2014 Photo montage

It is amazing how many things can happen in a year, month, week and day. Last year I was still in San Francisco debating the next steps in my life; no thoughts of living abroad crossed my mind until mid 2013. Now I am living in Taiwan, an exciting yet mellow nation. This month alone, I celebrated New Year near Taipei 101 with its amazing fireworks display. Next celebrated my 31st birthday with some dear expat friends, and ended up drinking a bit too much and puking just as I did when I was 21. The difference now is it takes a day and a half to recover, and I'm puking on my Louis Vuitton shoes, and not Pony sneakers. Explored some nature by hiking Yangmingshan with my school, and got an amazing view of the greater Taipei area. Celebrated Chinese New Year by visiting a friend in Kaohsiung, and sending prayers for all things good to the Giant Buddha at Fo Guang Shan Temple.

Taiwan is truly an amazing country with a beautiful city and countryside contrast. I could see the vast difference between the two while riding the HSR from Taipei to Kaohsiung, which took a little less than 2 hours. You get the sense that Taiwan has found the perfect balance in terms of quality of life. They love their shopping and Western food and clothes, but still highly regard ancient Chinese customs and traditions. Every morning and night during CNY (Chinese New Year) I can hear the BB gun like ka-pops of fireworks, and smell burned paper in the air. The architecture here is amazing and detailed. I got to explore some re-purposed train stations and factories that have transformed into art exhibits or in-house art galleries for local artists and designers to sell their goods out of their living rooms.

I still have so much to explore, and experience here. The beautiful thing is most of these places have NO ENTRANCE FEE, so just find your way there! Wishing my family would come visit me soon!

Here is what you should add to your must see list for Taiwan:
- Treasure Hill, artist collective near Taipower MRT stop
- Fo Guangshan Temple in Kaohsiung
- Kaohsiung
- Taipei 101
- W Hotel
- Tartine, French inspired restaurant near Zhongxiao Dunhua MRT stop
- Hiking in Yangmingshan
- Ciaotou Sugar Factory in Kaohsiung

Funny/weird observations:
- Starbucks baristas will help you find a table in their busy cafe
- Taiwanese love to use plastic for everything like holding your drink cup or if ordering to go, pouring piping hot soup into the plastic.
- Sweet students who give you stickers to say thank you
- Being upgraded at McDonalds when I didn't say yes
- Old people who push you on the bus or dump stuff near you to non-verbally say "hey kid, move it, I'm sitting here."
- Mainland Chinese who bring their family to your table of 2 and ask if you can share. Umm no?

St