Datanpiwanglai Park (大潭埤往來公園)
Chinese Dragon protecting the entrance to a temple
When we started planning we were eight. Then with midterms, we became seven. A paper made us six. A project made us five. Lack of sleep made us four. And finally, working until 5am on God-knows-what made us three.
But we three friends from three continents who did go on the bike trip had a wonderful time and enjoyed the hell out of a gorgeous Sunday afternoon.
Did you know that many cultures and geographers recognize not seven continents, but five? I learned this the hard way in Japan, after a confusing-as-hell argument with one of my friends. At first I thought they were being silly, or somehow lacking knowledge. But then when all of my other friends agreed with them instead of me, I broke down and learned that to much of the world the five (and only five) continents are: America, Africa, Eurasia, Australia and Antarctica.
Ethnocentrically, I tried to argue them out of it, but soon realized that North and South America ARE connected (except for the Panama Canal, which is made by humans), and the “boundary” between Asia and Europe is completely arbitrary. I conceded the “argument,” while explaining that in my culture, we recognize seven continents, and leaving it at that.
But we three friends from three continents who did go on the bike trip had a wonderful time and enjoyed the hell out of a gorgeous Sunday afternoon.
Did you know that many cultures and geographers recognize not seven continents, but five? I learned this the hard way in Japan, after a confusing-as-hell argument with one of my friends. At first I thought they were being silly, or somehow lacking knowledge. But then when all of my other friends agreed with them instead of me, I broke down and learned that to much of the world the five (and only five) continents are: America, Africa, Eurasia, Australia and Antarctica.
Ethnocentrically, I tried to argue them out of it, but soon realized that North and South America ARE connected (except for the Panama Canal, which is made by humans), and the “boundary” between Asia and Europe is completely arbitrary. I conceded the “argument,” while explaining that in my culture, we recognize seven continents, and leaving it at that.
Elephant Statue welcoming you to the temple
My two friends and I hail from America (USA), Eurasia (Vietnam) and Africa (Kenya), so in our case we count as three continents on either the five- or the seven-continent-counting system.
Miraculously, we never got lost on our journey. Sure, we stopped and consulted several maps numerous times, but we made it without any detours... eventually.
Despite staying on the straight-and-narrow, we came across some wicked cool things on the way. We were minding our own business, biking along down a busy city street, and suddenly came on this temple with a dozen 100 feet (30m) tall guardian statues in front of it. The profound level of detail on the statues was breathtaking.
Naturally, we stopped to play around and take some pictures and stare at the statues for a while, and were glad that we did.
The park itself didn’t disappoint either. While there, we wandered around a temple with another 100 foot (30 m) tall statue, this one of Buddha, beautiful vistas of green growing things right next to the city, a simply stunning cloudy afternoon sky, some wicked cool bugs, and a Great lake. Okay, maybe not a “Great lake,” but definitely a great lake.
Miraculously, we never got lost on our journey. Sure, we stopped and consulted several maps numerous times, but we made it without any detours... eventually.
Despite staying on the straight-and-narrow, we came across some wicked cool things on the way. We were minding our own business, biking along down a busy city street, and suddenly came on this temple with a dozen 100 feet (30m) tall guardian statues in front of it. The profound level of detail on the statues was breathtaking.
Naturally, we stopped to play around and take some pictures and stare at the statues for a while, and were glad that we did.
The park itself didn’t disappoint either. While there, we wandered around a temple with another 100 foot (30 m) tall statue, this one of Buddha, beautiful vistas of green growing things right next to the city, a simply stunning cloudy afternoon sky, some wicked cool bugs, and a Great lake. Okay, maybe not a “Great lake,” but definitely a great lake.
 Bug and my friend Hoa |  My friend Hoa and bug |
Did you know that the entire island of Taiwan has only one natural lake (Sun-Moon Lake)? Every other lake is made by humans… including every lake in my pictures so far, since I have never been to Sun-Moon Lake. With few exceptions, swimming is prohibited in all lakes, but every one has numerous life preservers scattered around the edges.
These life preservers trip me out every time I see them, and I chuckle to myself. So you create a lake that’s only a few feet deep, post big angry NO SWIMMING signs absolutely everywhere around the lake, and then put life preservers around the edges. Um, what?
These life preservers trip me out every time I see them, and I chuckle to myself. So you create a lake that’s only a few feet deep, post big angry NO SWIMMING signs absolutely everywhere around the lake, and then put life preservers around the edges. Um, what?
These NO SWIMMING signs (or often just the life preserver) are ever-present around bodies of water in Taiwan
The whole thing is nonsensical to me, but my Taiwanese friends were appalled when I tried to explain to them how ridiculous and useless it would be to try to put life preservers around Wisconsin’s 10,000+ natural lakes and rivers. Where I grew up, there are lakes and rivers all around you, and everyone jumps in whenever they want to. Many of us Wisconsinites are strong swimmers, and most can at least stay afloat.
If someone is in trouble, an accomplished swimmer nearby will hop in and help them, whether a lifeguard or simply a bystander. I have been both the watery savior, and the saved, many times in my life, though rarely were any of the situations serious… we Wisconsinites are simply accustomed to being around water, and have an eye for when someone is getting in trouble, and no qualms about helping them.
If someone is in trouble, an accomplished swimmer nearby will hop in and help them, whether a lifeguard or simply a bystander. I have been both the watery savior, and the saved, many times in my life, though rarely were any of the situations serious… we Wisconsinites are simply accustomed to being around water, and have an eye for when someone is getting in trouble, and no qualms about helping them.
Reverse Psychology WIN – Sam Learns to Swim
Magnificent cloudy sky
When I was seven, I begged and pleaded for my babysitter to take me out to the “float” 50 feet (15 m) out from shore. She had done so before, but to my dismay, this time she utterly refused, stating that she didn’t want to get wet. I continued my pleading campaign, and she relented: “if you can show me you can get to the float by yourself, then after that I’ll take you out there.”
I was terrified to try, and she knew it. I could swim a little bit but 50 feet was an awful long way, and over my head almost the whole trip, which is why I wanted her to take me. But I retorted: “FINE. If you won’t take me, I’ll figure out how to get mySELF out there. Then you’ll HAVE to take me.”
I spun around angrily and marched straight back toward the water as only a huffy seven-year-old can do, and spent the next 30 minutes practicing and screwing up my courage to doggie-paddle my way out to the float.
My babysitter then called out: “hey Sam, if you’re going to swim to the float, you’d better do it soon, cuz we’re leaving in five minutes!!” My eyes got wide as I saw she was packing up her stuff, and then my eyes narrowed. I had no intention of going back home; I had a float to swim to.
I was terrified to try, and she knew it. I could swim a little bit but 50 feet was an awful long way, and over my head almost the whole trip, which is why I wanted her to take me. But I retorted: “FINE. If you won’t take me, I’ll figure out how to get mySELF out there. Then you’ll HAVE to take me.”
I spun around angrily and marched straight back toward the water as only a huffy seven-year-old can do, and spent the next 30 minutes practicing and screwing up my courage to doggie-paddle my way out to the float.
My babysitter then called out: “hey Sam, if you’re going to swim to the float, you’d better do it soon, cuz we’re leaving in five minutes!!” My eyes got wide as I saw she was packing up her stuff, and then my eyes narrowed. I had no intention of going back home; I had a float to swim to.
Where might this path go?
Then I realized that she didn’t want to get wet, so if I successfully swam to the float she couldn’t make me go home unless she bothered herself to come to the float and get me, which I knew she wouldn’t.
So I swam to the float.
I jumped and screamed and yelled and stuck my tongue out at my babysitter from atop the float as the water sluiced off me. I made moose ears at her and blew raspberries, triumphant at having “tricked” her and learning that I could take mySELF out to the float and didn’t need my stupid old babysitter to help me!!!
I got even happier when I realized I was right; she wasn’t willing to swim out to drag me off the float, so I had just bought myself some more swimming time by putting some distance between us.
She waved lazily at me from her spot sunning on the beach, unpacked her stuff and laid back down on the towel. She gave me a thumbs-up, then put her nose back in her book, leaving me again to my own devices.
Well played, babysitter, well played.
And thanks.
So I swam to the float.
I jumped and screamed and yelled and stuck my tongue out at my babysitter from atop the float as the water sluiced off me. I made moose ears at her and blew raspberries, triumphant at having “tricked” her and learning that I could take mySELF out to the float and didn’t need my stupid old babysitter to help me!!!
I got even happier when I realized I was right; she wasn’t willing to swim out to drag me off the float, so I had just bought myself some more swimming time by putting some distance between us.
She waved lazily at me from her spot sunning on the beach, unpacked her stuff and laid back down on the towel. She gave me a thumbs-up, then put her nose back in her book, leaving me again to my own devices.
Well played, babysitter, well played.
And thanks.
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