Taiwan Day 23: 19 JUNE 2011 (南投竹山)

台中 trip :: second day! Heading to 南投竹山!

Let's me share a bit description of 梯子吊桥 (ladder suspension bridge).

梯子吊橋(天梯)，位於南投縣竹山鎮大鞍里，梯子吊橋全長136公尺，總共208階，兩端高度落差為20公尺，為世界第二座斜張階梯式吊橋；由於竹山梯子吊橋(天梯)附近有大鞍嶺及梯子嶺，經過大鞍里民共同命名為『梯子吊橋』，也被稱為『天梯』。

LINK::
http://blog.xuite.net/shiun101/1013399/36826743

The Sky Ladder (ladder suspension bridge) is situated in Da’an Village, Zhushan Township of Nantou County, the ladder suspension bridge was the first of its kind in Taiwan and the second in the world. The structure bridges the Tiziling River, with a total length of 136m and 208 steps; the height difference between the 2 sides is a staggering 20m! By standing on the bridge, one will be surrounded by steep cliffs and rampant waterfalls.

LINK::
http://travel.nantou.gov.tw/en/township_main.asp?Id=13

This is one of the very special and famous tourist attraction in 南投竹山. Not much people know this place because there is no public transport such as bus to here. This is because it is up to the hill and the road is winding and narrow. So only got car or van can go up to the hill and reach this destination. We (Mong Huey, Shi Jie and I) book a van and went up there! =)

A very hot weather today. But, this can't stop us from going up and see the most nice and beautiful scenery. We climb all the way step by step to the ladder suspension bridge. Sweating all the way... Awesome! Finally we reached! =)

Now, let's the photo do the presentation! "One picture is more than a thousand word" :>

*Ladder Suspension Bridge*

*3 of us - From left (Shi Jie, Me, Mong Huey)*

*Nice waterfall after the ladder suspension bridge*

*Green Hill and Blue Sky*

Really a nice place to visit. Do come here if you have chance. =)

Taiwan Day 22: 18 JUNE 2011 (台中)

IS Saturday! Not schooling day. So, we decided to go Taichung for two days one night trip. =) Hooray! Here we go!

We bought two bus tickets and went to Taichung in the early morning and finally we met Mong Huey (one of my friend who come from Malaysia also) at Taichung station. We love to walk around. We took some brochures and start to plan where to go. Finally, we agree to go to the Yi Chung Bazaar! People, is BAZAAR!!! Is a Girl's Paradise. You know what is my feeling and what I'm going to do at here??? If you know me well, you will guess it correctly. Yes! Eat and shopping!

*Tai Chung Station - we are here*

*Name of the street of the bazaar*

*Here is the Paradise for girls (I totally agree!)*

Next station! Do not let it stop! Therefore, we continue to the famous night market. Here, another girls' paradise. So let's continue to eat and shop! =D We try some nice hawker foods and grab some nice and cheap clothes and shoes. Really nice to shop at here! Highly recommended! *^^*

*逢甲夜市 - another famous night market in Tai Chung*

*Full of car and people! One word - crowded!*

We leave around 7.30pm and get ready to go to 竹山 for the next day trip there. :)

Taiwan Day 21: 17 JUNE 2011

I get to experience how to make Hakka 雷茶 today! Can you imagine I surround by all kids and they all teach me how to make it? So cute right? Is their turn to teach me today! I went to their Hakka class and their teacher was teaching her students how to make it. I walked in and have a try... =)

All the ingredients are ready there~ Teacher explain nicely to me all the ingredients one by one and the steps to make it.

*ingredients are ready here! all kind of nuts and tea powders.*

Ready? GO!!!

Here, Ms Ma, also come and try to make it. We felt so happy and keep trying. =D

*Look at Ms Ma and kids~ They are cute and work together*

Now, is my turn to have a try! I worked together with the kids. They were so excited!!! :D Kids are always like that. They can be very happy when they work and play together. Sometimes, it is just simple and not that difficult as you think. (in my opinion)

*is my turn! together with all kids*

Finally, the Hakka 雷茶 is ready and we going to have a try now! Teacher asked all the kids to queue and take their own cup have a try. They are so excited want to try their own 雷茶! So, what am I waiting for?! I also took out my paper cup and quickly have my very first try of 雷茶. Yummy! (=

*DONE! Look yummy?! *

Continue teaching. Today a little bit free. I just have to prepare a short drama for them to watch in the classroom which is 小孩不笨. They like it so much and pay much attention on it. This is a nice and meaningful drama for them and it shows the true Malaysia education system, which is different compare to Taiwan. :) They like it so much!

*This is Standard 6 Class 2*

*This is Standard 6 Class 1 in the multimedia room (look like a mini cinema right?)*

Not only playing drama today. For other class, I already prepare a short slide about transportation in Malaysia. They keep asked me a lot of questions because they were curious about it when compared with Taiwan's transportation.

*Topic - Transportation (Standard 6 Class 1)*

After the explanation, they want to play game. Kids are always like to play. Thus, they want me to bring them to playground or multimedia classroom. They like to play "fruit salad" game. They never get bored, so keep play and play for many days. =D They enjoy so much even though it is just a simple and easy game.

*"Fruit Salad" game - keep run here and there*

What they love to play during the rest time?!

ZhongYi School students like to play basketball game in the multimedia classroom. Not only boys love this game but girls too. I always face difficulty to stop them from playing this because they were too noisy. It take some time for me to stop them. They already get addicted on it.

*Basketball time!*

Guess what!?! Our decoration is done! Finally, we finish decoration of the stage for their standard six graduation. All teachers and students love our decoration. H.A.P.P.Y! =D

*Stage + I*

里长 bring us for dinner tonight! Actually this is not in the planning. We planned to go to another place. Suddenly 里长 said "let's go dinner together!" Then, we change our plan and follow them for dinner. One of the uncle birthday celebration in a wonderful seafood restaurant. Although this is the first time I meet him but he was a kind and cheerful guys. Enjoying with them so much!

*HAPPY BIRTHDAY!*

Taiwan Day 20: 16 JUNE 2011 (师大夜市+水準書局)

Talk about Accommodation and Food to students. Can you imagine that I going to explain about Malaysia's food? Since I'm getting fat because of foods, thus I talk non stop about foods! I explain about the ingredient of the food, price and where can get it. They keep said want to eat and have a try. Unfortunately, I can't make it at here. :<

For the accommodation, I showed them all the Malays houses. Haha! Luckily I have been to Malacca Mini Malaysia and Sarawak Cultural Village! Now I know how to explain to them well~ => If not I have to study a lot before that. Now I know that travel around Malaysia to historical or cultural landmarks is so useful! As an exchange student I have to know it! :D

*Talk about Accommodation*


*topic - FOODS! on the screen is about teh tarik*

I love my lunch today! It is a complete meal!!! ^^ I LOVE IT!!!

*my bento (meat, vege), soup, milk, cake*

After school, we went back to our sweet room and start take out our guide book and flip!!! Time to go out for dinner and visit some places. =D

师大夜市 here we come again!~ (: All the foods we ate are introduce in our guide book. So, we try all the nice foods here.

*first stop at 潤餅捲-one of the famous hawker food*

*second stop at 阿鑫麵線*

*third stop at 北港豆花 - Taiwan dessert!*

Shi Jie and I went to bookstore!!! *surprise that I went to bookstore?* =) YES! I went in and search some books.

Since the book introduce this bookstore, so we went there and have a look. I did not buy any book, but Shi Jie do bought one. The boss is so kind and he give so much discount. He loves reading book, that's why he wants to sell cheap book to everyone, so that everyone afford to buy more books. =D

*水準書局*

*inside the bookstore, full of books!*

Taiwan Day 19: 15 JUNE 2011 (畢業班感恩餐会)

I got invitation card of Standard 6 lunch gathering on 13 June. :)

So, the lunch gathering is today!

*invitation card for 于老師 and 侯老師*

All the standard 6 students prepared their foods the day before and some foods are prepared by their parents and family. It is like my primary school 儿童节 last time. I always love 儿童节 because of the foods, games and presents give by teachers. =)

Thus, they are same now. long awaiting day and foods are here! They are so happy and enjoy till max!!! :>

Before start, school principal and student representative were give their speech. Short and meaningful speech! =D

*speech given by school principal and student representative*

*3 long tables full of foods and drinks!!!*

*all the teachers and students grab their foods and drinks! =)*

After all the teachers took their food and drink, is turn for students now. They felt excited and grab all the foods. Look at them, so happy!!! They ask each other to taste their foods which they bring along to school. They are cute! *^^*

*everyone enjoy their foods!*

*girls always sensitive to camera! 'Look at here...' ^snap^ *

After dinner, 里长 always come and give us foods, but we can't finish it because we are full. So, we just keep it for the breakfast of next day. =)

*one mini box of breads*

Taiwan 18: 14 JUNE 2011

Game Day! =)

Kids always love to play! When I was a kid, I always hope teacher bring us to play and rest time. So, today I bring us to Multipurpose classroom. Shi Jie and I guide and teach them how to play bomb and fruit game today. They really enjoy and play until crazy! =D They make a lot of noise and the classroom seems like market. This is kid! So it is normal! =)

*Give instruction and game rules*

*Shi Jie is giving instruction*

Kids are always naughty. So sometimes they are lost of control. Jump, run here and there is their favorite. Now, I understand a teacher's feeling. =)

*This is how they play and enjoy themselves - a boy showing his naughty face*

Playing moment is always short and not enough for kids. One period 40 minutes is so little for them to play. Bell rang! Is time to go back their own classroom......

"Thank you Teacher!" =)

*standard 6 class 1 - Family photo -*

Taiwan Day 17: 13 JUNE 2011

School Day!

Teach them how to knit - Tenunan for other classes and sing Malay kid's song. They felt very happy and excited what I'm going to teach them today. So, when i entered the classroom, they great me as normal and then keep asking me what is the topic for today. =) Too excited!

*this is standard 6 class 1 - look serious*

Today lunch a little bit special. Ms. Ma prepared homemade mash potato and bread for us. So healthy! =) I think I will be a fat girl after i back to Malaysia. Too many nice foods! Friends, please don't get shock when you see me! =P

*this is my lunch!*

Today we have to start our decoration of the stage for standard 6 graduation. So, we get ready all the materials and tools. Let's start painting!!! =) I have not much painting idea or skills. Besides, I have not even touch anythings which related to design, drawing and painting. This is a bit hard for me. HAha~ But, I still can make it!!! =D

*Let's start!!!*

As usual! Dinner time we will go out to somewhere such as night market and near by landmarks. We went to 龍山寺. This is very famous temple here and one of the tourist attraction. So, is a bit crowded! =) The outlook of this temple is so huge, grand and special. We pray and walk around.

*龍山寺*

At the end, we walked to the nearest night market there which is 華西街觀光夜市 (Hwahsi Tourist Night Market). This night market a little bit different compare to others that I have been to. The night market has a special corridor which cover by roof. But, it is just a small part. There got another part is not cover by roof. =)

We followed the guide book and search for the famous yummy desert. The uncle (boss) purposely reopen the stall and make two bowl of dessert for us. Highly appreciate! We ate a lot here! FULL!... =D

*華西街觀光夜市 (Hwahsi Tourist Night Market)*