Warm Aftertoon Green Tea Addiction

New Blog

2007-08-17T00:03:00.000+08:00

Hi everyone,

Due to my own laziness, I am now only partially "blog" in my photoblog @ => http://photoblog.com/iriss
Sorry, but please feel free to visit my photoblog and leave any comments you like!
CHEERS!

iris ;)

Sheesha + Red Wine=??

2007-07-10T22:23:00.000+08:00

Sunday afternoon, R went for a run with Milo. I hate running, so I didn't tag along.
Instead, I went out myself and delivered some mags.

As I stopped by one of the advertisers' shop whichs sells all sorts of exotic stuff, from small to big, you name it, the owner, started to lid up a "Sheesha Pipe" for me.

She wanted me to sit down and enjoy that huge pipe. "Cool, ok, I think." So she let me sit in the back of her shop smoke the mint flavor sheesha alone. Later, she sat down with me, started to burn another pipe for herself and at the same time, pouring a big glass of red wine for me. "Well...um...sure, thanks! Cheers!"

There, an unusual afternoon occurred just like that. I was there not being allowed to go anywhere else until R called 3 hours later, and was feeling pretty "up there" the whole time, too. Ha haha......

Thanks, Ivy! I will never forget about your generosity and your passion for the "Shui-Ian"! I love my friends!

Girls KTV Night Out

2007-07-06T00:59:00.000+08:00

Last night was our staff's girls only night out, and a KTV one, too.

Well, two of the foreign teachers are leaving this summer, so the ladies decided to go nuts for the last time.

And we did, well at least I did.

I had a hangover, a masive headache and nonstop spinning feeling all day...

I wondered how I survived teaching today, and how did the kids survive, too...

But..... Remember: KTV=FUN :P

A picture a day

2007-06-27T00:44:00.000+08:00

Ariel called out of blue telling me she's back and is at the train staion. "Huh, what?..."
She wanted to surprise me and have lunch with me... he..he...what a nice surprise!

Aven called later in between my classes, saying having seen me for a while and that a tea with me would be very nice!
Hey! Sure! So a quicker tea time with her as well today...

We chatted things that are happening, bits of here and there and whatnot but the point is, I really miss my friends.

Summer Sky

2007-06-25T00:05:00.000+08:00

Summer is here.

If you were wondering how summer is like here in Hualien, well, take a look at this beautiful sky and clouds here.

Almost every afernoon, we get a quick and hard thunder rain. Another summer, my favorite season, has arrived! It's too bad that we have no plans of trvaling in the summer (we are not allowed :(... ) But hopefully all the sweat for working all summer will pay back when we finally visit Canada again in September!

Happy Summer! ;)

Let the pictures talk!

2007-05-20T01:56:00.000+08:00

Since I haven't written anything on my blog for ages, and that I wonder if I still have the abilty to write, so....let's let the pictures talk... haha...

iris

Simplicity

2007-03-31T18:19:00.000+08:00

Less is more.

Where I live, Jin Hua Bridge

2007-03-19T13:17:00.000+08:00

Just a short walk from my apartment, you can see all these flowers blooming by "Mei Luen Xi" (Mei Luen River). I couldn't belive my eyes the other day I took a few minutes visiting the river bank, check these pretty flowers out! :)

I r o n y

2007-03-07T00:41:00.000+08:00

Another shitty day of Hualien, wet, drizzling and freezing cold.

Got up, put on some warm clothes, I was off to a beautiful 13th floor hotel overlooking the Pacific to take photos as I promised to.

About 30 rooms, big, small and weird shapes, overlooking the harbor or the mountains, oh and all kind of bathrooms, too, I took 250 shots in my camera!

Guess what turned out to be my favorite shot out of all these room pictures from all the possible angles?

Haha... me! Myself and the elevator!

iris

Little tour down the South

2007-03-05T14:38:00.000+08:00

AFTER wedding, things start to cool down a little bit. Life is still busy but only with the magazine work and teaching, no more wedding preps, thank god!

Anyways, R and I went for a little trip down to the South and the west of the Island. Tainan, where most of temples and the Taiwanese culture is centered, was a wonderful city to explore. More pictures to be uploaded here about Tainan, I think.

Today I opened the mailbox, found to cards from Canada sitting there...

Thank aunty Donna, and the family for the lovely card! :)
And Thanks Meghan for the lovely card and thanks for writing "To Iris & Ryan Hsu"! Haha! ( love ya, too!)

iris

Married "Check!"

2007-02-15T23:25:00.000+08:00

Walking down that aisle...

My brother, me, Ryan, my uncle, my brother-in-law Dan

My dear friends, best friends!

Outdoor Shot

R&I at the wedding banquet

Notary: all the family... coolest dad, eh?

I have yet any words to descibe this awesome experience of getting married and the wedding banquet
although it's been 3 days after the big day!

Well, here are some of the pictures to share with you...

Perhaps, here, I should also thank all the people that are in my life, friends and family who truly care and love me!
Thank you guys! I love you! And thank you, Michael Turton, for if you haven't had that little talk with Ryan while I went to the restroom, R and I would probably not be married yet! He he... :)

I am sure I have some more to say here later, but now, enjoy the photos, and I will sit back and relax for a long while, too! ;)

Cheers!

iris xoxo

Bali Images 02

2007-01-10T23:56:00.001+08:00

Some more! :)

Bali Images 01

2007-01-09T12:27:00.000+08:00

This was my second time visiting Bali. I had more understanding of the cultures and people there than my first visit of Bali. Bali is beautiful, still, except the shadow of past bombings. Vacation has been awesome, too. But it's time to move on and get back to work. Hope you all have a great 2007!

Here are some photos to come! Enjoy!

iris :)

Ps. Up: First Day Bali Sunset at Kuta Beach
Down: My favorite shot of flowers

Merry Christmas

2006-12-16T01:33:00.000+08:00

In about 5 days, I will be in Bali!

My days before this Bali trip have been completely insane. Well, at least days after my birthday.

Yesterday, I had yet another horrible day of teaching. First I waited patiently for my kids to finish drinking and chatting
in class, then I finished the whole class by only writing one word "notice" one the whiteboard. Believe me or not, they still think that this word simply means "not-ice"!

Class was off, I went on preparing for my next hour and half class. All of a sudden I was called to meet "someone" downstairs at the door of the school. Went down, I saw my girl student being so angry that she's almost on fire while her mom stands right next to her. Mom wanted to know why I would say that her daughter said the words that she never said or recall saying at all before......I was just there trying to control the situation with a demanding mom and a angry teenager, thinking, is there any reasons for me to lie to anybody and cause all this scene at school???

I don't get it! I really don't....But this time, I did not cry. Instead, I told the manager I refuse to dry for this one more time, and if their need a better teacher for the class, I am more than happy to let go. Why? Simply because I have try my best, and crying three times for that class was enough, and most importantly, I am there to teach, and nothing else. I hope she understand.

Anyways, after school I was invited to a girl staff KTV party. I went, and had a blase! I sang all the silly tacky songs that you can think of... Such as "flame" , "my hump", "dancing queen" and oh "lovefool"! Girls at work even brought 2 bottles of Champagne and other wines to drink our faces off. I didn't know what exactly to celecbrate, but I did know I need it, and I was in heaven after all the teenager bullshit!

Anyway, I'd just like to say "Merry Christmas to you!" Yes, you who cares about me and and you that I think about all the time even though I have been really too busy to write.

So, wish me luck in Bali!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! :)

iris

Happy Bithday to You!

2006-11-19T23:09:00.000+08:00

Congratulations to this young man on his 19th birthday!
Happy Birthday, Greg! :)

iris

And these...

2006-10-30T11:03:00.000+08:00

Ryan (to the right) and JF, Ching's husband and also our magazine disigner. Thumbs up for both of them!

Another shot of Ching and I!

Hurray Halloween!:)

East Coast Halloween 2006

2006-10-29T22:02:00.000+08:00

Check out me (on the right) and my friend Ching at the Halloween party! I have always wanted to be a stewardess, so this is sort of a dream come true to me. We had fun last night, even though the pain of my feet is killing me from walking around the party in pointing high hills... o well. It's worthy!

More pictures to come....perhaps! :P

lately...

2006-09-19T23:47:00.000+08:00

So, yeah...

This weekend

2006-08-13T23:47:00.000+08:00

We took a weekend off without planning anything, no vacations, no rushes and detinations.

Without knowing what direction to go, we went up the Coastal Range with Ryan's new motorcycle. We stopped at the end of the road as it climbed as high as it could go.

When the engine was turned off, nothing could be heard but the wind and trees.

It felt really nice when the cool sea breezes brushed through my face. I wish all weekends could be like this. Sometimes "nothing" means more than the emptiness it conveys.

Night shots

2006-08-02T12:13:00.000+08:00

Slowly and unexpectedly, Hualien streets are turning into a more relaxing place. I pulled my scooter over on the way home from work to take these shots. A new fountain! Hey! A nice city should always have a fountain or some sort of hang out space for people (and their dogs ) to sit, relax and chat, especially on a hot summer evening. Check this out! ( ;

The Ring

2006-07-26T15:23:00.000+08:00

Oh the ring!

We've been busy and really don't have much time to look at rings for the engagement.

There is probably only one shop that's specified in diamonds anyway.

Aside from being asked and trying to answer these questions: "Wow, how did he propose to you?" "when are you going to marry?" "When is the BIG day?" & "When is the engagement party?"

I think we should probably find some time to fainally sit down and pick the ring.

Any suggestions?

Just like that, eh?

2006-07-16T19:38:00.000+08:00

R: "Are you thirsty?"
We are talking along the street, refilling the magazines to shops down town.

Me: "Yeah..."

R: "Wanna sit down somewhere and have a drink?"

Me: "Yah, sounds good, where do you think?"

R: "Trunk?" A local 'American' style dinner.

Me: "Ok, let's go!"

So we sat down and chatted while drinking some cold tea and beer.

R: "Um...so....let's get married! Do you wanna marry me?"

He looked at me seriously but slightly funny.

There was something wrong with his all smiling

yet wanting to busrt out laughing face...

Me: "A...what??"

R: "D..do you want to marry me? I'm serious."

Ok, maybe he wasn't joking around.

Me: "Wow, so this is it? Are you sure??

C'mon, you want to laugh, don't ya? Just laugh out, don't hold it..."

R: "Will you marry me???"

Me: "Um. SURE!"

I looked at his eyes and said it.

R: "Yeah, so we're engaged!!" Big Smile.

Me: "Ha.....yeah....I guess so."

Still kinda figuring out the situation.

R: "Let's go and tell all of our friends"

Me: "Now? O..k.. "

Big smile, too.

There!! We're engaged! I'm officially 'Mrs. St.Onge.' Ha ha ha.........
Can you imagine that? (:

The week flew by

2006-07-03T22:46:00.000+08:00

Monday again.

Normally, Monday always seems long. But today, it was ok, fast actually! Well, everything seems to be flying since I started this new job. Teaching, planning lessons, getting back into selling ads and delivering the magazine (still hate it, don't get me wrong), walking Milo, shoping for groceries... things start to make sense and slow down even though I'm in a rush. Weird, I know.

We also managed to watch a baseball game,

and nights at the pubs for the World Cup.

Anyways, we finally pushed the magazine out and Highway 11 July is now on the streets. Hurray! Among all the errands that we had to do last week, we actaully found ourselves a doctor who's willing to build a website for the magazine.

Hurry (twice)! :P

So, look forward to our new website soon!

Stay tuned!

It's a strange thing

2006-06-26T23:31:00.000+08:00

An email has just reawakened all my feelings about traveling. Traveling, what a weird thing that makes you feel so itchy to 'leave.'

It often makes me wonder why and how just the simplest processes such as checking out or going through customs. Getting stamped, the act couldn't be simpler, yet they can give people so many complex feelings. I don't know about you, but at least to me. Looking back, traveling itself was not always fun nor safe. But there was always the sense of adventure and perhaps danger in every little town we arrived in. I remember, well, not looking down at the ground, not even looking further than one meter from myself just to avoid any 'shock.' I remembered starving, only because I just couldn't believe the odor which I smelled everywhere was actually from the restaurants. I also recall my insistence on finding a supermarket only to quench my thirst for home. While traveling, I was ill and barfy for weeks, I felt the scorching heat that literally stopped my breath, I cried on the roadside feeling so close to death that I could not stop shaking for over an hour.

Sound pretty horrible. But, would I ever want to be on the road again? The answer is 200% yes, and I wouldn't even waste a second to doubt. Yes, I have been through the bad parts as well as the good of traveling. But I am glad to say that I haven't been through them all. There are greater moments to come, and worse parts of the journey to be expected, too.

The traveling seed has somehow been planted and is growing inside me, there isn't a second that goes by that I'm not getting ready to lift my backpack and travel again. Traveling has changed me in so many ways. In ways only travelers would understand. If only you know what I meant.

Milo Milo Milo

2006-06-26T00:58:00.000+08:00

We gave Milo a big bath. He hates it and usually goes wild when he comes out of the bathroom. But he's been pretty sweet lately. Been out walking and running with us with no complaints. Milo is going to be great company, I think. :)

Wait...don't get me wrong, Milo is still a total brat 90% of the time!

Summer

2006-06-24T11:25:00.000+08:00

I remember last time of the year when we just go tback from the long the South East Asia trip, the weather in Taiwan felt just fine and comfy, in fact, it even felt kinda cool compare to the scorching heat in the SEA. What I don't remember is that this heat in the summer can be so sweltering that you feel like you are in the steamed sauna all the time, and the only eascape is probably the closest

7-11 you can find.

Sitting here in front of the computer typing, I feel like running away...yeah...but, to where?

I started to feel the summer FEVER, and I just sweated more to think the fact that it's gonna last at least 4 months from now before it finally cools down a little bit.

Are you ready for the sweat? I hope I am. Perhapsit's work no traveling, or jsut simply the hot air, I found all my "Yeah, it's summer!" excitmeant all gone this year. Ready for the sweat? I hope I am.

Maybe

2006-06-21T23:30:00.000+08:00

In the middle of all these heat and warm summer air, and amist of the trouble kids teaching frustation, I've been thinking, seriously...that maybe this could be cool on me.

Just a wild idea...

Maybe.

There are times...

2006-06-21T00:47:00.000+08:00

Teaching can be so devastating sometimes! I started this new full-time job yesterday. Before I started, I sat in for a while and subtituted some classes as well. But man, am I ever beat and frustrated at this very moment about teaching. It feels like a monster that sucked all your spirit and positive energy out of your body.

I have this pain-in-the-ass student, R, super spoiled, bad attitude, noisy and REALLY rude, especially to me, of course. The first time we met, she told me: "go to die!" Later in that class, she shouted: "Why don't you jump out of the window here?!" And today, I was trying to be extra patient with her and the whole class. Still, half way through the class, R yelled at me while the entire class was quiet: "You are so STUPID! I want to play 'kill teacher' game!"

I walked out of the classroom, headed down and didn't feel like saying a word to anyone. It was 9 pm as usual. I had had enough of brat kids who either completely ignored my words nand shouted at me with the rude language. I was so beat and felt like a total loser... Indeed, teaching brings one down, and it's truly a job full of emotions.

It's sad to say that after years of teaching, I still can't escape this emotional trap and still bring home most of of the feelings. Days like this make me start to question and wonder if I am a suitable teacher...

"Ah...just a bad day of work", part of my mind keeps wanting to tell me it's nothing, yet the other part of it keeps questioning my ability as a teacher.

Blah.

iris

It's been a long time

2006-06-19T00:47:00.000+08:00

It's been a very long time since I blogged. I wanted to fix it. I looked here and there trying to find the right fit for the blog. Finally, Voila! I found one. Thanks Ryan ;)

Yes, it's been a LONG time since I blogged. Three weeks, I think... things have changed a bit, too.

Two weeks ago, we were trying to work hard for the magazine so that we could have more time when Meghan came. Time flew. Meghan arrived and left just a day ago. (Back to her mother land) With Meghan, we traveled round the whole island. Unfortunately the rain hit us the whole trip. We also took her to every great place in town. Restuarants, tea houses... you name it! Oh, and pubs!

But, life goes back to the daily routine again, Ryan, I and Milo. Except, I got a new teaching job and have to plan my lessons and be serious now.

Time flew indeed, and it always amazes me how people can change over such short period of time. Anyways, lovin' my new blog look? :)

iris

Life

2006-05-29T16:28:00.000+08:00

Life is pretty much the same day by day. Except Milo has become an important company to us now. I'm stilling learning how to be patient with an animal friend, eat, walk, cook, teach and even duzz off with him. It's not that easy for me to be honest, but I think I'm doing ok.Everyday is same all, especialy my Fridays.

Every Fridays, I start my day early at 7:30. Wake up, shower, dressed up and show up fresh at my old people's early morning class. For them their day have gone by half, for me, it's my first words for the day. After class, I'd meet up with Ryan foe lunch. After luch, we usually do some meeting with local people for the magazine ad selling or thing like that. By the time Ryan's gone to his afternoon pain in the ass kids class, my trip to countryside starts.

I usually take the afternoon time visting my mom in the other side of the town. I love the strech rice field roads going to my mom's place. On an average clear day, you can see huge tall mountain in the West and endless green rice fields with beautiful houses in the middle of the fields. I'd usually stop and check out mom's garden, listen to her showing off of her pretty flower blossoms and vegetables.
After all my praises to the plants, it's often the time for us to visist the temple near by where mom and I would always go and help us a little bit and a place for us to search for some peace and tranguilty after a buzzy week

Drop my mom off, I start off my night classes and hopefully to end the whole week of work cheerfully! That would be my Fridays, I wonder why I blah about this, but... Yours?

What now?

2006-05-26T18:06:00.000+08:00

I don't like the look of my blog at this moment, I'm still trying to find the one

that's a little bit more satisfying. Any suggetions? : /

Us at the race!

2006-05-22T17:11:00.000+08:00

By the way, that's Ryan, me (holding his medal), Doug, Emily, Bernard and Matt!

Emily and I were only there to cheer, of course.

Triathlon '06 Hualien

2006-05-22T16:11:00.000+08:00

A triathlon has been held annually in Hualien for several years and I am shamed to say that I was actually only found out how interesting and awesome it was this year, what's worse, I was only there to cheer Ryan on during his first! It was amazing to see so many people from all around the island and other countries to get together at our pretty little lake in Hualien and put all their effort into this race. For most people, it was a race against him/herself, of course. The most amazing thing I learned about the race was the thriathlon spirit!

If you haven't been to one, go. And make sure you "cheer" them on. You will understand what I mean here. (:

Party of three!

2006-05-15T16:52:00.000+08:00

Since one friend called last night, there came a new

menber of our family!

Meet Milo T. We are not sure when his birthday is or how old he actually is,or who are his parents. But, he's just full of cuteness!

Brave little Milo didn't scream or struggle a bit when we took him to have his first shots this morning. I'm not too sure if Milo and I will get alone well or not (he sure is with Ryan),since I've never had a pet company before. But, I'm pretty positive that we will be great friends, if only he stopped peeing on the wood floor and following me to the bathroom. O Milo...

The Wang Ji

2006-05-12T11:33:00.000+08:00

【王記】

【王記茶舖】在花蓮的飲茶界成為主流，轉眼已超過有十年的春秋。因它美中樸實的裝潢，悅耳的鳥鳴聲和著重小細節的精緻設計，已使得【王記茶舖】在飲茶業界中，以獨特的美學概念和氣氛營造上贏得一席之地位。

王記在花蓮的新分店『花間茶堂』（位於花蓮市三民街十號），不但提供茶飲服務，同時也是個台灣過去史跡的活文化博物館。現今的『花間茶堂』從前是棟舊式別墅，為地方上頗有名氣的望族所擁有。但跟隨人與事的變遷，這棟別墅現在已全部整修並翻新，營造成可以滿足顧客需求的茶舖。茶堂有著古早味的台灣建築，加上現代感十足的設計，獨特地營造出一個新與舊的有趣融合。茶館裡，天花板上凸出的舊棟樑，不但增添了一息未完成之感，也刻意的保留了對於先前在地別墅史跡的一絲眷戀。而二樓路旁的陽台座位設計，不但別出心裁，同時也為那些喜歡在午後，觀察穿梭街頭的人群或享受日光浴的人們，完成了其許已久的心願。

若單就商業的層面而言，【王記】作為一間餐館及茶舖，它可算是東部首屈一指的。在茶品的種類、各式傳統餐點和小茶點上，茶堂本身就足以讓人流連忘返，而每次到訪所嚐試的新餐點，也每每給人許多驚喜。然而，花蓮擁有好茶和小吃的茶舖滿街遍佈，那麼到底什麼原因，才使得【王記茶舖】形象和名聲如此脫穎而出呢？

緣起Mr. Wang

顧名思義，【王記】的創辦人，王先生，在東部的「王記現象」中擔任茶舖經營者及合夥人已有超過十年的日子了。目前，他在花蓮已非常成功地經營了兩間他一手打造的【王記茶舖】。一間是位於中山路上，以電影『梁祝』為主題和背景設計；而新的分店『花間茶堂』則是位於三民路上，藉由傳統與現代、新與舊概念的結合作為主題。這兩間喧嚷熱絡的茶館，一一證明了王先生的用心和堅持十幾年下來完全沒有白費。

許多人常問王先生他的茶到底有多好？然而，他的答案雖沒有評比亦沒有誇大，但可能會實著地讓你驚訝一下。他老實回答的說：「其實茶品的好與壞，全取決於品茶人（顧客）當時的心情」。多麼特別的回答啊！帶著放鬆的心情和態度的顧客，總是能充分享受每一滴的好茶；但對於帶著壓力或心事的客人，可能就會覺得茶苦或索然無味。「這，就是茶所帶給人的真正感受」他笑著說到。

茶就是人生

王先生所選的茶皆來自於以好茶聞名的坪林鄉。每種茶葉被選定之前，都需經過八道嚴密的挑選步驟。王先生認為，幫愛茶的顧客嚴選好茶是他的一份責任，而親自去瞭解客人們的口味需求，也是他給自己的一份義務。也是因為對茶如此的堅持和執著，他的熱忱透過了陣陣傳來的茶香，持續的打動著無數的品茶客人的心。

傳統延續

【王記】一向很重視他們喫茶的熟客。因此，他們從不曾以花蓮市每年大量湧入的遊客群作為事業的目標。然而，【王記】的認真以及在地人對它的肯定，已使得【王記】漸漸成為一個吸引觀光客的花蓮市旅遊點。觀光客除了會暢遊東海岸以及探索太魯閣國家公園之外，有越來越多的遊客，陸續地發現了【王記】裡令人抒緩的氣氛和這個充滿茶香的在地人文茶館。的確，走進【王記茶舖】就彷彿踏入一個現代生活中，充滿史跡文化及古早味道的花蓮。

想要感受一下王記獨特的文化復古風嗎？品茶之際，不妨可以留意一下茶舖裡工作人員的制服。為了要讓顧客有身歷其境，並體驗先前日本文化對中華文化的影響，這一套複雜的傳統日式八片剪裁，結合了中國傳統長袍的美麗套裝，便因應而生。注意到了嗎？你是否也覺得【王記茶舖】裡的服務人員，舉手頭足之間都充滿了濃濃的人文氣息呢？

【王記】在於花蓮地方文化和史跡的維護上，展現了他們的細膩及用心。舉凡自各種茶種類的嚴選、茶舖的建築和設計，到所有員工皆秉持服務至上的態度以及王先生『以茶會友』的心態面對客人；【王記茶舖】用這十年間的精華時段為漫長的午後，創造出了在地的完美人文氣氛。

Weird

2006-05-04T19:03:00.000+08:00

Hualien never ceases to surprise me! I was on my way to teach, I noticed that the clouds in the sky looked very different than usual. I stopped at a red light, took out my camera, tried to grasp a little bit of the weirdness. In about ten minutes before the night fell, I was completely stunned by the changing of the shape and colors of this East-coastal spring clouds!

Sleepless in Hualien

2006-04-29T13:18:00.000+08:00

Sleepless last night, I went to the roof again.

Came down instantly, grabbed my camera, went back up and...

Voila!

Just when I'm about to...

2006-04-25T16:54:00.000+08:00

Just when I'm about to break my record of NOT blogging for the longest period of time in my life so far, this pretty postcard arrived at my door!

Thank you, Momo, for the warm feelings from the far away cold country.:)

O and, thank you, cuz the lovely postcard made my day from dealing all the calls from printers and desingers and all that language barriers, translations and stupid techno terms which I have no clues whatsoever.

Heaven & Hell

2006-04-05T00:42:00.000+08:00

Last night we went to a bar downtown to see our friends play some great live music.
The event was called "4 Bands." Guess how many bands were there?

I stepped in the bar and start taking photos. Ran out of my batteries twice.

The four bands played fantastic music and funny performances. And the greatest of all, it took place on a Monday night! He he...I loved it, even though I had to teach early this morning. I sweat so much from dancing, as I walked out of the bar wearing only a tight tank top, I almost believed that the humid summer had come early!

Those were the good things...

R and I had the worst day, today. Nasty wake-ups and bad starts. I could go on and on, blah and blah about how awful I felt today about being turned down and ignored on the business turn. But, why complain? Going through heaven straight to hell is enough. I don't want to even think about it a second more.

So here are some photos from "Blue Monday." At least some good vibes have stayed through my lens. Take a look! (:

Me!

2006-04-03T01:54:00.000+08:00

Do you ever take lots of picture of yourself?

I do. :P

What are YOU thinking?

2006-03-27T17:18:00.000+08:00

Lately, I have been contemplating some strange crushes.

Well, I got this call at late Saturday night. I answered even though it was a strange number which I have never seen before. Maybe it's an important call, I always think so.

"Weih..." An older man's voice.
"Um...Is this beautiful teacher Hsu?! This is me, you know, the herb tea boss...."

Oh...Okay, but why did you call me at the midnight?

"You know? I am just thinking about you...in fact, I have been thinking about you a lot lately"

You must be joking me here...I know you are always flirty with me...but...

"Yeah, I just thought that I'd let you know that I've known and really liked you for 6 years. And I'd really like you to know that I miss you today. So you think I have a chance?"

Huh?? Shit, he's not kidding!"

"So who's that American guy who sometimes comes here with you? Is he your boyfriend? Are you guys living together?"

After a few minutes, I realized that things were getting weird. So I stopped laughing, and I stopped thinking that he's just joking around.

"So...Um...Mr. Jang. Thank you, I'm flattered. Really. But about your question? I'm not available anymore. I am in a firm relationship now, and he's not American, we are not just having some fun...You know?"

"Oh, I see. But I have practiced some songs with my guitar for you. Like this one I learn this afternoon called 'True Love'...."

O M G!

I don't remember how was the phone call ended. I hope I didn't offend him by saying something stupid (I might). Anyway, I do know I'm gonna miss that herb drink for a long time. What a shame cuz he makes the best hot "Sian Tsao" in town.

Yeah, so I guess I've attracted some older guys lately for some unknown reasons, including some professors, some other teachers, and parents. All these just leave me wondering: "Hello, what are you thinking?"

It rains, rains and rains...

2006-03-23T18:13:00.000+08:00

The weather has been wet and gloomy! Sometimes the sun comes out bright and sunny but just about when you are ready to step out the door, the clouds start to roll in and then the rain follows. I feel like being played emotionaly by this "sentimtal" weather these days.

Not much happening. Just maybe that I miss traveling again...

A Lovely Note

2006-03-20T15:21:00.000+08:00

This is yet again, the time of the month which we all go crazy working on the magazie trying to hand in everything by the deadline. Blah~

But, I opened up my mailbox and found this lovely note from a very nice blogger friend concerning about health. I thought I'd love to share it to everybody here. {Sorry Jen, i hope you won't mind this... (: }

Hey Iris, I can't post comments in your "Ha-Chu" post! Why??OMG, eating/living ethically/healthily is totally my favourite topic in the whole world. =D You've opened the Pandora's Box! =D

Why don't I catch the cold often? I am not really sure. But, I think it's probably because I gave up eating meat over 10 years ago. I think it's made me much healthier. (Hint, hint). :-)Plus, I think taking Western medicine unnecessarily is really toxic for the body (if you believe the yin/yang stuff). When I had the 'flu five years ago, I also didn't take anything for it. But, you have to be aware of your body enough to take such a risk when you have the 'flu - because sometimes the heart can't take it and you can seriously damage it. I was lucky, I guess. You should not over-stress yourself if you don't want to take Western medicine, when nursing a cold/'flu. :-) But the plus side of letting your body take care of the 'flu/cold naturally is that, you'll get the 'flu/cold much less frequently.I do eat very healthily, too:

1. Barley grass drink, first thing in the morning.
2. Eat nothing else except four different fruits, until 12pm. This is because the body is still trying to flush out the toxins from the night before - so you should let it rest until 12pm. Definitely do not eat any dairy/meat products before 12pm - you'll over-tax your body.
3. Use olive oil, garlic and cooked tomatoes as much as possible in cooking.
4. Drink a lot of miso soup and green tea - for the antioxidants. They also help to flush out toxins.
5. Drink lots of water.
6. Drink one lemon's worth of pure lemon juice after dinner, most days - very cleansing.
7. Eat seven types of fruits and vegetables every day.=DIf that's not too much trouble for you, you should give it a try. :-) If you don't like eating so much fruits/vegies, you can always use a blender or juicer - it's almost the same. :-) Just make sure you always drink fruit juices on an empty stomach.

Get well soon, Iris! :-)

Again, thank you sooo much Jen.

Really your cute note just made my day, even in this time of the month.

Ha--Chu!

2006-03-16T16:23:00.000+08:00

I'm sick...I have been lying in bed for about two days. Sore throat,caugh, runing nose, slight fever...you name it. Feeling real shitty...can't hear anything, can't taste anything but salt, either.

I woke up, it was already afternoon, I stared at the beautiful ocean and the bright sun, thinking damn... i just can't seem to get up and do anything. This flu, whatever it is, really sucks!

Sigh! Wish me luck! \ :

Yes, I'm guilty

2006-03-11T11:29:00.000+08:00

Another month od editing work. Besides that, I've got 3 different new classes set up last week. My world has been spinning around, so has my head. Only glad that I've survived all that. How about allowing me show you why I'm guilty for not been able to post for a little while...

Ms. Tsou called: "Come meet me at a hotel lobby near where ya live!" "wow, you are young, I can't teach anymore, six years of being tighten up in the town, I'm leaving for China next week. Thank God I've found you..."

Mr. Chang Called: "I'm this OLD community college's class leader. Nice to meet you! Here are the rules that you og to follow in this English class. Fisrt, all 60 old folks are retired famous people in this town. No messing around. Second, start booking the books that we need.......Ten, blah blah continues. Finally, don't forget you have to eat with us after the first class. Meet at Aster Hotel...."

Marco called: "So how was the fisrt class you had with our hotel receptionists the other day...My God they English are terrible. How was the phonics going?"

Book Publisher called: "Just wire the money I enclosed in the box with the books that you ordered the other day."

Mr. Chang called (again):"Don't worry, I will take care of everything. There's a reason why I'm the class leader for 6 YEARS here...Don't panic... Blah..."

Emily called: "So where's this tea house you'd like to meet for the editorial meeting? I'm stuck in the clinic here, will be late about one hour. Really sorry... I'm still new to this town, where is "Won Ji"? "

Ryan: "So are all the Chinese articles clean now, remind you the deadline is tommorrow!"

Dr. K called: "Iris, can we start my kids' class same time next week?"

Cofee Shop called: "Hi! The artcle that we like to post in the magainze was done yesterday. You must be too busy to come and get it. Just call to remind you about that. See ya!"

Mr. Chang called (again): "Just do what you like to do in class, you have your own teaching style. Don't panic, I'm the class leader, don't listen to just one or two students opinions...I will deal with that, don't panic....blah......."

Steak house called: "Um...our boss is still thinking about weather or not he'd like to put an ad in your magazine....sorry...we will call if we want to do that."

Mr Chang called (once more): "Yes, this is the class leader......blah...blah blahing.................don't worry......"

Yoko: "Thanks teacher, I'm so glad to meet you. Um...I gave you wrong email address, you know i'm all and very dumb now. Could you get a pen I'll read you the right one here...."

Yeah...that's about 2/3 of what happened last week for me. All these calls and classes and the editing work, not to mention the calls I had to make. All done, all cool...for now. Just happy that my week ended with this sweet old lady student Yoko instead of Mr. Chang...who did call, by the way. And now, I'm off to Liyu Lake for some cover shots for the magazine.

I know I'm guilty for not posting. Forgive me, pretty please... ( ;

Um...hello?

2006-03-04T10:48:00.000+08:00

It was probablely about 9 am. I heard my phone rang.

"Oh shit! Nooo" I covered the blanket and decided I'm not gonna bother to wake up...yet.

Ring went off.

Three minutes later, it rang again.

Ok, ok...I got up and tried to reach the damn phone and answer it. I walked down to our living room blind and picked up the phone.

"Um...hello?!"

"@#^...um...teacher Iris? Um...Hi~" Wow, she has high pitch tones.

"Oh, Hi ! Um..Dr. K?" You sounded like Dr. K.

"How are you? " My eyes were barely open, hack, it's freackin' Saturday morning.

"Fine, fine...You are fired!"

"WHAT? I'm what?? Fired??" I opened my eyes, shocked actually.

"No, no...I mean..." She went on blahing something else, which all sounded like dreaming to me.

"..um...father died. No class....sorry father died... this morning!"

"........ ..........huh......?!"

I paused for about half a minute, still trying to figure out where was I, in dreams?

"Huh?? My father died this morning??" I shouted, finally woke up.

"No no no...I mean my father in law died this morning, so I have to cancel the class for next week. Sorry!"

Oh,....oh. Now I see, I'm in the reality and that is Dr. K speaking to me and the day light is tooo bright.

"Oh! Um...really. I am so sorry Dr. K." "Don't worry about the class, I am really sorry to hear this."

"It's ok, he's pretty old and been sick for a long time. So, I'll call you again for the class."

"No worries, take care, bye Dr K!"

"Bye!"

That was how I woke up this morning. If you had known me just a little bit, you'd know that i'm the dumbest person in the world to deal with. So how can I be "ok" and smart enough even to talk when I still feel like I'm dreaming for the first half hour of my everyday waking ups.

I hope I didn't say something stupid to her over the phone...hell, if I did, I'd never find out anyway! Who knows, maybe I really did get fired...over phone.

Relax, it's Friday!

2006-03-03T14:07:00.000+08:00

Woke up this morning, it was already 11am. Guilty! Needed coffee right away. We got a super nicely fresh roasted coffee sitting in our kitchen. But, no grinder. Needing it so badly, we had to use our mortar and pestel to make our morning a little bit constructive.

Thanks to Cafe Living Room!

Anyways, while I was struggling waking up, Ryan told me a riot of Canadian that's about to begin in the blogsphere. What Ryan's been giving me the updates and what people have been fighting back to his idea sounded all very...."intresting" to me. But hey, if you had a little time to kill: Check what this is about! Have fun and enjoy!

Remember it's freakin' Friday, so relax and enjoy a plate of fresh strawberries! Have a nice one! ( :

late again

2006-03-03T02:06:00.000+08:00

It's late again. A pretty boring but ok night, just like usual when Rye goes to poker games.

I fiddled my "new" laptop, which just got fixed and boosted up! Read some blogs, got to know how people around the world think about life. Very interesting. Sometimes, I really wonder if I truly like to know how this or that person (blogger) looks like in the real world. Why not, I'm always curious (I often think), but I have such a great time reading such people's life or even some stupid point of views, why ruin it? Dunno.

I don't often agree with the people I read day to day, yet tons of times, I laugh my ass off and can't agree more than these people's silly comments on things.

I am a quieter person in that way, I guess if I really want my voice being heard, I'd have to start one to three new blogs a day. Ha! That really came across my mind though.

I miss blogging, and I don't seem to blog that much as usual, I choose to be silent(?!)Or I simply don't have enough energy and time. "Duei Bu Chi!" Ok, I am a lazy ass.

I'd love to try more and maybe even more honest. Thanks for reading my "blah". ;P

Broken Laptop

2006-02-27T18:29:00.000+08:00

Hell, my laptop is broken again!
Yup, i took her to the hospital this afternoon.
Hopefully she's doing ok.

Well, I guess i win't be "Blahing", i mean "bloging" soon.

Have a nice week, y'all! :)

Hua Er!

2006-02-21T18:23:00.000+08:00

I love "Hua(er)"!! On the way to my first demo class of the six-year-old little punks in the kindergarten, i couldn't help stop and take pictures of the flowers on the roadside! The sky wasn't all that bright, yet these flowers still shine. :P

Soccer game

2006-02-20T12:02:00.000+08:00

Another month of magazine deadlines done! Every minute of last week felt like a roller coaster ride for us. A lot of calls, meetings and pushing to make everything in the magazine right. Believe me, it ain't no fun! Usually by the time we finally get everything to our printers, we are about to kill each other (me and Ryan) and we are too sick and tired to talk anymore, especially "Sorry", "Please" and "Thank you"!

So we took a day-off, a day without anything to do with the magazine! We went to see (Ryan was actually playing) a local soccer game.

A foreigner team vs. a local high school team. I took my camera with me and witnessed the "collision"! Ootch! The guy on the foreigner team hit a high school boy.

K, with the yellow vest, bled right away and got 6 stiches on his forehead, the kid has no cut on the face, but maybe suffered a slight concussion. K later came back to finish the game with a bandage on, the kid went home.

The result? The kids beat these tough guys six to nothing (as usual).

I love sports, the wind, the air and the excitment on the field just make you forget all the troubles. I need to pick up my tennis again!

A rose from the front yard

2006-02-14T15:31:00.000+08:00

All the fights, sweet bitterness,

arguments don't mean a thing today,

for today is a fight-free day,

for today is a hate-forgiving day,

for today is love-remembering day,

for it is Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day, dear You!

Not too much

2006-02-08T00:03:00.000+08:00

Not too much happened lately. The town has finally got back to it's original quiet and peaceful pace again, although the weather still sucks day to day. Got back to teaching and magazine work. The Chinese New Year somehow let people entered a new beginning (well, at least me), even though people are still doing same work, same routines everyday.

Not much has changed, I still dream about big houses, families and boyfriend cheating. Except, we are going to have a work shop soon!! We had this sweet deal with a downtown hotel boss, and going to be working at the hotel in April. Hurray!

Dug out a photo from last year (might have been longer) when we stayed at the 16th floor. I miss that place, even in the bathroom you could see the night views of Hualien city.

Kevin's in Town ( II )

2006-02-02T12:26:00.000+08:00

This is how crazy it was (before it got real nasty) at the beach park at Chinese New Year. People spent all their red envelopes buying fireworks shooting

at the Pacific Ocean. Environmentalists won't like it.

Hell, it's so much fun!

The first day, we took Kevin to "Nio Shan" (Cow Mt.) but it's a beach not a mountain.

Kevin had he's first Corona in Taiwan.

Then the next day, we took him to the mountain tour in Taroko Gorge. In the back was where Pai Mei lived (Joking!) and we had to pose the Taiwanese way!

Kevin and John (my nephew) in the back seats of my Honda, we were on the way to a Buddhist temple.

Oh, let's not forget how much Kevin "enjoyed" his local delicacy: Magi!

Kevin's in Town ( I )

2006-01-31T23:43:00.000+08:00

Kevin arrived in town out of blue. Um, two days earlier than we expected. Even greater!

On the 2nd and 3rd night we went to the beach "Nan Bin" to shoot some fireworks. Fun!

And of course, when guys saw the video games...that's what happened. Just look at their faces!

Another firework shot, this one was about 5 meters away from us. So loud, yet so beautiful.

I thought about blogging my Chinese New Year holidays and the whole time spending with Kevin, one of Ryan's BFs (Best Friends, Ha!), Ryan and family. But I decided to use photos to show all the fun experiences we had during the New Year time. Sorry about the pictures that come in disorder. Oops!

Ba Gua!!

2006-01-16T23:41:00.000+08:00

I hate gossip!

A recent dinner with a friend reasurred me of how much I hate rumors. Especially those which concern "us."

We had this agreement to have dinner together since we were free earlier than usual today. Picked a restuarant, sat down. We ordered, chatted a bit.

Friend:"So, tell me what have you heard about me?"

Me:"Your gossip? You mean the gossip that's about you?"

Friend: "Yeah, I want to know what people say about me."

Me:"Oh... so... um... how's that rosemary chicken you have, good?"

Friend:"Don't dodge the question! Just say it!"

Me:"Well. you know. well."

Friend:"Oh, what?"

Me:"Okay, okay. well, I only heard some things about you..."

So the conversation continued. I told her about what I had heard about "her gossip."

And she told me what really happened. Surprise surprise. None of it was true!

To be honest, if it wasn't for a good friend that Ryan and I have, I wouldn't even know this new friend at all. And if she didn't ask so directly about the gossip, I wouldn't even have known the truth (not that I really care one way or the other). But rumors do snowball as they are spread. Scary!

And surprise surprise, I asked the same question in return and found out some really unbelieveable shit about "myself." I got the chance to tell her what really happened, too!

Oh well, I guess everyone has a past. But what is frightening is that people might formulate opinions of me simply from the "gossip" past that circulates and I would never know!

Arghhhhh. Gossip!

I know that if I say I will never gossip about people again, I'd be a big fat liar. But somehow this conversation over dinner really made me think. Before we said bye after dinner I asked her a favor: "Please be sure to ask me anything you are curious about next time you hear it!"

There was one thing I should have told her but I never did: "I really appreciate you for being so open with me. And I think I know you more now than I would have ever expected."

Another Taitung Trip

2006-01-09T12:49:00.000+08:00

Another Taitung trip. This time, a business run.

We spent our weekend driving down to Taitung, while the weather in Hualien is wet, shitty and gloomy, going South seemed to be a perfect idea.

Each time I went there, my impression of the town seem to change a little bit. (yeah, but it's still a pretty boring town) Although on Saturday night, there remained few people on the streets, there seemed to be full of clothing shops one after another...I wondered how they could survive!

After having some okay dinner at the "Young's", which we have been told by some young locals that was the only "western" restaurant; we headed to the one and only but very COOL pub called: Who's. Not a single person there when we got in, a huge lounge and dancing space but just Ryan and I sitting at one corner. As time went, people started to get in...

"Wow..."

"What?"

"Do you think he/she is a guy or a girl?!"

"Guy!!!! Of course, my feminine sense can never go wrong."

"Buy,...He/she just went to the girl's bathroom with a male friend (who also acted like a girl)

"I don't know...But, I can tell you girls don't walk that way..."

"Yeah, I know he/she walks with his belly pointing at everyone, nope..He's more like ... floating!"

"Mm...Taitung's definitely changed!"

Later on, there came the 199 shopping music and all the guys went dancing crazy rubbing against each other. And once in a while, you see everybody cheering and clapping for the "hot" guy is dancing sexily with the pole!

Interesting, maybe Taitung has never changed that much, instead, we are just getting old. O, Taitung.

I don't think I will see you again anytime soon!

2006-01-02T00:26:00.000+08:00

Both Christmas and New Year holidays fell on the weekends. Weekend celebrations sound cool and exciting, but they were actually exhausting. After finding time to shop, wrap, prepare lunch and dinner parties, there came the New Year parties, oh and of course family get togethers...

So we tried our best to do everything we could, racing against time... still these weekends seemed far too short and tiring than the usual. And we still had to work our usual schedules during the week. No days off if the holiday falls on the weekend.

Not that I don't like parties and mad crowds cheering, it's just that I really miss the lazy sunday mornings without any priorities. And man does my travel bug start to itch again.

Anyway, Happy New Year --> Shin Nian Quai Le!!

My Canada Experience II

2005-12-29T00:05:00.000+08:00

Ryan, giving a speech at the wedding

Ryan and Val

Nat and Graham

One of the gifts among the pile under our Christmas tree was this disc sent from Canada. I finally got time to check out the photos inside.

It was the photos of Natalie's ( Ryan's sister) wedding, the main reason for the trip to Canada.

It was such a beautiful wedding (my first experience of attending a Western wedding) that I thought I'd share the pictures here. :)

For Val, Nat and Graham: Merry Christmas and Happy 2006!

Christmas Eve 2005

2005-12-25T00:19:00.000+08:00

Christmas gifts are wrapped. They are placed under the tree. Just getting ready to wake up in the Christmas morning and open the presents!

Merry Christmas to all who bumped into my website! ;)

Before Christmas

2005-12-19T23:31:00.000+08:00

Christmas is coming! Although Taiwanese people don't celebrate Christmas the traditional ways like westerners, you can definitely smell the atmosphere of Christmas here. The trees (though not real) are set up with pretty lights twinkling. There won't be big turkey meal with families, no snow nor ritual of the birth of Christ. But there's romantic dinner, gift exchanges and parties for sure!!

What do we celebrate for today??

We celebrate the gorgeous SUNSHINE! :)

try again

2005-12-14T17:55:00.000+08:00

The Wall in Taipei

Finally, the photoblog seems to be working again.

Something's wrong...Perhaps.

2005-12-13T14:59:00.000+08:00

Something's wrong with the computer... there are bugs living in our computer, and we just can't seem to kill them all.

Anyway, I've been trying to upload some pictures from the weekend we spent in Taipei, (shots taken with my new digital camera) but failed.

So we took the night train to Taipei after work on Friday. We arrived at our friend's apartment thinking we wonuldn't have to spend a whole lot of money on a hotel. We opened the four-lock door with seperate keys and dropped our bags. We grasped the keys, stepped out trying to find some food in the middle of the night (which is actually easy in Taipei) and closed the door....Realizing at the wrong second that we have left one key on the table.

Frustrated, starved and actually mad, we tried to find a locksmith that might be open after midnight. There she was, standing at the corner of the night market. I asked, and she said "go back to where you were and wait for me!" she said it in Taiwanese. She came about thirty minutes later, turned to me and said: "Sorry kid, my tool is twenty years old, can't help you here. If you like, come to me tomorrow afternoon. I'll ask my 'master' to try again for you..."
Feeling sorry for the poor lady using her antique tool gun for so long. I gave her 100 NT just cuz...

We gave up that night, of course. What else could we do?? After trying two or three hotels near the Train Station, we finally found ourself a bed. A not-so-comfy rock hard bed. But, we were happy, cuz it was a BED.

The second day started with a great free breakfast from the hotel. Not a bad beginning. After that, finding another locksmith seemed to be the first right thing to do. (We planned to celebrate my birthday in Taipei for god's sake!) We saw the sign of a key on a street corner. We came up, and rang the bell. He agreed to meet us at the friend's apartment. He studied the lock for a while and came to a conclusion: "Sorry guys, this lock is NOT openable without the key..."

"WHAT?! Seriously, what???"

So he used his electric tools to make all kinds of noises trying to set up a new lock for us. I felt so guilty that we might break our friend's door. All I could do was sit on the stairs and pray!

Two hours passed. The old unlucky lock was replaced with a shiny new one. Three thousand NT was gone for our stupid mistake and what was left was a half weekend...

We decided not to hang around in the Shi-Da area where we had just too much bad experiences. But we went almost everywhere else in Taipei after the pain-in-the-ass accident. We went to Kung-Guan area, saw some live indie bands at "The Wall", we went to "The Shi-Lin Night Marke" for some shrimp fishing...and we also went to the "High-end" Taipei 101...Oh and we also bought me a kick-ass camera for my "lucky" birthday. Yes. We played hard, we did everything we could afterwards. You would, too!

What a weird weekend now I think back, and all I can think of is how hard we had laughed at ourselves in the hard bed that we finally found that night.

Iris

My Home Studio

2005-12-02T17:21:00.000+08:00

John

John:" faster! iris!"

Huck and Tom

Having fun posing!

I love photography! The other day i took my 9-year- old nephew out. He's jut got a new hair cut and i happened to have the camera around, so i took a bunch of picture of him. John is growing like tree...sometimes i don't know he is more handsome or beautiful, he's got amzing features!

The same night, we set our apartment up for a photo shooting of a great local band "Tome and Huck"! It was so much fun, we didn't have any proper lightings or any proper background. A green sheet (blanket to be exact) and couples of lamps (that we borrowed), my guitar and my SLR turned out what you see here! :)

He he...what can I say? I love taking photos!

Highway 11 Celebrates Christmas with You!

2005-11-29T15:20:00.000+08:00

Look at our December Issue!

when there's nothing to write about...

2005-11-25T18:10:00.000+08:00

My student jsut called to cancel the class tonight. It's Friday night and i'm not all that excited nor happy about the free hours i gain from the canceled classes...

It's been a long and painful week. Not much got done because of my illness.

Last night the stress just added more on my back again.

I was on my way to a student's house. I was late and just when i thought everything will be alright since I've felt much better from the cold and in five second i'd be at the student's door, a big scooter hit my scooter in the back. I tried and managed myself not to fall from the strong crash...and I didn't. But she did. I called the ambulence, the police came.

I felt like a criminal for not being hurt yet someone's hurt because of me (well, sort of...)

I panicked again on the way home today, under the traffic lights and one of the dangerous intersections. i panicked and was so scared that same thing would happen again.....Later I found myself crawling like a turtle on a scooter, hiding my head in every corner i turned.

I think I'm going to ride my bike more from now on. And I think i'll be staying home and let everything come down before i could feel fine and normal again...

Maybe Neil Young's "Harvest Moon" would give me a little tranquility tonight!

i hate rainy days

2005-11-23T21:15:00.000+08:00

I hate rainy days...if anyone has heard me saying i love rainy days, i was definitely lying! It's been raining days for almost a week from now, and not just raining days...they were raining ALL days.

Finally, the sun peeped out today, and the clouds went away. Today was wonderful and no rain...except that i have a cold and it got serious today. All the stubborn of not putting on my raincoat gave me a shitty nasty cold in return...

Sigh.. so I've seen my doctor and took my medicine. I really hope this haze in me and our apartment will go away soon.

reminder

2005-11-17T15:24:00.000+08:00

I guess I'm not a person of good memory...

I've always needed the pillows to remind me that

home is where you are!

anger

2005-11-15T22:25:00.000+08:00

Student: "How do you say 'angery' in Chinese?"

I: "Sen Chi." "Sen: to give birth, to create, to rise...; and Chi: air, gas...etc."

Don't you get get it? Anger is like a balloon that's getting bigger and bigger with "Chi." Sooner or later it's doomed to explode.

Yes, I'm Sen Chi...

So, why don't you just leave me alone.

Pacific Ocean Blue

2005-11-10T20:45:00.000+08:00

The pictures were taken when we had a coffee break on the East Coast Highway coming back from Ilan last weekend.

If not for the business trip, I'd never have had these pcitures taken.

As well, it always amazes me how spoiled people are living in the East Coast of Taiwan,

(waking up to see the Mt. Jade and the gorgeous Pacific Ocean)

and how easy people do forget to appreciate them from time to time...

O Canada

2005-11-08T10:11:00.000+08:00

Some of my favorite shots of Canada.

My Happy "Hua-lloween"

2005-11-03T21:54:00.000+08:00

"Sa wa dii kah!" "Hi~" "I nane kitty!"

"You nane? you from where?"

"ah...i from Daiiland, i...sisteen year..."

"You ... like i?"

"o..money no prabrum..."

"how mah you pay? how mah???"

"no money no honey!"

Yup, that was me back on the Halloween crazy night!

You like....,too?

Listen Up!

2005-11-03T00:02:00.000+08:00

Listen up the world: "Happy Birthday, Valerie!"

My Canada Experience -- I

2005-10-24T15:37:00.000+08:00

On the way to Algonquin Park

Val, so concentrating to Ryan's talk...
Oh!Grandma...

Yup, it's Algonquin .

Cool friend Johnny and Ryan sipping expresso in the Queen Mother.

After about 24 hours of flying, we finally landed.

Thank God, it felt so good to step on the ground and walk again...

My back hurts, my hip sore and my head's still pounding.

But I'm back to Taiwan with loads and loads of great memory.

Thank you friends, (Ryan's buddies, my new friends), thank you Val for all the efforts you've done to welcome us (me especially!), thank you Natalie and Graham, for your amity and the first introduction of a beautiful wedding :) thank you Grandma, for the warmest hugs and letting me call you "grandma", thank you aunty Donna, uncle Steve, Grag and Megan for your generosity and friendship to make me a lot easier and have a better understanding of Canada.

Oh, and Morrison, thanks for your passionate greetings to welcome us home every time we opened the door!

Thanks Ryan, I've fallen in love again not just in your affection but the cutest and brightest smile of you in the old photo albums.

No...Longwang!

2005-10-01T10:56:00.000+08:00

H o t P o t of ... Coffee!

O Sunday

2005-09-27T16:10:00.000+08:00

I forgot that for the last 6 months all we did was sitting around, sipping coffee and watching people coming and going...i also realized how much i miss that feeling and just to have something to do on a sunday afternoon...

Sen Ze Quai Le!!

2005-09-20T15:55:00.000+08:00

Happy 30th Birthday!

I Love You...

Our Place

2005-09-17T17:52:00.000+08:00

The days have been really beautiful, and the ocean just couldn't get bluer these days...Check out the views I see everyday when I wake up!

September in Hualien

2005-09-13T21:14:00.000+08:00

Just some random pictures of Hualien...

Hualien's New Landmark

2005-09-08T00:07:00.000+08:00

I take my camera around all the time, and I take pictures when I find something interesting around the town. This guy: Keh Szi Hai, an independent "politican" (any one who watches news in Taiwan knows why there are quotation marks here) decided to run for the County Leadership. I don't know if he's going to be the next leader for Hualien, or whether he's all that promising...

But his efforts, (mainly standing and waving on some busy street corners day and night, sun or rain... even typhoon days) has made more difference than the usual arrogant KMT candidates here in town...

This was what I heard while I was taking pictures of him:

"So, why do you want to be in the Hualien election?" a young student on a scooter asked.

"Ah.... Simple, Taiwan's government doesn't care about Hualien!!" Keh answered quickly.

No kidding!

Sunset

2005-09-05T11:08:00.000+08:00

Some sunset shots in Sounthern Cambodia.

TALIM is on it's way...

2005-08-31T11:10:00.000+08:00

Hell no......

The weather report said that Talim is a very "strong" Typhoon, and that the scale is probably as big as Hurricane Katrina that hit New Orleans....

Mm...I woke up this morning, looking at the crazy waves just up the seashore,

I was wondering...Are Typhoons all that FUN??

Talim go .... away!

K, shopping time!

Yeah~

Take a look at our September issue!

2005-08-30T21:02:00.000+08:00

Highway 11 has survived at least two months, now. With all the effort, it is actually growing. This month we have doubled the pages with more stories and more pictures. Yes, pictures! If we hadn't started Highway 11, we wouldn't be actually know how many people only read "pictures"!

Ha ha...what can I say..."agree to disagree?!"

Do you like the cover? It's about "Hiking".

Images of Burma...

2005-08-22T19:28:00.000+08:00

Another yet new roll of films from our jouney been developed!
Take a look :)

Ps. This is number 15 (?) out of 78 films we have.

So it rained....

2005-08-12T19:22:00.000+08:00

It rained, rained and rained even bigger and stronger today...It poured so hard that I couldn't even see my sight through my windshield, the rain was so big that my wipers just could keep up. I guess the whole town just went crazy today because of this rain...The traffic stuck, sucked and everybody stopped...soaked!

Our Launch Party at the Jade Cafe

2005-08-09T18:58:00.000+08:00

Mom and I

Ryan and I

At the Jade Cafe

Just some photos of the awesome party we held recently...
Enjoy! ;)

Oh Matsa

2005-08-04T16:16:00.000+08:00

Feel like I'm becoming a weather reporter these days. My specialty: Typhoon! (of course) hehehe....

Oh Matsa...Please don't "wave" at us too hard...

Just a peep of HIGHWAY 11

2005-07-30T17:13:00.000+08:00

Well, thanks everyone! Your cheers are well received.

Although the first issue of this bilingual free monthly of Hualien has only 8 pages, I think a little peep into it wouldn't have any harm...

So here you go, the map that I drew. My version of Hualien!

Enjoy! :)

Come celebrate with us!!

2005-07-29T00:18:00.000+08:00

Ok, ok, I know you can't because of the distance and all sorts of other reasons, but...

Hey! Our first issue of "Highway 11 East Coast Monthly Magazine" is finally out! Yup! All the efforts we put into this magazine has finally paid off, although we (me, ryan and jeff) did not even make a profit from it this month at all.

But hey!! It's OUT! :)

Maybe...we need a little clapping? :P

2005-07-26T00:33:00.000+08:00

Another typhoon, hitting....Japan.
Ja-yo Japan!

I need my pen!!!

2005-07-17T23:18:00.000+08:00

I have always been lazy and lame about typing Chinese characters with computer. I guess it's just something i will never catch up and be good at in my life...Perhaps that's one of the important reasons why i keep my blog in English. Anyone who has tried to type any Chinese would understand that it's not as easy as typing romanized word, beacuse of the Chinese tones and its complicated strokes....Anyways, I have been translating English articles into Chinese for our coming first issue of magazine in Hualien (Highway 11). And all this typing in Chinese has driven me nuts....so today i decided to get even lazier...I started looking for all sorts of cheating ways through Google.

Guess what i've found? :P

Ha ha ha....Yup! I'm that lazyyy, even internet proved that!

Haitang is visting us!

2005-07-17T02:22:00.000+08:00

.. Be aware!!!!! A big typhoon is coming.
Be prepared!!! Go to the nearest 7-11 and buy all sorts of junk food and some duct tape, now, oh and don't forget about beer..s! :P

Analysis
1800UTC 16 July 2005
Center Location 20.9N 126.4E
Movement WNW 17km/hr
Minimum Pressure 912hPa
Maximum Wind Speed 55m/s
Gust 68m/s
Radius of 15m/s 280km
Radius of 25m/s 120km

2005-07-13T11:37:00.000+08:00

Beautiful kids in Dalat, Vietnam. June 2005.

ok, maybe it's my turn now

2005-07-08T21:41:00.000+08:00

1. WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND NOW? [Shallow thoughts welcome.]
Damn these frozen grapes taste good!

2. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
The background music/noise from the movie "Stand by Me".

3. THE WORLD NEEDS...
More security!!!

4. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
Dinner with some fried pork ribs, rice, seaweed and tofu.

5. IF YOU WERE A ZOO ANIMAL, WHAT WOULD YOU BE?
Mmm...I'd rather not be one, but...I guess a Koala?!

6. WHAT DO YOU DO DURING YOUR CHILL TIME?
Drink tea, draw, lay down, flip tv channels...

7. THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
A parent of my boyfriend's students.

8. THE FIRST THING YOU THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU SEE THE OPPOSITE SEX?
Nothing really. i guess sometimes I think about what he is thinking...

9. AUTO OR MANUAL CAR?
Auto.

10. FAVOURITE DAY OF THE YEAR?
Christmas!

11. FAVOURITE PLACE?
My home.

12. FAVOURITE SPORTS?
Tennis, though I suck at it!

13. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
Nope.

14. ANY SIBLINGS?
One sister who's the oldest, and two brothers who are also older than me.

15. THE COOLEST WAYS TO RELEASE PRESSURE?
Cry it all out! Well..maybe it's not the "coolest" way, that's just me.

16. THINGS YOU HATE MOST?
Pressure.

17. WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT BEING A GIRL/BOY?
Mmm...that would be the fact that I can be sexy both mentally and physically ;)

18. SCARY OR HAPPY MOVIES?
Happy or funny movies, always!

19. MY BEST FRIENDS ARE:
Ryan, Ariel, Aven, Jackie....etc.

20. CHOCOLATES OR FLOWERS?
Flowers, don't like chocolate all that much...

21. WHEN I AM STUCK IN A JAM...
I start to watch people, all kinds of people, fun too! :P

22. TEXT OR CALL?
Text more than call.

23. IF YOU COULD TURN BACK TIME, YOU WOULD...
Study less and have more fun!

24. IN YOUR WALLET, YOU HAVE...
All kinds of stuff one needs to put in the wallet?!

25. WHAT'S ON YOUR SCREEN SAVER?
Our 3000 pictures from the South East Asia trip!

26. YOUR FAVOURITE SMELLS?
Jasmine. Love Jasmine!

27. WHAT IS THE LAST THING YOU THINK OF BEFORE YOU GO TO SLEEP?
Did I turn off my cell phone or not.

28. THINGS YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT:
Love, friends...tissues? hahaha...

29. YOUR FAVOURITE QUOTE?
Hun???

30. YOUR FAVOURITE MEAL?
The chicken or pork "Don" at a Japanese resturant here called "Open Sesame."

Market

2005-07-03T16:08:00.000+08:00

Been back to "reality" for almost two weeks. Moved in to our new apartment, and everything seems all set up. I guess I'm ready to "function" in the ordinary world again.

Yesterday I went to the market here, and shopped for our daily food for the first time since we got back to Hualien.

I parked my scooter and started walking through the busy market. I had this funny feeling... 'this is the market i used to know but...everything seems to be unfamiliar this time. And...I'm not a tourist anymore...' I wasn't carrying my big SLR trying to take some "fresh" market shots. I was actually looking and buying food for living.

I love going to the market and buying fresh vegetables and fruits, I love to see what is being sold in the market from day to day.

But, I HATE when I try to ask about the vegetables and bargain for a better price in the market, they (the food sellers) always think I'm an total idiot. I really really hate that.

This is what happened to me...

Me: "Um...Can I have your smallest chicken? I'd like you to clean all the organs out, and cut the feet and the neck off...Oh and the butt must be off, too. Thanks a lot!"

The mother figure saleslady: "Um...what?? are you sure? no organs? no feet or neck??"

Me: "Yes, I'm sure!"

Her: "Ok then, I think you are so cute... I'll put the extras in a little bag for you, and here's our chicken broth for you..Free."

I: "Oh... that's very nice of you, but...mm...ok."

Her: "Do you know how to cook the chicken? Don't forget to put the broth and the chicken in the fridge as soon as you get home, ok?"

Me: "....@%#...thanks, I undersatnd."

Later she thaught me a whole lesson about how to make chicken soup... for 20 minutes.

Oh well. After that I went on to buy some fruits.

Well, guess what? Four peaches cost me about 4 dollars. And, I guess I looked like an idiot then. I don't understand why I am always being treated like that, scammed, and being laughed at while my mom would be treated like a VIP everyday.

So, feeling shitty and scared I walked very very fast out of the market.

That's my relationship with the market in my hometown.

Iris

2005-06-30T22:25:00.000+08:00

Another mysterious fruit in Thaland, Chiang Rai. Can anyone tell me what it is?

2005-06-30T22:14:00.000+08:00

Sunset in Angkor Wat.

2005-06-28T23:43:00.000+08:00

The memory of Mui ne beach, Vietnam.

2005-06-28T23:40:00.000+08:00

Ryan says: "I want the full credit for this picture!"

2005-06-28T23:38:00.000+08:00

The Shiny Summer Palace in Mae Salong, Northern Thailand.