Taiwan chapter 3: Descubriendo a la isla
Ya estamos en noviembre, he de decir que no pude calcular la rapidez o lentitud con la que ha pasado el tiempo, dado que estaba encerrada en mi burbuja y rutina de estudiar. Pero estas son algunas cosas que aproveché a visitar o experimentar en durante el pasado mes y medio.
November already, I cannot say how fast or slowly time has gone by, since I was immerse in my study routine. This are some of the things I did and places I have been to during the last month and a half.
El 21 de octubre me regalé un viaje a Hong Kong por mi cumpleaños. Iba a ir sola, pero a última hora se apuntó una amiga belga, Emeline.
On the 21st of October I treated myself to a trip to Hong Kong as a birthday gift. I was going to go on my own, but then I good Belgium friend Emeline joined me.
Se suponía que partiríamos a la mañana, pero un tifón que rondaba la ciudad nos impidió volar, recibimos un email de aviso y al final tuvimos que salir a la madrugada. Pero eso no nos amargó el viaje, pasamos el día descansando en casa y a la noche de expedición al aeropuerto de Taiwán, que hasta nuevo aviso es mi aeropuerto favorito del mundo entero: ¡Está lleno de salas de esperas temáticas! Nos dimos cuenta al descubrir esa de la foto de arriba repleta de orquídeas, y ver que aparecían nuevas sorpresas a medida que avanzábamos por el pasillo. Sala hello kitty, otra de globos aerostáticos y cielo de fantasía, otra disco, otra para leer y relajarse, otra con decoración tradicional, el jardín de orquídeas...y ¡una sala de cine!
We were supposed to leave early in the morning, but a typhoon was looming over Hong Kong land, so we couldn't fly. We received an email before we left for the airport, so we spent the day waiting and finally departed at midnight. We had time to explore the waiting rooms at Taiwan airport, and I must say, this is the coolest one I have ever been to! It's full of theme waiting rooms at every other gate. We found the one above, all full of orchid flowers. Then Hello Kitty lounge, another with hot air balloons, a disco theme one, another for reading and chill, a traditional one, and even a cinema!
Qué puedo decir de Hong Kong, es una ciudad fascinante. Me sentía inmersa en el decorado de la película Blade Runner, todo tan futurista y al mismo tiempo tiene otras zonas antiguas masificadas y también son dignas de ver.
Nos llevó por la ciudad mi amiga Jacqueline, con la que entablé amistad cuando ambas estábamos en Londres y que se ha regresado a su ciudad recientemente. Fue genial ir de la mano de alguien de la zona, porque nos llevó directamente a los sitios más interesantes y nos describió su historia.
Cuando pensamos en rascacielos imaginamos algo moderno y brillante, pero es que en esta ciudad lo llevan haciendo desde los 80 y los que más me impresionaron son decadentes y brutalmente altos. Mi amiga me comentaba con total naturalidad que ella vive en un piso 30.
What can I say about Hong Kong? It's a fascinating city. I felt like walking around a Blade Runner themed metropolis, so futuristic and at the same time decadent.
Jacqueline was our guide. She is a friend that I met in London, currently back in Hong Kong, her city. It was great to be taken around with somebody with so much knowledge of the area, we would go straight to the more important and interesting places and she would explain all the facts and history. We tend to think of skyscrapers as something modern, but they have been building them before the 80's, and watching so old and tall buildings was mind blowing. Mi friend would casually comment that she lives in a 30th floor.
A la noche observamos la sinfonía de luces, un espectáculo en el que los rascacielos más emblemáticos se marcan un juego de luces con música, y que se puede observar cómodamente desde la orilla vecina.
At night, we watched the symphony of lights, the skyscrapers in Victoria Harbour which combine their lights with music and give quite a show.
I loved it so much that I came back other day with my Chinese friend Jessica. We visited the aboriginal museum and we swam in the hot springs. It was a great afternoon, we shared fruit and conversation with the locals spoke Chinese and English with the eldery people there, it was fun. We also did the usual thing there: you throw yourself in the river, get drawn by the current and then get out a dozen of meters downstream. It looked a bit dangerous but everybody did it and we survived, so another experience!
Another great friendship I made is my friend Eric Lin. I met him trough the language exchange social network and we manage to establish a weekly meeting routine. One afternoon he took me along the river to a really nice artist community. It's an old neighbourhood reconverted into an art space.
November already, I cannot say how fast or slowly time has gone by, since I was immerse in my study routine. This are some of the things I did and places I have been to during the last month and a half.
El 21 de octubre me regalé un viaje a Hong Kong por mi cumpleaños. Iba a ir sola, pero a última hora se apuntó una amiga belga, Emeline.
On the 21st of October I treated myself to a trip to Hong Kong as a birthday gift. I was going to go on my own, but then I good Belgium friend Emeline joined me.
We were supposed to leave early in the morning, but a typhoon was looming over Hong Kong land, so we couldn't fly. We received an email before we left for the airport, so we spent the day waiting and finally departed at midnight. We had time to explore the waiting rooms at Taiwan airport, and I must say, this is the coolest one I have ever been to! It's full of theme waiting rooms at every other gate. We found the one above, all full of orchid flowers. Then Hello Kitty lounge, another with hot air balloons, a disco theme one, another for reading and chill, a traditional one, and even a cinema!
Qué puedo decir de Hong Kong, es una ciudad fascinante. Me sentía inmersa en el decorado de la película Blade Runner, todo tan futurista y al mismo tiempo tiene otras zonas antiguas masificadas y también son dignas de ver.
Nos llevó por la ciudad mi amiga Jacqueline, con la que entablé amistad cuando ambas estábamos en Londres y que se ha regresado a su ciudad recientemente. Fue genial ir de la mano de alguien de la zona, porque nos llevó directamente a los sitios más interesantes y nos describió su historia.
Cuando pensamos en rascacielos imaginamos algo moderno y brillante, pero es que en esta ciudad lo llevan haciendo desde los 80 y los que más me impresionaron son decadentes y brutalmente altos. Mi amiga me comentaba con total naturalidad que ella vive en un piso 30.
What can I say about Hong Kong? It's a fascinating city. I felt like walking around a Blade Runner themed metropolis, so futuristic and at the same time decadent.
Jacqueline was our guide. She is a friend that I met in London, currently back in Hong Kong, her city. It was great to be taken around with somebody with so much knowledge of the area, we would go straight to the more important and interesting places and she would explain all the facts and history. We tend to think of skyscrapers as something modern, but they have been building them before the 80's, and watching so old and tall buildings was mind blowing. Mi friend would casually comment that she lives in a 30th floor.
At night, we watched the symphony of lights, the skyscrapers in Victoria Harbour which combine their lights with music and give quite a show.
Otra de mis actividades favoritas durante mi visita fue comer. Sin ofender a Taiwán, personalmente prefiero la comida de China, que tiene más sabor a mi parecer, y aquí me puse las botas.
One thing I enjoyed the most during my visit was food. No offense Taiwan, but Chinese food is was tastier! We really got our bellies full.
One thing I enjoyed the most during my visit was food. No offense Taiwan, but Chinese food is was tastier! We really got our bellies full.
Hong Kong es una ciudad bastante masificada y frenética, pero para unos días de visita está genial, además sus contrastes son dignos de ver.
Hong Kong is a really busy and frenetic city, but for visiting during a short holiday is great! I love the contrasts and how live it is.
Hong Kong is a really busy and frenetic city, but for visiting during a short holiday is great! I love the contrasts and how live it is.
Volviendo a Taiwán y sus sitios de interés. Jiufen es otra visita obligada. Es una antigua ciudad minera a las afueras, que en el pasado fue colonia japonesa, y por ello su estilo, que resulta exótico por estas tierras y al tener tanto encanto ha inspirado a artistas de la talla del director Miyazaki, quien se dice que se inspiró en esta ciudad para su película El viaje de Chihiro.
Back to Taiwan and the interesting places I visited, Jiufen is one of the prettiest. It used to be a miner city, occupied by the Japanese in the past, hence the lanterns and the style. It has inspired many artist, Miyazaki among them, which famous Spirited away film was based on his own vision of this place.
Back to Taiwan and the interesting places I visited, Jiufen is one of the prettiest. It used to be a miner city, occupied by the Japanese in the past, hence the lanterns and the style. It has inspired many artist, Miyazaki among them, which famous Spirited away film was based on his own vision of this place.
A finales de octubre hice el viaje más ambicioso de toda mi estancia. A la parte más al sur de la isla de Taiwán, Kenting. Se tarda más de 6 horas en hacer el trayecto por carretera, pero en tren rápido y cambiando a una guagua en la cercanía, se puede hacer en tres horas. Fue un viaje corto de fin de semana, pero el tiempo y las zonas que visitamos, nos encantó.
At the end of October, I went on the longest trip in Taiwan, to the very south of the island, Kenting National Park. It's a six hour trip but thanks to the high speed train. You can get there in about 2 hours and another bus, all in total no more than three hours and a half. It was a short weekend trip, but we loved what we visited.
At the end of October, I went on the longest trip in Taiwan, to the very south of the island, Kenting National Park. It's a six hour trip but thanks to the high speed train. You can get there in about 2 hours and another bus, all in total no more than three hours and a half. It was a short weekend trip, but we loved what we visited.
La verdad es que por tratarse de una isla, tener parte volcánica y de distintos tipos de arena, me hizo recordar bastante a las Islas Canarias, con la única excepción de que el verde llega hasta el mar. Mi amiga Jessica es del interior de China y está de intercambio en Taiwán, y me confesó que era la primera vez que tocaba el agua del mar. Aquí la tienen disfrutando como una enana.
Being an island, part volcanic and with different mixes of sand, it reminded me of the Canary Islands, with the exception that the green forest gets to the very sea. My friend Jessica, is from mainland China and she's an exchange student here, she confessed it was her first time on the sea, so she enjoyed quite a lot.
Being an island, part volcanic and with different mixes of sand, it reminded me of the Canary Islands, with the exception that the green forest gets to the very sea. My friend Jessica, is from mainland China and she's an exchange student here, she confessed it was her first time on the sea, so she enjoyed quite a lot.
Como en todo Taiwán, el mercado nocturno no iba a falta en esta zona tan visitada. Nunca me decido a comprar cosas porque hay tantas locuras que me entretengo comiendo con los ojos. ¿Quién se anima a una ración de pez volador?
As everywhere in Taiwan, night market it's a must. I never make up my mind on what to buy, because there are so many crazy dishes or combinations that I get entertained eating with my eyes and my camera. Who's in for fried flying fish?
As everywhere in Taiwan, night market it's a must. I never make up my mind on what to buy, because there are so many crazy dishes or combinations that I get entertained eating with my eyes and my camera. Who's in for fried flying fish?
Otra de las formas de cena populares, es escoger ingredientes en una cestita y te lo cuecen en unos minutos. Acabamos muuy llenas. Usé mi mano para medir a escala el pedazo de plato.
Another popular meal deal is a kind of buffet, you pick the raw ingredients, toss them in a basket and then they boil them for you. I used my hand for scale because my plate was very big.
Another popular meal deal is a kind of buffet, you pick the raw ingredients, toss them in a basket and then they boil them for you. I used my hand for scale because my plate was very big.
Después de esa visita al sur, ya había que empezar a ahorrar así que opté por la última excursión posible, Wulai. Es una región en una parte montañosa al sur de Taipei, que es famosa por sus aguas termales. Tiene un río con agua de propiedades curativas por sus minerales y tiene unas tonalidades muy bonitas.
After that visit to the South, I had to start saving and also not going too far due to homework. So my last trip has been Wulai. It's a region in South Taipei mountains , famous for its alkaline waters, and hotsprings. The river it's so pretty.
After that visit to the South, I had to start saving and also not going too far due to homework. So my last trip has been Wulai. It's a region in South Taipei mountains , famous for its alkaline waters, and hotsprings. The river it's so pretty.
Me gustó tanto la visita, que he regresado hace unos días con Jessica visitamos el museo de los aborígenes y aprendimos muchas cosas de las tribus que siguen habitando en varias regiones de la isla. Para finalizar la tarde nos bañamos en las aguas termales. Fue una tarde genial, acabamos compartiendo fruta y hablando en chino e inglés con la gente mayor de la zona de remojo. Nos invitaron a probar con ellos otra atracción extra, que es tirarte río abajo con una corriente bastante fuerte y luego salir más adelante por otra orilla. Era como estar en un parque temático de la naturaleza.
I loved it so much that I came back other day with my Chinese friend Jessica. We visited the aboriginal museum and we swam in the hot springs. It was a great afternoon, we shared fruit and conversation with the locals spoke Chinese and English with the eldery people there, it was fun. We also did the usual thing there: you throw yourself in the river, get drawn by the current and then get out a dozen of meters downstream. It looked a bit dangerous but everybody did it and we survived, so another experience!
En el lado académico, también he hecho algunas actividades culturales. Durante dos meses, tuve dos clases extracurriculares a la semana: Caligrafía y karaoke! Sí amiga, en mi universidad, hay una clase acolchada, con micros, insonorizada y en la misma biblioteca. Ver para creer.
On the academic side, I have also had other activities. During the past two months, I had cultural classes, caligraphy and karaoke! Yes my friend, at uni they have a soundproof room in the very library with microphones and all.
On the academic side, I have also had other activities. During the past two months, I had cultural classes, caligraphy and karaoke! Yes my friend, at uni they have a soundproof room in the very library with microphones and all.
Mi profesora de caligrafía es la mejor de todas. Es la persona más sabia y espiritual que haya conocido. Encima es un amor enseñando. La mitad de las veces entendía algo de lo que decía, pero era fácil de pillar el significado por el contexto. Por suerte para la caligrafía basta con mirar e imitar.
My calligraphy teacher is the best. She's the wisest and more spiritual person I have ever come across. Her teaching is really nice and although half of the time I got what she said, it was easy to grasp the main idea. Is all about looking closely and imitating.
My calligraphy teacher is the best. She's the wisest and more spiritual person I have ever come across. Her teaching is really nice and although half of the time I got what she said, it was easy to grasp the main idea. Is all about looking closely and imitating.
Un día hicimos una excursión a Maokong, a preparar té con los profesionales que lo preparan artesanalmente. Fue una visita muy interesante.
We had a trip to Maoking, to prepare tea with the artisan tea makers. Really interesting!
We had a trip to Maoking, to prepare tea with the artisan tea makers. Really interesting!
Otro gran descubrimiento ha sido mi amigo Eric Lin. Le conocí por la página que te permite contactar con gente local de Taipei, y de todas las amistades que hice, con él conseguí tener una rutina semanal de intercambio de idiomas. Una tarde me llevó a una zona chulísima de la ciudad, es una colina con antiguas casas reformadas por artistas, como una colonia de artesanos y estudiantes que la habitan. Fuimos en bici por el río hacía ese sitio y fue increíble.
Another great friendship I made is my friend Eric Lin. I met him trough the language exchange social network and we manage to establish a weekly meeting routine. One afternoon he took me along the river to a really nice artist community. It's an old neighbourhood reconverted into an art space.
Y esto se acaba, este será mi último fin de semana, el viernes que viene vuelo de madrugada a Japón a encontrarme con mi señora esposa.
That's it folks. This was my last weekend. Next Friday I am flying to Japan to meet my sir wife.
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