Taipei
After arriving in Taiwan, I was struck by how hot and humid it was. How could I have forgotten the humidity?
The best part was seeing some of my really good friends, relaxing and just enjoying life with them. I was especially happy to spend time with my friend Matt. I think he's one of the most hilarious people on earth and spending time with him is a riot. I'd say he's the king of the obscure reference.
While in Taipei, I went to the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, which seems to always have really interesting exhibits on display. Unlike my hometown Seattle Art Museum, which seems to invest in tacky 1970s art made out of plastic, TFAM's art is mostly local, and the exhibitions are coherent. I really enjoyed the results of a calligraphy contest that were displayed.
I made the obligatory visit to 故宮 - The National Palace Museum. Every time I go here, I get a bit confused, as the exhibition halls are pretty small. Considering that Gugong has one of the largest collections of Chinese antiquities in the world, why do they have such a small facility? Every time I've gone (I think I've been 4 or 5 times now), I have trouble locating the paintings, and they only seem to have 3 or 4 on display. I don't get it. Am I missing a floor or something?
Being in Taipei, however, made me feel really alive. Everything was familiar and fun. Within 24 hours of arriving, I got two job offers. Two good job offers. Tempting stuff...