On such a densely packed island, not everything can run as loosely and perhaps as efficiently as we're used to back home. I've made mention of Taiwan's garbage disposal system here on the blog before, but a recent video I watched re-ignited my interest in this unique system. Basically, garbage does not touch the ground. As trucks can't squeeze themselves down all the tiny lanes and alleys, it is incumbent upon residents to get their bags to the truck. There are a mind boggling array of options and we have to sort the garbage into edible scraps (which go to feed pigs), general refuse (for the special paid-for blue garbage bags) and then recycling of all different sorts, which is free. Some days, the Styrofoam is taken, on others it might be glass or plastic and yet others it is the turn of cans and paper or "flat plastic". I can tell you it took a lot of getting used to!! It is a classic "user pays" scheme, and as only the non-recyclable trash is paid for (in the nominated district garbage bags you can buy at the local 7/11), there is very little left to throw in the garbage truck as most people seem to really resent having to pay to throw things away. Enforced recycling seems to work really well. Anyway, check out this video and short article: it captures the feel of this bizarre practice really well.
There is always something weird happening here, but often, we don't stop to note it, photograph or video, just because we are so used to it. On our way home on Thursday, we were just walking past the local temple where they were practicing their puppet show from the garishly coloured puppet van. Normally we wouldn't give it a second glance, but I stopped and asked Cass, "Would we ever see anything like this at home?!" We both agreed we wouldn't, so the other video up top is of this strange practice. Check Cass standing over to the side as I pan around. Puppets like this are so popular here, they even have their own dedicated cable TV channel...I'm not kidding!
Cass had her book club on Friday night and I went on the Tienmu pub crawl. I can report a rollicking good time from the pub crawl and Cass had an equally great experience at the book club. In fact, her host for the night actually made it to just the third pub we stopped at: indicating how very late we were already running! Cass had her customary chicken enchiladas and a delicious cheesecake and the girls all had a great time. I had a chance to catch up with a few people I don't normally catch up with, which was interesting. Tommy A is off to Tanzania at the end of the year for a new assignment, so it was interesting to hear what he knew of the place already.
Suffice to say we had a relatively quiet Saturday, although Cass managed to walk herself to a near standstill, first doing her river walk circuit at high pace, then going off to the supermarket and returning with bags laden. She followed this up with a trip to Wendels and the new SOGO, so by the end of all that she was pretty exhausted.
I managed to keep the lounge warm watching an amazing array of NRL games and we both watched the Aussies get thrashed by Pakistan in the world cup cricket. We've actually moved form a shocking situation where Australa Network had been outbid for the NRL rights and were not showing any at all this season, to a point where we'll get better coverage here than back home! A revamped NRL HD streaming site now shows nearly every game live and every game on a few hours delay, on demand. Because we have a lightning fast internet connection and no download, upload, or streaming limits, we can remotely beam the picture and sound across to the next room for as long as we like. I watched the entire Foxtel Super Saturday program, 3 games in a row, all live, including the Knight's great win. I'm not sure if Cass thinks this is a good thing or not. She commented that, "we can watch NRL every day of the week now, can't we?" to which I enthusiastically agreed! Maybe the novelty will wear off soon...
Today Cass had to negotiate a mountain of marking so I took the opportunity to venture up the hill to the Tienmu GuDao walking trail ("the steps"!). It was hot and sunny, so the trip up was sweat inducing. The trail up top is in dappled light and shade and a few degrees cooler than below. I decided to do the top path, then drop down and down on some precipitous paths to a little oasis we had first seen many years ago. The waterfall and pool at the bottom of the valley is hard to get to, yet apart from the few irrigation pipes spoiling a perfect picture, it is very peaceful and beautiful. The water is clear, but traces of sulphur have stained the rocks and set off a kaleidoscope of rusty colours in and around the stream which contrast so starkly with the verdant canopy drooping over the top. I fell on my bum a couple of times on the way down and up as the moisture on the path had made the steep path quite mossy and treacherous. Eventually, I made it back up. only to then have to head down the stairs to get the scooter back home.
This week is shaping up as a real test of patience: I have conferences for two days followed by three days of professional development workshops and meetings. Cass also needs to endure these three PD days at a slightly more casual pace but we'll both need to brace ourselves! Photos: puppet theatre, stairs, paths, foliage and waterfalls, along with a tiny shrine I found beside one of the narrow paths hugging the side of the steep hillside.(Photos and video taken with phone only)