Benford Does Stuff

Today was a cool day where we visited two major museums in Taichung. First, we visited the Natural Science Museum. There were all the usual exhibits about assorted biomes and animal life, geology, and realistically, multple awesome things. What really attracted my attention was the China themed exhibits. There was a big one on Chinese scientific advancements through the ages, as opposed to the Western centric history that I am accustomed to seeing. Apparently gunpowder was discovered first by Chinese alchemists who were trying to develop immortality elixers for their Emperor. At least they were immortalized in history.

My favorite part of the natural history museum was an exhibit called “The Deep”. It was a montage of images and information about assorted deep sea creatures. This included preserved bodies of several deep sea critters, including an anglerfish, and even a juvinile Giant Squid! My favorites were probably the siphonophores, which assembled into towers that resembled taipei 101, aaaaaand the medusa jellyfish, which is nearly invisible to all unaided earthly forms of vision.

Botanical gardens were also nifty. It had a giant two story butterfly statue out front and an amazon river themed garden inside. Though a greenhouse in taiwan was doubly tropical for me. There were amazon river fish inside that were as big as any that I would see at an aquarium or zoo. The biggest one made an audible *whoomph* sound as it suched in fish during feeding time. The sound greatly resembled a speaker blowout, and had the whole audience in hysterics.

Art museum was also super fun, but sadly the time was cut short because we got there about an hour before closing. Too much fun at the other museum I guess. A robot greeted us as we got in, and we got some pictures with it. I eventually figured out that it was mostly a puppet, controlled by an attendent about 20 ffeet away. The robot even knew some English phrases, such as “Yaaaaaaay. Rock and Roll!”. Barry and I got to play a mind game where we tried to move a ball with electericall sensers that detected brain waves. Barry wone that game.

My flight heads home today. I’ll miss taiwan, but I will be glad to be back home as well.

The first day in taichung is pretty fun and eventful. Barry’s family took us to a Japanese style restaurant; I was amused about the ironly of travelling to Taiwan to eat yet another type of foreign food. It was quite delicious and I am thankful for the opportunity to appreciate good food. Barry’s parents figured out that I was “More Asian” than they expected, since I started the journey already able to both use chopsticks and recognize quite a bit of assorted Asian food. Much fun was had by all.

Later that night, Barry took me for a ride on his moped scooter. I was very glad that he was driving; navigating Taiwanese roads and traffic laws seems more complex than many tropical ecosystems. We got to explore another night market. I especially enjoyed going to the tea shop which claims to have invented bubble tea. I’d certainly like to meet the guy who first thought to put small orbs of tapioca into tea. They must have been a genius.

Today we went to an aborigonie styled theme park. It reminded me quite strongly of Oaks park at times, but with fancier rides and a cultural education system. They had restored versions of buildings originally used by native taiwanese tribes. If I understand correctly, the park is owned and operated primarily by aboriginees. It had space mountain and slpash mountain, so it was not all that bad. Except that many of the arcade games were just PLaystations hooked up to TVs, positioned into fancy boxes.

Another stop we made was at Sun Moon lake. It was a pretty cool nature spot, but was a bit harder to appreciate without a boat and several warm afternoons to spend. Barry says that he has trouble seeing why it is internationally famous. My theory is that being the biggest lake in Taiwan has something to do with its popularitly.

Thst couple of days have been incredibly busy. We managed to visit two memorial halls; One for Chaiang Kai Sheck, and the other for Dr. SUn, both of which were highly important Taiwanese leaders. CKS was a political and millitary leader, and his museum had two sedans. We also got to see the changing of the guard, in front of a twopstory tall statue of him. The army, navy, and air force are responsible for guarding this statue, and they take turns every hour. They do an impressive baton style routine at each switch to boot. Some people think that his memorial hall gives CKS too much individual credit, not giving acknowlegment for all of th people behind his movements.

Dr. Sun was more of a philosophical leader, but he had a similar statue too. He was famous for changing the local philosophy a bit. `Thinking is easy, doing is hard” became “Thinking is hard, doing is easy”, making things much easier on the average citizen.

We also got to do some urban crawling; checking through malls and visiting a tea convention that my friend`s sister was working at.

Of course, we had to visit Taipei 101 This is the tallesssssst building in taiwan, and until recently, it was the tallest buiding in the entire world. The view from there was pretty cool. To my suprise, going to each of these tall towers was a bit of a unique experience. Shanghail, Tokyo and Taipei are all different enough cities that I think it was worthwhile to see each from far up.

We also got to go to a hot springs place. The colder pool that we went to in the end seemed fine for me, but my more tropical ajdusted friends seemed to be super cold. Similarly, the hottest pool we went to was not the msot fun for me, but seemed like the best ones for my Taiwanese friends..

We head to Taichung today, my friend`s hometown. My ffriend says that things are slower there and less formal, and views this in a positive light, so it looks like I will get a taste of Taiwan aside from the capital city.. Thst couple of days have been incredibly busy. We managed to visit two memorial halls; One for Chaiang Kai Sheck, and the other for Dr. SUn, both of which were highly important Taiwanese leaders. CKS was a political and millitary leader, and his museum had two sedans. We also got to see the changing of the guard, in front of a twopstory tall statue of him. The army, navy, and air force are responsible for guarding this statue, and they take turns every hour. They do an impressive baton style routine at each switch to boot. Some people think that his memorial hall gives CKS too much individual credit, not giving acknowlegment for all of th people behind his movements.

Dr. Sun was more of a philosophical leader, but he had a similar statue too. He was famous for changing the local philosophy a bit. `Thinking is easy, doing is hard” became “Thinking is hard, doing is easy”, making things much easier on the average citizen.

We also got to do some urban crawling; checking through malls and visiting a tea convention that my friend`s sister was working at.

Of course, we had to visit Taipei 101 This is the tallesssssst building in taiwan, and until recently, it was the tallest buiding in the entire world. The view from there was pretty cool. To my suprise, going to each of these tall towers was a bit of a unique experience. Shanghail, Tokyo and Taipei are all different enough cities that I think it was worthwhile to see each from far up.

We also got to go to a hot springs place. The colder pool that we went to in the end seemed fine for me, but my more tropical ajdusted friends seemed to be super cold. Similarly, the hottest pool we went to was not the msot fun for me, but seemed like the best ones for my Taiwanese friends..

We head to Taichung today, my friend`s hometown. My ffriend says that things are slower there and less formal, and views this in a positive light, so it looks like I will get a taste of Taiwan aside from the capital city.. Thst couple of days have been incredibly busy. We managed to visit two memorial halls; One for Chaiang Kai Sheck, and the other for Dr. SUn, both of which were highly important Taiwanese leaders. CKS was a political and millitary leader, and his museum had two sedans. We also got to see the changing of the guard, in front of a twopstory tall statue of him. The army, navy, and air force are responsible for guarding this statue, and they take turns every hour. They do an impressive baton style routine at each switch to boot. Some people think that his memorial hall gives CKS too much individual credit, not giving acknowlegment for all of th people behind his movements.

Dr. Sun was more of a philosophical leader, but he had a similar statue too. He was famous for changing the local philosophy a bit. `Thinking is easy, doing is hard” became “Thinking is hard, doing is easy”, making things much easier on the average citizen.

We also got to do some urban crawling; checking through malls and visiting a tea convention that my friend`s sister was working at.

Of course, we had to visit Taipei 101 This is the tallesssssst building in taiwan, and until recently, it was the tallest buiding in the entire world. The view from there was pretty cool. To my suprise, going to each of these tall towers was a bit of a unique experience. Shanghail, Tokyo and Taipei are all different enough cities that I think it was worthwhile to see each from far up.

We also got to go to a hot springs place. The colder pool that we went to in the end seemed fine for me, but my more tropical ajdusted friends seemed to be super cold. Similarly, the hottest pool we went to was not the msot fun for me, but seemed like the best ones for my Taiwanese friends..

We head to Taichung today, my friend`s hometown. My ffriend says that things are slower there and less formal, and views this in a positive light, so it looks like I will get a taste of Taiwan aside from the capital city.. Thst couple of days have been incredibly busy. We managed to visit two memorial halls; One for Chaiang Kai Sheck, and the other for Dr. SUn, both of which were highly important Taiwanese leaders. CKS was a political and millitary leader, and his museum had two sedans. We also got to see the changing of the guard, in front of a twopstory tall statue of him. The army, navy, and air force are responsible for guarding this statue, and they take turns every hour. They do an impressive baton style routine at each switch to boot. Some people think that his memorial hall gives CKS too much individual credit, not giving acknowlegment for all of th people behind his movements.

Dr. Sun was more of a philosophical leader, but he had a similar statue too. He was famous for changing the local philosophy a bit. `Thinking is easy, doing is hard” became “Thinking is hard, doing is easy”, making things much easier on the average citizen.

We also got to do some urban crawling; checking through malls and visiting a tea convention that my friend`s sister was working at.

Of course, we had to visit Taipei 101 This is the tallesssssst building in taiwan, and until recently, it was the tallest buiding in the entire world. The view from there was pretty cool. To my suprise, going to each of these tall towers was a bit of a unique experience. Shanghail, Tokyo and Taipei are all different enough cities that I think it was worthwhile to see each from far up.

We also got to go to a hot springs place. The colder pool that we went to in the end seemed fine for me, but my more tropical ajdusted friends seemed to be super cold. Similarly, the hottest pool we went to was not the msot fun for me, but seemed like the best ones for my Taiwanese friends..

We head to Taichung today, my friend`s hometown. My ffriend says that things are slower there and less formal, and views this in a positive light, so it looks like I will get a taste of Taiwan aside from the capital city.. Thst couple of days have been incredibly busy. We managed to visit two memorial halls; One for Chaiang Kai Sheck, and the other for Dr. SUn, both of which were highly important Taiwanese leaders. CKS was a political and millitary leader, and his museum had two sedans. We also got to see the changing of the guard, in front of a twopstory tall statue of him. The army, navy, and air force are responsible for guarding this statue, and they take turns every hour. They do an impressive baton style routine at each switch to boot. Some people think that his memorial hall gives CKS too much individual credit, not giving acknowlegment for all of th people behind his movements.

Dr. Sun was more of a philosophical leader, but he had a similar statue too. He was famous for changing the local philosophy a bit. `Thinking is easy, doing is hard” became “Thinking is hard, doing is easy”, making things much easier on the average citizen.

We also got to do some urban crawling; checking through malls and visiting a tea convention that my friend`s sister was working at.

Of course, we had to visit Taipei 101 This is the tallesssssst building in taiwan, and until recently, it was the tallest buiding in the entire world. The view from there was pretty cool. To my suprise, going to each of these tall towers was a bit of a unique experience. Shanghail, Tokyo and Taipei are all different enough cities that I think it was worthwhile to see each from far up.

We also got to go to a hot springs place. The colder pool that we went to in the end seemed fine for me, but my more tropical ajdusted friends seemed to be super cold. Similarly, the hottest pool we went to was not the msot fun for me, but seemed like the best ones for my Taiwanese friends..

We head to Taichung today, my friend`s hometown. My ffriend says that things are slower there and less formal, and views this in a positive light, so it looks like I will get a taste of Taiwan aside from the capital city.. Thst couple of days have been incredibly busy. We managed to visit two memorial halls; One for Chaiang Kai Sheck, and the other for Dr. SUn, both of which were highly important Taiwanese leaders. CKS was a political and millitary leader, and his museum had two sedans. We also got to see the changing of the guard, in front of a twopstory tall statue of him. The army, navy, and air force are responsible for guarding this statue, and they take turns every hour. They do an impressive baton style routine at each switch to boot. Some people think that his memorial hall gives CKS too much individual credit, not giving acknowlegment for all of th people behind his movements.

Dr. Sun was more of a philosophical leader, but he had a similar statue too. He was famous for changing the local philosophy a bit. `Thinking is easy, doing is hard” became “Thinking is hard, doing is easy”, making things much easier on the average citizen.

We also got to do some urban crawling; checking through malls and visiting a tea convention that my friend`s sister was working at.

Of course, we had to visit Taipei 101 This is the tallesssssst building in taiwan, and until recently, it was the tallest buiding in the entire world. The view from there was pretty cool. To my suprise, going to each of these tall towers was a bit of a unique experience. Shanghail, Tokyo and Taipei are all different enough cities that I think it was worthwhile to see each from far up.

We also got to go to a hot springs place. The colder pool that we went to in the end seemed fine for me, but my more tropical ajdusted friends seemed to be super cold. Similarly, the hottest pool we went to was not the msot fun for me, but seemed like the best ones for my Taiwanese friends..

We head to Taichung today, my friend`s hometown. My ffriend says that things are slower there and less formal, and views this in a positive light, so it looks like I will get a taste of Taiwan aside from the capital city..

Today we went to Taroko National park, on the East side of the island. This involved a w hr train ride, but ultimately proved to be quite worthwhile.

Once departed from the train, we boarded a tour bus that set out on a path on the trans-island east/west highway that tunnels and wraps around the main mountian range in Taiwan. This place is tropical enough that there was no tree line; vegetation prospered at all levels of the mountains, even the mostly vertical parts. The local plans strongly reminded me of the flora of Hawaii (the big island).

The best part was the drive through the east/west highway. This highway was carved at great risk trhough a narrow gorge between the mountains. Signs saying “Caution: falling rocks” and numerous variants thereof sprinkeled the entire roadway. The highlight of this triip was about w km of walking down a trail (with hard hats, of course). The mountains were shaped in such an amazing way that by looking up, you could see the same mountain at three different views. I’ll post some pictures later to give a more fuller impression of what this is like. It almost defies description.This gorge was apparently the fimling location for “The Journey West” if that rings a bell to anyone.

We also got to visit a cool shrine oin the way and saw multiple waterfalls. The scale of the place was so huge that I felt like an ant that had discovered a particularly wierd rock. Butterflies abounded, in sizes that made me confuse them for bats at first.

Near the end of this trip, I saw a breif mini rockslide across the valley which included rocks that could crush a person, helmet or no. I was very glad that noone was on that side of the valley at the time

All flights went according to plan, my ransfer wnet Ok, and I met up with Barry, no problem. Taiwan is quite humid, but Barry knew of some good antidote, with the corwning achievement being Winter Melon ice tea. Experimentally, I must agree, this is quite the fine drink, and seems to have helped stave off the heat significantly. We managed to find our Youth Hostel, but got there rather late. I’ll be headed off to bed soon so we can get some god adventuring in tomorrow.

I’m at the airport right now, and soon I’ll be off on a journey to visit my friend Barry in Taiwan. I know that we will be touring Taipei, the capital, and several other cities in the northern parts of this island. The trip to the airport was smooth, so I hope that the rest of the trip will be so as well. I have an epic trip to Tokyo (Narita) airport, in which I will transfer to Taipei. I will be able to meet up with Barry then, and we will be in all kinds of good times.

Some things I am looking forward to seeing in Taiwan include the night markets (like Saturday market, but every day) and several prominent museums. There is also a zoo and an aquarium, and I might spring for an amusment park if I can get over my fear of rollercoasters. I’ll be reporting every day, at least as long as I have internet access.

To all my friends back home, see you next week!