Classes and Trips

Classes

Throughout the time being here at Providence University, I did have to attend class, but as you can see below, it is not like 'normal' class. I had a lot of fun going and doing all sorts of these things! We did have a regular Chinese language class where we learned the language, now I only know very minimal phrases, but it was more than what I went into the class knowing!

 

We were learning ink painting in this class. So I was able to ink paint on a fan.

 

I was able to draw Chinese symbols with ink. I have always wanted to do this, and I finally was able to do the real thing. The one you see is a symbol for dragon, this was my favorite one we learned.

 

We were able to do traditional dough making. It was a lot like playing with play dough but for adults. Pictured above is a bird/parrot that we made. I thought it was fun!

 

Famous Drum and Dance Troupe

We were able to visit a famous Taiwan drum and dance troupe. This is a group that does ceremonies at temples, and also preforms their routine all over the world. I thought it was really cool, because there is a movie about them as well, and we were able to see the real thing after watching the movie!

 

One thing they did that we were able to do is dance in the traditional costumes, I danced in them and they were hard to see out of, but a lot of fun to dance in.

 

We were able to do face painting and I think that it turned out really well. I love it, and when we walked back onto campus everyone gave us strange looks.

 

This is a practice picture, but during the real runway modal show, we had traditional clothing on, and were able to strut like we mean it!

We were able to learn a real drum song and we were able to play the drums. It was very fun and I was glad I had the chance to play the drums at a temple!

We presented them with a certificate for helping us and teaching us the basics of a drum and dance troupe. Pictured here is a Providence University teacher and the Drum troupe leader.

 

I had a fun time participating in all of my classes, it was fun to get to know my teachers and learn a lot from them. I also loved going on the trip to visit the drum troupe. That day was amazing and I loved so much of that day! I will have to find the movie when I come home, because the movie was really good and will remind me of the awesome day I had with them.

 

Signing out,

Michael Reed



 

 

Taipei Trip

Taipei the International City of Taiwan

So this last weekend I traveled to Taipei, Taiwan. This is the international city of Taiwan and a very famous city for many different things. Many call it the heart of Asia. It is home to many things and of course the 3rd tallest building in the world, at one time the first, Taipei 101. I was able to visit this wonderful city and I loved it so much!

The Lin Family Mansion and Garden

This was a Mansion and Garden owned by 'lord' type people back in the day and was very beautiful and I would have loved to have also seen it in its hay-day!

 

Lovely Gardening, My mom would have loved to see all of this!

A bridge going over a pond. it was all very beautiful.

The roots grew into the rock and it was a very cool site.

I was posing for a picture in their garden/pond area. This was a very neat site to have been able to see.

 

Downtown

I was able to walk around in downtown Taipei and I loved being able to see all of the different things, buildings, and parks!

 

This was connected to a mall/metro area and the landscape was just put together very well.

 

Very cool chain post with a downtown background.

 

This is the National Building, very tall and pretty for downtown Taipei.

 

Taipei 101

I was so excited to see Taipei 101 and it is a landmark to be seen from far. I always pointed it out wherever I was and it is such a beauty!

Taipei 101

 

I took a selfie with the building standing right next to it.

This is from the top of the building looking down, it was cloudy that day. :(

I had to pose to prove I made it to the top!

 

I am at the observation deck, this was the 91st floor out of 101. I am posing with the rest of the building above me, or what you can see of it!

 

Memorial Hall

I went to a memorial hall downtown that is very temple like, that shows art exhibits, and has a memorial for their founder as well as the 'changing of the guards'. It was an overall very neat and cool exhibit!

 

S. Y. S. Memorial Hall

 My selfie with Taipei 101 next to the Memorial Hall.

 



The Changing of the Guards

The Main room in the Hall.

The outside park of the Memorial Hall. A very nice, large park to just sit and enjoy Taipei in next to the memorial.

 

Museums and more Museums

I went to the National Palace Museum. It had artifacts, paintings, everything from Chinese and Taiwanese history. This museum was a very large tourist attraction, very large and very nice.

One of the buildings of the National Palace Museum.

 

This was outside of the Aborigines Museum. I loved this museum. It showed many artifacts from the aborigine people of Taiwan. It was very interesting and I loved it.

This was the Hot springs Museum. It was put in the place of an old Japanese bath house. This museum was very interesting and I would have loved to see it in its hay-day. I was not able to see the actual hot springs because it started raining, so our day was ended early! :(

 

Taipei Zoo

This was awesome, I was able to see animals that I have never seen before. I loved it and it was very cool to be able to see. One negative thing was that the pandas were so popular, you had to go at your time with the card that they gave you, plus it was a walk along exibit, you could not stand and look and take pictures, so I snapped a few as I walked past.

 

Front of the Zoo

I had to take a selfie with the monkeys. This one is for Aliesha! :)

The Panda Bear. They were so cute and they looked so happy!

Someone got a little tired so decided to take the day off.

My first time seeing koala bears as well! They were super adorable as well. This one is the Mom with its baby.

 

Miramar Entertainment Park

This was a mall and entertainment area with games, a movie theater, rides, live concerts, it was pretty cool!

 

 

This is me at the base of the Fraise wheel. I think I read that it is the largest in Asia. It was so tall you could see all of Taipei at the top of it. I loved going up in this!

We went up at sunset, so it was perfect timing! I loved it!

Looking out at the City close to the top.

The live concert at the Park. It was so much fun! I loved it!

I had to take a selfie next to the Park. It was very cool all lit up at night!

 

MRT and Night Market

I had fun riding the Metro system, I was able to go a lot of places for a cheep fair, I also loved walking around the night market, it was fun and I loved stopping at all of the little shops to look or buy things. I will have to explain more about them when I get home, but they are awesome!

 

One of the Market places during the day time.

Inside the MRT metro train. It was very convenient and I loved it!

This is one of the above ground Metro Stations. I just loved the picture so I decided to give it a 'snap'.

Inside the MRT/metro station, it is busy from the time it opens to the time it closes. this is one of the ways people get around. Very good means of public transportation.

This is Myself along with two friends, Thedia and Brandy at the night market. This night market was close by our hotel, and I loved this one, it was so much fun and had things for all ages to do there along with eat and shop of course!

 

Taipei was so much fun and I am so glad that I was able to go, I only with that I could have spent more time while being there. I love big cities because there is always so much to do. As an international city, it had many foreigners like us walking around doing there business in the great city of Taipei!

 

Signing out,

Michael Reed



 

 

 

 

 

 

Lugang

I was able to experience another great trip to the city of Lugang. Here I was able to visit a glass temple, see a festival/parade, see a regular street with a 'china town' feel as well as see some pretty awesome sites. I loved being able to go on these trips and experience all of Taiwan!

 

Here we made picture frames out of glass beads. This was a craft that we did while visiting the glass temple and museum.

 

This was the glass temple. The only temple in Taiwan completely made out of glass. At night it lights up and looks stunning as I was told. I was not able to stay to see it all lit up.

 

This was inside of the temple, looking at the alter with gifts to the gods, along with the alter itself with the glass reflection behind it.  

There were two places that you are supposed to crawl through, to enter you crawl through one for good luck and to exit you crawl through one for good wealth. So I hope to get good luck and wealth soon!

This was a festival/parade that went down the streets towards the temple to honor the gods. It was very exciting to see and we were in the back streets of Lugang experiencing Real Taiwan!

Myself, Jora, and Brandy all take a tea break in the warm sun after a busy day of walking around Lugang. There are many tea shops all over and this one was very good! C+ is what it is called.

This was a famous ally that people walk down. I do not remember the actual name, but the nick name is 'breast touching ally' because it is only as wide as one's shoulders. I thought it was very interesting and very traditional and full of history.

 

Lugang was a trip we took last Saturday for something the whole group was able to do. In one week we travel to Taipei Taiwan, capital of Taiwan and largest city in Taiwan. I am very excited to go here and will post pictures and my blog soon after! I love going on these trips and all of the classes we take are very nice as well.

 

Signing out,

Michael Reed