Annie Douglass Lima's Blog, page 90
November 21, 2009
Gorgeous Gu Guan
I had a fun weekend with friends in the little mountain community of Gu Guan. It was refreshing to get out of the city and actually see some green!
Peggy, Natalie, Fiona and I spent time hiking through the forest, soaking in the hot springs, and hanging out in 7-Eleven. Yes, even in Gu Guan!
"Recrotion" area?! Well, whatever it was, it was a great place to hike. We enjoyed the Bamboo Forest, the Cherry (or "Cheery"!) Forest, river, and waterfalls.
I found these ripe cherry tomatoes growing wild by the side of the road as we hiked. They made an unexpected, tasty snack!
Another unexpected treat was the sight of several monkeys up in the trees. It was my first time to see the elusive Formosan macaque (or indeed, any real wildlife in Taiwan (rodents and giant spiders don't count))!
As is often the case in Taiwan, there were some truly funny signs in the river area.
This beautiful mosaic of semi-precious stones (with the symbol for the hot springs) was inlaid in the floor of our hotel.
October 24, 2009
It's the Law
A couple of days ago my fifth graders turned in a project where they each had to create an imaginary world. My class this year was exceptionally creative: they came up with worlds populated by rabbits, robots, talking candles, stick figures, otters, ghosts, and only children under the age of 18. Their illustrations involved media ranging from colored pencils to computer graphics, cardboard models to cut-paper collages and stunning watercolor paintings. But as always, one of my favorite parts to grade was the list they each had to write of laws that must be followed while in their world. There were plenty of the usual ones I see every year: don't murder, don't steal, don't litter, don't smoke; but every year I get a good laugh at some of the more - shall we say - original ones. Here are some of my favorites from this year's fifth grade class at Morrison:
Do not step in lava. -J.S.
Always wear blue on Friday. -C.N.
Do not stay out after 2 a.m. All stores are closed. -I.Y.
You have to tie your hair in a pony or have it down. -K.S.
If anyone hurts you they have to take you to the doctor. You can't just leave them there. -B.L.
Never blow out a candle. -J.S.
Build with all your might. -L.N.
Plant a tree when a person dies or is born. -C.S.
Do not murder, with the exception of ghosts. -M.T.
You cannot tease robots if they are sad about something. -A.C.
Always go outside to get fresh air. -J.S.
Only use up to ten tissues a day. Don't waste. -C.S.
If you have a harmful sickness tell the government and they will put you into custody until you get better. -J.S.
Do not use powers or transform into a monster inside a house. -I.Y.
Everyone must have clothes/pants/dresses or any clothing on all the time. -C.S.
You cannot exit at the entrance or go in the city at the exit place. -S.H.
Be modest. -M.S.
You have to follow all these rules. -K.S.
Do not step in lava. -J.S.
Always wear blue on Friday. -C.N.
Do not stay out after 2 a.m. All stores are closed. -I.Y.
You have to tie your hair in a pony or have it down. -K.S.
If anyone hurts you they have to take you to the doctor. You can't just leave them there. -B.L.
Never blow out a candle. -J.S.
Build with all your might. -L.N.
Plant a tree when a person dies or is born. -C.S.
Do not murder, with the exception of ghosts. -M.T.
You cannot tease robots if they are sad about something. -A.C.
Always go outside to get fresh air. -J.S.
Only use up to ten tissues a day. Don't waste. -C.S.
If you have a harmful sickness tell the government and they will put you into custody until you get better. -J.S.
Do not use powers or transform into a monster inside a house. -I.Y.
Everyone must have clothes/pants/dresses or any clothing on all the time. -C.S.
You cannot exit at the entrance or go in the city at the exit place. -S.H.
Be modest. -M.S.
You have to follow all these rules. -K.S.
October 9, 2009
A Trip to Taipei
Floyd and I are enjoying our fall break here in Taiwan. We spent three or four days this week in Taipei and had fun playing tourist. Here are a few snapshots of our experiences there.
The Museum of Drinking Water! Yep, it was about as exciting as it sounds. But the building was beautiful, and you can actually touch the old pumps and water-purification machinery.
We spent a few hours in Danshui, an historical area outside of Taipei. Unfortunately, I didn't get any good pictures of the fort we explored, but this church - planted by pioneer missionary George Leslie MacKay over a hundred years ago and still holding services today - was interesting too.
Riding the Miramar Ferris Wheel for a twilight view of the city was a fun way to end the day.
We spent Thursday morning at the Taipei Zoo, where the pandas (donated by China last spring) are by far the most popular animals. We had to get a special ticket at the front entrance which said what time we were allowed to go to the panda exhibit (to reduce crowding). They were cute but a bit of a let-down after all the hype, and their enclosure was nothing to write home about. (Most of what you see is a mural on the back wall.) Now the tigers, THOSE were fun to watch. Almost as fun as the hedgehogs.
This was Floyd's favorite! The art museum had a special Pixar exhibit where we spent a couple of hours learning more about the making of Cars, A Bug's Life, Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo, etc. Floyd was like a kid in a candy store the whole time!
Another good way to end a day. We had seen the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial before, but never at night. The monument itself wasn't especially well-lit, but the gates were. They're especially beautiful with colorful skyscrapers showing through in the background.
So, who wants to come with us next time??
June 13, 2009
Impressions upon Returning to America
We're back in California for the summer! Here are some of the things that have stood out to Floyd and me in the last few days since we've returned to the States:
Wow, everything is so much more expensive than it was last summer. You know it's bad when even the 99 Cent Store raises its prices!
Look at all the sidewalks everywhere! Why aren't there cars parked all over them?
There's so much sky visible (because all the buildings are so short)!
It's so quiet here. Sometimes at night we can't hear a single sound.
How does everyone manage without a 7-Eleven on every corner?
Most of the streets have only cars on them. Where are all the motorized scooters and wandering dogs?
Speaking of dogs, all the ones we've seen here are naked! (See my last post below.)
Speaking of cars, why are they so HUGE?
Why aren't there more vegetables on the menus at restaurants?
So many people speak English. It's weird to understand what's being said all the time, and to actually be able to read all the billboards and street signs.
The trash trucks are so quiet and boring. Why don't they play Beethoven's "Fur Elise" loudly enough to be heard for blocks away while everyone in the neighborhood comes running out with bags of trash?
Where can we get REAL Chinese food????
Wow, everything is so much more expensive than it was last summer. You know it's bad when even the 99 Cent Store raises its prices!
Look at all the sidewalks everywhere! Why aren't there cars parked all over them?
There's so much sky visible (because all the buildings are so short)!
It's so quiet here. Sometimes at night we can't hear a single sound.
How does everyone manage without a 7-Eleven on every corner?
Most of the streets have only cars on them. Where are all the motorized scooters and wandering dogs?
Speaking of dogs, all the ones we've seen here are naked! (See my last post below.)
Speaking of cars, why are they so HUGE?
Why aren't there more vegetables on the menus at restaurants?
So many people speak English. It's weird to understand what's being said all the time, and to actually be able to read all the billboards and street signs.
The trash trucks are so quiet and boring. Why don't they play Beethoven's "Fur Elise" loudly enough to be heard for blocks away while everyone in the neighborhood comes running out with bags of trash?
Where can we get REAL Chinese food????
