Consonants, Tones and Vegetarian Delites
My route to class takes me past a little temple/shrine? tucked into the side of a building.
Classes are going well. I've had my first 2 and have finally realized that I've been missing a whole dimension of sound when listening to the aunties and mom talk. I've learned the basic "alphabet" of consonants and vowels, and the 4 tones. I'm struggling with 2nd and 3rd tones, but have the computer lab to practice with.
Today I did 2 hours on the computer and then 2 hours of class.
Afterwards I had a bit of a headache from concentrating so much, and from all the new information I have to store in memory. But I can hear the tones just not say them recognizably. I guess that's a start.
We've agreed that the apartment should be a "English-free zone", so that Dee and I can practice our Chinese.
We'll see how long that lasts...
Evergreen Vegetarian Restaurant:Address: No.38, Sec. 2, Sinsheng N. Rd., Jhongshan District, Taipei City 104, TaiwanTel: 2511-5656/ 25115926 Time: Lunch 11:45~14:00 Tea 14:30~ 16:30 Dinner 17:45~ 21:00
My friend Samson took me to Evergreen with his daughter and her girlfriend. The Chinese name translates as something like "Eternal youth healthy" It was a sort of vegetarian Buddhist restaurant crossed with a sizzler or fresh choice- all vegetables and buffet style, but not just salads (with familiar and unfamiliar veggies including something that looked like jade plant leaves-tangy).
They even had veggie dim sum and a deep fried veggie/tempura station, 6 kinds of vegetarian soup- including "dou jiang" (soy milk "bean soup" and "you tiao" savory donut, Wayne I thought of you),
freshly stir fried station where greens are made to order, a plethora of vegetarian cold "sushi" and many, many hot dishes with mock meat. We also had 2 special ordered dishes of mushrooms and basil in sizzling pot, and seasoned fried tofu (very interesting- salty and crisp edges with succulent melting tofu insides. Unfortunately I was so excited to eat it I forgot to get pictures of those.
The desserts/ice cream bar looked fabulous but by the end of the meal I was so stuffed- han hao chih bao la, that I couldn't eat anything except for the passion fruit (百香果 bǎi xiāng guǒ). Come on I always have room for passion fruit)
Samson had coupons that were cheaper than the menu price, but I think normally it would be about $25 US dollars for 2 people. It's upstairs, and kind of fancy looking, very popular- crowded even. Frequented by monks and nuns in their saffron, maroon and dark brown robes.
Comments
WooooooHoooooo you! Sounds like lots of interesting stuff...good luck with the tones and all, too. Big warm fuzzies your way.
Posted by: Becky Simpson | February 1, 2008 10:28 PM
Isn't travelling fun? It's the only way to enjoy life to the max. Go Astrid, go!
Posted by: mum | January 30, 2008 09:53 PM
Dear Astrid,
I am so glad you are settled in and enjoying your new adventure. Be safe and keep posting!
With love,
Bob
Posted by: Bob Simpson | January 30, 2008 07:58 AM
ah, no fair! btw, you should add the tones to your pinyin. it'll help you remember them. dou4jiang1, you2tiao2. my instructor read an entire poem that was only of the sound yi to emphasize how important the tones were!
Posted by: wayne | January 29, 2008 06:36 PM