Semi-suitcase Piercing

farewell to Taiwan

And it was finally here: the long-dreaded last week!

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I was always still at work. Was also fortunate that my colleague Susan borrowed a scale to weigh my luggage to avoid unpleasant surprises at the airport. Also, I have concluded my outstanding discussions from the office and was on Wednesday after a final consultation with my superiors and peer reviews and report writing finally finally say goodbye to my desk. In the evening I went the last time at the night market for shopping.

Thursday I was still busy cleaning out with a pack and stuff. However, already at noon I had an appointment with Chongyao who happens to be on the day of his trip to Korea returned. And since he already landed at the airport and had to Taoyuan to Taipei, we met for lunch. And what finally turned out, he had even more time and stayed overnight. For the evening I had planned one last dinner together and I was naturally pleased with each additional guest. What I am very happy at all was that was just in the initial four people, after all seven. For my internship was succeeded by now already arrived in Taipei and I invited the same with a. For dinner we went to the Thai people:

was certainly a fun round. And after all had eaten their fill, we searched something to get out and after some so walking, we finally decided for "Lava," a club near the 101st Had I really expected more from the evening not so much, since, for example, Anderson and Michelle were at work. But in the end it was the perfect last night in Taipei and I was glad that my stay in Taiwan was able to finish it so entertaining.

Sometime around 3:00 or so but we went home. Friday morning, drove back to his family in Chiayi Chongyao, because this weekend was the important 中秋节 Mid-Autumn Festival, which one would normally spend with the family. Around noon, Jennifer came to my apartment. Although I was a bit busy with packing bag, but when that was done so half-way, we went a little lunch. And then went let's do it permanently: large rucksack on his back, smaller travel bag for the shoulder (in stuffed with a small backpack) and a (really heavy) plastic bag with a laptop and a farewell gift from Michelle (绿豆 糕 green-bean cakes) and travel documents in it. Behind me I had a decent pile of rubbish, but it could be with the price with the best will not be a problem. I still paid my last electric bill, gave the key back and took leave of the House managers.

as intense but with Jennifer's help, I dragged myself to the bus stop. Fortunately I had taken when leaving even a funny old Taiwanese, who also lived in the house, and that made me aware that the airport buses drove away not only from the station, but also by the Ambassador hotel opposite - again lucky, time and money saved for a taxi.

We just drove by bus to the airport where I sat there a while with Jen. But quite clearly the head was no longer anyway and luggage made me a little headache and somehow I wanted to Abschiednehmerei without fanfare behind me . Bring So I thanked him again at Jen for companions, for the gift and everything went through the security check. From then on everything was really perfect, from her luggage, no flight delays, 2 x Change in Hong Kong and London and home by train.

I even a "small" surprise had planned. Most of my family and friends were in the assumption that I would come home until Sunday, in fact I came home on Saturday. Iris (big sister) as an accomplice, I first identified that they could be picked up on Saturday from Grandma and Grandpa from station VB, at the same time as I was to arrive in VB. When we were at once both in front of Grandpa came, a first frightening emotion-free "Hello", until he found out who actually stood in front of him. Then I opened the driver's door from the car and scared the grandmother, who was also on the fly vertattert something. But I do think that both were happy. Then we went home

where I started cautiously in search of mom and dad. I then discovered in the computer room, both deepened the web. But when I said "Hello and what you eat today?", Was also at the two wrote in the face of the shock * lol *. Have me anyway great time and was glad that everything was so worked.

The next hours and days followed then more reunion and surprises for my part: surprise party with neighbors and friends on Sunday, new flooring in the room were running against each other, etc. Somehow, the two plans can, in principle, and everything was totally confused, but on the other hand, it was fitted just perfectly.

In short: it was exactly what I needed after the hard goodbye to Taiwan. Now it's the first time back on a "new, old life to get used to what should prove to be more difficult than expected (especially in terms of temperature, digestion and daily routine). As mentioned several times, the almost 8 months in Taiwan was in any event, without a doubt the best and richest experience of my life and I hope I get the opportunity sooner or later go back there again. And even if not, I've taken some of that time, I would not deprive other people.

Many, many thanks to all who have supported me, whether family, friends, colleagues, university, various scholarships places! And what am also particularly pleased to have all the positive feedback on my blog. When you hear of course like to be not only makes for himself, but that there were so many loyal readers. Too bad somehow, but that 's it with my blog! exchange Thank you again and I'm glad some of you again to personally see and experience!

Back in Timelkam in the good old Upper Austrian Salzkammergut:

your Thomas alias 小 汤 or 魏晓 双


PS: Should I do it but yet to upload the missing videos, I will note in the message line for the contributions!

Free Eye Exam Dallas, Tx

Back to Tainan and X on a visit to Taipei

21st to 27 September

Monday :

as I said, by a happy coincidence and had my holiday has saved up a long weekend, I took advantage of this unique opportunity, just for 3 days to drive to Tainan. I left the apartment around 11:00 and was directly still held up by the owner that I should pay my electric bill and that was not bad. Habs probably already displaced, but there were so at the 1,300 NT (about 28 €) for about 35 days. But well, what you can not change ...

At 12:00 I got a bus at any rate for incredible 220 NT (not by 5 €) for 4:30 hours drive to Tainan. How far would probably come with us for the price ... ? I arrived around 16:30 and there Tainan Nina course had yet anyway, I was comfortable walking the Tainan park along the direction of campus, where I met the same chance a couple of friends who were all surprised easy for me to be found in Tainan.

Later, Nina then took me off the campus and introduced me to the scooter to her home to stop my things. At 19:00 clock, I had arranged with Tim and Leona to a Taiwanese barbecue restaurant.

's what you are here you see in the belly of the fish way, fish eggs, in my opinion not very tasty, but in the eyes of the Taiwanese "the best":

Then they went on a full stomach 22:00 Bowling for:

On Tuesday I met in the morning for breakfast at 8:30 clock with Jen. Would not be as if I was on vacation in Tainan, had a full schedule. After breakfast we had Jen and I went to college to the center to still buy two special souvenir, a Taiwanese flag and the Taiwanese film par excellence "Cape No. 7." - Allegedly a tearjerker, but whatever. After these errands, I went to a good-luck to the girls dormitory, where Sarah, Nügui and the others had lived, for there I knew the manager Huang 黄 朵 妙 Duomiao quite good and it had promised to visit them next time in Tainan, I also wanted to thank you for her farewell gift. And this was just startled me at once to be found at the front door, but when they believe it could be, she was totally over the moon for joy. I was even then almost 1 hour with her and chatted a bit with her, she is thankfully very, very talkative. And the great thing: everything in Chinese! Although exhausted after that was pretty, but it was again a good feeling.

in time for lunch I met up with Jen again. And I was surprised how crowded our "eating street" 育 乐 街 Yule-Jie was where we went in my Tainan time each day to eat. Here is one of my former favorite dishes: Chicken with

sauce, noodles and egg, served on a still hot Plate, where an often splashed against the hot sauce yet.

After dinner we went Jen's Dormitory, where we watched a borrowed DVD: "Saw II". Many thanks to around 15:00 had Jen back to college and I looked briefly on the way to Becky from the office of my former department (Business Administration) by, the same also someone for her parting gift, which had me John handed over to their place in Hainan. This course was also very surprised to see me, but I did hope for a possible further scholarship in Taiwan, I should come back again. Tired of getting up early

I relaxed a little later in the Tainan park around 17:30 and was back in Nina's apartment. At 19:00 we set off together to provide us with Chongyao - our common Buddy - meet for dinner. After dinner we stayed a while in a Tea-Shop:

Then we waited for two friends of Nina to get out and treated ourselves during the wait time 台湾 啤酒 Taiwan Beer on 7-11:

When the two were there, we drove to Red Wolf Tavern, as already everywhere, not much was going on and where we could at least play billiards:

li: Mauricio from Bolivia, re: Kiko from the Philippines

Wednesday was back departure. At 9:00 I had still agreed to Agnes for breakfast, which has finally extended to 12:00, as their course was failed. For lunch I met up yet with X and Tim (from Macau) and then I walked back to the bus stop in order not to late to arrive in Taipei. And it was still later, because this time it took the bus smooth 5 hours and still went to my iPod out of battery.

was certainly an effective break in Tainan, because I was again reminded of the great time there and also some Tainan Advantages over Taipei and it was also nice, just meet so many friends again. I would feel immediately at home there.


The Thursday was again spectacular in the office and followed cozy laundry at the laundromat.

On Friday after work and a short rest in the apartment, I met with Anderson. Meanwhile, Ian friend from Japan had been currently on a visit to Taipei, so we met up with him and his lovely female companion in a bar

home because his girls but before we left the restaurant and thought about us, where we go there could. A pretty American girl finally took the decision for us and made advertising a bar where we reindurften free until midnight.

On the way there I was, incidentally come across this hilarious photo opportunity - street dogs in Group Hug

around 1:30 I got the news that X has a bus in Taipei had arrived. We could take a taxi to bring us the same, and brought him even more free and pure in the bar. Before driving home, we treated ourselves to have one snack in a bagel restaurant:

counter Saturday afternoon I raised my first time at Anderson, to see if he was already on and ready to go to 八仙 Baxian, a Water Park which I wanted to go before before. In the early afternoon he was then also good with the car and brought us yet for lunch at a famous restaurant where we 鱼翅 汤 Yuchi-Tang - Soup, among other things with young Haifischflossenstreifchen it - and 鲁 肉 饭 Lurou Fan - Rice with seemingly long time cooked meat - eating.

Anderson said the way, had parked on the parking space limited Taipei:

Anderson then brought us to an even more famous Teashop 红茶 屋 where you got the first, second, and supposedly the best black tea in large 1-liter cups: The shop was this really famous, you could tell by the fact that you had to take a number before:

After that we went directly on to the Water Park 八仙 水上 乐园, but there was hinfinden it for now. But at least we had a nice view and X was totally blown away by Taipei's blue sky.

Taiwanese English is sometimes so hearted, though always subject to errors and spelling:

And we had again real blessing in disguise. Because that in September off the water park instead of at 22:00 already at 17:30 and we arrived shortly after 16:00. After 17:30 namely, a large Taiwanese company had booked the spa for its employees. But thanks to relationships we were given first access and second, even free tickets. And for the most fortunate we had not even after 18:00 in the number of slides, because, as good as no one was there. In any case, really great wars and a few slides really exciting, even a free-fall or a slide where you slide through a dark tube, etc.

Taiwanese swimwear for girls: always with a small bikini skirt * g *

Then we went back to the city. X and I then went to the Shilin Night Market, and later after midnight we met up again with Anderson, Michelle and "Waiting" (heard at least in the English as "waiting" * g *). Together we went then to a club called "Wax".

Sunday was departure day for X. Since he made pictures of my room, you get to see the well, as had not thought about it:

Then we strolled through Ximending. It snapped this great photo X:

Then it was time to say goodbye even from my last visit:

anyway I had no more plans, I accompanied him even to the bus station and then went with my Chinese book on learning to Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, where I but then most of the hip-hop dance group practicing watched:

rain then to fings but , and I went home again. And frankly, my mood was somewhat clouded, because even if I had had a nice last weekend, I knew that I would do the next and thus the last day in Taipei mainly to be alone and it will soon go home. And here I would like to clarify again: Of course I am also back to home, but that does not assert anything that I would not be sad that I have to leave Taiwan.

Squeaky Brakes Spin Bikes

Nina visiting Taipei

14th to 20 September

The week started again right at cozy.

Monday : nothing ...

Tuesday : Susanne's (Austrian co-worker) yesterday's birthday with cake and champagne to celebrate.

Wednesday: After work on the search for 大 佳 河滨 公园 Dajia Riverside Park to jog, to finally once again to make some sport. Was actually the 2nd Time that I sought the, and this time I was standing in front of closed doors, looks for construction works. So I've finally given up then, to begin with sport.

Thursday : nothing ...

Friday :
weekend life goes off again :-). After work I hit myself with Nina, a classmate from my Linzer Chinese language course, which now also studied for 1 year in Tainan and I came to visit in Taipei. First, we went short in my apartment, then take the MRT to meet with Yi-Chiun and Irene, who had invited us for their farewell dinner at a Korean barbecue restaurant, along with Michelle, Anderson, Kelly, Dean and his girlfriend. Then we went into a decent tea shop to comfortably drink.

After a beer to warm it finally time to dedicate very "lively" Nina in the long-awaited by their Taipei nightlife. Location was the "Roxy 99", for the first time a slightly more westerly Club, one of which is equal to the Music noticed.

a funny, slightly tipsy gang:

War

least once in a really great night!

Saturday :
term lunch was called out of bed and throw it into the sightseeing program. Since I own only 1 time there had been there at night and I absolutely wanted to go during the day time, we first took the MRT to Danshui 淡水 , the northernmost and thus end-station of the MRT. First, we strolled the

老街 Lao Jie (old road), past a temple.

... then along the Danshui River 淡水河 that leads to the sea. On the way we discovered this piece of art in old bottles:

the Promenade - almost reminiscent of a walk along the Traunsee ...

Finally we reached the Fort San Domingo - or Chinese 红毛 城 Hongmao Cheng = Rothaar Castle, the continuity again from the occupation of Dutch is that apparently had red hair (红毛 = red hair). In between, the building also served as the headquarters of the British Consulate.

Inside, we see mainly antique furniture and other exhibition pieces: a Taiwanese cuisine - the round frame that you left you see used for damping as 包子 Baozi
Nina and her men ... :-)

two really nice :-) Taiwanesinnen

two really nice Austrian ;-) a really nice Taiwanese couple at the wedding photo shoot:-D

What I am really sorry that I have never managed to Taiwanese in their typical road - photograph "equipment". This equipment consists of things such as oven gloves, mouth mask, goes down to the chest, dressed wrong jacket, etc. All this is to both protect against exposing the skin to the sunshine and the dirt road. Here you see the foot-to-go-light version, unfortunately, only from behind for a rough idea:

On the way back down the hill we passed a famous doll museum, where traditional dolls are drawn from Chinese mythology. Here we were confronted with the absolute extreme of language misunderstanding the question of whether we can Chinese, we usually respond with yidiandian 一 点点 = a little bit. Of course I am already resigned to the fact that the speech tempo is then usually reduced but not yet. But the lady in this house a true verbiage flowed on the lips, without pause, without point and without a comma. Do have together, perhaps 1.032% understood, but in hindsight wars amusing.

thirsty from the heat later we bought tea at these fun tea-sellers:

Finally we went to the MRT back towards the center of the absolute must-have attractions, such as Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, with the best view of the Taipei 101:

There also maintain always a lot of Taiwanese people, whether young or old, spend their free time with various activities - kite flying, common prayer (?!), hip-hop dance groups, jogging ...

next duty point was again times the CKS Memorial Hall, where was held this evening a concert outside the main gate:

Next we went to the 龙 山寺 Longshan Temple:

And finally on the 华西夜市 Huaxi Night Market Snake Alley with the . This time we were even early enough to turn to witness the snake shows. However, we should make no photos. Understandable when one sees how cruel the approaching part. Since the snake hanging from a rope and alive to the length of cut. will then wait until the body bled completely and not be moved, which has taken in our case, at least 20 minutes.

a slightly different type of massage - you pay attention to the massage tool:

Then we went back to the apartment permanently. And hard to believe, but I had actually managed to make Nina so ready that she was no longer able to go away and to party. I had not expected. For this evening's birthday party Anderson was planned. He had booked a room in a motel and we at least 1100 NT (23 €) would have to pay fee, I had really long hesitated whether I should go there. I finally overcame me and made me but yet to 23:30, however, alone on the road to 永宁 Yongning, the terminus of the blue line, and therefore about 35 minutes from my apartment. Once there, I wanted to call Anderson to ask how I come to you, but none of the people was there, whose number I had reached. So I was totally alone for the first time at the output of the MRT back to the outskirts of Taipei, surrounded by all dark and the last MRI was also left already. Eventually, I reached but who and then I joined the already slightly tipsy party company.

And the decor was not bad: Karaoke, coffee, bar, swimming pool, sauna, bathroom and bedroom. Of course, the birthday boy had to jump in the pool, and Michelle as a true friend with the same: ending

Eventually the boozy celebration and at 7:00 we went to the first MRT back home.
As Nina on Sunday evening was already arranged for dinner, she left to have lunch my apartment while I was still asleep and took the bus back to Tainan. I spent the rest of the late afternoon while relaxing in the apartment and went back later to the night market for a snack. And

the anticipation of Monday was time great, because Monday we were in the work, new PCs, so it was due to installation and all Monday and Tuesday no work available in the office and on Wednesday I had taken leave to cozy a few days on a return visit with Nina to spend in Tainan and friends again and recalled the good time of my life to be.