Tea Time in Maokong

Last weekend several of us girls celebrated Rebecca's birthday with some relaxing time in Maokong, a area southeast of Taipei up in the mountains. This area,  at one time, was the largest tea growing area in Taipei, and is still widely known and visited for its terrific teas, quaint tea houses, laid back atmosphere, and amazing views of Taipei. Leaving from Taipei, Maokong is about an hour from the main station in which you get off the subway and enjoy a 25 minute 2.5 mile gondola ride (like a cable car) with AMAZING views of Taipei beneath you. To say we couldn't have timed our trip better is an understatement though! (First you have to understand that the sun starts setting here around 5:30 or 6:00...no joke!) As we waited in line for the Gondola is became more and more apparent that we would be just in time to watch the sunset over Taipei from our glass-walled gondola...talk about spectacular! I promise, the pictures don't even begin to do it justice!

Taipei at night from our gondola window

Maokong translates directly into "no cat" so naturally (no I'm not sure even then it makes sense lol) EVERYTHING on the mountain is cat themed...just a little odd! haha

My new {{car}}

Ok, so maybe not exactly a "car", but I wont even lie, I think I may have been more excited about this than when I actually got my first car, I mean, how many people in little 'ole Ohio get their first SCOOTER?!??!

I'm telling you, if you've been reading my blog you'll already know, but scooters are how everyone gets around here. There is rumored to be 1 scooter for every 2 people living in Taiwan...crazy!!

So, seeing as one school I teach at, Fu Long, is 4.5 miles from my house, my options were to: walk (umm hot!), ride a bike (poor knees!), or ride a scooter (yes please!)

After a 2 week man hunt by any English speaking Taiwanese person I met, I am finally a scooter owner! One person tried to usher me towards an electric bike, but test driving it on the road I felt like a little mouse in a room  full of elephants running towards me at full speed, no thanks!

Today's Lunch...You'll never guess!

Imagine my surprise when I walk into  the cafeteria today to see that we are having..

wait 

for 

it...

.

..

...

....

Chicken nuggets!!!!

After tons of rice/noodle/green veggie/unknown meat meals I would have never have thought in a  million years that they would serve chicken nuggets!

But you've got to throw a little curve ball in there right?!?!   

Chicken nuggets are of course eaten with chopsticks!

Tuesday's Taiwan-ism {Convenience Stores}

We've all heard of, and most likely been in a convenient store in the U.S., but I was not aware of what a convenient store REALLY was until stepping into my first 7-11 in Taiwan! Convenient stores here are literally everywhere. Just in my teeny town we have not only 2 7-11's, but also 2 OK-Mart's  and a Family Mart. Each of these stores is open 24 hours and they can do just about anything for you! {but really!}

For instance, 10 things you can do in  your local convenient store:

1. buy food
2. pay your bills
3. buy a bus/train/concert tickets
4. use  the free wifi
5. pick up packages that have been  mailed to you
6. use a {clean} bathroom
7. cash in  your lottery receipts
8. collect stickers for prizes
9. play odd games for drink discounts
10. (and most importantly!) pop your popcorn and warm up other meals

*** DISCLAIMER: the one thing you cannot do at a Taiwanese convenient store….get gas!!***

Here's a fun link about convenience stores in Taiwan from Taiwan Today!

Packing Woes

Sooo...this post is a little late...maybe I was avoiding the trauma that  ensues while attempting to determine the most valuable 99.5 pounds of your life {sorry family & friends...you apparently tipped the scales!}

In typical Tracy fashion, I didn't start packing for Taiwan until about 2 days before I was to leave for the year...I mean...what's the worst that's gonna happen!

I am proud to say though, that everything I pulled out fit and my checked luggage was actually about 2.5 pounds until the 100 pound limit! (please don't ask about the weight of the carry on's...that's another story!)