I left Sunday (6/10) afternoon for the long trip to Taiwan, so Rod took the kids to visit Grandma Linda and Grandpa in Kerrville. They're working on their land and have set up a campsite that they've been living on for awhile now. According to Kenneth, they found neat rocks, saw cool scenery and hiked. According to Evelyn, they roasted marshmallows and used a potty that was open in the woods. Rod kept them busy while I was working overseas.
It was pretty busy, without too much downtime, but I did manage to finally see Snake Alley on my last night there, which is probably the most infamous of the several night markets in Taipei. Last time I was in Taiwan, I was with a colleague who speaks the language, so we went to a night market, but it was nothing like this one. (This time, another colleague and I went--neither one of us speaks the language, but we figured with some cash and directions back to the hotel, we'd be able to catch a taxi pretty easily.) Think crowded, flea-market-like environment, but with "attractions" such as snake handlers, the ability to purchase snake venom and blood (to drink for virility and fertility, not kidding), and the observation of snakes being skinned alive and hung up. 
So awful. That's mixed in with clothing, shoes, food carts with steamed squid, and other delicacies, and the regular moped sighting with a toddler standing on the platform, holding the handlebars, without a helmet. 
The last picture is of headless turtles. I swear it's amazing how culturally different it is from Central Texas.
2 comments:
i haven't had a chance to talk to u since u got home, so i'll just leave a note here saying that these images have left a lasting impression. and seriously....drinking snake venom is the same lapse in judgement that will end up spreading some kind of global germ fest. is the venom okay if taken orally????? i think it's cool you got out to all of these places during your visit.
Yes, like in a shot glass. So gross. This was a last night there adventure. Most of the time i'm holed up in the hotel room because nighttime for us in Taiwan is busy morning time in Austin.
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