Shida offers a couple of rooms for students to practice musical instruments for free. So I asked a friend of mine (a qualified music teacher), to give me some piano lessons. Until now, I've had one, and this great piece of music on the video is the result!
Have a look and enjoy:
29 Jun 2007
Guitar never seemed so hard (English)
Just something I found to be worthwhile putting on this blog.
All references to the artist!!!
All references to the artist!!!
25 Jun 2007
Scooter art in Taipei (English)
Just a random shot of one of the many scooters driving around in Taipei. The owner of the species below seems to enjoy putting a special note to a common thing. He put some small plastic figures around the back light and scooter licence plate.
Ten points for creativity.
Another great discovery today was a scooter with an illuminating installation on the inside of the scooter tire. Only eye catching at night, but then a real threat to traffic safety.
Ten points for creativity.
Another great discovery today was a scooter with an illuminating installation on the inside of the scooter tire. Only eye catching at night, but then a real threat to traffic safety.
24 Jun 2007
Nice perspective (English)
Taiwanese women do quite enjoy a reputation of being sexy, or at least attractive. That is what the term 辣妹(la4mei4), or hot/spicy girl refers to.
Taiwanese men instead don't really have that kind of reputation. I think this is particulary unfair, and therefore I am starting a small campain to show that even Taiwanese guys have a lot of sex appeal.
One first indicator was found in my dorm today, some really interesting perspectives on the real potential of Taiwanese dudes:
Taiwanese men instead don't really have that kind of reputation. I think this is particulary unfair, and therefore I am starting a small campain to show that even Taiwanese guys have a lot of sex appeal.
One first indicator was found in my dorm today, some really interesting perspectives on the real potential of Taiwanese dudes:
Nice one, these slips will make every woman to make you see naked (a good way to head right to where you want to go...)
Well, if one biking glove is enough, why waste resources and wash both of them?
Wrong, the reddish thing below is not a nice blanket, and whitish thing next to it is not a beautiful towel. The left one is a pant, the right one a short. I know, you cannot wait to see them being worne.
同學們等一下 - or the FarEast Tone commercial shot (English)
A new star is born, or an old star sparkles yet again...haha!
Today was my first TV Commercial shooting ever in my life. I had to get up really early in the morning to be at the set at 8.30. I was there a bit earlier though and changed clothes right away. Today's mission: I am an office guy advertising the great goods and services of the telecommunication company FarEast Tone. I actually have no idea what the advertisment in detail is all about, nor do I know if I will be visible or cut out by the director.
It was a nice experience anyway. Nice atmosphere in a nice office building in the nice and new business district called Neihu in Taipei. But most off all the crew and the other actors were really nice and fun to get to know. One funny thing for me to learn was that the crew calls the actors 同學們 (classmates, fellow students), a way to address a younger person or your students (being a teacher), I thought this sounded quite funny.
The job was really relaxing, just standing around and walking in the right moment, or getting out of a crowded lift. I had no lines, so had no one else any lines.
The best part was that we were done after 2,5 h, instead of the estimated 5 h.
The full album:
Today was my first TV Commercial shooting ever in my life. I had to get up really early in the morning to be at the set at 8.30. I was there a bit earlier though and changed clothes right away. Today's mission: I am an office guy advertising the great goods and services of the telecommunication company FarEast Tone. I actually have no idea what the advertisment in detail is all about, nor do I know if I will be visible or cut out by the director.
It was a nice experience anyway. Nice atmosphere in a nice office building in the nice and new business district called Neihu in Taipei. But most off all the crew and the other actors were really nice and fun to get to know. One funny thing for me to learn was that the crew calls the actors 同學們 (classmates, fellow students), a way to address a younger person or your students (being a teacher), I thought this sounded quite funny.
The job was really relaxing, just standing around and walking in the right moment, or getting out of a crowded lift. I had no lines, so had no one else any lines.
The best part was that we were done after 2,5 h, instead of the estimated 5 h.
The full album:
 |
| FarEastTon |
20 Jun 2007
Some pictures from Taipei (English)
Today, while waiting for my scooter getting cleaned, I just walked around the Wanlong (萬隆)-district in Taipei to take some pictures of normal Taipei.
19 Jun 2007
Neuer Laptop, neues Glueck (Deutsch)
Ich habe mir gestern einen neuen Laptop gekauft und zwar von der taiwanischen Firma Asus das Modell A8Js. Mit 2.0 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo Prozessor, 2 GB RAM, 160 GB Festplatte, nVIDIA GeForceGo 7700 mit 512 MB RAM und eingebauter Webcam!
Und genau die musste auch gleich fuer einen Feldversuch herhalten.
Erfahrungsberichte ueber den A8Js folgen spaeter vielleicht noch, jetzt aber erstmal eine Kostprobe der Webcam, mit Runzelgarantie:
Und genau die musste auch gleich fuer einen Feldversuch herhalten.
Erfahrungsberichte ueber den A8Js folgen spaeter vielleicht noch, jetzt aber erstmal eine Kostprobe der Webcam, mit Runzelgarantie:
17 Jun 2007
Dragonboat race (English)
Today was the first day of competition after a period of about 3 months of 
hardship and concentrated preparation. To be part of the dragon boat team of Shida you have to full fill certain criterias, besides being fit and hard working you also have to love the morning, training starts at 6 AM.
hardship and concentrated preparation. To be part of the dragon boat team of Shida you have to full fill certain criterias, besides being fit and hard working you also have to love the morning, training starts at 6 AM.But all the hard times (and fun times of course, being with the team and getting to know each other better) were topped by the first great victory of the mixed team on yesterday`s contest.
I didn`t stay long enough to hear the result of the men`s team, I will update tomorrow. You can enjoy the pictures first.
I didn`t stay long enough to hear the result of the men`s team, I will update tomorrow. You can enjoy the pictures first.
Team Holland
The winners return
Turning around after the victory
The venue between bridge and 5 star hotel in the Dajia Park (大佳公園)
Japanese power...Ken and Xiazi enjoy it to be back after the hard work on boardThe complete album can be found here:
 |
| Dragonboat Race |
Video of the race:
Being celebrated by the numerous fans on-shore:
15 Jun 2007
German restaurants in Taipei (English)
Sometimes you cannot help, but have to go back to your roots. This can be done in
several ways, one is to go somewhere, where you expect dishes from back home. Taipei offers a variety of German style restaurants. Today I checked out the Goethe Gourmet Gasthaus, close to the National Taiwan University and the Gongguan shopping area. I went there during tea time, so there was no great variety in German foods offered. Instead there was a choice for 2 people including 2 pieces of home-made cake, 2 drinks (from a choice of different coffees or teas), two sandwiches with German sausage and two sandwiches with something like Saumagen (pig stomach) for 420 NT (excluding service fee of 10%). The taste was not real German, yet close enough. Generally prices in the specialities restaurants are on the higher side, so is the Goethe Gourmet Gasthaus. Yet some teas are offered with free re-fill or the re-fill for half the price. The atmosphere is not like you would expect it to be in a German Schwarzwald restaurant, but also not really intellectual as the name Goethe might suggest. There was no real flair in my eyes. The service was proper, yet cold (haha, at least some German atmosphere, one might believe).
several ways, one is to go somewhere, where you expect dishes from back home. Taipei offers a variety of German style restaurants. Today I checked out the Goethe Gourmet Gasthaus, close to the National Taiwan University and the Gongguan shopping area. I went there during tea time, so there was no great variety in German foods offered. Instead there was a choice for 2 people including 2 pieces of home-made cake, 2 drinks (from a choice of different coffees or teas), two sandwiches with German sausage and two sandwiches with something like Saumagen (pig stomach) for 420 NT (excluding service fee of 10%). The taste was not real German, yet close enough. Generally prices in the specialities restaurants are on the higher side, so is the Goethe Gourmet Gasthaus. Yet some teas are offered with free re-fill or the re-fill for half the price. The atmosphere is not like you would expect it to be in a German Schwarzwald restaurant, but also not really intellectual as the name Goethe might suggest. There was no real flair in my eyes. The service was proper, yet cold (haha, at least some German atmosphere, one might believe).Goethe Gourmet Gasthaus
No. 11, Lane 283, Sec.3, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei
Tel.: +886-2-2362-0060, 2362-0124
Fax: +886-2-2362-0164.
De traditie van de kolonisatie op het ijsland (Nederlands)
De Nederlandisatie van Taiwan gaat zijn gang...steeds meer mensen hier op het ijsland "lijden" onder de nieuwe kolonisators.
14 Jun 2007
Pics: From the dorm's roof
The highway close to our dorm. There happened an accident tonight, followed by a huge fire, which could be seen very clearly and even smelled in my room.
Taipei at night, and in the center: Taipei 101 - a really gorgeous building, which I love to take pictures of and simply watch. There was luckily no smog and there were no clouds, so: picture time!
The other side of the river, all built full of large apartment complexes.
9 Jun 2007
基隆之旅行(中文)
我今天跟我的室友馬克去基隆跟她的女朋友而一些別的朋友們玩.我們從台北公館搭乘巴士到基隆市.45台幣買一張單程票,要坐大概40分鐘.
基隆市在台北的北部,有一個很大的港口但是感覺比台北鄉下多了.我們先去義試餐廳吃麵.然後決定去看很好笑的 <豆豆> (Mr. Bean) 的電影.
看完電影之後我們去酒吧,喝醉之後還在BURGER KING 吃一些東西然後再一次搭乘巴士回台北.
基隆市在台北的北部,有一個很大的港口但是感覺比台北鄉下多了.我們先去義試餐廳吃麵.然後決定去看很好笑的 <豆豆> (Mr. Bean) 的電影.
看完電影之後我們去酒吧,喝醉之後還在BURGER KING 吃一些東西然後再一次搭乘巴士回台北.
Video: Floating Supermarket Fight II (Vietnamese)
A fight between two sales people of the so-called floating supermarket in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam. They argued about the younger lady ripping off tourists on our boat by selling cookies for 5 $ US.
Video: Floating Supermarket Fight I
A fight between two sales people of the so-called floating supermarket in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam. They argued about the younger lady ripping off tourists on our boat by selling cookies for 5 $ US.
8 Jun 2007
Motorbike in Hanoi (English)
The best way to get around in the Vietnamese capital is the motorbike, noisy, stinky and very dangerous - just as the traffic itself there. Being back in Taipei makes me actually think that traffic here is boring and well organized. HAHA. Who could have thought?
Water Puppet Theatre Hanoi (English)
The first introductory piece of the famous water puppet theatre in Hanoi. The water puppets are a Northern Vietnamese speciality and quite nice to see.
Pics: Back to Hanoi
 |
| Hanoi2_Ret |
Another few days back in Hanoi! Museum of Ethnology, Mausoleum of Hoh Chih Minh, and just walking around the city. Later back to Taipei, via Hong Kong.
7 Jun 2007
Home sweet Taipei - Resume on Vietnam (English)
I am back. Home sweet home, Taipei. My city of the moment. It is a good feeling to be back. A place where I know how things work, how to get around. I can speak with the people here in their language and I feel a lot more relaxed.
The trip to Vietnam was great though. I had some less positive experiences, but these were mainly related to the state of developement of that country and its people. The countryside itself is not only beautiful, but astonishing. I still cherish every moment I spent sweating and hiking in the Sapa mountains or relaxing on the boat in Ha long Bay.
Another great thing about Vietnam is the tasty and cheap food. The ingredients were always very fresh and tasteful.
About the service in Vietnam? I figure things were the other way around, the customer, not the salesman or service personell are responsible for the mood. So, as soon as you greet first, are very polite and open minded, the Vietnamese mostly reacted in the same way. But don't try to ask someone for help when you are in a bad mood or feeling down, they will directly reflect on you and this creates a vicious circle.
Whenever travelling to a country or dealing with people from other backgrounds you do of course have to be aware of some historical facts. The Vietnamese people were not actually very lucky in terms of strangers in their own country. They were ruled by either the Chinese or the French and we should not forget the not so long ago war with the Americans.
Now every foreigner is welcomed as being a cash-cow to pay back some of the debts from the past. Which is of course not very comfortable for the individual.
But that definitely is only half of my experiences there. After only about 10 to 15 years of opening to foreigners again, the country is already showing that they are very good at what they are doing. Tourists can already get around really easy and there are a lot of interesting sights in Vietnam to see and discover.
And another plus are the toilets (you may laugh!!!), but I really think that good toilets are quite important for your success of travelling. No one really likes dirty and smelly places, that barely offer any privacy. And in terms of that the Vietnamese toilets set an Asian standard for me. I could neither in Taiwan nor in China find so wide-spread, good quality wash rooms as in Vietnam.
The Vietnamese economy is following the great country at its northern borders and is growing rapidly. I am sure, the next time I have a chance to travel to Vietnam I will not recognize a lot of it any more and will be astonished by the new standard there. Vietnamese people seemed to be, though not really hard-working, yet very eager to reach their goals and they are tricky and smart enough to reach them with not the most effort.
The trip to Vietnam was great though. I had some less positive experiences, but these were mainly related to the state of developement of that country and its people. The countryside itself is not only beautiful, but astonishing. I still cherish every moment I spent sweating and hiking in the Sapa mountains or relaxing on the boat in Ha long Bay.
Another great thing about Vietnam is the tasty and cheap food. The ingredients were always very fresh and tasteful.
About the service in Vietnam? I figure things were the other way around, the customer, not the salesman or service personell are responsible for the mood. So, as soon as you greet first, are very polite and open minded, the Vietnamese mostly reacted in the same way. But don't try to ask someone for help when you are in a bad mood or feeling down, they will directly reflect on you and this creates a vicious circle.
Whenever travelling to a country or dealing with people from other backgrounds you do of course have to be aware of some historical facts. The Vietnamese people were not actually very lucky in terms of strangers in their own country. They were ruled by either the Chinese or the French and we should not forget the not so long ago war with the Americans.
Now every foreigner is welcomed as being a cash-cow to pay back some of the debts from the past. Which is of course not very comfortable for the individual.
But that definitely is only half of my experiences there. After only about 10 to 15 years of opening to foreigners again, the country is already showing that they are very good at what they are doing. Tourists can already get around really easy and there are a lot of interesting sights in Vietnam to see and discover.
And another plus are the toilets (you may laugh!!!), but I really think that good toilets are quite important for your success of travelling. No one really likes dirty and smelly places, that barely offer any privacy. And in terms of that the Vietnamese toilets set an Asian standard for me. I could neither in Taiwan nor in China find so wide-spread, good quality wash rooms as in Vietnam.The Vietnamese economy is following the great country at its northern borders and is growing rapidly. I am sure, the next time I have a chance to travel to Vietnam I will not recognize a lot of it any more and will be astonished by the new standard there. Vietnamese people seemed to be, though not really hard-working, yet very eager to reach their goals and they are tricky and smart enough to reach them with not the most effort.
4 Jun 2007
Back to Hanoi (English)
I came back from Sapa this morning at around 5.30 with the night train. The trains are quite comfortable, even in the 6-people soft-sleeper. After breakfast with some people from my Sapa trekking group I headed out to search for a new hotel; this time a somewhat more expensive and better 2-Star hotel for 20 $ per night. But I feel that it is worth it and I want to enjoy my holiday, so don't think to much abou the $.
After showering and resting for a while I went to see some sights in Hanio with my new Vietnamese friend Hanh (who I met on the trip to Sapa). She took me all around the city on her motorbike, and so I got to see the Ho Chih Min Mausoleum, bot only from the outside, as it is closed on mondays, the zoo and the temple of wisdom (some kind of Confucius temple and the oldest university of Vietnam, dating back to around 1076 AD).
Later I met my Dutch friend Leonore and her colleauge Jurgen (?), who both do an internship here.
That's about it for the day, time to go to bed and relax...
2 Jun 2007
Sapa 2 (English)
The second day of the Sapa hiking tour was just as great as the first! The great group of 7 people from various countries and our tour guide were pretty much aware that when we got up at 6.30 AM due to the sounds of the local cocks that the nice temperature then will not last.
And so it was, after a nice breakfast with pancakes (or crepes) the group headed out to discover more little villages, get to know more rice fields and loose another 10 liters of sweat during the day. We were of course followed by the tribe ladies and their children, with their deep desire to sell their handicrafts to us. Most of us resisted their attempts and bought nothing, which let to some curses and unfriendly ladies, who finally left after the 4km trail. Back in the hotel we had the chance to enjoy a nice and refreshing shower, as well as exploring the local market in Sapa!
No it is time to take a rest and get enough energy for the night life as well as tomorrow's hike!
1 Jun 2007
Sapa! (English)
Modern technique is great! I am sitting some 380 km north of Hanoi, very close to the Chinese border and can have Wireless Internet access. The wireless is not referring to a wireless laptop or comparable, but the whole connection is wireless. That way it is possible to enjoy the beauty and information of the web in a village, where there are no pavements, roads are muddy and children only go to primary school and have to stop after that to work and support their family with work.
Well, this was the introduction. I am happy today. I finally got to know the nice side of Vietnam. Besides the great scenery here in Sapa (with great valleys, rice fields and water buffalos), I finally got to know nice Vietnamese people.
I was trekking today a trail of about 14 km from the city Sapa through several small villages to get to the "homestay" place for the night. The trail was tough, though not too steep. The sun was burning and we had to walk "ueber Stock und Stein". We were followed by natives of the local tribe, chatting wiht us about their lives, assisting us to get through more dangerous situations and most of all trying to sell us their handmade products. In the end the attemps to sell us more and more got a bit annoying, but they mostly remained very friendly.
On the plan for tomorrow is another 10+X KM trail and then I will stay the next night in a 2star Spa-Hotel....
Well, this was the introduction. I am happy today. I finally got to know the nice side of Vietnam. Besides the great scenery here in Sapa (with great valleys, rice fields and water buffalos), I finally got to know nice Vietnamese people.
I was trekking today a trail of about 14 km from the city Sapa through several small villages to get to the "homestay" place for the night. The trail was tough, though not too steep. The sun was burning and we had to walk "ueber Stock und Stein". We were followed by natives of the local tribe, chatting wiht us about their lives, assisting us to get through more dangerous situations and most of all trying to sell us their handmade products. In the end the attemps to sell us more and more got a bit annoying, but they mostly remained very friendly.
On the plan for tomorrow is another 10+X KM trail and then I will stay the next night in a 2star Spa-Hotel....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
