Taipei: We're Locals Now

Where I watched the Royal Wedding. The taxis here have TV's for each person in the cab, even the driver! Now that's scary... 

One of our class dinners consisted of eating about 20 different traditional dishes and ending our digestion in soaking in some natural hot springs.  Swimming caps mandatory, swim suits optional. 

Taiwan National University of Art's campus cow, of course. They are used as lawn mowers and moved around campus whenever the grass needs some trimming. There are also about 20 campus dogs running around, one even came to class with us one day!

One of the most famous temples in Taipei. It is known for helping lovers find each other. You always know when you pass a temple because incense is constantly burning from the meditators.

The meditation ceremony for any person needing a prayer.

One of the newest and most ornate temples we visited. All of the temples are considered to always be under construction, since there can always be more ways to honor the Gods through adding more ornate beauty on to each pole, siding, room, ceiling, and roof. 

My favorite picture from the trip, a beggar in the street blocking traffic. 

Walking through a shopping area, a massively loud and explosive ceremony began in the street. There were fireworks and drummers and Gods dancing through the street passing out candy. 

A traditional Hakkan "tea" we made by crushing poppy seeds, green tea leaves, peanuts,  and various other ingredients to make this chunky concoction. After 2 hours of grinding, my arms were definitely sore the next day.

A few kids I befriended while they curiously watched our class hoola-hooping and playing with various traditional Taiwanese toys.

Venturing into the modern ceramics museum, the last stop on a culturally packed day trip around the city.