SO FAR, IN A NUTSHELL

Which, by tradition and current proof, turns out to be much bigger than we think...this is Taiwan.







Sasha is here.










I am here.









There is Fire.














There is Water.

from the desk of Cinnabar Red

Yesterday I decided to turn down a free pass into the unknown mountains of central western Taiwan. Here's a little song about me:
"Sen2 Jin1 Bing4
Yo2 Mao2 Bing4
Ai4 Tze1 Ta1 De2 Wei2 Ta1 Min4"
It means "Crazy, Has a Problem, Loves to eat Vitamins!"

Instead of enjoying the majesty of Nature, my Dad and I went to Sun Yat Sen Memorial. And we made fun of these guys.

We went up to the balcony to watch, mimicking and talking about flies, sneezes, and itches. I can't watch the video right now so I don't know if it shows how there's a guy who comes up to them after their little dance up to the pedestals, and he straightens their clothes for them.

CJ7 Roach Scene:
I'm now staying with a friend. Her name is Cinnabar Red. She's letting me stay while she goes to one of the islands. I'm a little scared that now it's just me and them now. They keep running into me. I don't like them. They make me feel crazy and want to murder. They run like they're guilty, and I think they are. They are big. The one that ran out from under the laptop, which earlier ran into my hand and then I tried to shake out of hiding, was like 3 inches. It made a thud when it ran into my finger. I washed my finger. Everyone please pray that I don't see any flying ones. Or any more at all, ever, please God?

Departing Excorsises

"Excuse me miss, you're going to have to open up that bundle."




Ladies and Gentlemen, I am almost ready for another take-off. I whipped up this suspicious looking package today in a spare half-hour, in order to protect, serve and Be Prepared.


For, I must boast - I'm making off with a few rolls of SINGLE-8 FILM, and a very compact, chic li'l movie camera:






In other updates, I wasn't sure what we were going to do in Kaohsiung. People often mention like you haven't been to Taiwan AT ALL if you haven't been to Kaohsiung, yet I can't recall what's so happening there. Sure, Love River. Delicate, unique cuisine, as in every part of the island. Flea market treasures of Asia! But what makes the city worthy of entry into that anxiety-producing volume, 1000 Places You Must See Before You Croke?
A: I found out in a one-minute Wikipedia search on Kaohsiung. It's the 2009 World Games! All the miscellaneous sports that haven't made it into the Olympics YET, as if you didn't know. Although I reckon that once they expand Lifesaving to include other events, there will be no stopping the sport.
If you have any strong feelings about this, or other unknown sports, or what I must be doing for a weekend in Kaohsiung, please contact me via the comment link.

Bulgaria in 3D!!!

Directions for viewing.

a top is a top is a magic topaç

Yesterday I was wandering and came upon this little street (everywhere is a little street with a mix of glorious old buildings in various states of decay but) which had almost no car traffic, with kids playing and laundry out. There were woodshops up and down the street, and I stopped to marvel at a man wading through wood shavings in a tiny shop with a loft. He was mostly a lather and welcomed me inside when he saw me staring. Picking out a wooden top out of a lidded lathed bowl of tops, he gave it a spin on the band saw. He said I could play with it and he didn't seem to expect it back.

His shop.


Benim topaç.

Hacı Aslanlar

First the şalvar.




How to travel with wooden spoons.












The bus stop is a nice place to hang out.



They are shaded and in the trees by the road, some simple decks.







We will find some more at a lovely spot near the village.











Who is at Grandma's?












Let me see....












Ah! You're a little fuzzy.



Kim var??




Maşallah, Maşallah!

Rumeli Hisarı and cemetary surprise