We have settled into our new, tiny but efficient apartment, and have been enjoying exploring the area. It is very modern with lots of things to do and see.
This is the view from the front of the apartment entrance - clean, modern, efficient - this is pretty much how Banqiao looks. Many parts of Taipei are modern like this, others are more traditional/older.
The entrance to our apartment block - fancy, eh?
There are 4 big shopping malls in the area - this is one of them. Has a fantastic food floor with all types of restaurants that make the food while you wait. And NO McDonalds or Pizza Huts!!
Some of the local architecture.
The metro system is fabulous and goes all over the city ...
Areas are set aside in the metro for groups to meet - many of them are used by young people practicing their dancing skills. We go to work listening/watching Michael Jackson moonwalks to Billie Jean!
Last weekend we took the metro out to the end of the line and visited the seaside town of Tamsui (also known as Danshui). It sits on the mouth of the Danshui River where it empties into the South China Sea. Lots of Taiwanese tourists where there enjoying the seaside.
Carnival - Taiwanese style.
Lots of fresh seafood - including whole fresh fried squid on a stick.
We took a ferry ride across the river to the smaller town of Bali - with its volcano Guanyishan.It was too hot to hike this time, but we'll go back in a month or so and get out into the country - nature reserves, butterflies and beaches.
One of the beaches on Bali.
So all in all, really enjoying our time here so far. Work is going well - Ev is floating a couple of days a week, not so much fun, but hopefully will have a full permanent schedule next week - the other three days he has a series of classes at his home school. Andy is enjoying his time working in Kindergarten - lots and lots of planning and energy required, but the learning curve is manageable. Afternoons is older kids, so he's teaching many hours at his center already.
