X-mas
Well it’s that time of year, the weather in Taipei has dropped to the low 70’s, the locals break out the parkas, odor of stinky tofu floats through the air, and all the stores play poor renditions of traditional songs. Yes, its Christmas time.
This year will be rough. I have never spent Christmas away from my family. When I try and explain Christmas to people here I really can’t encapsulate how special it is to have all of your family and friends together in the Christmas spirit. It is even hard for me to put into writing, but Christmas has always been really special to both me and my family. Family is what the season is about. So I will have to take some of my Taiwanese friends out to dinner or something.
Christmas Eve I plan to go to Church for the first time since I have started in Taiwan. Then on Christmas day I have to work. I want it like that. If I didn’t work I would be super lonely and sad since my Taiwanese friends have to work too, it will be a little sad to talk to my family on Skype though. At the same time I will feel somewhat connected to my brother from a different mother, Eric, since he will be at sea with the Coast Guard so we will share that in common this Christmas.
The 26th will be fun since I am going to a big party with the local ND club in town. This is the year end club party and everyone should be there. There is supposed to be a really nice dinner and some prizes at one of the nicest venues in town, but for the price I am paying to get in it had better be nice.
I got my Christmas gifts from my mom the other day. Let me first say, she is one hell of a lady to send me all of this stuff. I got a small fake tree for my apartment, some lights, X-mas M&M’s, a travel, clothes, a book, and other stuff. I was happy to get the book since I haven’t had much to read over here. But my mom was slightly nudging me with the book; it is a rational argument for a belief in God. That is just her way of countering my atheist tendencies (I am more of a deist really) and I appreciate it. Needless to say, my coworkers were really impressed with all of the stuff I got and I had to open the box several times to show people the stuff and share my M&M’s.
In the package, I got my dad’s famous/infamous X-mas CD’s. Except for Kenny G they are pretty good since they have a healthy does of the Trans Siberian Orchestra. Better to listen to these real CD’s than the knock-offs played in all the stores around here.
2009
Looking ahead I am trying to figure out what to do for New Years Eve, if you have advice leave it in the comments or email me. Basically every club and bar has a cool special that is going on. My friend, Calvin, said most people just head for the bars on New Years.
The “best” place in the city, Luxy (look a several posts down to see why I really didn’t like it too much when I went) has an open bar before 11PM then a show by the Three 6 Mafia. I love live music so that sounds pretty good to me.
Of course, Taipei is world famous for its New Years celebration since at midnight Taipei 101 is used as a 101 story tall fireworks platform. I would feel really bad to be here and miss seeing that.
Taking a cue from the college days I think this means that I will go to some club/bar and drink before leaving to see the fireworks then going back to said club/bar. But that plan would rule out Luxy and the Three 6 Mafia, unless I take a taxi, since it is pretty far from area around Taipei 101.
Decisions, decisions.
Chinese New Year
Then at the end of January there is the Chinese New Year and I get a week off. I want to get out of Taiwan since Chinese New Year here means a week of nothing but constant firecrackers. But I am still undecided on where to go and I need to book something soon and I want to try and convince someone here to go with me too.
I can go to Thailand, but I have already been there and I am going there for work 2 weeks before the Chinese New Year. I may go to Vietnam but that requires a pre-trip visa and I am not sure where I would go in the country (Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hue, etc.).
I am thinking about Cebu in the Philippines. It is supposed to be tropical and have some of the best beaches in the world. But my first choice is Bali, Indonesia. To get an idea check out the link from a good photographer: http://www.flickr.com/photos/javajive/sets/167412/.
However, during Chinese New Year Bali will likely be filled with tourists, so no decision yet.
Well it’s that time of year, the weather in Taipei has dropped to the low 70’s, the locals break out the parkas, odor of stinky tofu floats through the air, and all the stores play poor renditions of traditional songs. Yes, its Christmas time.
This year will be rough. I have never spent Christmas away from my family. When I try and explain Christmas to people here I really can’t encapsulate how special it is to have all of your family and friends together in the Christmas spirit. It is even hard for me to put into writing, but Christmas has always been really special to both me and my family. Family is what the season is about. So I will have to take some of my Taiwanese friends out to dinner or something.
Christmas Eve I plan to go to Church for the first time since I have started in Taiwan. Then on Christmas day I have to work. I want it like that. If I didn’t work I would be super lonely and sad since my Taiwanese friends have to work too, it will be a little sad to talk to my family on Skype though. At the same time I will feel somewhat connected to my brother from a different mother, Eric, since he will be at sea with the Coast Guard so we will share that in common this Christmas.
The 26th will be fun since I am going to a big party with the local ND club in town. This is the year end club party and everyone should be there. There is supposed to be a really nice dinner and some prizes at one of the nicest venues in town, but for the price I am paying to get in it had better be nice.
I got my Christmas gifts from my mom the other day. Let me first say, she is one hell of a lady to send me all of this stuff. I got a small fake tree for my apartment, some lights, X-mas M&M’s, a travel, clothes, a book, and other stuff. I was happy to get the book since I haven’t had much to read over here. But my mom was slightly nudging me with the book; it is a rational argument for a belief in God. That is just her way of countering my atheist tendencies (I am more of a deist really) and I appreciate it. Needless to say, my coworkers were really impressed with all of the stuff I got and I had to open the box several times to show people the stuff and share my M&M’s.
In the package, I got my dad’s famous/infamous X-mas CD’s. Except for Kenny G they are pretty good since they have a healthy does of the Trans Siberian Orchestra. Better to listen to these real CD’s than the knock-offs played in all the stores around here.
2009
Looking ahead I am trying to figure out what to do for New Years Eve, if you have advice leave it in the comments or email me. Basically every club and bar has a cool special that is going on. My friend, Calvin, said most people just head for the bars on New Years.
The “best” place in the city, Luxy (look a several posts down to see why I really didn’t like it too much when I went) has an open bar before 11PM then a show by the Three 6 Mafia. I love live music so that sounds pretty good to me.
Of course, Taipei is world famous for its New Years celebration since at midnight Taipei 101 is used as a 101 story tall fireworks platform. I would feel really bad to be here and miss seeing that.
Taking a cue from the college days I think this means that I will go to some club/bar and drink before leaving to see the fireworks then going back to said club/bar. But that plan would rule out Luxy and the Three 6 Mafia, unless I take a taxi, since it is pretty far from area around Taipei 101.
Decisions, decisions.
Chinese New Year
Then at the end of January there is the Chinese New Year and I get a week off. I want to get out of Taiwan since Chinese New Year here means a week of nothing but constant firecrackers. But I am still undecided on where to go and I need to book something soon and I want to try and convince someone here to go with me too.
I can go to Thailand, but I have already been there and I am going there for work 2 weeks before the Chinese New Year. I may go to Vietnam but that requires a pre-trip visa and I am not sure where I would go in the country (Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hue, etc.).
I am thinking about Cebu in the Philippines. It is supposed to be tropical and have some of the best beaches in the world. But my first choice is Bali, Indonesia. To get an idea check out the link from a good photographer: http://www.flickr.com/photos/javajive/sets/167412/.
However, during Chinese New Year Bali will likely be filled with tourists, so no decision yet.
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