Like a rolling stone?

I was perusing the Taipei concert list and noticed something--most everything on there is just godawful.  However I did notice also that Bob Dylan of all people will be playing Taipei Arena in early April and I'm gonna go.  What fun!

XIMEN

Matt Nate and I went to Ximen (pronounced 'semen') last night.  This place is huge, loud, bright and super busy.  It's like Piccadilly Circus meets a night market meets Lady Gaga.  Went to a 'American' food place and had some cheese steaks and burgers.
Then we visited a large department style store but it was just for like high school kids.  The top floor had a gigantic arcade and I was once again able to display my air hockey prowess.  It took a lot of self control not to buy all of the Robotech transforming action figures in the many model shops on the lower floors.

It is your GOD

Neat.

PEOPLE

Foods

Took a scooter ride down to Shih Chien then busted out to a local night market and had some amazing sugar glazed strawberries and then hit up a all-you-can-heat hot pot buffet.

Amongst the tastiest things I've ever eaten

Every manner of fish stuff and veggies

Drinkin blunts and smokin' forties

Got my cellphone replaced today, no dead pixels! Later hit up the arcade again, followed by some batting cages. Pretty much acted like I was 10 years old today and it was a fun time. Later Matt, Nick and myself procured some scotch and cigars and proceeded to get philosophical.

Smokes and Scotch

OH NOES

My new cellphone, Desire HD has a dead pixel.  This sucks, but luckily the store is going to replace the unit when they get another one in stock.  I went into town today and picked up a cheap acoustic guitar for around 100 dollars AMERICAN.  It sounds very good but the action is a bit high.  I'll have to lower the bridge about half a millimeter, lower the nut about the same and tweak the truss rod they it'll be good to go.

Also went out to the Miramar arcade today with Nate, then went to city mart to get some shaving foams.  They have neat hats, for example...

This hat is bitchin'

Welcome back to the 21st Century

Three days without having internet on my cellphone was an almost unbearable strain.  But now I have a shiny new HTC Desire HD with an unlimited data plan.  Mostly over jet-lag at this point as well.

Last night we hit up the largest night market in Taipei, here's a picture.

Shilin Night Market

how now

    Went out into town today and a former UWRF exchange student, Sean Chang was kind enough to help me take care of business around town.  We had some time to kill before registration at NTNU began and after getting shot-down at the cellphone store so we visited a special exhibit at the Taiwan History Museum.  Afterward it was off to Taiwan Normal University to register for Mandarin Classes which all went very smoothly.
     It turns out that without an identification number I cannot open a bank account or sign a cellphone contract, so we also had to visit the ministry of immigration to apply for that.  Weather today was smoggy and gray due to overcast weather and a temperature inversion, highs around 18c.

History Museum featuring treasures from China's last emperor

Taiwan Normal University main building replete with statue of Chiang Kai-Shek

Munching on dumplings after a hard day of walking like 30 miles

Lol wut

First full day in Taipei was fun and sleep-deprived.  After getting back from the airport we hit up a department store to get me set up with all the amenities I would need.  Later in the evening I met up with a group of guys and we hit the 737 night market.

View out my window

At a dining counter @ the 737 night market

Stinky tofu and kimchee.  Was actually pretty tasty.

Korea

Panorama of terminal area.

Early morning in Seoul

Hello SEOUL

Sitting at gate 125 in Seoul right now.  Feeling pretty good, so I'm gonna ride that feeling while it lasts.  Here are some photos I have snapped from the trip so far..

Hello, I must be going

Last post in America,  I'm leaving now for a fun-filled 28 hour trip with 3 flights of varying lengths.  So I'll catch everyone on the flip side.

Farewell Sartell

Moving out of the Sartell/St. Cloud area today, finally, after over 4 years. 

Protip: Don't move to St. Cloud!

Protip 2: Do visit Sartell tonight at the Blue Line bar @ 8:00pm for a going away drunkscavaganza!

Bootleg

Starting my last run of work today.  Five days then I'll be free of 'work' for a year or two--which is admittedly nice.  If you're feeling contemplative here's an excellent concert recording from the Apollo in '08.  I wish when I went to Neil concerts in the states the freakin' yahoos could just keep quiet for one damn song.  It seems the English don't have much of an issue with that.