blogging blitz
No, your eyes don't deceive you, I have suddenly been writing, a lot. Actually, I just came to the realization that I needed to dust off the cobwebs and finish the half-dozen drafts that I had saved.
I've got a busy summer ahead. The kindergarten graduation program is next weekend, my mom arrives in 9 days, and in about a month I'm going to Hong Kong and home for a visit. I can't promise my writing will ever become more consistent, but I'm sure the summer will provide plently to write about, when I eventually have the time. Hope your summer is shaping up well.
Sunday, June 18, 2006
a dark-eyed boy, aye-chihuahua!
For the most part, I'm strictly a no dog sort of person. I don't mind the occasional pet sitting and I don't mind going to my friends' homes who are dog owners, however, I'm content to do without a pooch in my pad. However, I have perhaps met my match. If there was ever a dog to cause me to stumble and consider pet ownership, it's a tiny, dark eyed chihuahua my eyes beheld last night. Usually, I don't even give chihuahuas a second glance, they strike me as annoying, not cute, but this one knew all the right moves to look pathetically adorable. Sigh. I should have inquired as to the price. That would have fixed my fixation real quick. Pet shop pups are not cheap, which is why a lot of foreigners opt for adopting a park dog.
Don't worry mom, there won't be any 4 legged friend waiting to greet you when you come visit.
For the most part, I'm strictly a no dog sort of person. I don't mind the occasional pet sitting and I don't mind going to my friends' homes who are dog owners, however, I'm content to do without a pooch in my pad. However, I have perhaps met my match. If there was ever a dog to cause me to stumble and consider pet ownership, it's a tiny, dark eyed chihuahua my eyes beheld last night. Usually, I don't even give chihuahuas a second glance, they strike me as annoying, not cute, but this one knew all the right moves to look pathetically adorable. Sigh. I should have inquired as to the price. That would have fixed my fixation real quick. Pet shop pups are not cheap, which is why a lot of foreigners opt for adopting a park dog.
Don't worry mom, there won't be any 4 legged friend waiting to greet you when you come visit.
under an indigo sky
Last night I went for an evening dip in the pool at my friend's place. While the pool is outdoors, most of it is covered by an overhang, above which an apartment tower rises. There's a small section where the pool juts out from the overhang and suddenly you're between towers and beneath the sky. As I lazily floated at the end of my swim, I hung out for a bit beneath the indigo sky. It was nice. I felt almost as though I was no longer in the city. Thoughts drifted to an evening when we relaxing on a riverbank under a starlit sky, soaking where water from a hot spring and cold river merged. Ahh, the mountains, haven't been there in awhile. For now, I'll have to make due with evenings beneath an indigo sky and the memories of the world that exists beyond the city.
Last night I went for an evening dip in the pool at my friend's place. While the pool is outdoors, most of it is covered by an overhang, above which an apartment tower rises. There's a small section where the pool juts out from the overhang and suddenly you're between towers and beneath the sky. As I lazily floated at the end of my swim, I hung out for a bit beneath the indigo sky. It was nice. I felt almost as though I was no longer in the city. Thoughts drifted to an evening when we relaxing on a riverbank under a starlit sky, soaking where water from a hot spring and cold river merged. Ahh, the mountains, haven't been there in awhile. For now, I'll have to make due with evenings beneath an indigo sky and the memories of the world that exists beyond the city.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
throw another squid on the barbie
About 2 weeks ago I decided to gather a few co-workers and friends for a BBQ at my place. Perhaps it was Taiwan finally wearing me down, but I had a hankering for grilled squid as I perused the meat dept. at my local supermarket. I knew most of my guests enjoy this tentacular treat so I picked up a few.
Then came the realization that I'd have to clean them. Now I've cooked squid before, but it was part of a Thai cooking class and I think they were already gutted and cleaned, we just had to skin and slice them. Anyone who's been fishing with me knows, I love to fish but I have two rules: I don't touch the bait and I don't touch the fish. I'll gladly catch 'em if I can, but handling slimy or crawly things is not really for me. So there I found myself facing a cutting board of fresh squid and no one to pass the dirty work along to.
Well, after some quick online research and a few deep breaths, I handled those squid like a pro, or so I'd like to think. Actually, I got the hang of it right away and didn't break a single ink sack. I also didn't vomit or faint, always a plus. After getting past the first one, I really didn't mind cleaning them. I'm also pleased to say that the post-grilled squid turned out quite well too. Most of it never found its way to the table as people quickly snatched it from the grill or from the plate as it was passed from the balcony, through the living room on the way to the kitchen. I was lucky to even get a piece to try. Mmm, squid. ; )
About 2 weeks ago I decided to gather a few co-workers and friends for a BBQ at my place. Perhaps it was Taiwan finally wearing me down, but I had a hankering for grilled squid as I perused the meat dept. at my local supermarket. I knew most of my guests enjoy this tentacular treat so I picked up a few.
Then came the realization that I'd have to clean them. Now I've cooked squid before, but it was part of a Thai cooking class and I think they were already gutted and cleaned, we just had to skin and slice them. Anyone who's been fishing with me knows, I love to fish but I have two rules: I don't touch the bait and I don't touch the fish. I'll gladly catch 'em if I can, but handling slimy or crawly things is not really for me. So there I found myself facing a cutting board of fresh squid and no one to pass the dirty work along to.
Well, after some quick online research and a few deep breaths, I handled those squid like a pro, or so I'd like to think. Actually, I got the hang of it right away and didn't break a single ink sack. I also didn't vomit or faint, always a plus. After getting past the first one, I really didn't mind cleaning them. I'm also pleased to say that the post-grilled squid turned out quite well too. Most of it never found its way to the table as people quickly snatched it from the grill or from the plate as it was passed from the balcony, through the living room on the way to the kitchen. I was lucky to even get a piece to try. Mmm, squid. ; )
happiness is . . .
morning dew,
a new photo to adorn my walls
Tonight I was able to pick up a picture I purchased from a recent photo gallery showing of a friend of a friend's work. He has taken some amazing photos and I've enjoyed checking out his work online as well as reading about his and his girlfriend's travels in SE Asia. I was glad to see that one of my favorite photos was not only included in the show but also available for sale.
According to the photographer, the story behind the photo is this:
It was taken on Christmas Eve in 2005 in the morning light after hiking all night up a mountainside under a full moon. Being amongst the clouds, a soft dew covered everything in the morning, including insect life. The mountain he hiked happens to be Mount Merapi, the one that's been erupting recently in Indonesia. What a unique experience and a cool memory to capture, huh?
So why do I like this photo so much? I thought the details on the butterfly, right down to the droplets of dew, were amazing. I also liked the contrast between something that seemed so delicate and fragile next to something rugged and harsh. Finally, I liked how the softened background makes the vivid colors of life all the more apparent.
(um, for anyone who hadn't noticed, I set up links so you can view the photo as well as The Black Azar's other work, if you wish.)
morning dew,
a new photo to adorn my walls
Tonight I was able to pick up a picture I purchased from a recent photo gallery showing of a friend of a friend's work. He has taken some amazing photos and I've enjoyed checking out his work online as well as reading about his and his girlfriend's travels in SE Asia. I was glad to see that one of my favorite photos was not only included in the show but also available for sale.
According to the photographer, the story behind the photo is this:
It was taken on Christmas Eve in 2005 in the morning light after hiking all night up a mountainside under a full moon. Being amongst the clouds, a soft dew covered everything in the morning, including insect life. The mountain he hiked happens to be Mount Merapi, the one that's been erupting recently in Indonesia. What a unique experience and a cool memory to capture, huh?
So why do I like this photo so much? I thought the details on the butterfly, right down to the droplets of dew, were amazing. I also liked the contrast between something that seemed so delicate and fragile next to something rugged and harsh. Finally, I liked how the softened background makes the vivid colors of life all the more apparent.
(um, for anyone who hadn't noticed, I set up links so you can view the photo as well as The Black Azar's other work, if you wish.)
Mr. Creepy, Part Deux
same city, new guy, the next day
After an evening of cultural enhancement, a.k.a. catching a theater production in a neighboring city, 2 friends and I returned to our city an proceeded to catch a cab ride home. Oh, somehow the mouth strained red from betel nut should have been the give away to select another cab driver; we have been in Taiwan long enough to know better. But it was too late, we were already opening the doors and crawling inside. Rather than the three of us cram into the back seat, I thought I'd be courteous and take a turn up front, and therein lied mistake number two. Mistake three was attempting to fasten my seatbelt. You would think it should be the other way around, but it wasn't. Normally when sitting in the front of a cab, the driver will remind you and even insist upon the seatbelt being worn because it's the law so they're afraid of getting fined. However, as we pulled away from the train station, our driver began flailing his arms, making a choking/strangling gesture, and speaking loudly in unintelligible Chinese as the red spit from the betel nut flew from his mouth.
What? Does he really think I don't know how to fasten a seatbelt that he thinks I'm going to strangle myself? He gestures something from behind. My friend tries her best to understand some scrap of his dialog to interpret for us. What? Is he trying to tell me don't put the top part behind me or I should put it behind me? More gesturing, loud unintelligible comments, and spit from the driver. Umm, is he trying to say that someone was strangled by the seatbelt in this car? By this point we're almost halfway back to my friend's house and my seatbelt still isn't fastened because the driver is insistent that I don't buckle it and he's paying frightfully little attention to the road. Is he trying to tell me that if there's an accident, I could be decapitated or strangled by my seatbelt? Then why is he wearing his???
I give up. I let go of the seatbelt and any hopes of wearing it hoping the driver will abandon his efforts as well and pay attention to actually driving but alas, he doesn't. He now doesn't seem quite as distressed that I'm going to try to buckle up and my friend can begin to understand a bit more of his speech, though that didn't make things any less confusing or disturbing.
When all was said and done, basically what we synopsized was this: He was trying to tell us something about if we are riding with a stranger and they use the highway, we should never wear our seatbelt if riding in the front seat, especially if they insist upon it because they could use it to strangle us. This is apparently something that has occurred in Taiwan. As troubling as this piece of information was, what was disconcerting is that he still wouldn't let me buckle up. First of all, we weren't on the highway, we were in the middle of the city. Secondly, it's not like I was traveling by myself, we outnumbered the guy 3 to 1. And third, he was in no condition to try anything. So why, in this particular instance would he not let me buckle up? Okay, we get the story, thanks for sharing, but what does that have to do with me not buckling up now? Are you trying to say that if I buckle up, you're going to try to strangle me? Seriously, that's what we were all starting to wonder.
Finally, we arrived safely back at my friend's building. As I was getting out of the taxi, I noticed the open can of beer in the cup holder and an empty one on the floor, the sight of which had been previously blocked by my bag. Nice, very nice.
same city, new guy, the next day
After an evening of cultural enhancement, a.k.a. catching a theater production in a neighboring city, 2 friends and I returned to our city an proceeded to catch a cab ride home. Oh, somehow the mouth strained red from betel nut should have been the give away to select another cab driver; we have been in Taiwan long enough to know better. But it was too late, we were already opening the doors and crawling inside. Rather than the three of us cram into the back seat, I thought I'd be courteous and take a turn up front, and therein lied mistake number two. Mistake three was attempting to fasten my seatbelt. You would think it should be the other way around, but it wasn't. Normally when sitting in the front of a cab, the driver will remind you and even insist upon the seatbelt being worn because it's the law so they're afraid of getting fined. However, as we pulled away from the train station, our driver began flailing his arms, making a choking/strangling gesture, and speaking loudly in unintelligible Chinese as the red spit from the betel nut flew from his mouth.
What? Does he really think I don't know how to fasten a seatbelt that he thinks I'm going to strangle myself? He gestures something from behind. My friend tries her best to understand some scrap of his dialog to interpret for us. What? Is he trying to tell me don't put the top part behind me or I should put it behind me? More gesturing, loud unintelligible comments, and spit from the driver. Umm, is he trying to say that someone was strangled by the seatbelt in this car? By this point we're almost halfway back to my friend's house and my seatbelt still isn't fastened because the driver is insistent that I don't buckle it and he's paying frightfully little attention to the road. Is he trying to tell me that if there's an accident, I could be decapitated or strangled by my seatbelt? Then why is he wearing his???
I give up. I let go of the seatbelt and any hopes of wearing it hoping the driver will abandon his efforts as well and pay attention to actually driving but alas, he doesn't. He now doesn't seem quite as distressed that I'm going to try to buckle up and my friend can begin to understand a bit more of his speech, though that didn't make things any less confusing or disturbing.
When all was said and done, basically what we synopsized was this: He was trying to tell us something about if we are riding with a stranger and they use the highway, we should never wear our seatbelt if riding in the front seat, especially if they insist upon it because they could use it to strangle us. This is apparently something that has occurred in Taiwan. As troubling as this piece of information was, what was disconcerting is that he still wouldn't let me buckle up. First of all, we weren't on the highway, we were in the middle of the city. Secondly, it's not like I was traveling by myself, we outnumbered the guy 3 to 1. And third, he was in no condition to try anything. So why, in this particular instance would he not let me buckle up? Okay, we get the story, thanks for sharing, but what does that have to do with me not buckling up now? Are you trying to say that if I buckle up, you're going to try to strangle me? Seriously, that's what we were all starting to wonder.
Finally, we arrived safely back at my friend's building. As I was getting out of the taxi, I noticed the open can of beer in the cup holder and an empty one on the floor, the sight of which had been previously blocked by my bag. Nice, very nice.
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