Here in Hong Kong.
I got here Tuesday. My flight from Taiwan was delayed because of the typhoon. Since I got here, I've been staying in hostels--spending my days trying to find a computer, a cell phone and an apartment. Right now, I'm typing on my new netbook and I've got my celly in meh pocket. I've yet to find a place tho. That's okay. The hostels are cheap, and the one I'm in is on top of the island.
Eventually, I'll write up a piece on my experience at NCU as my first time studying abroad, as well as one on Taiwan. Then I can get down to brass tacks about Hong Kong.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
The thing about a typhoon is...
The one that hit Taiwan Friday was unlike any seen in 50 years, according to a newspaper I picked up yesterday. Or more true to how it happened, according to a polyglot who had glanced over my shoulder to view the image of destruction on the front page and the headline which I could not read except for the roman numerals 5 and 0.
I suppose what made this one so terrible was the erosion. The winds weren't relatively fast since it was a low grade storm, but the system hovered over the island as if stuck on the mountain ridge that runs along the length of Taiwan. It dumped an enourmous amount of rain, which ran down the mountains as it gathered more water, soil and speed. From my water management class this semester I know one of nature's most destructive forces is fast-moving mud. It scours out vast gouges in water channels and tears down anything standing in its path. I saw a video of a 6-story hotel that leaned over the bank after the mud flow had undercut the foundation. The foundation continued to be swept away, and once the tipping point had been reached, and the entire building toppled over into the raging current.
Lucky for me, the part of the island where I am seemed to escape the worst of it. We hung around in the eye of the storm on Saturday, when the the air was still and dry, and nearly all scheduled flights departed from the airport. Except mine, and that granted me three more days in Taiwan, which would have been great if there hadn't been a typhoon.
The one that hit Taiwan Friday was unlike any seen in 50 years, according to a newspaper I picked up yesterday. Or more true to how it happened, according to a polyglot who had glanced over my shoulder to view the image of destruction on the front page and the headline which I could not read except for the roman numerals 5 and 0.
I suppose what made this one so terrible was the erosion. The winds weren't relatively fast since it was a low grade storm, but the system hovered over the island as if stuck on the mountain ridge that runs along the length of Taiwan. It dumped an enourmous amount of rain, which ran down the mountains as it gathered more water, soil and speed. From my water management class this semester I know one of nature's most destructive forces is fast-moving mud. It scours out vast gouges in water channels and tears down anything standing in its path. I saw a video of a 6-story hotel that leaned over the bank after the mud flow had undercut the foundation. The foundation continued to be swept away, and once the tipping point had been reached, and the entire building toppled over into the raging current.
Lucky for me, the part of the island where I am seemed to escape the worst of it. We hung around in the eye of the storm on Saturday, when the the air was still and dry, and nearly all scheduled flights departed from the airport. Except mine, and that granted me three more days in Taiwan, which would have been great if there hadn't been a typhoon.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
I bought an ice cream, and found on the wrapper the following endorsement:
"THE SUMMER DAY is surprised"
"Yogurt & fresh fruit juice take to you the fine ice cream heaven"
"Stimulates the frantic desire which is unable to reist and that is the
extreme acheivement of elegant tasty ice cream"
"The vision needs some colors to make it inviting"
"A color party becomes a game that keeps rolling and rolling"
"It is a cool and dazzling taste, making you full of blast"
"The taste of Yogurt makes the fruit fragrance copious"
I apologize for not writing more in this blog, but after enjoying the cool and dazzling taste of my mango + Lactate + Cranberry + muskmelon popsicle, I have been filled with blast.
"THE SUMMER DAY is surprised"
"Yogurt & fresh fruit juice take to you the fine ice cream heaven"
"Stimulates the frantic desire which is unable to reist and that is the
extreme acheivement of elegant tasty ice cream"
"The vision needs some colors to make it inviting"
"A color party becomes a game that keeps rolling and rolling"
"It is a cool and dazzling taste, making you full of blast"
"The taste of Yogurt makes the fruit fragrance copious"
I apologize for not writing more in this blog, but after enjoying the cool and dazzling taste of my mango + Lactate + Cranberry + muskmelon popsicle, I have been filled with blast.
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