How to profit from the encroaching Oil Crisis!

So, we'll peak production in 2008 and oil will become more expensive than ever, possibly causing a whole lof of financial problems for the Western world. Why is this happening, and better yet, how can you profit from it? Go here for a few ideas!

Rob

So, today Connie, her mother and I decided to get out of the city proper and visit one of the national parks to get some fresh air. We caught a bus, hopped on the MRT, and then grabbed another bus for the long drive up into the YangMingShan mountain range. I was shocked to find a whole city-sized community living hidden beneath the trees up in the mountains I looked at fondly each day from the MRT as I worked. This picture is the bus terminal which marks the point where the residential area proper ends and a national park begins. Being a beautiful day, the park was filled with tourists and sightseers, but it's so big that hardly matters. 

At first, Connie, Her mother (in black behind the woman in orange) and I were going to take a park tour bus. But, then we decided we didn't have time so we left this place next to the bus station and started to walk to one of the garden parks. 

Welcome to YangMingShan national park! The place is huge, and we were only going to one garden park. If you look closely at the picture you'll see there are actually many mountain peaks indicated, and those grey lines are full roads. To say the park is huge is an understatement! 

My personal tour guide Connie indicates that it's time for us to move on into the park. 

On the way into the park we passed this stand selling hats to those poor souls who were foolish enough to come out today without one, or didn't bring umbrellas like us! 

Rob pauses to look dignified in the garden. 

We stopped to eat ice cream, the day was a scortcher at easy 34 degrees with the hot sun beating down on us between the trees. Eating ice cream was more of an exercise in trying to eat it before it flowed down over our hands and escaped! 

What garden would be complete without a giant green rock dragon to guard it? 

As we sat eating ice cream, we watched the man in red in this picture, who must have been in his 60's, doing cartwheels to impress the grandchildren. All I can say is, Tai Ji works wonders! 

Another picture of the green rock dragon. 

Rob stands in front of the statue of a famous Chinese philosopher. 

White flowers with a flower in white.  

Scattered along the mountainside walkways you will find these traditional style Chinese structures to rest under and get out of the sun. 

It's almost 4:30 as Connie and I pose in front of a giant flower clock, a must have for any gigantic mountain garden. 

Just past the flower clock we find a Taiwanese snack seller. Now, not only do they have the traditional Ice Cream stand, but they also have a variety of Taiwanese eats for sale. In the foreground you can see dried squid next to two types of jerky and shredded dried meat. Above them are fried tofu squares on a stick to be heated on the barbecue and there are sausages and hard boiled eggs next to them. Two types of pogo dogs are waiting to go, and above the wooden chest (lord knows what's in that) hang a special rice mix wrapped in leaves. Whew! I feel tired just listing them all! 

Connie raises a cheer at the base of a walkway, you can see a long simulated wood trellace in the background. 

The beautiful simulated wood trellace pathway that Connie was standing near the entrance of earlier. 

Chinese Cultural University, seen from high above on the mountain, it actually towers over Taipei City itself which you can't see because of the haze in the background. It looks like a giant modern Chinese castle, doesn't it? 

When I first saw this place, I assumed it was a house. It was only when we were passing it that I later found out it's a restaurant inside, although it's possible the lower part is still a residence.  

Robyn and Connie pause to pose in front of a beautiful fountain.  

No record of visiting the mountain would be complete without a picture of the mountain itself, in this case the peak of the mountain. The amazing thing is that this whole mountain range is considered a part of Taipei City, not Taipei County. 

Next, dead on our feet. Connie's mother led us to a former Chateau of Taiwanese leader Shang Kai Shek which had been turned into a art center, museum and coffee shop. It was hidden away among a whole compound of houses which actually had people living in them.  

Part One of the history plaque for the Art Center/Museum. 

Part two of the history. 

The aforementioned Shang Kai Shek residence turned museum.