Category: Travel

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Polit-Sheer-Form

After the first couple of days in Taipei, I finally came to the realization that it was simply too hot to do a lot of outdoor activities. With this in mind, I planned two museums for my final day – the National Palace Museum and the Taipei Museum of Contemporary Art.

While no photography was allowed inside the National Palace Museum, I have to say it’s fantastic. As the Nationalists fled to Taiwan, they brought back as many priceless treasures as they could from the Forbidden City. They hold nearly 700,000 artifacts, although there’s only room for about 2{3a5a0fd47fd42b6497167aecc6170a94848f1ba936db07c4954344fcfff1d528} of them can be on display at any given time. They have free English tours at 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM – try to schedule your visit around these! I didn’t reserve a spot in advance, but there was plenty of space on the morning tour.taipei palace museum view-1

A side note: The two biggest treasures at the museum are the infamous Jadeite Cabbage and a stone that looks curiously like stewed pork. Both were incredibly lifelike and amazing to see, yet slightly amusing due to their food-like nature.

Following the National Palace Museum, I took a bus heading towards the Taipei Museum of Contemporary Art. Living art greeted me along the way.

taipei outside museum of contemporary art snails and rabbit racetaipei outside museum of contemporary art robots

Daily Pictures: Polit-Sheer-Form

The highlight of my museum visit was seeing an exhibition by the modernist artists Polit-Sheer-Form. This group, started in 2005, uses the idealized commune or collective way of life to capture the social changes happening in mainland China. One of their main goals is to ‘capture how the intimacy between people in a communist society is replaced by a sense of indifference by capitalism’.

One of their pieces was a library in which all off the shelves were filled with identical blue books. Depending on your optimism levels, the books were either all devoid of content or all full of the same content, blank space. Being in the room and looking through the books was almost spooky.

polit-sheer-form-library identical empty books

 

 

Last year using identical mops and buckets, they traveled to New York to see if they could clean up Time Square collectively.

polit-sheer-form buckets and mop

While I don’t think their art is very picturesque, it was quite introspective on the changes occurring in Chinese society. In the west we (rightly) focus on the tens of millions who died as a result of the Great Leap Forward. We focus on the pitfalls of communism. However, there is certainly more to the story.

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Taiwan Soul Food

I had just finished walking through Shilin Night Market. Being completely honest, I have a sort of love-hate relationship with night markets. I enjoy the sensory overload – the nonstop array of sights, smells, and sounds. Within a matter of feet the smells alone can vary between grilled meat, waffles, or stinky tofu. What I don’t like are the crowds that accompany the market. It’s almost impossible to walk at a reasonable pace, and once you’re in the market, it can be difficult to leave just because of the slow nature of the traffic.

By the time I made it through the night market, I was starving. While there were countless stalls and restaurants inside the market, the raw number of people and frenetic energy influenced me to eat elsewhere.

Daily Pictures: Taiwan Soul Food

taiwan soul food restaurant

“Taiwan Soul Food”; the English name of this fast food restaurant caught my eye. When I think of soul food, I think of southern food. Paula Deen, and typically unhealthy/delicious southern classics such as chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes loaded with butter. What could Taiwanese soul food possible be?

The answer is gravy. That’s the direct translation – in reality its more of a thick, delicious broth. Stock made from cooking virtually every kind of animal meat and bones together. Hungry patrons each get a pasta strainer and a set of tongs. You pick your starch, vegetables, and meat as you like.

collage 2

Udon noodles, ramen noodles, rice noodles, thick rice noodles, mung bean noodles, spaghetti, and rice are all available. Little sausages, krab meat, quail eggs, caramelized tofu, cheese rangoons, and tens of raw meats are all available. Bags of fresh tatsoi, corn on the cob, and mushrooms are available,  It’s a free-for-all.

After paying accordingly, the food is dropped into the ‘gravy’ broth and cooked to perfection.

taiwan soul food soup

How was it you may ask? To be completely honest, I was my own enemy. I ordered 小辣, or a little spicy. My first taste of the soup was a spoonful of broth, and I nearly choked from the heat. Back home, it would probably be a solid four out of five on the spice-o-meter. All of the individual ingredients were delicious however. I ate what I could before running to a nearby boba tea shop for some ‘sweet’ relief.

What struck me from the experience mostly was the very identification of the food as ‘Soul Food’. Back home, soup often isn’t considered a meal. However, being able to pick noodles, vegetables, and meats to be poached in broth is considered comfort food here. I think that’s great.

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Three Days in Liverpool

Liverpool is and has always been a working class city, a port city. Liverpudlians are also known as ‘scousers’, and are said to have the strongest accents in all of England- which proved correct when I went to a hilarious comedy show on my second night and understood only about 50% of what was going on. The city’s legacy includes being the port registry for the Titanic as well as the second-most bombed city during World War II.

In recent years, a new light has begun shining on the city. After being dubbed a European Capital of Culture in 2008, investment has poured in. Many areas of the city have been revamped or restored while Liverpool One, the largest open-air shopping mall in the UK, has been built. That’s not even to mention how excellent its football clubs have been doing…

liverpool street architecture

The first thing I did when I arrived to the city was sign up for the New Liverpool Free Walking Tours. These free-of-charge tours are done in exchange for tips, and are a great way to save money in many destinations around the world. As we traveled around the city by foot, I planned the rest of my three days which included many destinations I likely would not have known about on my own.

As mentioned above, Liverpool was the second-most bombed city in WWII with the second-most causalities, behind only London. Following is a statue commemorating the Liverpool Blitz.
liverpool blitz remembrance statue

Below is a Banksy work entitled Love Plane.liverpool banksy street art graffiti love planeLiverpool historically is the undisputed number one worldwide when it comes to  the music scene. Artists from Liverpool have produced far more number one records than that of any other city, the most famous being The Beatles. It was a must to visit Matthew Street, the Cavern Club, and touch the Eleanor Rigby statue (supposedly good luck). Next time I definitely have to do the full Beatles experience.

liverpool one beatles street performers

liverpool beatles the cavern

I was fortunate enough to make it to Goodison Park in time for Everton’s last home match of the city, against Manchester City. It was fantastic to see so many blues in person after watching the matches on TV for so many years.

everton match goodison park pregame everton players warmup training

Tim Howard made some ridiculous saves despite the eventual loss; watching him play made me even more excited for this summer’s World Cup. everton tim howard warm upThe last place I went in Liverpool was their Chinatown, in honor of my upcoming summer in China. I’m not going to lie – it was rather disappointing. But really, who goes to England to visit Chinatown?! Despite having the oldest Chinese population in Europe, the street itself was only about a block long. I walked for about five minutes before abruptly realizing it was finished.

Nonetheless, I have to say that the gate itself was pretty amazing. The gate is the second largest in the world, behind only Washington D.C., and features over 200 hand carved dragons – 12 of which, for good luck, are pregnant.

liverpool chinatown gate

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3 Days in Rome Itinerary

Following is my itinerary used for 3 full days exploring Rome and Vatican City. This schedule visits all of Rome’s most popular spots in a convenient manner, including the Colosseum, Pantheon, and Trevi Fountain. For information on public transport in-between places, I strongly recommend using Google Maps to know which metro or bus to take.

Where to Visit on Day 1: 

  1. Colosseum
  2. Roman Forum
  3. Pantheon
  4. Trevi Fountain

Click here to view a map of day 1.

Notes:

  • Upon arrival into FCO Airport, purchase Roma Pass at PIT Fiumicino, International Arrivals Area (Terminal 3)
  • Use Roma Pass to skip lines and get into  Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palazzo Valentini, and a few other attractions as well as the subway and metro.
  • For Colosseum and Roman Forum, either join a guided tour, bring the Rick Steves guided audiotour,  or buy the official Colosseum audioguide (5.5 euros each). Bring your own earbuds.
  • Make sure you visit the Pantheon before they close at 7 pm.
  • Carry an empty water bottle around with you to fill up at all of the cities fountains.

Where to Visit on Day 2:

  1. Vatican City
  2. Catacombs of San Callisto (or any other neighboring Catacombs)
  3. Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls
  4. National Roman Museum

Click here to view a map of day 2.

Notes:

  • For our Vatican City tour, we used the 7 Hills company, which I strongly recommend.
  • The Catacombs close from 12-2 pm; take your time for lunch after the Vatican City tour.
  • The National Roman Museum stays open until 7:45 most nights, but if you’re feeling too tired you can always leave it out. Save plenty of energy for tomorrow!

Where to Visit on Day 3:

  1. Campo dei Fiori Market
  2. Church of San Luigi dei Francesi
  3. Church of Sant Ignazio
  4. Le Domus Romane di Palazzo Valentini
  5. Basilica di San Clemente (last excavation 5:40)
  6. San Giovanni in Laterano (6 pm)
  7. St. Peter in Chains (6:30 pm)

Click here to view a map of day 3.

Notes:

  • It looks like there’s too much planned on this day, but everything is fairly close together so it’s definitely do-able.
  • Campo dei Fiori is a tourist and local outdoor market that opens early in the morning. Try the pomegranate juice – it is freshly squeezed!
  • Le Domus Romane is an ancient ruin home made easily accessible through the use of modern light, video, and sound technology. While in the house, most of your time is spent on a clear glass floor looking down. Be sure to call them and book a day in advance to make sure you have a spot [included in Roma Pass].
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My Colombian Mami

Does a perfect person truly exist? One without a single imperfect thought running through their head – a perfect embodiment of kindness, gratitude, and unconditional love?

Ask me last year, and I would’ve doubted this. But after visiting Villa de Levya, I am a believer. Meet Martha de León, the owner of Hostel Colombia. Or, as I came to know her, Mami.

colombian mami

What makes Mami such a special person? How can someone change from being a stranger to being family over the course of 48 hours? For starters, the first thing you notice upon meeting Mami is her voice. The softness and gentleness in her every word cannot be overstated. The love in her voice permeates the compound – leaving no souls untouched.  

Her trademark phrase, mi amor, makes figurative baby puppies roll over in joy. It’s repeated in intervals anywhere from three to ten seconds, and despite the repetition, remains purely genuine. Rarely will Mami go a sentence without saying mi amor; occasionally will her sentence consist of only mi amor.

The first thing Mami did when we met her (besides cal me mi amor) was to plant a juicy kiss on my cheek and hand me a refreshing fruit smoothie. She’s not shy about kissing – an undeniable part of Colombian culture. Each peck has the love of a box-full of bunnies, only a little less wet. Being in a bad mood is impossible after her kiss; she simply exudes positive energy.

Mami is genuine in every respect; one example is her purposely speaking Spanish slowly so  foreigners will understand her every word. When she brought us a breakfast of toast with homemade mora (blackberry) jam, and huevos con queso, we asked about her life – trying to understand how such a perfect embodiment of benevolence was shaped throughout her life.

Mami painted a picture of herself as an ordinary Colombian. From what we were able to translate, she worked in an “old woman clothes” factory most of her adult life. Married for 30 years, she had a bad separation with her husband nearly a decade ago. “Para muchos años, yo siempre llorar, llorar, llorar,”  (For many years, I always cried, cried, and cried), she said with tears in her eyes. She came to Villa de Levya and started Hostel Solar 8 years ago – in search of rest and peace.

The instant I met Mami, I became one of her sons. The fact that I arrived from a foreign land carrying a week of belongings in a  40 lb backpack and didn’t quite understand her fluently was a non-issue; the love she shared with each and everyone of us was pure and genuine. Through her love and acts of kindness Mami not only represented herself, but also Colombians as a whole. If you can make it to Colombia or Hostel Solar, please do so. But be sure to bring two hearts, because you’ll be leaving one behind.

colombian mami group photo
Photo by Rachel Jones
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Spring Break in Colombia

It’s official – I made it out through midterm week alive! From endlessly memorizing Chinese characters for weather/food to analyzing the structures of Chilungu and Populuca, this week has been crazy. But now that I have, it’s SPRING BREAK TIME!

I’ll be spending spring break this year in Colombia, with a pretty awesome club I joined here at UF called OAR (Outdoor Adventure Recreation). We bought very discounted plane tickets through Spirit, and it should make a pretty awesome trip. We’ve talked about hiking, waterfall climbing, and I hope to take a cooking class (among other things). The others have mentioned bungee jumping off of an abandoned bridge… but I think I’ll leave that activity to them 🙂

So that’s my plans for spring break! I’ll be away for exactly week, and plan on journaling while I’m gone so hopefully a blog post or two can come out of it.

Random story of the day: We were learning directional prepositions in Chinese class (behind, front, etc), and had a slide showing a dog that was in front of a house. To describe the house, we had to say 狗前邊 (gou qianbian) – literally dog in front. My professor then asked where she was standing compared to us, and instead of saying 前邊 I accidentally said 狗. Which means dog. Yes… I called my professor a four legged mammal. Thankfully she was not offended, and instead just laughed at my mistake.

Happy break everyone!