Taipei

I went and took a trip to Taipei. I was there for two days. It was fun but there wasn't too much to see right inside the city. There are lots of day trips that they have that go outside the city about an hour or so. I just stayed in the city though and saw all I could see. I roamed about, went to a few temples (Taiwanese people are very Buddhist) and wondered the streets.

A traditional food market filled with stinky meats and seafood, I didn't last long!

A clothes market

The rainbow bridge

One of many temples around town. There are more temples than there are 7-11's. 

There was a service/people singing while I was there. I guess it happens every hour.

They do loose leaf tea at Starbucks in Taiwan -  pretty interesting!

A night market

Cute grandpa playing a fun game at the market with his grandson.

Their streets aren't as crazy as Korea's but still busy!

One of the coolest things I did there was go to the Taipei 101 - the worlds tallest building in 2004, now the second tallest building. It took 37 seconds to get to the top, it has the fastest elevator in the world. It also has the world's largest and heaviest (660 metric tons) pressure wind damper. Taiwan has a lot of hurricanes and tsunamis so the building has to withstand the winds.

Taipei 101

South

The wind damper

Taiwan!

I have made it to Taiwan! So far, so good. It's great to see Kalie and hang out with her. It's very warm here, in the 80's but gets a little chilly at night - especially when riding on the scooter (scoot as I like to call it). Everyone here has a scooter, it's awesome. Kalie's is pink and slightly ghetto. We ride it everywhere. Having scooter cuts down on traffic a lot which is nice. They have separate lanes for scooters on some busy streets. So far I've taken a trip to Tainan, a one hour train ride away from Kalie's city to visit my friend for dinner. I spent most the day there checking out the town and all it had to offer me. Other than that I've been hanging out with Kalie and scooting around town to the places she likes to go, such as Costco and ikea! Haha. Taiwan is a lot more normal than Korea but its still Asia. I like it here, the people don't stare at you and mind their own business and give you personal space unlike Korea. It's really fun scooting around too! 

Anping Old Fort - 17th century Dutch seafarers came and developed outposts. There is a banyan tree root still in the wall.

The view from the top of the tower.

Right outside the tower there are a lot of canons.

Anping Tree House - British traders used it for tea exports, during the Japanese occupation it was a warehouse for a salt company. The banyan tree roots have taken over this house!

A view of the tree house.

The roof

They had a little observatory ledge thing overlooking the city.

Jen and her fiancé met me for dinner. She's from Taiwan, I met her when I was in Disney working there. She was a lifeguard with me!

Bubble tea, they love it here. I'm not the biggest fan but I couldn't say no. It's the cool thing to do. Drink bubble tea out of a plastic bag and walk around the street.

Kalie drove me to the beach to check it out!

Costco and Ikea right next to each other

Scoot parking at Costco!

Crazy madness of scoot parking at the largest mall in South Asia.

Kalie's school.

I'm now going to head to Taipei for a few days. More to come soon!

I love fall!

I have had quite the busy end of summer/fall. It has gone by so quick I can’t believe it. I have been coaching soccer for the freshman team at Hopkins High School. I also have a u11 team at Tonka United in addition to helping with training sessions for mainly 8 year olds. Soccer has been taking up most my nights, during the days I painted my parents house. It was a huge project and I’m proud and happy to say it’s over. The whole thing is painted and it looks great! I thought I’d include a bunch of pictures to describe what I’ve been doing with my time other than coaching and painting…

Taking my baby nephew Wyatt to the farmers market downtown on Nicolette.

Mocha learned how to swim and is now addicted to the lake....

Went on some brewery tours!

Dad and Uncle Rob!

Attending my cousins grad party and enjoying a carriage ride on their farm.

The grad herself on the electrical bull.

Ally put on a huge fireworks show at the end of her party.  It was awesome!

Camping at Lake Itasca State Park with two of my friends from college.

Chelsea and Marnie walking to our backpack site on coffee break lake

Headwaters of the Mississippi River!

Chelsea and Marnie on top of the metal tower at the park.

Chelsea and I camped out in St. Joe one night while we were teaching Koreans in St. Cloud! 

We English coached some Korean University Education Students that came here for one month to learn our style of teaching. They made lesson plans and taught at Stride Academy. We were there to help them with their lesson plans and whatever else they needed help with. 

The big group picture of all the Koreans, their host families for a couple weeks, the English teachers (me), and Don (my recruiter)!

Micah and I joined a bags league at the Herkimer in uptown this summer. We were pretty good when we were both there!

Took Mocha for some fun walks!

My sister Angie and I went to visit my friend Bre (aka six flags wonderwoman) in Chicago. We went to the airshow, it was pretty cool. 

Bre took us to the stand alone DVC (Disney Vacation Club) store!

Angie's friend came to visit and we took her four wheeling with Uncle Rob at his farm!

Ong got into a little trouble with the corn...

Brewery tour with Karley, Chelsea, and Matt!

Went to the great MN get together... a couple of times! 

My dogs name is Mocha!

My mom loves recycling more than anything, I caught her quizzing herself...

We went to an illuminarium thing, it was cool but weird.

Giant Sing Along - Karaoke!

Even Summit Beer was on a stick!

My mom and I split the sampler.

St. Paul Farmers Market. It was my first time to the St. Paul one and I loved it!

Eating our fresh yummy veggies and grilled chicken.

Trying to get baby Wyatt to play soccer with me!

Angie and I like taking Mocha to the agility park... she loves it, no treats needed!

With a boot at Gasthofs for Micah's Birthday! 

The crane that we rented to help us paint the top portion of the house!

My master park job...

Ong and I painting in the bucket, my mom handed us fresh brownies from the kitchen window...

Bonfires!

Apple picking with Micah and Steve!

My parents have little Wyatt twice a week, he's so cute!

Shopping at Albertville

Taking Wyatt for a walk on a beautiful fall day! 

He loves bouncing!

My favorite picture of him, grumpy little dude!

This is my 9th grade team consisting of all 8th and 7th graders. They were awesome this year, 9-2-1. 

Bingo Wednesday at Lyle's!

Steve tied so he was challenged to an arm wrestling competition and won!

Out in uptown for Pat's (Katie's brother) Birthday!

Another brewery tour with Katie, Grant, and Mary (Katie's mom).

Our family picture!
Mom, Dad, Beth, Wyatt, Ryan, Me, Angie and all the dogs - Gunner, Mocha, Sampson.

            I have my next adventure booked and am just about ready to go. I’m heading off to Australia to go work in the outback. First I’m heading to Taiwan to visit my best friend Kalie who lives and teaches there. I’m really excited to go on scooter adventures with her there! After about 10 days there I head to Brisbane, Australia where I begin my journey. I’m working a hospitality job there and am going through a program that has a orientation set up for us first. I’m really looking forward to it and am planning to be back home around March. I should be blogging more that I’m off running around the world!