Skating in Jhongli, Taiwan (Weekend Trip Part 1)

This past week we had the possibility of a typhoon hitting Taiwan. Luckily it changed its direction and slightly missed us. However it did bring some rain that effected my weekend slightly. I took the bus to Jhongli (a few hour ride), arriving in a pouring rain. I was picked up by Michael (Canadian) and Anthony (from the Philippines) on scooters. We bundled my board up in a garbage bag and threw on a rain coat on me then took off.

Even though it was raining the whole time Michael took me to some sick spots that the rain couldn't harm. We built this little ramp to help us do some wall rides on this almost straight up and down wall. (photo: Michael - fs wallride) 

The amazing thing about this photo is that, Anthony took the photo of me while also filming at the same time. Michael then hooked me up with a free brand new board.

Skating at NTIT College (Taiwan)

 I was Skating at the NTIT College near 一中 (Yi Zhong) Night Market with 4 of my friends there. At one point there was a crowd of at least 10-20 people watching. It was cool feeling having people watch and clap for you when you would land a trick. Complete opposite from the U.S.

Unfortunately the battle became to fierce for me this night. As my elbow swelled up and my legs became weak. I will have to practice my kickflips a little more on something smaller before I return.

Ice-Cream

(Photos by Travis Geary)

Scooting My Way through Taiwan

 Taking the scooter to Church and other places to have fun.

Normally I have to look from the side to see where we are going, but with Connie I can just look right over her head.

We Take Photography Seriously

My friend from Taipei, Neil Wade (freelance photographer) posted this video on his facebook. I though I might share it also.

Learning Chinese

My efforts and learning Chinese.

I will ask one of the Chinese students to teach me the sound of the character, then will train myself to write and pronounce it the best I can on my own by repetitive writing, speaking and hearing.

Trip to PingTung 屏市

It was a tough decision for me to go to PingTung for the weekend. I had previous plans to go to Taipei 台北 for some skateboarding with a group of guys. However the weather possibly wasn't going to be good. So with a night of sleep and the morning to think about it, I decided to spend the weekend with the Koreans (Josh and Clay) and Joseph (Joseph's Home - PingTung) one last time before the school term was over.

After school ended at 4:30pm, I had to rush to get my things for the weekend together, get a taxi and arrive at the bus station before 5pm for the discounted bus tickets. We arrived at the bus station at 4:57, just barely making the discounted prices. After a couple hour bus ride we arrived in PingTung (Southern part of Taiwan).

Of course with arriving somewhere so late the only thing left to do is to go to the Night Market for some food and fun. The photo to the left is some Pig Intestines that we ate.

Saturday, Joseph normally goes to a temple to share about Jesus Christ, however the night before he was told that the temple no longer will let him preach there. So instead he held a meeting in a different building. In a week his church will preach at 14 different temples (if I remember right). Below is a picture of the temple we went to share about Christ and serve food.

stacks of paper money that they burn to the gods

They will pay anywhere from $10-100 (US) to buy this little box to receive blessings from the gods.

A quick look at a rainy skatepark

Joseph then offered for us to try out his scooter. Josh drove down the road and came back then Joseph took us out on the road. The Koreans on one scooter and Joseph and I on the other, with me driving. I was pretty nervous. But we took it slow and stayed to the side of the road.

Joseph and his dad enjoy golfing so that night that took us out for a few swings on the driving range. I think it was the Koreans first time golfing, I think they learned to enjoy it. 

The Next day we attend church in the morning. Then I drove Joseph's car  to the E-Da shopping center.  It is a 5 story palace of shopping heaven, at least thats what it looks like.

Later that night we rode on the scooters some more and went to the Night Market for some food. I ate catfish to start out. Then we had some Duck Blood (photo to the left). The rest of the night we enjoyed carnival styled games.

Taiwan Rooftop Photography (Taichung)

It was a clear blue sky so I decided to head out to the rooftops of my apartment complex to get some photos. I took about 60 photos in 15min. then worked in photoshop for a couple hours.

Foosball Fun at SYME

We had a Foosball tournament at SYME for our free time activity. Betsy was on my team. We made it to the finally round. The score was 4 to 4 with one point to win the game. It felt like forever before someone would score one point. But finally doom was dealt to my team.

It was a pretty intense/serious game. But in the end the losers bought ice-cream for themselves to make them feel better. So I think by loser I actually won.

The Pit - Skate Ministry

This is just the beginning of a skateboard ministry my friend Trevor Hyed has started in Jackson, MI. He did tons of work to the building, pulled up the tile, teared out the ceiling and built ramps, among other things. This was the first day of skating the place. They had plenty of prizes courtesy of X-Riders (of Jackson) and Launch Boardshop (of Ann Arbor).

Trip to Lou Gong 鹿港

A Market in Lou Gong

Teng Hou Gong Temple 天后宮

This weekend I went to Lou Gong 鹿港. This town has many idol shops and temples. It is a harbor town and has many people who use to be sailors and fisherman. So it brought many idols from fear of their husbands or fathers dying at sea.

Korean Josh Shopping

Min Sou Win Gun - 民俗文物館

This town is a historical area with lots of very traditional foods. The building above is a famous place. Some rich guy use to live there. I am not really sure the whole story. ????.

When we arrived the gates were already locked and they wouldn't let us in. Even to take one picture. So I took this picture from outside the gates, but I think this is pretty much the same angle I would have used  if I could have gotten in the gate. However Josh managed to squeeze through the bars for a moment.

From Seattle To Taiwan

Park by (一中) Yi Zhong Night Market

Saturday I met up with some married friends from Seattle, here in Taiwan. I met them when I visited Jacob Smith's church. Jacob is not here yet, he will come for the summer term in July. I took them to the park above while also doing lots of shopping in the night markets. 

Trip to Chang Hua (Paper Church - 紙教堂)

This past weekend Dora (SYME Student) invited us to go to her house for the weekend. Her parents own a Health Clinic and allowed us to stay in the apartment there.

On the top floor they have a basket ball court but better yet on the 4th floor is a mini-golfing range. I haven't played golf in a while so I had some fun. With such a small range, it felt like every ball I hit would have went pretty far and straight.

Dora fed us very well with some very tradition Taiwan foods. They feed their guest very well here in Taiwan. I have to be careful or I am going to come back to America fat.

We then went to a place and rode 4 person side-by-side bike things to see many beautiful flowers and eat ice-cream! After our tour of the flowers we walked by a temple that had music playing and some girls dancing/worshiping the god. There are many temples in Taiwan and a lot of people who don't know much about Christ.

Sunday we went to Dora's church and heard one of the SYME teachers preach that morning. Dora translated the whole message from English to Chinese. After church we took the bus to Taomi Li. There are so many beautiful mountains there I really want to go back to just hike for 3 days. 

We first went to a mini-wine museum and then headed over to the Paper Dome. The Paper Dome is a structure built out of paper. The pillars that support the building is all paper and the benches you sit on inside is all made out of paper. There was a bad earthquake in Taiwan 12 years ago. They built this structure in its memory and to advance a new technology in building. There is a lot to say about this subject so if you would like to read more about it click here.

The pillars are made out of paper.

Many people put wishes on the wall or prayers. 

This is a photo I took of the Paper Dome at night

I haven't watched any TV since I came to Taiwan. So for the very first time I was able to watch some Taiwanese tv. Their tv shows are very different from what any American would be interested in watching. However there was many American tv shows also. It felt very strange watching tv shows I have seen but the people have a different voice and speak fluent Mandarine Chinese. We watched some Spongebob and it felt very bazaar because to me his voice sounded very different then the spongebob I know.



It was a great weekend and I can't wait for the next. The Taiwanese are very good tour guides!