Fall is Here

It seems that finally fall has come here- without the pomp and circumstance of leaves changing, cider drinking, pumpkin carving, and pie eating- but nonetheless- the cooler weather seems to have finally arrived this week. 
Myron and I have been very busy and this month seems to have passed us by in a blur of activity.  One weekend was spent with me grading the entirety of the weekend (though no matter how much I grade, there is still more to grade).  Other weekends, we have spent exploring more of what Kaohsiung has to offer.

We went on a short ferry ride to Cinjin Island- a small island right off of Kaohsiung.  Here, we rented bikes and rode around the island- stopping off to see the lighthouse, an old Matsu temple, and the beach. 
We also celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving at a bar here that serves largely western-style food.   I don't normally even really like Thanksgiving food, but I tell you what- turkey, gravy, and stuffing never tasted quite so good to me. 
Watching the Jon Stewart Daily Show (hooray for the rally, wish we could be there), it seems that the US is in the midst of elections and election ads.  Here in Taiwan, it is also election time- and the current mayor seems to have set up her campaign headquarters right where we live.  Here is a picture that we took a couple weekends ago, of a rally in the park right by where we live. 

Last weekend, we also got massages, which was a nice treat.   People told us that we needed to tell the women to use a light pressure, which we did.  I can't imagine what their normal pressure feels like-  we both felt like we had been beat up afterwards.  I still enjoyed it, though, and would go back.  I felt like she really got out a bunch of my knots and a bunch of lactic acid.

Perhaps the most exciting event of this last month, though, occurred last Sunday, when Kaohsiung celebrated the Kaohsiung Wannian Folklore Festival.   The government invited us (us being employees of KAS), free of charge,  on an afternoon and evening of festivities. 
The event was held at Lotus Lake, probably one of the more photographed areas of Koahsiung, as it is a lake with about 20 temples around it. 
We got a short tour of Lotus Lake, with a focus on the dragon/ lion temples.

At this festival, the fire lion is the mascot.  After we visited the temples, and learned more about the temples, we got to make a wish.  Everyone who attends the festival gets to make wishes, that the fire lion will make come true. 
Here Myron is  hanging up our wishes:

Next, we went on a boat ride around the lake

Then they treated us to a big traditional Chinese dinner. 
Finally, it was time for the big festival.  From the brochure they gave us, we found out that they make the fire lion from "a bamboo frame, wrapped in firecrackers" with a paper head.

The "burning of the fire lion is one of the religious rituals celebrating God of Medicine's birthday.  Legend has it writing your wishes on a piece of paper and burning it with the Fire Lion will bring good luck and make your dreams come true". 
We had front row seats for the burning of the fire dragon.  Before they burned the dragon, there were many presentations- all involving fire- such as boys throwing fire sticks and fire swords.  Though it was cool to be so close to the action, one gentlemen ended up getting burned.  One boy throwing the fire sword, set his hair on fire.  It was all a bit crazy, and yet awesome at the same time. 

The mayor showed up and I got to shake her hand- that was very exciting.  And then finally, it was time to burn the fire dragon and our wishes so that they could come true. 

The dragon went up in flames and fireworks went off.  It was a pyromaniacs dream come true!