Trip 1

Monday was the start of my districts first culture tour. It's a three day tour to the south of the island. We woke up at five thirty to get to the tour bus at six thirty. Once everyone arrived we left Taoyuan at seven to head towards Tainan in the south. It was a good bus ride watching movies and listening to music, as well as trying to sleep. We stopped in Tainan and went to an old temple and went on a boat ride down a little river. The river had many little crabs and oysters. It was a short boat ride but it was cute and entertaining. At the temple 爸爸 bought me a lucky charm. Its a fabric envelope with a jade pendant hanging from it, we prayed and charmed it by circling it around the incense three times clockwise. I am to keep it with me at all times for good luck and fortune. After this we were off to salt mountain, a hill made of actual salt. We climbed to the top and took photos. The amount of time we were to have there seemed like way too long. A couple friends and I explored a bit and took photos of other things, like a bridge, a giant owl and my favourite, a giant lucky cat. Everyone loved the lucky cat, it was huge and very cute. There was a girl there taking her graduation photos and that confused me because I know there are so many more beautiful places to take pictures in Taiwan. I wonder why she was taking them there. At some point during the day we went and ate lunch at a famous restaurant and had many of Tainans' dishes. Later in the night we were going to a big night market to try more foods and were given three hundred Taiwan dollars each for our meals. I had fried dumplings, as usual, and a very good Turkish wrap from a man who had lived in Taiwan for fifteen years and had a child with a Taiwanese woman. Half way through making a bunch of our wraps she had taken over because their son was very hungry and kept begging him for a sandwich. I said hello to the boy but he just stared at me blankly, said Hi then walked away. I spent a little more time with 爸爸 because he was leaving right after the night market. We all went back to the bus, said goodbye to 爸爸 and were on our way for another boat ride on a larger river. It was a gorgeous river during the night, the city lights were very pretty. We got descriptions of our surroundings and enjoyed the view very much. There were musicians on the side of the river playing music the whole time. We saw birds hiding in the bridges, probably where they sleep at night. After the boat ride we were off to the hotel to stay the night. Curfew is at eleven and the rooms are checked then also. I was in a room with Bia and Laetitia so my room was very fun to be in.
Tuesday being the second day of the trip, we had a six thirty wake up call. We were to have breakfast at seven and pack and leave the hotel for eight. We then drove two hours to an aquarium/museum and saw many interesting sea creatures. I even saw penguins and seals. Which I love. I bought myself a seal stuffy which in my opinion was expensive but almost everything is expensive to me. A few friends, our chairmans' daughter Mickey and I all ran around the aquarium exploring and looking at gift shops. Mickey even got a matching seal stuffy with me. I made her host brother, my friend Erik, buy it for her. We went to lunch at Mcdonalds, even though its my last choice while I'm in a country with such good food. Then headed to the beach. For me it was a hot day and warm water, the most beautiful beach I have been to in my life. The water was blue and clear and very nice to swim in, the waves were giant and powerful. I was amazed by the beach but a few hours later and any beach can get a little boring. I've never been a beach person but if there were more like that in Canada, maybe I'd go more often. As I said, for me it was hot but for others, like my friends from Brazil, Mexico and Australia, it was a cold beach day. They kept saying I would die if I go to their countries but I will find out eventually. Especially Brazil where I will hopefully be heading in January of 2019. After many photos and a lot of swimming we were off to our hotel. It was very old on the outside and seemed as though it wouldn't be so modern inside the rooms. Then walking into our room and seeing it so new and comfortable I was very pleased. The outside had just nice old architecture and the inside was so nice. Our room was a little larger than most with more space in the main room and the washroom. The bathroom had seperate doors for both the toilet and the shower as well as the door to enter the washroom. All the doors for the bathroom were glass but not able ti be seen through so you could shower when someone else was getting ready at the mirror. We were lucky because there were also only three of us, where as every other room had four. In the evening we went to another famous night market like street. We all bought more food and small things because it was a tourist attraction and they are always more expensive. Except my friend Ghabriel doesn't seem to realize that and went on a full our shopping spree. He doesn't really think before spending money but that's a problem for him to realize I guess. I had the biggest corn dog ever and bought a small handmade bag in the shape of a common food here in Taiwan. In Taiwan people eat rice with roasted peanuts and meat wrapped in seaweed in the shape of a pyramid. So I bought a little bag in the exact same shape of those rice things. I've only had those a couple times but I like them when they are sticky rice, not just white rice. We had to be back at the hotel for ten thirty and Keyle, Bia and I made it just on time with out pizza. We ate and A few other friends and I went to a beach that one of them found behind the hotel while exploring. It was gorgeous. We even went back the next morning. The view was just as amazing as it was at night. I found many beautiful shells. Then off to breakfast and after, to the most southern spot on the island. While I was there I was thinking where the closest piece of land was from that spot. We drove for about ten more minutes and went to a little look out as a surprise to celebrate my amazing friend Bias' birthday and all the others in November but mostly Bias'. We had cake, balloons and gave Bia her birthday gifts. Driving for two more hours and then lunch. Ten minutes away from the restaurant we went to a Buddhist museum/temple. There I learn very much about Buddha and the beliefs that follow him. Saw the largest statue of Buddha in the world and it was beautiful. The side buildings of the museum were Chinese style. The main temple where the statue lay on top was Indian style because that is where it originates. I asked the tour guide if there were any books in English and how much they would cost. There were and they were free "a gift from the founder" they said. I am only just in the beginning of this book but I already enjoy it very much. I have always had an interest in Buddhism and now that my Ama is Buddhist and I have the right resources I will read more into it and see what it is really about. I bought a bracelet at the museum, a pin and some incense scented soap. Again we were on the road for a couple more hours until we were to stop and have dinner. I bought lasagna and mashed potatoes. I sure did miss mashed potatoes. I ate them so fast. I got subway cookies and then we headed home to Taoyuan. I slept a lot last night because the nights before I only got an hour or two each. 
Today I was with rotary practicing my Chinese and greeting Rotarians to Taiwan for a big convention at the Grand Hotel in Taipei. I had lasagna again for lunch. I am now relaxing reading "Humanistic Buddhism" and listening to music.