Taiwan National Day

Today, on October 10th, is the national day of Taiwan. It's also called the Double tenth day due to the date. This year is more special because it's the 100 year anniversary and the celebrations is bigger than usual. I think it's cool to experience it, it's a one in a life time thing. I wanted to see the military performance but I missed that. In the evening I went with L and S to Dadaocheng Wharf and walked around in the festival area and saw the huge firework show. That was the biggest and longest firework show I ever seen, so beautiful.

At the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall.

The festival area.

We played a game where you are suppose to throw the rings on items you want. The prices were everything from teddybears and boose to living fishes in bottles...

It's ridiculous to try to capture pyrotech in a picture.

Happy Double Tenth Day!

Sneak Peak

I had the photo session today. After make up, totally six outfit change, four hairstyles and five hours my smiling muscles did not longer served their purpose. In the beginning, it felt weird and awkward with all the stiff and unnatural poses but I know the photographer is a pro and he knows what look good in the end. The hair and make up were done very good. The make up artist asked me if I wanted cutie style and I said no (I repeated it several times just to be sure) because that is so not me. I had some long waiting time, but I shouldn't complain. It was fun in the studio and I'm excited to see the results.

Make up. They even put on paint on arms and chest to make skin brighter. Haha.

The first dress.

In the end with my own clothes, while waiting for the photographer

Mango Drink

The mango season is almost over so I seized the oppurtunity to drink pure mango juice. It's so sweet and good! :)

Sunshine in a cup.

KTV!

I have figured out the best way to learn Chinese- to go and sing Karaoke with good friends. In Taiwan KTV is a common thing. The party get an own room with karaoke machine and a big sofa. Food and drink are included in the fee. It's almost a sin to not go to a KTV at least once in Taiwan.

I went with Hank and Gin to a KTV in Zhongxiao Fuxing. It's the first time ever I go to a karaoke place and immediately fall in love with the concept. Although I had difficulties to choose songs as I seldom (well, one can say I never. I just know really old Chinese music because my parents sometimes listen to it.) listen to Chinese music. There are music in English as well but I wanted to practice my Chinese. Nice that Hank and Gin know more singers than I do. I will practice till next time.

And it's so simple why singing karaoke is so good for learning. One can see the character and at the same time hear the pronounciation. If you know some basics in Chinese it's not too difficult to understand the meaning in the lyrics. Plus that it's fun. :)

At the KTV with Hank and Gin. I liked our final song (Gin, you rocked).

Almost Forgot About...

... KANELBULLENS DAG! A FB status update reminded me about this special day. Thanks FB. So, I went to the nearest bakery and looked for something that can substitute a Kanelbulle and found this elongated-toffee-twist-kanelbulle-cousin and I thought: "This will do!".

It was good. Although, "pärlsocker" seems to be nonexistent here.

Nonstop Rain

The typhoon is here and it has been raining almost non-stop for three days now. Despite the rain, I took a walk in the park with my pink umbrella. It was so refreshing. The pouring rain removed the stains from my brain and my mind became clear.

So many umbrellas outside the library.

In two months I will be back in Sweden again. My homesickness has decreased. I think the Kexchoklad was the optimal cure. I've eaten a quarter everyday and I feel rather pathetic when I finished it today and fish for every crumble. Haha.

Just out of nowhere. Next year is the Dragon Year. My year. I think it's gonna be a GREAT year (even though I normally don't believe in astrology, but hey Optimism!). Here is the prediction for dragon in the Chinese Zodiac.

Pre-Photoshot

Sweden does not have some thing that is comparable to the photostudios in asia. Here one can borrow dresses, people do the hair and make up, all at the same place. I have done this once before in China with traditional dresses. So, I booked a time for a photoshot next Sunday. This time it'll be more like glamour style. Today I went with L to pick out dresses (they have two floors with dresses) and I found four long dresses that I liked. Initially, I only wanted to make "fashion shots" with normal and not with fancy dresses. However, I will bring some of my own clothes to the studio too. The problem is that only 20 pictures are included in the price. I have already figured out that it will be hard to choose which ones I want to keep. This is the closest to egoboost one can come. It's not often I spend a day with make up and dressed up in front of a camera (I almost feel ashamed when think about it). Still, I cannot wait till next week, it'll be really fun and a memory for life!

Meet up with Gin

We half spontanously decided to meet up on Thursday to have lunch. We went to the Japanese place (it must by the restaurant I been to most often). And in Taiwan, we eat and then... we eat some more. So for dessert we found a nice café with lots af cookies. I had a mintchocolate drink and Gin tried the hot chocolate eggtoddy which becomes pudding-like when it cools down a bit. So nice to just have a fika.

At the café.

Cookies&Chocolate.

Recently Gin was in Sweden and she brought a gift back- a KEXCHOKLAD! It kind of cured my homesickness.

Go och gla' kexchokla'. Indeed.

Cupping

On Wednesday I went to the supplementary classes in Chinese medicine which was really interesting. It was about cupping, one basically uses cups and fire to create a vacuum and stick it on the back. The teacher showed some pictures, it looked painful and the cups leave bruises. At the of the lecture the teacher demostrated cupping with a volonteer on stage. It supposes to enhance the blood circulation and get rid of waste products.

http://www.chinesehealthcarecentre.co.uk/CuppingTherapy.html

Chinese medicine has a very long history. The main difference between Chinese medicine and western treatment is that Chinese medicine attempt to find the source of the disease while western medicine get ride of the symptoms. For example, headache may arise of many different reasons but western people often just take an asprin.

If I wouldn't have study engineering in biology I would love to study both Western and Chinese medicine to understand how the human body works. There is so much I don't know and sometimes (only sometimes) I just wish that I could study for my whole life.

Lopsided Week

It started out that I had a severe homesickness this week and the only thing I wanted to do was to listen to Swedish music and I even considered to go to IKEA just to eat "köttbullar" (which, I btw will do some day). Then on Tuesday somebody stole my cell phone when I exercised. Luckily, some very nice people and friends helped my out. This made me realize how much a cell phone involves in my life. Not only to contact people, but also as alarm clock and writing notes. I've bought a new phone now so I'm back on track.