can take a plastic cover for your umbrella before the shopping mall. I think that in my country it would disappear immediately. Someone would steal it.. I like on Taiwan, that people almost don't steal anything. I've asked local people and they just don't need to steal. They have what they need and they don't envy so much like in my county - I think.

Anyway later we've taken a ride to a Big Wheel. It was nice even though it has been raining. We've been so high, that we could see many beautiful places in whole Taipei.. Ive tried to take some pictures and also we've made a pictures together :-D Fun.

Big Wheel in Taipei

The view from Big Wheel

Another view from Big Wheel

Pete, Clouds and me in Big Wheel cabin

In the evening we've gone to watch the movie The Dark Knight Rises in IMAX Taipei Dome. Pete has told me, that I've probably never been in such a big cinema - that it has three floors. It has kept me calm - the screen is the same right? But the screen was soooo biiig! I've never seen such big screen in my whole life. Movie fan would love this place, it has been amazing. And the sounds, atmosphere - great. And I think there was nobody, who would eat popcorn or drink very loudly. Really cool.. And the journey back home was also very cool. Whole day was full of nice moment, which I'm going to remember, when I'm going to return back home.  

Thank you Geena, Pete and Clouds!

Final presentation of our project and celebration :-)

Today we've prepared ourselves for our final presentation, successfully finished our project and then we've celebrated it!

In the morning we've finished another video:

Prepared our final version of presentation (ask for basic translation :-) and collect all our staff we used for our presentation - flags, promotional materials, last gifts from our countries.. The mood was a little bit sad - like leaving great time.

For lunch Geena has cooked for me her food - rice with meat. It was very good :-) I'm lucky to try another kitchen than Taiwanese. She's a good cooker, she's going to be super cooking mother!

And in the afternoon we've started to prepare for our presentation. We've bought also Taiwanese flags to ask our friends to write us something nice for us. When the presentation called: Yingge through Czech and Indonesia Eyes started, everybody paid attention, observe the pictures and checked our promotional materials. We've finished our presentation, showed them our map, booklet, played all videos and share our culture again.
Our audience was clapping for us. It has been great feeling. It reminds me theatre a little bit. The biggest gift you can give to actor is big applause. We've got also some cakes as a gift, We've given them also our gifts and wished them the best. They've also written some wishes and names on our flags. These moments reminds you, that what you do have a sense. Suddenly we've been on our way home and we've been in a mood to celebrate our internship.

Promotional materials

Proud to our work :-)

At home we've eaten a little, have some home-celebration with Pete (youngest son of our host-family, our friend :-) and later we've gone to the Keelung night market with our friends from Coffee - I've tried many kinds of food again. Tempura (see food in a shape of circle dough), barbecued tentacle of octopus chopped to small pieces - it was very good! And I've wanted to try chicken feet, but later I haven't had enough time to do so.

Tenpura

Tentacle of octopus

Our next stop was Karaoke in Banqiao. I really cannot sing very well. And mainly I've very nervous and shy to do so.. But the atmospehere was very good and mainly we've wanted to have some fun, like Pierre said :-) So I've sung also. It was a little bit different than I know from my country. It's just one room, where you have complete private, two microphones, big TV and mixture table :-) The whole day and night was unforgettable. I'll remember it for a long time. Thanky you all!

Hot hot hot, dumlings and fruit

This day can be explained very easily - HOT HOT HOT! Yes, today was very very hot.

When we've been waiting for the bus, we thought that we're having a shower in our own sweat. It was falling dropping from us. But of course, the bus hasn't come again, so we walked and it was so hot, that after 10 minutes of walking we need to find a place to sit.

HOT HOT HOT!!

We've been lucky, because we've found a dumpling shop with an English speaking waitress. I've ordered fried dumplings with meat, vegetable and spicy (spicy wasn't my intention :-). It was very good. We've also get to try traditional Taiwanese herbal tea as a gift. But what has caught my mind was a man, who was making dumplings. In the middle of table there was a big plate with filling and he has a lot of small circles of dough. He used a stick to put a little bit filling inside and than he has closed it very carefully :-)

Filling the dumplings

Preparation

And another one :-)

Later we've been to check out our printing materials. We've made some changing with paper order and on our way home we sweat even more. On our way Geena has showed me how to pick a mango and I've tried another fruit (I don't know the name :-). Generally the fruit is very good there! We've also gotten bananas and passion fruit from Mrs. Mei (our host-mother). She's taking care about our health :-)

Local fruit

When we went to the city again it was quite late, so it was a little bit cooler, but not so much. But what was good, that we've tried to go with another road than usually. There were a lot of street stands with food and one place, which sells something like a mashed potatoes balls. We've tried it - it was very good! Sweet :-)


And we've eaten passion fruit like a wolfs - we're too lazy to use knife :-D You can see on the pictures three steps, how to eat passion fruit :-)

Something like a mashed potatoes balls

Three steps of eating passion fruit :-)

And in the evening we've finally saved our promotional video! You can see it there:

Finishing work, can food and barbecue

Today we've almost finished our work - video, I've tried local can food from the market and in the evening we've been invited for barbecue from our friends.

Our work is done. We just need to save our video. It has showed up like the biggest bogey, but I belie we can make it! We're good :-)

Corn and squid

For our lunch we've been to Simple Mart across the street. I've decided to tried the octopus in tomato sauce with corn. Well, it wasn't the smartest idea :-D Octopus was spicy and weird and corn need a can-opener, which we of course don't have. But I've eaten a lot of it, because I was feeling hungry. At least I was looking even more for tonight barbecue with our friends from Speed Coffee.








In the evening Pierre has picked up us with Geena and our barbecue evening has started. We went to supermarket to buy some ingredients and than we went to Blues parent's farm. This place is the last house in some part of Yingge (yes, my orientation skills are still the same). There is a field for a rice, place for planting vegetable, lime tree, ducks, chickens, snakes, fishes, barking tied dog, many hungry cats, insatiable bugs and beautiful sky full with stars. I've tried to find some constellation I know, but the sky is different than in my country and it has started to be cloudy in the evening.

When we've arrived Bluess' parents have already started to make a meat for us. We've had a beef and pork. I've also gotten a secret recipe for marinades for meat from Blues father. If you have read the blog since now, maybe I can tell you, you can try and than tell me :-)

Marinades:
Beef: lime with shredded skin + salt
Chicken: soy sauce + pepper + whisky + garlic + chilly + water
Fishes: lime + salt
and I've haven't asked about pork :-)

During the night we've also had a lot of kinds of drinks - beer, tea, water, herbal coke or what it was :-) There was a chance to try magic seed, which makes lemon sweet, when you eat it before - it has really worked! And there was a performance of  making pudding with caramel - and of course, we've tried it later. Delicious! Some of Blues friends have accompany us, but they were speaking mainly in Chinese, so we haven't talked a lot.

Culture all around :-)

During the evening we've had Czech-Indonesia-Taiwanese-Chinese lessons :-) Me, Geena and Pierre were trying to know some words in our languages. It was fun. Maybe on the end of my internship I'll finally know some Chinese, Taiwanese and Indonesian words :-)

Wa pe dži guan bídu, bau bej! - I'd like to have a beer, darling!

Thank you Geena and Pierre!

Presentation and updating video

Today was another working day :-)

We've finished our Presentation of your Traineeship for the Tuesday and we've changed our video a little bit.

Sushi from Grandma (older picture)

Nothing special has happed. We went out for luch, but our bus hasn't come. So when we've decided to walk we've met our host family and they have drived us to place, where we wanted to eat - Dumlings. It was very nice of them. They are kind to us. First we've bought some drinks in the shop next to the dumling. But later it has showed up, that dumplings were just closing. So we've decided to go for Grandma sushi. It's a popular place for cheap sushi in Yingge. We've had some good talk and food and we went back home.

In the afternoon we've relaxed, have had a skype with our friends, families and others and we have wished to each other Good night. Dobrou noc. Selamat tidur.

Shopping in Taipei city

Printing, eating and shopping. Topics of this day.

In the morning we've finished our promotional materials and went to print them. Horace, Kathryn and Eva have helped us to figure out with the stuff, how to make it. We've decided to print two A2 for map and legend and made a small book from our notes. Well, I'm curious about the result, because I haven't understood a single word from their communication :-)

After our three day working marathon we've decided with Geena to celebrate it with journey to Taipei with one goal - shopping! First we've had a Ji Guang Delicious Fried Chicken to get some power for our shopping day. We've seen a lot of jewellery, clothes, cosmetics (especially nail polishes), food and drink (bubble milk tea) and so much more..

After seeing the shopping street in Shimen, Geena has showed me Red House. It's quite old building with wall made of bricks. Inside there were some historical exhibition, so we could see only the first floor. 

Red House

Historical Exhibition - all in Chinese :-)

Poster place :-)

 Later we've used secret gate to other part of the Red house - Creative Boutiques. In this place there are some shops, which make their own products (usually handmade). It was so great! I really like this style - wooden products, hand-made clothes, books, cards, creatures from computer components or Lego, paper holders for pens, business cards or mobile phone and so much more.. For the paper things you can see their website. Red house is a place especially for me. I wish to have this Red house in my city, thank you Geena for showing me :-)

Terezka riding cat! On the back is the plan of Creative Boutiques

Some of the names of Boutiques

Making own postcards

Pencil cases from zippers

Creatures from computer components

Wooden heart with message

Interesting pottery

 Our next stop was Wufenpu shopping mall. I've expected some big house with many floors and shops, but it has turned out that it's a market with a lot of clothes stands. It was like a shopping paradise. It was cheap – a lot of t-shirts for 100. Dress, shorts, skirts, sweater and so much more for 300-1000NTD. And if you’re good, you can discuss with them about the price. They don’t pay a taxes, because they don’t have a shops, but stands. I’m a little bit higher than Taiwanese people, so there were two quite big disadvantages for me – a lot of things were small and you’re not allowed to try them. But I could still find something, so I went home with many bags :-D

On our way home we’ve stopped by Taipei City Hall for dinner (fried rice :-) and look into the Eslite (very big and famous book store). Our day has finished with run to catch our train. We’ve made it!

Yeej, what a shopping day! :-)

Working on Yingge Town

The 16th of August is working day for me and Geena. We've settled a special blog for our project yinggetown.blogspot.tw and today we've posted there new posts, made a map and create a short summary as a book about Yingge from our blog.

In the morning we've updated or created these posts:
Yingge Old Street
Places, where you can experience Art
Chimneys
Religious Edifices
Residential and Other interesting buildings
Coal Mining in Yingge
Park No. 3 and Old Banyan Tree

We've finished our map!

Our great map!

Legend for our great map :-)

We've made a book with short summary about Yingge :-)
You can download whole book here.

Titul page of book of Yingge

And during this working day we've cooked delicious scrambled eggs (6 eggs with 3 spring onions :-) and there was a strong wind typhoon. Only a strong wind with horrible smell from sewerage.

The Day 16th of August was pretty long, but we've made a lot :-) I'm proud to ourselves!