March 24st

Another interesting week comes to a close. My worst teaching day, a bout of homesickness and few sleepless nights made me feel a little restless and confused. I took some time to myself this past weekend, to unwind, plan and remember why I came. I also caught up on some much needed sleep. By Sunday all was well again. I took a journey into the mountains and got some great shots. My ride home was sweet as I didn't have to peddle for over a kilometer. The mountain roads twist and turn in every direction, endlessly spiraling upwards. It's wild to leave town and so quickly enter the massive hills. Over 100000 people live in Yi-lan but it is considered rural by Taiwanese standards. Amongst the foreign crowd it seems even smaller. Limited restaurants provide English menus so there are a lot of repeat visits to the same spots through out the week. Similar to a rural reality, everyone knows what is going on with everyone else. I read a really interesting description in The Concubines Children which acknowledge the claustrophobia that comes from being a minority.

Best discovery of the week was to find a gorgeous lake high up in the mountains. A small gathering of houses dot the lakes perimeter, there is no need to squint to see the other side. A gorgeous restaurant welcomes all. A handcrafted log exterior, wooden art and other decorations invite customers in to sit around benches that surround an oval fire pit. Reservations are required and I will be returning! The menu is a set price and the food is a selection of Yi-lan's best. I will write later when I know what that is.

As for the election, all was peaceful and quiet in this county. People trickled in and out of my school to cast their vote. I guess it was a good result as the Taiwanese dollar shot up the next business day. The idea of conducting more business with China and now allowing direct flights to and from Taiwan seems to be well received here. Apparently in southern Taiwan there is a greater demand for independence and separation from China. Here though, people openly say "'m Chinese".