Taichung Part 2: Food Is A Good Follow-Up

I suppose a "Part 1" necessitates a "Part 2." What can I say? I'm a lazy blogger.

The next day, we headed over to a local lunch area. I think it was a day market. At the very open-air mini-kitchen in the right of the following photograph we ordered my favorite white radish dishes.

This is a savory white radish and rice pudding, according to what I can gather. It is very, very yummy.

And this is a white radish and tofu soup, also extremely tasty and refreshing.

I really have no idea what the specific names of these dishes are. I had simply mentioned to my friends that I had tried and enjoyed white radish before. Their response was to bundle me into the car with exclamations that "I had to try..." followed by a plethora of phrases I cannot duplicate. I would happily replicate the eating experience if I could though!

That evening we strolled around the cute and upscale (read: catering to foreigners and the elite, who want to be associated with them) downtown. Where you can see delightful restaurants that are not in skyscrapers.

We returned the next day to enjoy lunch at "Little Italy."

The happy crew. Happy namely because we had reservations and could wait in the air conditioned waiting area sipping delicious citrus tinted water. Thank you to the kind stranger who snapped our picture until all parties seated were satisfied with the outcome.

After a fabulous foccacia and pasta, we headed over to "Tiger City," where there was Baskin Robbins to be had. They were having a "triple play" special. I was happy to indulge.

And just in case you didn't believe I could possibly still be in Taiwan, there's the Chinese script!
I will admit the first "bite" was posed, but this one was snapped during a desperate attempt to staunch a flow of melting ice cream in the 33C weather.

Taichung Part 1: Tea Time

This past weekend was one of Taiwan's four national holidays: Dragon Boat Festival. I took advantage of the extra time off to visit some family friends in Taichung. Well, basically to let someone who was savvy help me since, don't be shocked, I've been sick again!

I bundled myself on to the bus, and wondered if I'd made the right choice.

But as the concrete gave way to greenery, I decided it had to be worth it.

It was a good choice. The change in weather and scenery had an immediate effect on my health (being able to breathe actually does affect a person!).

After a lazy afternoon, we rode over to the bike shop

Alex had some repairs and questions in prepartaion for a trip to Europe.

It took longer than antcipiated, but it was a lovely night for a ride and so we continued around the neighborhood. So different than Taipei county, where you would never find a rice paddy against the night skyline.

As I was taking the last picture, Alex's wife Penny called to see how we were faring. This brought some poeple out from the house behind us. We ended up accepting an invitation to tea (very high quality oolong) and enjoyed apples and candied yams.

Later, one of the family members said he'd like to play guitar for us before we left.

A little rumba, a little flamenco--it was fabulous!

The most amazing thing was the house, which was one story and built around a central courtyard. A traditional Chinese house, that is markedly absent in Taipei county, where I live. It was difficult to get a good picture of the architecture, but I'll try again on a daytime trip.

A Sweet Suite

I moved. Afer nearly 3 months of living with colleagues on the 8th floor of an old school, enduring constant construction on the floors below when the building was rented to new tenents, I now have my own little suite in a proper residential area.

It was quite the disaster zone when I moved my stuff in last Sunday, as you can see from the piles on the couch and the bed open for storage.

I should actually say my housemates moved my stuff in; after I packed, I just unlocked doors (thanks K and C!).






Now I'm getting closer to being organized.


Here's my lovely kitchen:

My traditional Taiwanese bathroom:

With the not so traditional washing machine,

and the love of my life, the water heater.

I have a whole 8 gallons to lavish on myself and my dishes. Consistent temperature control makes my happiness complete.