day 31: hold your nose and chew slowly

the past few days have been slow, hot, and taxing. i've been preoccupied with fixing that turtle float. no surprise, it's taking longer than anticipated. But no worries, we can work on it for a few days next week. But this weekend, we go to Lu-jo (sounds like it, not quite sure how it is spelled) to begin, what I like to call, the "noodle man" float. That means I will not be a dream community and might be MIA for a few days.

tonight we had some lovely and deep philosophical conversations with Max while delving into the "king of fruit," durian. Max insisted that we hold our noses closed to really enjoy the creamy and subtle sweet taste, because it really stinks . . . and it does. We are going to freeze it and eat it like ice cream when we get back from Lu-jo, i'm very excited about it. Max said it doesn't stink as much when it's frozen.

my next two months here

8/29 to 8/31: fix our floats
9/1 to 9/2: work and stay in Lou-da-jo with 5 volunteers and start the structure of the giant noodle man float . . . to a place where they can finish it themselves
9/3: day off (i get labor day off in Taiwan!)
9/4 to 9/7: prepare for the workshops and the parade
9/8: probably still preparing?
9/9: day off, most likely
9/10 to 10/19: workshop somewhere else in Taiwan
10/20: big parade

That's it. really.

day 29: my turtle is a hot mess

For the next three days, we fix our floats, because they were kind of trashed the day after the parade at the Ami annual festival. See the evidence below. It is definitely frustrating, but I knew I had to work on the float again anyways. Because the big dream parade in October is during the day, and turtle lantern style won't do. . .so I gotta make it look good for a day time parade. Also simultaneously design a giant float on a truck with a giant "noodle man" for a "noodle festival" in the town of Lou-da-jo (which sounds like noodle when they say it, I swear).


evidence a: head poked


evidence b: back end disaster

day 27: taipei exploration

longshan temple
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longshan_Temple


Haushi Street Night Market
http://202.39.225.132/jsp/Eng/html/attractions/scenic_spots.jsp?id=18


a food stall at the night market


when i played this same game at the night market in Shi-jr, katie's husband's mouth was wide open in shock and said, "are you a copy or in the army?" 10 out of 10, 3 times in a row. They now call me sharp shooter.


the most incredible photobooth experience, at another night market in taipei

day 25: the ami parade

the pictures simply do not do the parade justice. the parade was far more better then I could ever hope for. it was magical. it has been a wonderful week, granted a handful of moments of intense frustration, but that goes with the territory.

Right now, I feel kinda comfortably perfect, I can't explain why, but I think it's because I am not worried about a float, i'm not over-cafinated, it's a comfortable temperature, i'm in front of a fan, I don't feel like a dirt bag, and I am really proud of myself. Last night, I felt an overwhleming feeling of "man, i'm good and I am glad I am here". I couldn't have had a better night, being in my clouded leopard puppet, playing with the crowd, in front of a gorgeous float I designed and made with a fantastic bunch of folks.


front of the parade


jeri's rainbow float, the story of A'dek


african drummers and dancers


me in the leopard puppet in front of the turtle float


didi who sat on top of the turtle during the parade


jessie's float of the giant tree god


jake with samba drummers