New Site

I haven't posted here in a while because I have a new site. It is still on Blogger. Click here to go to my updated page.

New Transportation

This past Tuesday, I purchased my first new vehicle. I bought a brand new out of the box Giant HB3 bicycle. Now you may think that its not too exciting to get a bicycle, but I have been riding an old bike, and to get a new one is great. I spent a pretty penny on it, but as things go, you get what you pay for. There were more expensive bikes, but I didn't want to spend all my money on a bike either.

I plan to go riding much more, although we have begun the rainy season in Taiwan (however late it may be). Summer is here and that means long days for long rides... and lots of pictures. Some of my friends also like to go riding, so it can be a group activity.

I encourage you to get a bike too. It's fun, good exercise, faster than walking, you don't need a license, and best of all, after buying it, it's free to use! So take the time to enjoy the outdoors on a bike.

International School Journal Association Trip to Hualien

This past weekend (June 7 and 8), the International School Journal Association went on a trip to Hualien, and I was fortunate to accompany them. The association planned a great trip and we visited many special places while we were there.

We met too early at the Banqiao train station to catch the 6:45AM eastbound train. The mood was light and all were in high, if not sleepy, moods.

We first went to a Clam Farm where they raise fresh Hualien clams. They are very tasty and from what the guide said, very clean. We had a nice lunch there consisting of clams and various Hualien dishes.

We checked in at the Promised Land Hotel., which was very special. It is very large and has a nice canal that runs through it. You can go on a tranquil boat tour and enjoy the peaceful scenery.
After that, we returned to the hotel and rented bikes. We rode from the hotel to Dong Hwa University, a new school in Hualien, about a 30 minute ride. They have a beautiful campus and majestic buildings. As far as the landscape, it is what Taiwan National University could only hope to be. We rode back to the hotel for some rest and swimming.

Before swimming however, teacher Orion, Danny and I decided to play on the trampoline they had at the hotel. This was exhilarating while also being quite painful due to the g-forces we were getting.

We ended the long day with dinner in the evening and a concert of local taiwanese music. It was an exhausting, if not thorough first day in Hualien.

The next day began promptly at 7:30AM for breakfast in the restaurant. Shortly after breakfast, we packed up and left the land that was almost promised. We were headed for an aboriginal swamp village where they catch shrimp and fish and serve it to tourists like ourselves. It was a humid day, but the village was exceptionally relaxing made me feel like I had stepped into the Taiwan of a several hundred years ago.

This place was pretty cool. They had many interesting things to show us about the local culture and environment. I would like to go back and also encourage you to check it out.

After this we got on the train and went back home. Like I said it was a long, but fun-filled trip.

Insect Pet: Praying Mantis

Last week, I had the notion to have a pet. It wasn't a "normal" kind of pet. Here in Taiwan, beetles are a popular student pet. What I wanted was something a little different. I wanted a bug that would eat other bugs. I wanted a strange looking creature that looks like an alien. I wanted a praying mantis (螳螂). This odd looking insect is called the praying mantis because it often looks like its praying. Here are some interesting facts about mantises:

-they can turn their head 180 degrees
-the female will sometimes eat the male after mating
-they will eat all kinds of bugs including cockroaches, crickets, and other mantises
-they have even been seeing eating mice, snakes, frogs,etc.
-they will "molt" or change their skin several times in their life
-they live for about a year
-females are larger than males

I borrowed a terrarium tank from my friend and outfitted it with plants and soil. I then put in some cockroaches to crawl around. Hopefully the mantis will catch them before they find a way to escape the tank.

Weekend Warrior Football

As you may know, I really enjoy playing sports. One of my hobbies is playing football. I played football in high school. While in Taiwan, I play flag football with some friends on the weekends. This video is of a practice that we had about a year ago. In this video I am the quarterback in the yellow shirt. If you want, you can play football with me!

Wulai (烏來)

Wulai (烏來)is a great day or weekend trip in Taipei city. Just outside of Xindian, it is a scenic ride through the valleys and hills on the edge of Taipei county. I have been there numerous times, mostly during winter to enjoy the wonderful hot springs they offer.
As you get nearer the the town, the roadside is dotted with hotels offering deals on meals and hot springs. Keep going until you get to the night market-like street. Here you will find many small hotels and vendors. The food here is very good. I especially like the grilled mountain pork skewers. The meat is fresh and delicious.
After you get a bite to eat, you can relax in the hot springs. This is a popular destination for many tourists and locals alike in the cool winter months. These special hot springs are said to have medicinal-like health benefits. If nothing else, you can steep yourself in nice hot relaxing water. You can enjoy the hot soak for as little as 100-200NT for a room with just a tub, or you could spend a little more for complete room. If you are daring, there is an area where the springs are free. It is outdoors along the river and you can find many locals sitting in the baths and drinking tea in the cold fresh air.

This is a trip I highly recommend for anybody visiting Taipei. The views are beautiful. There are many other hot springs scattered throughout the island. All you have to do is ask where they are and somebody will be able to tell you. Have fun!

Martial Arts in Taiwan

Are people bullying you? Do you often feel intimidated? Want to learn how to protect yourself and gain confidence? Learn martial arts!

Martial arts is big in Taiwan. There is a plethora of styles for you to choose from to suit your personality. From animal styles such as crane or tiger, to yong quan to tai qi. There too many to list here.

I grew interested in martial arts while in college. I made some friends that practiced different styles, so I joined their group and began learning gung fu. Since then, I have developed a taste for martial arts.

While in Taiwan, I have practiced several different styles. I began with Praying Mantis, but grew tired of that. Currently, I am learning Bagua with my friend and master. He is the same teacher and friend that got me into martial arts and whom I practiced with in college.

Martial arts is a great hobby. It is not only great exercise, but can teach you discipline, patience, dedication, and confidence. I have personally become a stronger person because of martial arts. It is also something that you can carry on with til a very old age. I often see many old people doing tai qi in the parks. Flexibility and awareness are other positive aspects of learning a martial art. It is a complete endeavor, healthy for your mind, body, and soul.

If this interests you, leave a message and I can help you find a style that may fit you. You may even enjoy practicing with us!


This is a video of my master, Fox, here in Taiwan. He is a personal friend and mentor. You can check out more of his videos on YouTube.com under warfox777.

Beach on Sunday! (淺水灣 和 白沙灣)

This past Sunday was another beautiful Taiwan day. Orion called me at about 11:00AM, saying he wanted to go to the beach. I got my things ready and headed to his apartment. I rode on his old motorcycle and at 1:00PM, we headed up to QianShaWan (淺水灣) and Baishawan (白沙灣), on the northern part of Taiwan. The ride was nice and smooth until we got to Danshui. Then we got stuck in traffic. Luckily, we weren't driving a car. We arrived at the beach and had lunch. After lunch, we decided that Qianshawan wasn't a very nice beach to relax at so we went further up the road to Baishawan. There were many people at the beach, but it was still very nice. People were playing soccer, swimming, laying in the sun, and playing in the sand. We played with a Frisbee for a while, then laid around in the cooling sun. I began making a sea turtle. You can see the finished product. We stayed there for several hours and headed back at about 5:30PM. The ride back was long due to the heavy traffic. It was a nice day for the beach. Long and tiring, but very fulfilling.

Sun Moon Lake (日月潭)

This past Chinese New Year's holiday, I went to Sun Moon Lake (日月潭) with my parents and girlfriend. I really like the lake because it is peaceful and beautiful. When we arrived there in the afternoon, it was cold and foggy. We couldn't see the lake because the fog was so thick. We went from our hotel to the "town" and had lunch. There weren't many people there so we enjoyed our time together in relative quiet.
If you have ever been to Sun Moon Lake, you will know that it is a special place. On a clear day, you can see across the lake to the other side. At night, you can see the lights, feel the fresh breeze blowing over the calm water, and smell the freshness of the mountain air. If you are venturesome, you can take a boat across the lake to the other shore or just paddle around. There is also a path that circles the lake. The total circumference is fairly large though.
One thing I don't really like about the lake is the lack of good restaurants. All the restaurants are family run and not very good. If worse comes to worst, you can go to 7-11 and get some familiar food from there.
Despite this, it is still a great place to visit for a weekend. I highly recommend a trip to Sun Moon Lake.

Day Bike Ride to Dabangen ( 大板根)

As some of you know Teacher Orion likes to ride motorcycles and recently bought a new bike. You can read about it in his blog. This allowed me to borrow his old bike and let us go riding together with his roommate. It had been a long time since I had ridden a motorcycle so I was a little cautious at first. The three of us headed south of Banqiao. 30 minutes later we were in Dabangen ( 大板根). After riding up a windy road, we ended up at a large pink temple. Although it was a sunny day, the view from the temple was not clear. However, the weather was warm. Orion mentioned he knew of a nice place to hang out near a riverside. We drove back down the narrow windy road. When we reached the spot, I was surprised at how nice it was. It was so relaxing lay in the sun, feet dangling in the cold water. It was a very tranquil experience. We rode home in a very good mood. I had forgotten how fun it was to ride a motorcycle!

Reading: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

I know all of you like to watch movies. Most of you have seen the movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. But did you know that it is also a book? Often times, a book will be turned into a movie. If you know this, then you also probably agree that the book is usually better than the movie.

The story is about a poor boy named Charlie. He lives with his poor old mother and four grandparents. The are extremely poor and eat cabbage soup and bread for dinner every night. Charlie's grandfather tells him a story of Willy Wonka, a candy maker that lives in town. He used to make the most delicious candies for all the world to enjoy. Then the factory closed. But recently, it started production again. Then Willy Wonka makes a contest to visit his factory. 7 lucky people will find a golden ticket in a Willy Wonka candy bar and get to enter the factory. Charlie is lucky and gets one. That is where the real fun begins!

You can imagine what the inside of a rich candy maker's factory looks like... it is every child's dream! Read the book to see what happens in the end.

The book was written by Roald Dahl, a great author that has written many childrens stories. I have personally read almost all of his books and recommend each and every one. Another book of his that was turned into a movie was Matilda, a girl who could move things with her eyes! He has a great imagination and is able to captivate young minds. Read one or all of his wondrous tales and you'll never be the same.

Flower Markets

One thing that I really enjoy about the weekends in Taipei are the flower markets. As Friday approaches, they push the cars out of parking lots, then they fill them with plants and flowers. At the intersection of JianGuo and Xinyi, you can find one of the larger "flower cities" (建國花市) in Taipei.
These flower markets host a range of plants from miniature cacti to full-grown trees. I prefer the smaller ones that I can put on a table or near a window. Actually, I don't like the flowers that much. I like the green plants, the ones that are help me breathe a little better. There are many plants that clean the air.
Having plants in your house provides many benefits. They provide a sense of warmth, living art in your house. They are aesthetically pleasing and nice to look at. If you have trouble being responsible, plants are a low risk way to learn how to take care of something (besides yourself). It's like a pet, but without the crying if you don't feed it, and no sadness if and when it dies. Like I mentioned before, they can help clean the air in your house or room. Living indoors, there are many things that can pollute the air: dust, paint, building materials, etc. In some cases, plants can reduce these things and make living indoors more enjoyable.
Depending on where you live, there is a flower market near you. I live in Banqiao so I will sometimes go to the market near Xinpu MRT station. If you are looking for something to do, you can go to the flower cities and buy some plants to spruce up your room.

Going to Danshui (淡水)

Yesterday, Sunday, was a very nice day. I decided to go up to Danshui (淡水) with my girlfriend and friends. After having brunch in the Shida night market, we headed to Danshui on the MRT. 45 minutes later, we arrived. Sun shining, we stepped out of the station and joined the crowds already bustling about. On nice days, everybody has the same idea: go outdoors. We sat on the steps near the edge of the water (or where the water would usually be). It was low-tide so all the debris, usually underwater, was revealed. We watched as crabs dug their homes in the mud and the birds catching small fish.
We then decided to stroll down the boardwalk. What a mess! So many people walking into each other! Thankfully most are in a good mood so there are no problems. Danshui is a popular place for trying Taiwanese snacks, so we had to try some. Along the walk, we ate some fried fishballs, grilled lamb skewers, tall ice cream, and small fried eggs ( I think they're quail eggs). I also played a game where I shoot balloons with a gun. With my superb aim, I was able to win a batman piggy bank.
We spent several hours there, milling around, stopping when we saw something interesting. Going to Danshui, however, is always tiring. So we left and headed back home. It was a nice Sunday afternoon spent with good people.

Welcome to my Blog!

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Welcome to all the Students of Hengyee Middle and high school. My name is Ronin. I am a new English teacher here at Hengyee. I have been in Taiwan for over two years. I am interested in traveling and that is why I originally came to Taiwan. During my time here, I have had much experience in teaching all ages, from kindergarten to adults. I have found that each group has its particular rewards and challenges.
Born in raised on the islang of Hawaii, am used to warm weather. Then I attended university in Washington State and became accustomed to cold weather. However, none of these prepared me for the weather in Taiwan. The summers are really hot and humid and the winters are cold and rainy.
Some of my interests include reading, bicycling, hiking, traveling, martial arts, and studying Chinese.