Another day in Taiwan

On Friday I did a number of things. I visited Taipei 101, the highest tower here in Taiwan. (Second highest in the world.) The elevator takes you to the top in 37 seconds! It is pressurized like an airplane and so you don't notice the pressure change. The view was stunning.

 

 

I also visited the Chan Kai Shek memorial and the national theatre and national concert hall nearby. Very impressive when you stand there and realize he is responsible for the current split of communism and China in Taiwan.

 

Of course another temple or the day wouldn't be complete....:) The table you see is full of food, and presents for the Gods. They are sold right. In the temple so you can be sure not to forget! The temples are so interesting. They are in the midst of life and everything goes on there. It is a great place to rest and watch people.

 

And finally the famous Shilin night market. Absolutely crazy but a lot of fun. These kids ar "shrimping" with real live shrimp!

 

 

 

Jioufen

One thing you see a lot of in Taiwan are scooters and motor cycles. It is like Holland for the bikes!

Yesterday we took another tour. After wandering through a fun neighbourhood, where there was a market with very interesing food items......we went to the coast to an old town high up in the mountains. Taiwan is very mountenous, and very green and lush. It reminds me of Hawai. Jioufen is a very old little town and quite pretty with great views. Unfortunately it poured rain, but I am sure the Bhuddist gods would say it is good for you. The tour guide told us that the graves, that look like little shrines or houses against the mountain where you can make offerings to the Gods, are good Feng Shui.... They for sure are beautiful!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taroko Gorge

Yesterday we travelled to the eastern part of Taiwan to visit the Taroko Gorge. Just incredible. We flew with a local airline (!) to the area and then travelled to the gorge. So much to see. What is most incredible is that it is all marble!

 

 

 

 

We also stopped to visit this Bhudist temple. There is something about them that makes me want to see all of them.

 

 

 

 

 

Taiwan

I arrived in Taiwan, after some delays, on Monday morning. Since the first 2 days were meetings in didn't have time to see much. Today after the meeting though I took the subway to Dansui, a suburb of Taipei, and wandered around. Lots to see!!!!!

In the hotel: a shower for VERY short people, a sit shower really!

View from my room

Delicious squid!

Longshan Temple

Tea house

 

Golden roof....

 

 

 

Montreal

We spent a weekend in Montreal to get away from it all. We took the train and hung out in a great hotel (hotel Place D'Armes) in old Montreal, eat in great restaurant, heard music, went to several museums. All in all, a great time in a great city! While there we discovered this great store with stunning jewelry, created by 3 Israeli people. The jewelery group is called Artisan Impact. I love their work.

 

 

 

Natural verdigris patina

I read about a natural way to patina copper. I foldformed the copper, cut squares and then applied the patina solution: I used vinegar and salt! Easy as pie. It takes a day or so but it looks great and no chemicals. Voila!

 

Another project. Foldforming

Foldforming is a technique whereby you fold the metal and then open it and hammer one side to flare the metal. Not very practical but fun nevertheless! This is copper and the patina is created by heating the metal with a torch.

 

 

Happy Valentine's day!

This is what I woke up to yesterday..... How great!

 

Lost wax silver ring experiment

In my Thursday evening metal smithing class at nanopod: hybrid studio, I learned how to carve a ring out of wax and then have it cast. Here is my first experiment, a pretty sterling silver ring. Fun!

 

Something different

I have been wanting to make this type of bracelet but wanted to test it in copper first. Not bad for a prototype! The patina on the inside turned out so colourful.

 

 

Taiwan

I have been invited to come to Taiwan as part of a business trip! How exciting is that.... I am going the last week of March. I am very curious how different from Japan or Korea it is. What I loved in those countries were the buddhist temples. It looks like they are also prevalent in Taiwai. Here is a small corner one.

I also found a whole city section in Taipei I will visit: BEAD SHOPS!

 

 

Evening Haliburton

Same day, but beautiful evening!

 

Winter in Haliburton

We are in Haliburton for a weekend. It is cold and snowy but it makes for a beatiful view of the lake. You can barely see it!

 

More winter pictures

We went to the Niagara icewine festival this weekend. The Falls are so beautiful in the winter. With less tourists there the nature aspect seems to be more obvious.

 

Happy 2014

Happy new year everyone. May 2014 be a great and healthy year!