Christmas Eve

For Christmas Eve, Connie and I went to see the movie The Family Stone, with Sarah-Jessica Parker (of Sex and the City fame) because we thought a light romantic comedy would be a good Christmas Eve choice. As it turned out, it was a Christmas movie and more of a drama than a comedy, but better than I expected, and perfect Christmas Eve material as it made you think about the importance of family during the holidays. We followed it up with a light dinner and a walk around the area, a nice quiet romantic Christmas Eve.

I should probably note here that Christmas Eve in Asia is effectively the 3rd Valentines day of the year (the previous two being Valentines Day proper, and a similar Chinese holiday in August) and so it's a night for couples to go out and spend some time together rekindling their romance. There isn't that idea of family here at Christmas, that's saved for Chinese New Year at the end of next month. 

Christmas Dinner

So, for Christmas Day Brunch I went out with Connie, her mother (pictured here), her Brother Li-Wei and her brother's girlfriend Yu-Mei for a nice Chinese buffet. They weren't serving turkey and mashed potatoes, but they did serve some great desserts, so I was quite happy and full afterwards. Boxing Day is also Connie's brother's birthday (poor guy), so this was really more of a birthday brunch, but it also served as Christmas brunch as well. Afterwards Li-Wei and Yu-Mei parted ways with us, and Conne, her mother and I went off to see the historic Long Shan temple, Taiwan's oldest temple. 

Birthday Guy

Here's Li-Wei, looking stylish with his new haircut and ready to turn 31 and start a new stage of his life. I wish him luck in the new year, he's got a big year ahead of him with his research project. 

Yu-Mei smiles for the Camera.

This lovely lady is Yu-Mei, Li-Wei's charming girlfriend and a local dentist. (My dentist here in Taipei, in fact!) A bubbling, smiling and happy person. 

At the Long Shan Temple

We finished the day by visiting the Long Shan (Dragon Mountain) temple, and the accompanying night markets which surround it. The temple itself (pictured behind me in this fuzzy picture) is a wonder to see. It's huge inside, with magnificent statues, altars, beautifully sculpted carvings everywhere and etched stone walls depicting various Taoist scenes. It's a Taoist temple, not a Buddhist one, meaning it's more oriented towards what one could call local gods.

The Night Markets around this temple were filled with people and sellers selling all manner of things. Apparently they're famous for a local drink made with pigs blood, and I saw many restaurants selling special medicinal foods made with live snakes, sea creatures, and even softshelled turtles.

A disturbing and fascinating way to spend Christmas Day Eve.

After this, we went to IKEA shopping for new sofa for Connie's brother and had dinner at a Japanese restaurant before hugging and parting ways on the bus.

All around, a good day! 

Free Trade

So, I just got done reading a fascinating article from the UK's Guardian newspaper which took an interesting stand on "free trade" practices. To sum up, the article was about how so far no developing country has actually made sigificant profits from opening their borders to "free trade" and the "global economy". In fact, it's quite the opposite. Countries like Mexico, and the ones in Africa and Latin America which have privatized their industries and opened their borders to trade have seen minimal growth at best since they did so. Whereas countries like Vietnam which have sat behind high trade barriers (you can buy our goods cheap, but we're protecting our local economy by taxing the hell out of stuff coming into the country) have actually seen large economic growth (6% per year as opposed to Mexico's 1%) and reductions in poverty and overall standards of living. Other success stories include Taiwan and South Korea, which created economies focussed on exports, with import limits and government subsidies for their chosen exports. Their economies, which were "third world" a few decades ago shot through the roof with this approach, and China is using a version of it now to drive it's own economy.

So, I guess the question becomes, who really profits from "Free Trade"? Is it the little guy? I think not. Opening borders to trade is wonderful for the big guy, he gets lots of cheap stuff and new markets for his goods, but for the little guy who can't compete it means crushed local industries and people with no jobs. How exactly does that improve their standard of life? I suppose some might say they can find work in the service industry and export industries, but that's what the Mexicans have done, and where has it gotten them?

Field trip to the Outback Steakhouse!

After class last Wednesday, Mr. Lien and his crack team of lawyers went with yours truely on a field trip to the Outback Steakhouse. I'd previously mentioned Outback as a good place to go during another class, and so when Mr. Lien suggested we go out to dinner the choice of where to go was obvious. They loved the "Bloomin' Onion", and greatly enjoyed a nice Australian Steak dinner. Actually, there isn't much choice because the only steak allowed across the border into Taiwan is from New Zealand or Australia, pretty much all other steak is banned. Mr. Lien and Robert (in white and blue on the left, respectively) asked me to go out to a bar with them sometime in the future. I think they just want an excuse to their wives to go out for a night on the town. "Honey, we have to go. We need to show the foreigner the Taipei nightlife." I actually like this bunch a lot, they're all very smart (obviously) and it's amazing how fast they learn, especially Jasmine (sitting next to me), who just seems to absorb English in class almost instantly. One of my favorite classes by far.

Rob 

Bowling Night!

Last Saturday Connie, her friend Monica, and myself went to California Fitness Center to sign up in an effort to defeat the coming winter blahs. Afterwards to celebrate we went out to dinner and then following a visit to a coffee shop we headed to a local Bowling Alley which was nearby and which I'd seen from the bus many times. I've wanted to go bowling since I came here, but the opportunity never presented itself until last weekend. 

"If you touch my Rob....I will kill you." Connie shows off her firey latina look. 

Monica (left) is Connie's old friend, and current boss. The other lovely lady is her friend Narisa who dropped by to join us for a night of fun. 

Longtime friends and classmates, Monica and Connie form a lovely pair. 

Monica and Connie looking cute. 

Narisa gets ready to demonstrate her hidden talents! 

Connie prepares to dazzle us with her skill. Actually, Connie had amazing lucky this night and rolled many spares and even a strike! Not bad for someone who hadn't bowled in a loooong time. She's a natural! 

"How many of these pictures is Rob going to take?" Monica's getting tired of holding the ball. 

Monica goes for the gold! 

Watch me roll a strike! 

Rob takes careful aim. 

Rob in action! Going for that Strike! 

Strike!

Hey! That wasn't a strike! 

Birthday Girl! Happy Birthday Honey!

Today, November 27th, was Connie's birthday, so we went out to a very elegant French restaurant and had a wonderful time wandering around one of the nicer areas of town. This picture is actually from last night when we were out to see 40 Year Old Virgin at a Theatre Near Taipei 101.

My cutie shows off her beauty.

You can see the locals are getting into the Christmas spirit, even though Christmas is only a commercial holiday here.

The Cameraman gets in front of the Camera

Canada! Represent! 

A Quest Begins!

So, Friday morning came, and armed with my new camera and one of the first nice days I had free time I set out to the local forested mountain near my home to get pictures of the giant spiders and other critters that live there. On the way I stopped to take a picture of a few residences such as this appartment block. I'm not sure if I should call them row-apartments or what, since they're essentially one giant building, but at the same time a series of individual 4 storey apartment buildings. Anyways, the rounded fronts on these triggered my asthetic sense, so I snapped this shot. 

Entrance.

The front gate of one of the apartments which was part of the block from the previous picture. I wanted to get a shot of the engraved front doors, a style which is quite common here in Taipei, but not everyone can afford. 

Punchbuggy!

A surprisingly new looking VW Bug! Not sure what those things on the hood are, though.