Hsinchu Zoo

Hsinchu Zoo

I went out for a walk today hoping I would be able to find the Zoo that is on the other side of the train station.  As you can see I found it.  Having found it I feel a little like maybe I shouldn't have gone in.  This place seems to me to be a zoo that shouldn't exist.  For the most part I really like zoo's, though I do understand the opinion that they are cruel for animals.  When I go to one I get to see animals that I would be very unlikely to get to see in my lifetime (except maybe on TV).  This zoo is very small, it only took me an hour to slowly walk around, and the animals seem even less active then at other zoo's I've been to.  It smells bad and doesn't look very clean.  Thankfully there aren't many large animals here, mostly reptiles, birds and other small things.




On my way home I saw a road side stand selling
 song birds.  There were some really nice looking birds here and I was tempted to buy one but thankfully I don't have much money this month.  I don't know if I am capable of taking care of a bird.  I think they were all a little jealous of the birds that were flying around, coming to take a look at them.

If you come to Hsinchu there is a lot of shopping available.  There are at least 2 large malls and they have a free shuttle service from the train station to the mall.  This particular mall, Far Eastern Department store, has an interesting shuttle bus.

And as you can see there is lots of parking space for your scooter.  Or should I say there are a lot of scooters being parked.  There weren't many spaces left in this area and I don't know what was around here, except the train station, that would need so much space for scooters.

A slightly better look at the scooter parking lot

There was even a space for pedal bikes here but only for around 10 bikes.

The last few weeks have been fairly uneventful but still interesting.  I was sick for about two weeks.  It made things a little interesting but I managed.  I had an opportunity to cover for a guy who was working three mornings a week at an Elementary school.  Grade one's and four's.  Easy hours for me.  Took about five minutes to prep for the lessons and I taught the same lesson for all four classes.  Day one was interesting.  My first lesson lasted 15mins.  They are supposed to be 40mins long.  Apparently the kids had to go do some exercise so I got paid for an hour and only did 15mins.  WIN!!  The kids were great so I had a ton of fun.  The best thing that happened to me here was, at the end of one lesson, a girl came up to me and asked if I would come to the next lesson.  I guess she really liked my lesson.  Another girl from the same class said her sister had my English lesson the day before and said I was lots of fun.  Maybe I am a good teacher, I don't know but at least I know the kids like me.  It's things like this that make my job worth doing.

Last week I had a visitor.  My friend Maria came from Japan.  She stayed here while doing some day trips around northern Taiwan.  I think she had a nice time, even though the weather wasn't perfect.  It was cloudy and a little rainy all week until her second last day which was bright and sunny.  She took some really nice pictures, hopefully she won't mind me posting this one.  It was my favorite one.

Taipei 101 and Taipei city at dusk

Time is flying for me here like it has never flown before.  When I teach a class I feel like I taught them just a day or two before even though it was a week ago.  Weekends are flying by as well even though I am not doing much (lack of money being one of the reasons).  I think this year will go by very quickly.

  One of the reasons I decided to come to Taiwan was because the winters are very mild here and so far that is panning out.  Today's high is 20 degrees.  I am still wearing shorts and flip flop shoes.  This week was the first time I have worn a T-shirt when not at work.  I am hoping Christmas will be warm to.  I have a friend coming to visit then as well.  My money situation should be a bit better as I am getting full hours this month which means I should be able to get out  and see some things and show you more of Taiwan.

The last thing I want to say is that I am going to try and write a novel starting monday.  If you have any interest in reading it please send me an email and I will send you everything I have done on a weekly (or monthly) basis.  If you don't have my email address then comment on this blog or PM me on facebook and I will send you my email address.

Ta Ta for now.