Fireworks anyone?

Last weekend we had the most amazing weather. I was actually fooled for a couple days into thinking that Spring might just be around the corner. Then Tuesday arrived and the temperature and rain started falling. But fortunately I was able to enjoy the sunshine for a little while. I even got to go to the Circus! I'm not sure where the circus was from because none of the performers seemed to be Asian so I will be kind to Taiwan by not calling it a Taiwanese circus. We weren't supposed to take photos so the only one I got is below. And I'll just be honest you ain't missing nothing. No crazy acrobats and no animals at all! WTF?! Does that even count as a circus! I think my friend could see the disappointment painted on my face when she excitedly asked me if I had seen anything like it before. My response? "No actually I can't say I've seen anything quite like this." hehe

But hey one more thing to scratch off the list right?! :-)

Sunday I went to the beach which I was warned in advance was not a particularly beautiful beach but it was a sunny day so I figured it couldn't be that bad. It was pretty windy and chilly but next time I definitely want to ride one of the tandem bikes they rent out.

This is the city's historic East Gate. I posted a pic before in my first post but it's probably one of my favorite places in Hsinchu because it's one of the things that stands out between all the department stores and fast food places and says HEY! Just in case you forgot you're in Taiwan! To everyone else it's just as boring as any out dated brick building would be to me back home but every time I pass it I smile a little to myself. Well...actually that's a big lie because as you can see it's in the middle of a crazy traffic circle and usually I'm on the back of a scooter in the midst of the chaos and my life starts flashing before my eyes. But after I escape from the traffic circle then I smile ;-)

Maybe some of you know this already but Monday was the day of the Lantern Festivals. I don't live in a major city like Taipei so our festival was pretty small but I got a few pics of all the cool lanterns. I must say these people are obsessed with fireworks! And if there is one reason I'm glad Chinese New Years is over it's those damn fireworks. I don't exaggerate when I say they were setting of fireworks everyday for the past two weeks. Even in the mornings! People set out food or offerings (I think) in front of their houses and then set off fire crackers to "welcome" the New Year. Anyways, fireworks rant ends now. 

These pictures are at the festival they had at the park across the street from my apartment building.

By the way 2 posts within 2 weeks! Who's bad? lol I'm getting better though right? Thanks to my parents for the new camera (which my dad warned me comes with a special feature- it will self destruct if not used frequently).

Hope you're all having a great week!

Ashley