About Me

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Yilan, Taiwan
I just returned back to the States after 11 years in Taiwan with my daughter. Taiwan is an excellent base for us explore Asia, while living in relative (gun free) safety, while benefiting from a cheap and efficient national health care system. The people are amazing too. I have Taiwanese friendships that are 20 years old and I'm always making new ones! My coworker here in CO is from Taiwan.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Of appetites and a great (normal) day

It was a great food kinda day (well after I left work). For breakfast I took last night’s Tzatziki (homemade yogurt of course) and put in the blender and drank it like a Lhassi. After school, Z and I were feeling peckish so snacked on Norwegian smoked salmon on 7 grain French toasted bread, and I washed it down with a small glass of chilled white Spanish, organic wine. I had to go grocery shopping and when we came home saw a bundle of food, a full on dinner that my soul sister single mom left by my door. Yah tomorrow is covered! Had I known dinner would be delivered I would not have left, but then I would not have bought steaks.


Dinner was simple. I grilled steak, corn and had some of yesterday’s potato salad (mayo w/ an olive oil base, not soybean), with a glass of Spanish red. Z gave me the comment I didn’t know I coveted, “Your dinner is better than any Travel Channel show” and she said I was better than the “Take Home Chef” which obviously I’m not. I just think she appreciated something that wasn’t Italian, quinoa, fish or Indian. She is a such a cool kid and likes to watch cooking shows with me, she likes Jamie Oliver! For desert she had some green tea/red bean ice-cream and I had some papaya from my friend’s tree right across my street. Fresh, first fruit papaya from the little tree I watched grow up and weather typhoons.

I just so appreciate when everything comes together (dinner or the house being clean) w/o my trying. When things get done somehow, effortlessly, with no sacrifice (which I mean time away from being fully present w/ Z), I owe it all again to Grace. We had a nice dinner, nice conversation we enjoyed each other’s company.

Today, I bought my first dragon fruit (red) of the year so looking forward to that tomorrow for breakfast. One of the advantages of living in Taiwan is the access to year round exotic fruits, which deserves its own chapter (along with ice-cream and ways to beat the heat).

I must applaud myself (because no one else will) for consistently buying myself flowers, wine and chocolate (because no one else will). I couldn’t abide in a space long w/o fresh flowers and old books and Taiwan is so blessed with cheap flowers, decent affordable wines and chocolates and I have no trouble finding books at the used book store. I have more than enough and now to get my fill of zzzzzzzzzz’s.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

A place to lay my head (or hang my art)

This past month my paintings have been taking themselves off my walls.  Ive had them up for three years and now the hooks (sticky tape ones) just aren't cutting it. I have been going through boxes of that sticky tape and they just wont stay. I don't think the canvases have been gaining weight. So Ive come to the conclusion that maybe its time to move.
Ive been at this apartment for 2 years, maybe more. I first came to Tainan and shared an apartment with Vicky and Megan, which was ok for a while (who wants a roommate with a 2 1/2 year old tantrum queen?).

The place I'm in now has its benefits, its close to work, (I literally get dressed at 820 and am out the door at 830 although I wake at 6), there is an awesome community garden across the street and I am often the recipient to friends' and neighbors all around year harvests, and its not congested around here. Id hate to live where all these 18 story giants are towering, rubbing shoulders with each other. I like space, I like having an open field overgrown with weeds and packs of stray dogs out my window. I like the old man who thinks he's a security guard; he watches my back, like when I didn't pay a bill sometime when I was out of the country, he hopped on his scooter and got me covered. I like living 2 minutes by bike from the beach or Anping. I have parks within walking distance.


 Now our apartment ain't paradise for sure. Its old, there are roaches, we sleep under mozzy nets, I doubt if its earthquake safe, and all our crap is starting to get crowded. Last Typhoon it flooded and I am on the 5th floor. Mostly its lack of storage space, winter clothes and blankets take up a lot of space and even though winter isn't so long here, one definitely needs coats, scarves, layers and layers of blankets and thick comforters. (Ok 60 F may seem comfortable to you, but after a while your sense of what is hot or cold definitely alters at the Tropic of Capricorn.)

Also my kitchen sucks, its small, cramped and I may be 5"2 but even I find the stove top fan too low. I hardly have room to cook, my sink is small and I get the feeling that living here is akin to camping (which I don't mind at all, but sometimes Id like the feeling that I wasn't camping). I am at the point where I don't mind cleaning the lizard crap I'm just so happy I have allies in my war against the roaches.

I need a space that is a large enough (but not too big), a sunny house or apartment with a view, and large closets. A view is very important. From my kitchen I have this little table and high stools and I can see over my high window to the port where the big ships dock on their way from or to Kaohsiung and the seas behind, but its such a sliver of sea. Id like a full on sunset view, like the apartment I covet on my bike ride along the river that flows out to the sea, you know the summer homes for the rich that have these incredible windows facing west. Anyway, one takes it for granted living in Colorado and being so close to sky (my cloud brethren) always being in some auspicious position to be apart of the day's passing. If I want to see the sunset here in Tainan I have to consciously make a plan, go to the beach, the old Anping port or a friend's house.
Could I muster the energy to move? I would have to ask friends and bribe them with beer and  pizza and I hate doing that. Having to box up alot of crap and move it and unpack and cleaning all the while, I wonder what will happen when October comes around and my lease is up.

Monday, June 13, 2011

April in Taipei

About 2  weeks before the Flower Expo ended we met my dear friend Alisse at the Yuanshan MRT. She and I go way back, we have been friends for ten years. When we first met she was dating my then housemate Eric from Santa Monica. He and I were squatting in a condemned building in Chu Wei, where my job was. They broke up we all remain friends to this day. She came to stay with me in the UK when I was pregnant and in grad school. Sometimes I go up to Taipei to stay at hers and catch up. For my 36th birthday she bought me tickets to the Flower Expo and because of the weather put it off til the end, which was fine, we went when the weather was perfect.

Alisse and Z among the petals
The Flower expo was crowded we stood in line forever to go inside the big main one, but I didnt mind as we were catching up. Z was with us and was great a first, but after a couple of hours wanted me to hold he and was fussy. We walked around some of the outdoor exhibits, listened to some drums, saw the eco building made of plastic water bottles and then Z was finished.

I had read in the paper that a nearby temple was having some festivities and that President Ma would be there. I just happened to be right around the corner and seemed a shame not to check it out. Bao-An Temple originally built in 1760 by Fujian immigrants. That day was Bao-An's birthday. He was a Fujian doctor healer who became worshipped by the people as a deity, so many people go there to pray for health. Also there is a goddess of birth enshrined there as well so women pray to her for fertility and a healthy pregnancy and delivery.





It was fairly subdued for a Taiwanese Taoist festival, or I have just got used to Tainan style god birthdays, all loud firecrackers, visionless incense clouds, early am instrument clanging while driving around the neighborhood. It was serene peaceful, uncrowded. Z and I watched Alisse worship. She had to ask the volunteers there how to go about doing it (every god is different). She had to get the right about of incense sticks for the right directions, etc and even then she was unsure if she did it properly (seemed complicated). Then afterwards she went to a basket of palm sized wooden crescents. She then asked the god a yes/no questions, threw them on the floor and the position of their landing answered ye or no. Next she pulled out a long stick with a number. She walked to a nearby wall full of many slips of numbered paper and there she found the god's answer.
 After this we walked across the street to the Confucius temple which was pretty empty. We started to notice Secret Service, some of which looked too young, with ear pieces in their ear looking fierce. The next day we decided to take a bike ride. Alisse lives in Chu Wei so she brought her bike and I rented one with 2 seats (the little kid one in the front) and we biked along the Tamsui River going over the red bridge to Bali, biking down the other side of the river and taking our bikes and ourselves on a boat to Tamsui. It was  a nice leisurely morning, and hot, maybe the first summery day in Taipei for the year. We parted and I went to meet my other dear friend for an afternoon of high art.

Taking a break during our Tamsui River biking with Alisse


Sherry and I also go way back. She was my manager while I worked in Chu Wei (great manager, how many of us can say that?) ten years ago and we even were housemates for a time in Tamsui. She has been to my home in Colorado and she has visited me in Tainan and vice versa. Her brother has always been a friend as well. Anyway she was keen to see the Chagall exhibit too so we met at the Shilin MRT and took a taxi to the National Palace Museum. It was one of the the first, maybe the 2nd weekend of the exhibition and thus crowded. Z loved it! She squeezed her way to the front and seemed to be just as impressed and energized by the colors. the dreaminess and love all around us. I have always admired Chagall as a kid and have never seen so many of his best pieces together. It was inspiring. His color was was brighter in person, more vivid than I imagined, better than any book.

Sherry and Z after some Chagall

All in all it was a memorable weekend, with my 2 best Taiwanese friends, Chagall, Flowers and Z. Sometimes I miss living in Tamsui, always feels like a holiday.

More photos of the weekend, click here.


Sunday, June 12, 2011

A Jesus dream and Beatific Health

The other night I had another Jesus dream. Its not like I have them all the times, this was my 2nd, the 1st one I had maybe 4 years ago when I was still in CO and is seared in my memory. Unlike the first Jesus dream which was ethereal this one was very sensual. I was at a gathering of people, like in a grove of trees and someone came running, "Jesus is here! Jesus is here!" I dropped what I was doing and sprinted to him nearly running smack into him and stood before him. He was taller than I expected, my head went to his chest and I had to look up. His face wasn't very memorable I didn't notice the details except he was smiling and he didn't say anything. His body said everything. "Can I hug you?" I asked and we embraced tightly. I could of hugged him for forever but there were other people waiting.

His hair was reddish brown, w/beautiful auburn highlights, I was surprised how red it was in the light. His hair was thick and lustrous and although I always imagined his hair wavy, it was very straight and slicked back to his shoulders. His face was beardless, clean shaven and younger than mine, flawless, wrinkle less. He was the epitome of health. His skin was radiant, very brown, not from the sun, but naturally tawny and gleaming. He was wearing a white robe (of course right?), but his arms were exposed and I could sense that his form was fit.

This dream was such a gift. He wanted me to see him as a  man, a man with cosmic vigor. I've been believing in supernatural health and even when I came down with Bronchitis I was still believing in it. Ok so I haven't got it all figured out, and thats ok, faith is working itself out. Even now I have my health "issues" but faith is believing in the unseen first before the manifestation. I believe for divine healing and I am willing to believe in divine health of never getting sick again. The natural tendency was self condemnation, "I should of..got more sleep, or ate more fruit" you fill in the blank. My natural tendency when I get sick is to look at myself, scrutinize how I mishandled stress, I how didn't perform. If I believe in supernatural health, then I have to be less self conscious and more Christ conscious. Its not what I know or what I do or didn't do, or about my knowledge in medicinal herbs or yoga poses (which do find fascinating), but supernatural health is a gift I chose to receive.

By supernatural health, I'm talking about a state of health not subject to diet, atmospheric forces, the arrangement of my furniture, if I live in a congested city or anything. Of course I'm mindful of what I eat, of exercise, but not in a regimented way. I go to the gym because I enjoy using my body and having a good sweat, not because I want to fit into skinny jeans (which I prob never will.) As a Christian, my body is a temple (1 Cor. 6:19), God dwells within me, my body is not my god.

St. Paul called himself the Hebrew of Hebrews, an expert in Jewish law he hunted down Jewish converts, tried and executed them before he himself had a supernatural encounter with Christ. I call myself the health nuts of health nuts. I grew up under the bondage of living Kosher and naturally became a vegetarian at age 14 for the next 17 years and very naturally embraced a gluten free diet. My Mom was an extreme health nut who never bought white bread or anything processed when I was kid, all fertilized free range eggs, raw milk and cheese; my Dad used to wake us up before my Mom and let us eat junky Rice Crispies. I know about eating according to my blood type (A positive which is basically Mediterranean, fish, old grains, gluten free ones.) I worked in health food stores, my friends did, most of my friends are vegetarians if not massage therapists and yoga teachers and did all this knowledge or 17 years of abstaining from meat make me any healthier? Not at all, it made me a food snob who looked down on other people. It certainly did not make me kinder or more evolved.

This dream was a gift so Jesus could show me what Divine health looks like and that it comes through Him (Rom. 8:11). He conquered death, sickness, premature aging. While he was alive he healed everyone (Psa. 103:3) who sought healing and in his presence dead people came back to life, no one ever died in his presence. As a Christian I believe as He is so am I in heavenly places. (Eph. 2:6). Above all else he desires that I prosper and be in health (3 John 1:2). God doesn't allow people to get sick to test them anymore than I would allow a poisonous snake to bite my daughter to teach her a lesson. That doesn't mean I will stop wearing my helmet when I drive my scooter or eat whatever I want when I want. (All things are permissible, but not all things are helpful -1 Cor. 6:12). It does mean I am becoming more sensitive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. For example, lately He has told me to do yoga in the morning while listening to Grace teachings and I literally feel my body renewed along with my mind (Psa. 103:5). The only thing he would have me do, the one thing I suppose is to guard my own heart from worry (Phil. 4:6-7), to maintain my peace (John 14:27), to rest in Him, and even then he is helping me, He is my Peace (Eph 2: 14, 17), and my health and my everything.

I am not surprised that today happens to be Pentecost.

More scriptures on health and healing click here

Saturday, June 11, 2011

On cloud 9 in Green Island

Imagine verdant mountain views overlooking clean aquamarine waters, open roads empty beside a rocky coral coast, just you  in a swim suit on a scooter free as a bird. On my facebook status update Iwrote upon my return, " Heaven on earth is pitching a tent beside a desolate coral cove, the crashing water amplified by surrounding cliff walls, next to a killer crackling fire." No one but me clicked the like button. A 3 day weekend in Green Island was beyond my expectations and I didn't even dive, which would in former times be the icing on the cake.




For my Green Island photo album click here.


It was fairly easy to get to from Tainan. All flights were well booked months in advance. Binh and I took an early 630am train to Taitung and arrived at 930am. A van was waiting for us and dropped us off to the ferry terminal for the notorious puke ferry to Nanliao. I gave motion sickness meds to Binh and Z and only Binh got sick. The end was a little rough with deep right to left swaying.

The train to Taitung cost 445NT and the return bus to Kaohsiung cost 443 for adult and 222NT for a kid (there were no train seats for the return trip). We got a package that included the ferry tickets both ways, scooter for all 3 days, the first night accommodation, breakfast and snorkeling for. So, here was the deal. Two days one night for adult is 2090NT and 1790 for kid. Three days two nights for adult is NT2990 and 2690 for kid. However, Dragon Boat Festival is a holiday weekend, it will add an $300 NT/person for this package. Thanks to Erica who took over communicating to Ula for us and buying us all the tickets which saved me and Binh a lunch break trip or 2 to the train station.

Here are the details of the package: Email Ula to make a reservation.  She speaks English. 東島 Travel agency ( www.eastisland.com.tw)
1. shuttle pick up from Taidong to Fugang Fisher Harbor (round trip)
2. boat tickets for 3 to Green island (round trip)
3. a hotel room for 3 (one night)
4. 2 scooters
5. 1 activity at the sea (3 choices, snorkeling, glass boat and salt water hot springs). We chose snorkeling and did the salt water hot springs on our own.
6. night tour with a tour guide (which we opted out of)
7. breakfast for 3
8. insurance for 3


The second night we camped outside the "ancient" ruins under a majestic cliff on a patch of beach clover steps from a romantic coral cove.The island's campsite was under construction and looked equally beautiful with wood platforms, trees and green overlooking the turquoise waters. The desolate rugged wildness was priceless. The night's stars were epic and we had a killer fire going.


Upon arrival to Nanliao we checked into our hotel which from the outside was less impressive and basically right on the ferry terminal. Inside our room was better, clean, AC, wood floors, etc. By then we were starving and pulled over to the first place that looked nice and had plenty of folk, but it was expensive and we spent 300NT each. Our blood sugar was low and our brains were not functioning, otherwise we would never have paid that much.


That first afternoon snorkeling was our schedules activity and after some exploring on our scooters post lunch, we were pretty beat and considering skipping the snorkeling for another day. We got the energy to suit up in wet suits and life vests (I have never snorkeled in a life vest before and they wouldn't let me go w/o one.) Z was adorable in her little wet suit and goggles. Her already big eyes were huge and it was comical, but I don't have any photos of that.


 Any other time, the collective Taiwanese tour group style of holiday would annoy the hell out of me and bring out my worst. But this time, I don't know if its Grace, progress or having a kid, but I was cool with it and just into watching Z and her first snorkel experience. About 25 tourists including us and 5 guides all left  as a swarm on our scooters to our reef site. We all sat in a huddle in a seaside puddle while the lead guide slowly explained in Mandarin how to put on goggles and use the snorkel. I swear a few years ago this would have agonized me to the point where I would rebelliously throw off my life vest and walk out alone to snorkel (I mean thats what we did every day on the Red Sea in Dahab under less than acute mental states of awareness.) I wasn't the least bothered and it all seemed to go well to the pace of a small 5 year old child. Z was pretty confident when we were going into the water. The whole reef was littered with other groups doing the same thing.


The water was choppy and walking out to the reef wasnt easy as if you werent careful you'd fall into deep holes. For the first few minutes we were all belly down and taking in the fish, but I was taking in Z taking in the fish. The lighting wasnt very impressive, there wasnt the colorful corals like Ive seen in underwater Edens like in Utila, but it wasnt dead like Ko Tao in Thailand. Our experience didnt last long, the waves got super big and some water went into her snorkel (I forgot to tell her how to clear it) and she panicked. A huge wave knocked us off our feer and smacked my mask off my face. There was no calming her, so she and I went back to a puddle that wasnt too deep and Binh stayed with the group to enjoy the fish (she said she saw 30 different kinds, but no turtles or rays). I tried to get to use her snorkel in the safety of our small natural, seaside pool, but she was done so we went back to the hotel and waited for Binh. That night was a postcard sunset and a well deserved beer.


The next day we drove around and looked for our campsite. I suggested the day before the ancient dwellings site and we drove down to check it out in detail. The stone abandoned houses were a little creepy, but walking further toward the cliff we found a green spot nestled between large bushes which acted like a wind breaker. We were concerned about the weather as the morning started with a shower. While we circumferenced the island we kept our eye open for other guest houses. The one I liked were those white cottages with a view, just outside Nanliao on the way to Dabaishe beach (http://www.sanasai.com.tw/). The clouds were speeding by so close to the ground, I didnt know if a front was coming or leaving.


After breakfast we headed to the Dabaisha beach, which was certainly white, not with soft sand, but small coral. The previous day's snorkeling scare hadnt dampened Z's enthusiasm for the water and surprisingly the sun and heat were not as brutal as it could of been. We returned for a cheap lunch, Z asleep in my arms in the restaurant. Around 4 we took our things from the hotel and set up our camp site. The wind was furious and it was difficult to set up the tent, I dont think I could of done it w/o Binh's help, in fact I know I couldnt. After the tent was secure we gathered a healthy heap of drift wood, ate our dinner and settled in for the night.




Sea shore hot springs


Where the hot springs meet the sea and I did some morning yoga


The plan was to wake up early and head to the hot springs for a shower and last minute de-stress before we headed back during lunch time to Taidong. My sleep wasnt good, Z kept on sliding down to our feet and it was hot. Binh accidentally broke the zipper on our net so we slept with the tent all zipped up. In the middle of the night I couldnt take the heat (neither could Z) and exposed us to the mosquitoes which had a field day. Anyway I woke at 5 and saw a local pass by the beach wearing a wet suit and holding a spear and wow I almost followed him. We broke camp around 7 and drove 6 km up the road to Chaojih Hot Springs.

The incomparable salt water hot springs, one of 3 in the world, was the supreme way to end the trip. The springs were found and developed by the Japanese under their occupation. The hours of the springs was from 5am-2am. The facilities had changing rooms, showers, pools with water massage and different temperatures, pools outside under the sun and pools indoors. All overlooking the coral coastline with rugged mountains as far as the eye could see. What was the climax was walking down to the shore itself, right into the sea were 3 heated pools and a platform with steps into the sea, reef fish swimming around us. Binh and Z frolicked together and I had enough moment to go through a first rate vinyasa flow right there, away from the people, in the sun beside this superlative setting. The hardness of sleeping on the ground, made my neck tight and after beating it with water spas and yoga, I was heaven bound.


Our return bus from Taidong to Kaohsiung didnt take as long as I expected, maybe because we slept most of the way. We took the fast train back to Tainan and returned around 530 where Erica picked us up. That night was the climax of the Dragon Boat festival and I was willing to take Z to see the last of the races, but she didnt want to go and frankly neither did I.




Package Details in Mandarin :東島 Travel agency (http://www.eastisland.com.tw/)
報價是以 2天1夜的,1位大人的費用是NT$2090元,12歲以下的小朋友的費用是NT$1790,
內容包含:
1.台東火車站—富岡來回接送 × 3位
2.台東—綠島來回船票 × 3位
3.東島渡假休閒中心住宿 3人房
4.125CC摩托車 × 2台
5.海上活動三選一:浮潛、玻璃船、朝日海底溫泉 × 3位
6.夜遊導覽,夜訪梅花鹿及夜間生態解說 × 3位
7.早餐 × 3客
8.旅遊保險(200萬旅責險+10萬醫療險) × 3位
在這邊要跟您說明一下:因端午節是屬假日,所以一人需加收300元的假日費


所以總金額是2090元× 2大人+ 1790×1小孩+假日費300×3人= 6870(未加值行程)


加值行程:(依個人需求,自行選擇是否要加選)
1.海底溫泉劵 NT$ 180元 (已選其中三選一的浮潛或是觀光船,然後晚上想再泡溫時適用)
2.晚餐BBQ NT$250/大人、 NT$200元/小孩
到綠島旅遊,只要帶著拖鞋和T恤,就可以來享受島嶼風情,
當然~防曬也要做好喔!帽子別忘了帶~^0^~
有任何問題想問,請別客氣,隨時和我聯繫唷!謝謝你~

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Dragon Boat Festival

There are various legends concerning the origin of Dragon Boat festival. Ancient Chinese farmers believed dragons controlled the weather so the people made rice offerings wrapped in leaves to ask for rain. A poet Chu Yuen drowned himself out of grief of the state of the ruling class destroying his country. The people threw rice offerings into the water to appease his spirit (or to keep the fish from eating his body). His ghost returned to the villagers to tell them that he wasn’t getting the rice, a dragon in the water was eating it, so he suggested they wrap the sticky rice in leaves. The people rowed boats and played loud drums to scare away the dragon. The sticky rice dumplings are still eaten today every Dragon Boat festival which falls on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month. On this day the sun is thought to have a special position to the earth. People in Tainan will leave a large jug of water in the sun all morning and at noon wash their face and bodies for a years worth of robust health. They also balance an egg right side up for good luck (at noon).


Anping is getting set for the Dragon Boat races along the canal. I rode my scooter at lunch to my massage lady and had to slow down past all food stalls and gift stands setting up. I felt relief that I wasn’t going to be around for the festivities. Once was definitely enough. Z and I went 2 years ago, had a good place to watch the races on the other side of the canal from the stands. There were too many mosquitos and the firecrackers were aimed at us and like most celebrations in Tainan, I had to pick up Z and duck and dive under oncoming fireworks exploding all around us. The best part was being happily surprised to see one of my old Tamsui standbys—grilled tofu on a stick with this special sesame sauce and a secret, probably carcinogenic ingredient. Last Dragon Boat I went with Joy and her son to Taijung and stayed at the Evergreen and went to the art and science museums. We also went to Nantou and stayed in some mt top cabins and hung out with sheep and beekeepers. That seems like ages ago and she and I have hardly remained in touch since. [For photos click here].

This year we are going to Green Island with Binh who is my co-worker from Denver and Z’s teacher. Her friend Erica made all the arrangements. I found the info but she made the calls and bought the tickets. We will be there for 2 nights, the last night totally dependent on Providence so I will bring our new tent and pitch it somewhere by the sound of waves and in walking distance to rare salt water hot springs.

Strange this weekend is also a big 3 day holiday weekend in the States. As for Dragon Boats, I’d rather be a participant than watching it. Maybe next year.