Taiwanese guys (and some girls, I'm sure) love to have the fastest best computer around. Here's a water coolant system designed to remove heat from microchips that are driven harder than the manufacturer recommends. It also runs about 5x more quietly than the usual series of fans. This was taken at the entrance to a shop that sells nothing but computer cases and collant systems. You know you're in Taiwan when you're in a shop like that. 

And here is the 'trigrid' solution. Sorry to post stuff like this on this blog (I know it's not relevant at all), but this is the only way I could add my sixpence to a problem that I'm sure has baffled a lot of people. 

This was a problem a mate of mine sent me. I couldn't figure it out until I fiddled with it in GIMP (great amateur Photoshop equivalent, get it at www.gimp.org). Trust me, you will never see it with the naked eye. 

Gee, thanks guys. 

I went to the doctor for a health examination (in order to renew my contract for a year) and saw this beaut while I was waiting. 

This was taken on Thursday last week before the previous 4 photos (sorry about the chronology here). To celebrate the impending Chinese new year, one of the school branches I teach at had a 'hot pot' for lunch which all the foreign teachers were invited to. In the foreground are 2 Tawainese foods, the very non-Kosher pigsblood and rice (which I don't like), and a type of spinich, found in many dishes (which I do like). In the background are Irene and Amy, two of the friendly Taiwanese ladies who work with us foreigners. 

I was messing around with the menu when I discovered that this set-up is quite an interesting composition. My friend, Dave S is illuminated by my camerea's powerful flash, bursting through my misplaced finger (hence the red color)! It was lucky that the pictures in the glossy menu were arranged so nicely. 

Speaking of tea-houses/restaurants, I just came back from a tasty meal of stirr fried beef had to celebrate a friend's birthday. Here's a picture of one of my friends in attendance there, DA (because I honestly cant spell her name!). Nothing remarkable here, but I thought the light looked good. 

Come get some tasty sanks from this great teahouse. It's weird how a restaurant will spend literally millions of dollars on decor and architecture, but when it comes to written English in the menus, on the walls etc, no-one seems to give a rip whether or not it's even remotely correct! My sense of humour for these kind of mistakes is waning... I'm starting to get the impression that English isn't very highly regarded in Taiwan. That's a shame when you're an English teacher :( 

I was thinking of doing a 'colourful Taiwan' theme series. Not sure If I will, but anyway here's colourful Taiwan #1. This was a patchwork of fabric covers over some empty ground. Presumably this ground will be the site of ANOTHER apartment building in the future, but the reason for the covers escapes me! Please cpmment if you think you can enlighten me! This pic was auto corrected in the new Picassa 2, which, by the way is an incredible piece of software, probably the best there is for organising digital photos. Get it free from www.picasa.com 

This is a Chinese Temple I visited a few days ago. Like most temples, it's very ornate. 

Now here's a funny pic. This is my good friend Rob Sparrow and my other good friend Irene Hsu. Well, to be correct, it's Irene's hair, on Rob's head. 

Friends and I visited the world's second largest internet cafe the other night. It has over 600 computers and costs a mere 70NT for 3 hours. An added bonus is that one gets free drinks. 

This is a wall poster of the 35 symbols of the Mandarin phonetic system. The first four sound like "buh puh muh fuh".

The annual Hess Speech and Writing Competition, held in Taipei last weekend was quite a grand affair (and that was only the semi-finals!) 

It's nearly Chinese New Year, which means the red lanterns are out in full force. 

Lost in translation... I hope. Really, there needs to be more attention paid to the quality of printed English in Taiwan! The original is 'Duke' of course. 

I didn't know there were this many woman's shoes in the whole world. Amazing. No wonder many women love to shop- with a selection like this, you're bound to find at least 10 pairs that are absolutely perfect! 

Thought you might be interested to see a shot of the church I attend. Bad photograph, I know! Sorry, but it gives you an idea at least. 

A stalled windows 2000 startup screen on a telephone. You'll either get the humor in this one or not (if you don't, don't worry. It's a geek thing). 

One of the tastiest meals I've had in Taiwan. I popped into this restaurant just as an experiment, and got this. You cook the stuff on the left in the soup pot on the right. You've got to try this. Yummy. 

Gmail invitations

I've got 10 for anyone who wants... If you do, leave a comment and an email address :)

Another angle of the Chapel. Sorry, forgot this one. 

Traditional Chinese coins. These all look like modern replicas to me, although I do have what I think is a genuine old 1 dollar, or Yuen coin on my keyring. I couldn't help noticing the irony of paying 10NT (Yuen) for it!

These beads mimic the art of acid etching, apparently popular over 1500 years ago in China. This style is currently enjoying a revival in popularity, I was told by a super friendly guy at the market. The technique is to take the rock (whatever it is) and etch it with acid before baking it in a kiln. The white acid marks then permeate throughout the entire stone making a permanent mark. These were just cheap rip-offs of the real thing at a stand. The real beads, done in the traditional style can be quite expensive. I saw one bracelet that was over 8000NT! Anyway, prices aside, each bead design has some meaning, honouring a specific god of prosperity, war, fertility etc. Wearing the beads is meant to bring the attributes that that god possesses into your life.

Teapots at the jade market. There are countless stores with dozens of what look like identical little teapots. They are for the 'ritual' drinking of fine tea. The older generation Taiwanese take their tea very seriously, with special rules and etiquette regarding how to brew it, pour it, taste it drink it, store it, etc. Generally one teapot will be used for one type and brand of tea ONLY. Otherwise, I am told, the flavour of the old tea will influence the new one. I guess tea drinking in Taiwan is like wine drinking in some places in the world - a very serious and academic affair!