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Taipei and Asia
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  • Dec 28, 2010 - Back to Taipei
  • Dec 29, 2010 - But wait! There's Hong Kong
  • Dec 30, 2010 - Shifen and Jiufen
  • Dec 31, 2010 - New Year's Eve
  • Jan 01, 2011 - You are now entering Vietnam
  • Jan 02, 2011 - Ha Long Bay is a bay
  • Jan 03, 2011 - Oceans and Caves
  • Jan 04, 2011 - Back in Hanoi again
  • Jan 05, 2011 - Pattaya Awaits
  • Jan 06, 2011 - One night in Bangkok
  • Jan 07, 2011 - One day in Bangkok
  • Jan 08, 2011 - Strike One...you're still in
  • Jan 09, 2011 - Exploring Taipei
  • Jan 10, 2011 - Floral Expo! Exciting? Well, interesting
  • Jan 11, 2011 - Grass Hill and Return of the Hot Pot
  • Jan 12, 2011 - The long road (flight) home

    • Friday, Dec 31, 2010

    Despite a few days of mass exhaustion, just a good night's rest was enough to fully recover and be ready for another exciting day of exploring. We walked on down to the day market. Walking is so much nicer when no bags have to be towed or backpacks carried. Often, I just carried my Flip, my Canon 550D, and a little cash. Heck, I didn't even need car keys or a cell phone. It's sweet to travel so light.

    I tried some sweet foods, including pitted dried plums, Asian pears, and a rice dish. I was drinking a Taiwan beer whilst we were visiting the market and a vendor raised up his Taiwan beer can for a toast as I passed. He exclaimed, "Cheers!" I returned with "Ganbei!" (Chinese for Cheers/Bottoms up) It was a good time.

    After that, we walked down to a local garden park to take some photos in the setting sunlight. The weather was downright cold and felt freezing. No matter. The photo shoot was fun and the remote flash worked like a charm. What's funny is that when you're posing for shots and even without the extra hoodie or coat, it doesn't feel as cold. I guess the mind is consumed with trying not to look too foolish in the photos.

    That said, in time, it was just too darn cold, so we returned home.

    Nighttime involved us heading to a Thai food place for dinner. This was ironic, I suppose since we'd actually be visiting Thailand in another few days.

    We headed over to the market area and looked at odds and ends. In time, we found a place that sold fireworks and bought quite a few items--some fairly large. After heading home for a spell, we ventured out for the big event: our own fireworks show. This would take place down by the large canal/river, where we went to work lighting off all sorts of creative fireworks--me with camera in hand. The sparklers were first, and they made for some great photos. Then we launched the bottle rockets up into the air. After that, Terry set off the Roman Candle, which went a little awry since the leg propping it up broke after the first volley. It fell over and began shooting the remaining projectiles at a frighteningly low angle...fortunately, the fiery volleys went across the canal instead of back at us. It's always nice when flaming, exploding fireworks aren't heading towards your body at high speeds. Always nice.

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