Monday 1 February 2010
My dad loves driving around on the scooter . . .
My dad loves driving around on the scooter . . .
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Chris . . . fine
Sunday 31 January 2010
Ryan and I had a little wedding dinner here in Kaohsiung today, a little celebration for all of our friends in Taiwan who won't be with us on the big day.
I'm thinking of legally changing my name, seeing as this one describes me so much better. Chris-fine.
Friday, January 29, 2010
KTV
Saturday 30 January 2010
My parents arrived today!! (Well, technically late last night in Taipei, where we met them coming in from Malaysia, and then we took a bus down to Kaohsiung, so today is really their first day.) And of course, what is the first thing we take them too? KTV! Ah, that most Taiwanese of experiences.
So here's my mom and dad, jamming out to "Unchained melody."
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Banana Leaf
Friday 29 January 2010
For our last meal in Kuala Lampur last night, Ryan and I went for banana leaf, an old favorite. As you can see, they bring you a banana leaf, as a kind of plate. Then various men come by with big silver buckets of rice, dahl, veggies, chutney, and other unidentified spicy good stuff. When you have a full compliment, you dig in . . . . with your hands. No silverware here - this is Indian finger food.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Orchid garden
Thursday 28 January 2010
We visited the Kuala Lampur Orchid Garden today, which was nice.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Last day on Tioman
Monday 25 January 2010
Today was our last day on the island, so I figured a photo of the best sunset we saw was in order.
Goodbye, Tioman!
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
Yellow coconuts
Saturday 23 January 2010
These are some special kind of coconut, I guess. The guy whose property they are on goes out and counts them every morning, to make sure no one has taken any.
These are some special kind of coconut, I guess. The guy whose property they are on goes out and counts them every morning, to make sure no one has taken any.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Coral on the beach
Thursday 21 January 2010
I want to learn a bit more about photography, understand the basics a bit better, so here on the island I decided to put my camera on full manual, and keep it there. I go down to the beach every morning and try and take some interesting shots, choosing all my own settings.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Not quite Monkey Bay
Sunday 17 January 2010
Ryan and I took a little hike up the island today, looking for a beach at Monkey Bay. We hiked for about an hour and a half, and then found a beautiful sweeping curve of beach. We had it all to ourselves, and it was beautiful. I laid down on the sand and took this photo looking up into our shade tree.
(We later found out that we stopped too soon - it was a bigger beach just beyond this one.)
Friday, January 15, 2010
Little lizard
Saturday 16 January 2010
There are many monitor lizards on the island here. They can grow up to over four feet long, from nose to tail (this little guy is just a baby), and are completely harmless to humans. We see them often, sunning themselves on the path or hiding under our hut.
There are many monitor lizards on the island here. They can grow up to over four feet long, from nose to tail (this little guy is just a baby), and are completely harmless to humans. We see them often, sunning themselves on the path or hiding under our hut.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Bali Hai called
Friday 15 January 2010
After a rather rough ferry ride, we have finally arrived on Pulao Tioman, our island paradise. It is a small island in the South China Sea, mostly mountainous, ringed with soft sand beaches and coral reefs.
For you musical-lovers out there, it is also where they filmed the movie "South Pacific." This island was the inspiration for Bali Hai.
We are staying in a little hut - this is the view from our porch.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Fish Massage
Wednesday 13 January 2010
Ryan and I arrived in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia last night. We're heading off to an island paradise for a few weeks of sun and sand, but first we have a day or two in KL for shopping. We visited the central market today, where we found this unusual treatment.
It is a pool full of little fish. You put your feet in, and they eat off all your dead skin. Supposedly it renews your skin and improves circulation and all kinds of other miracle improvements. All I know is, it tickles an awful lot!
Monday, January 11, 2010
Happy factory
Tuesday 12 January 2010
On our way up to Taipei this morning, we passed by this lovely and whimsical smokestack. You barely notice that it's spewing noxious gases into our air.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Summer and Winter in Kaohsiung
Monday 11 January 2010
This is Kaohsiung in the summer, all blue skies and clear days, and Kaohsiung in the winter, all cloudy and smoggy. Well, mostly smoggy.
It doesn't rain in the winter, and there is little wind, so there is nothing to clear out the pollution that collects. This is a bad day, I'll admit, but still, it get pretty gross.
Saturday, January 09, 2010
Monkeyfruit
Sunday 10 January 2010
This monkey is from the hike yesterday, but it was such a shot I couldn't resist.
Friday, January 08, 2010
Big tree
Saturday 9 January 2010
We went on a little hike with some friends today, and they took us to see this amazing tree. This is just a tiny portion of it, it must have covered half a football fiend, all twisting branches and reaching roots.
Thursday, January 07, 2010
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Temple or church?
Thursday 7 January 2010
Ryan and I stumbled across this little church which used to be a temple. It is the traditional temple shape, all sloping, green tile roofs and red pillars and dragon incense burners, but they have now filled it with crosses and angels. Very odd, but very cool.
Ryan and I stumbled across this little church which used to be a temple. It is the traditional temple shape, all sloping, green tile roofs and red pillars and dragon incense burners, but they have now filled it with crosses and angels. Very odd, but very cool.
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
Tornado in Taiwan!
Wednesday 6 January 2010
Ryan graded today, his last grading before we go, for the dark green belt. It was a fantastic grading, and I feel really lucky to have caught his awesome forms on video. Here he is showing off his tornado kicks.
Monday, January 04, 2010
Sunday, January 03, 2010
Chen Chu
Monday 4 January 2010
This is Chen Chu, the mayor of Kaoshiung. She's a pretty cool lady – she has spent time in jail for her involvement in Taiwan's independence movement. But I absolutely love that she has a little cartoon of herself for all the public signs and announcements. She is different in each one, but this superhero ChenChu is one of my favorites.
Saturday, January 02, 2010
Friday, January 01, 2010
Durian
Saturday 2 January 2010
This is durian, which is known in Southeast Asia as “the king of fruits.” Of course, they also say that it “smells like hell but tastes like heaven,” which in my opinion is only half true. It smells like rot, like sickly-sweet putrid gross rotting fruit flesh. The texture is even worse, kind of custardy. And the taste? Just like the smell, unsurprisingly. We have tried it before, but Ryan wanted to give it one more try before we leave. He said it isn't as bad as the first time, but still far from good, and I still absolutely can't stand it.
This is durian, which is known in Southeast Asia as “the king of fruits.” Of course, they also say that it “smells like hell but tastes like heaven,” which in my opinion is only half true. It smells like rot, like sickly-sweet putrid gross rotting fruit flesh. The texture is even worse, kind of custardy. And the taste? Just like the smell, unsurprisingly. We have tried it before, but Ryan wanted to give it one more try before we leave. He said it isn't as bad as the first time, but still far from good, and I still absolutely can't stand it.
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