Rockin' out in Bali

Surfing, motorcycles, surfing in a storm, temples, whitewater rafting, bicycling through the countryside, 3 bicycle accidents in one day (no serious injuries, one car door involved), sunburns, local liquors, lack of hangovers.

A vacation isn't a vacation that doesn't leave you some nice new scars and bruises. I have more than my fair share this time, that's all.

So far, Bali can be summed up in one compound word, boys and girls: AWESOME.

Outward bound

Off to Bali tomorrow. Christmas show was tonight. Pictures will probably crop up on the kids' picture site in the next week or so. Dunno how much computer access I'll have in Bali, but there will be a post and pictures when I get back for those who choose to live vicariously through such a sporadically and sparsely updated log.

Much holiday love to you all!

Tipsily (post-Christmas show party...),
Ben

Eager

Last weekend I went to Wulai with Martin and Katherine, and it was lovely. There was hiking, there were waterfalls, there was mountain pig, there were butterflies. And there was a giant spider, chilling out seemingly in mid-air. I got to dip my feet in some lovely, cold spring water, and I got a good dose of fresh air. Pictures are up on flickr.

In other news, I turned in my resignation letter on Monday. The idea right now is to stick out the semester at the school which is my current employer, and then switch to a half-time job at another school. I really like teaching kindergarten, I've decided, except that teaching it full time is utterly exhausting, and doesn't leave me enough personal time for the things I want to do right now. So what makes the most sense is to switch to half-time and stick around here in Taiwan.

Plus, I really like Taiwan so far. The people are friendly, attractive, outdoorsy. The culture is shallow, but still engaging. The markets are amazing. It's really cheap. The countryside is freakin' amazing. There's a lot here for me right now (with the glaring exception being the friends I miss so dearly).

I'm gonna get out again on Saturday, I hope. Tomorrow I'll page through my guidebook again and see which destination makes the most sense. Then I'll take a train there Friday afternoon and explore on Saturday before returning Saturday night. Should be fun!

Decision time

Well, work has been hell the past couple of weeks, and I'm really beginning to look seriously for alternative methods of living in this country for a while longer. I'm not yet ready to leave, but I'm certainly not willing to spend another 8 months working here. I'm going to look into the paperwork necessary for quitting my job this evening, with the intent to give my notice next week. I'll stick out the semester, and then move along.

Other options right now: find a half-time job for the spring semester working at another school (or even this school, if they are interested in keeping me on for half-time work); find a way to get scholarship money to attend ShiDa University next semester to work on my Chinese; live off savings and the generosity of my parents, who have set aside some money for me if I choose to take it; go home (or to Hawaii, or Portland).

I need to sit down and think all these options through to their thrilling conclusions, and decide which one makes the most sense.

Oot and aboot

I made it out of Taipei on Saturday, finally. I didn't get as far afield as I might have liked, but I did make it all the way to the coast, and got to dip my feet in the seawater, which is always appreciated.

I wound up taking a train from Taipei to Keelung, a 40 minute trip that cost a little over one US dollar each way. I walked around a bit through Keelung, checking out a big temple complex that's only open during the Ghost Month, and another, smaller temple complex that boasted a 22 meter high Buddha (according to the signs, though I suspect it was closer to 22 feet). Lots of pretty statues and the whatnot, and a bizarre, carnival-like atmosphere, complete with games and go-karts.

I wandered down from the hill that the Buddha stood atop and took a bus across a small bridge to Heping Island, just off the coast from the entrance to Keelung's harbor complex. The north side of Keelung Island faces the open Pacific, and wind, rain, and seawater have carved the sedimentary rocks there into strange and funky-looking shapes. I dipped my feet in freshly-filled tide pools, and got my share of spray from some of the bigger waves. It was lovely.

Sunday featured Indian lunch, Thai dinner, and a wonderfully sunny afternoon in the park in between. Then there was Scotch, a puzzle, and cartoons in the evening.

All in all, a very successful weekend. Pictures are up on flickr!