Taiwan a go go

2007-07-15T20:43:00.000-07:00

ok o my laptop has totally gone crapola on me and has decided not to work anymore. This means that I cannot upload anymore pictures so until i figure out a way to upload pics in the computer lab i guess this is it for the running pictoral commentary.

2007-07-06T08:28:00.000-07:00

Taking the bus in taipei. You pay when you get off, I wonder what would happen if you just ditched? they probably have some midget that chases you down and kicks you in the nads for not paying.

Shi da night market. Land of Street meat, underaged girls, and gaudy accessories. (see pics below)

Taiwan is a cash society. Now you can show how much you love to use cash with a brand new "no credit cards accepted" t-shirt. Excuse me do you have any "honk if your horny" T-shirts left?

I don't why this is so funny, but it just is. Maybe because of its ultra phallic symbolism or maybe cause it looks like poo on a stick. . . both!

this is the hot dog of the future! Pork sausage stuff ontop of a rice sausage with a myriad of goodies inside. After eating one of these bad boys a NY dirty water hot dog will never taste as good.

2007-07-05T06:43:00.001-07:00

Ok so i'm going to be making a move from the building i'm living in right now to an apartment somewhere on jilong rd. The main reason I'm moving is because where i'm staying right now, there is a 12am curfew and if I don't make it back by then, i'm locked out till 6 am. So not feeling like living like a 16 year old again I have opted to move out. stay tuned for pictures and commentary about the new digs.

2007-06-30T08:21:00.000-07:00

Well took my first venture out to check out what kind of music scene there is in Taiwan. Went to this placed called the wall to see some band called Fire E.X. I checked some of their stuff out on the internet and they sound pretty much like any other pop punk band of the blink 182, greenday variety. It wasn't my cup of tea, but I thought why not just go see what its about. So I get there and its pretty much like what you would expect to see at one of these types of shows, kids hanging out in the lounge smoking cigarettes, flipping through the merch, and doing whatever kids do at that age. To tell you the truth I couldn't really tell the average age of people there but it seemed similar to what you would see at Bouncing souls show. Anyway, I wander around a bit in the lounge and finally find the place to by the ticket with a little help from some guy who works there. So I get in and the show starts and the first band is straight up Screamo and the most annoying kind, singer says something in chinese and interjects every once in a while something to the effect of "fuck yeah" and "lets go" and then starts the set. The only saving grace is that they didnt play for that long. Unlike shows in NY or anywhere in the states, the time between bands is relatively short, at least tonight it was, it was around 5 minutes and the next band came on, they were some sort of electro pop band and we'll leave it at that. Finally the headliners Fire EX are on. Before they go on they play some sort of video intro . . . I think maybe one of their music videos or something. But the kids that are there go nuts for it. They are clapping and cheering everytime one of their favorite band member does a funny antic or poses in some manner. When its done Fire EX goes on. The songs were alright, i guess in my jaded old age I thought it was a bit generic, but I guess if I was a 16 year old kid from taiwan I would love these guys. The crowded at this show was pretty tamed, albeit the music wasnt that aggressive, their were momentary spurts of pogoing and what could loosely be called moshing but all in all the kids basically stood watching and showed their appreciation by the applause and cheers after the song. By 10:00 I had had my fill and left before the show ended. I don't think I could have stayed their any longer.

Highlights of the night: explaining to some japanese dude what "screamo" was and having two bar girls trying to sell me jagermiester drinks .

Outside of the Wall.
Outside lounge of The Wall

Oh to be young and angsty again. . .

Hipster haircuts and girl pants? where the hell am I? Willamsburg?! Prognosis: Worst band ever.

Second band of the night, no idea what their name is.

Kids watch a video intro. "Wow its almost like where at the show . . . oh wait . . . "

This band is called Fire E.X, which I guess is short for Fire extinguisher. Taiwan's equivalent to Japan's equivalent of blink 182. I don't know what more you can really say about a band that wears their own t-shirt on stage.

Caught in the mosh? Not really this all but lasted for 3 seconds. " Quick someone find little Timmy his ritalin before he moderately gets out of hand again."

Woaaahhh, woahhhh . . . "dude do you think we should write some other lyrics?" "Nah man, lets just add another 'Woah.'"

2007-06-29T08:40:00.000-07:00

Going outside without it raining is like trying keeping your weiner out of the mash potatoes: nearly impossible. Its rained almost everyday since I've been here but I guess you have to adapt. There supposedly some sort of punk show at this place called the wall tommorrow so I'm going to try to check it out, it should be quite amusing. Anyway these are some pictures I took on the venture out to find the club.

Young and Open? I think I recently watched a movie with the same title.

Roosevelt Rd sec 4: teeniebopper central, the street is filled with stores and arcade type places where all the pre pubescent aspiring avril lavignes and tough kids can hang out after school.

The Goose! The Goose is loose! This little fella was just hanging on the street harrassing on lookers and being way too obnoxious. Careful buddy or you might find yourself ontop of some rice.

2007-06-28T00:31:00.000-07:00

Note to self: if it's raining do not walk along the outer rim of Danan Park. I got caught in the rain the other day and was walking along said park and it was basically like wading through a river. All the rain just spills out of the park in huge puddles and mini streams and by the time I got through, it felt like i was wearing two bags filled with water on my feet. Perhaps its time to invest in some flip flops. Also found out that taiwanese consulate in NY did not put the appropiate amount of days on my visa, so now i have to go see about an extension, hen3 Tao3 Yuan4! (translated: really annoying!) .

I wonder if they have corn fritters.

Some people complain about whitefish, well howabout some abalone on your bagel? hold the cream cheese.

I have no idea what is up with this. I think this is where they keep Hitler's frozen head.

Yo kid, Sun Yat San rolls deep!

Yo, I know he didnt call fives, but Abe's gonna be pissed that someone stole his seat. Sun Yat San memorial hall.

suck it Sears Tower! Taipei 101 building tallest building in the world.

2007-06-26T02:25:00.000-07:00

Take some money out at the piggy bank. oink oink!

even the subway has a mall.

Would you like some tripe with that?

How do you say "genetically altered poultry" in chinese?

Hey, what are you doing tonight? you want to hit up the night "clud"?

heres the dam and water resevoir, no one drinks the tap water in taipei.

topless

2007-06-23T04:50:00.000-07:00

"In New York, do girls walk around topless in the summer?" That was the question of the day. My answer: "I wish!"

2007-06-22T01:23:00.000-07:00

This is what you can get at the mall in Taiwan. Awesome! In your face greasy Mcfunster!

Taiwan's version of the ruff riders.

I didn't think anything would top having a shower in the kitchen but this takes the cake. There is no shower stall in my bathroom its just one big room and a couple of drains for the shower water.

Changing of the guards.

Martyr's Shrine.

One of the guards at the Martyr's shrine. Apparently he isnt allowed to move. He was then subsequently mobbed by tourists.

National Palace Museum. Taiwan's equivalent to the Met.

3 days in

2007-06-21T03:55:00.000-07:00

Been in Taipei, Taiwan for three days. The city is very much like New York, its very westernized and if your not really paying attention sometimes you feel like your not in another country. Some of the highlights so far have been going to the Long Shan Buddhist temple, exploring the subway system (MRT), the Terra Cotta soliders exhibit at the natural history museum and seeing some live chickens at some seedy alley way market (which unfortunately I don't have a picture of).

Some notables:
The MRT by far outshines the MTA. There was no garbage anywhere, there wasn't that musty urine smell, no one seems to be pissed off, and the trains actually ran on time. There are only 5 lines so figuring out how to use the MRT is extremely easy.

The Long Shan temple was a very tranquil experience. You walk in and the waft of incense and the soothing music take you away, at least for the time your in there, from the busy city street.
Definately will be going back.

In Taipei, 7-11s are every where, you can find one almost anywhere you go. Though you can't get whitecastle burgers and nachos you can get tea boiled eggs. MMMMM good for what ails ya.

Anyway here are some pictures. Enjoy!

Long Shan Temple

Have you ever seen anyone lest a group of people waiting in a calm orderly line during rush hour waiting for the train? Bugout!

You want to watch a little TV while you wait for the train?

Sevies anyone?

Inside 7-11. No truckstoppers?! what the fuck!

People say the best way to learn a language is to speak to the natives. This guy wasn't too receptive. What a dick!

Taiwan's natural history museum

Experimental?Those Chinese are always up to something.

Want to meet a girl? Well you'll probably have to deal with a little glass shrapnel in you hands and feet. They got the girls dormintory on lock down.