Asia-Taiwan

= = = = =Some of the photos i would like on the voicethread are these:= http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/taiwan.gif http://www.destination360.com/asia/china/taiwan.php http://www.travel-images.com/taiwan32.jpg

Yeah i put them on mine.

YOU NEED TO FILL IN THE REST OF THE DAYS THE ASSIGNMENT IS DUE SOON!!! = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =We will take our trip on November 20th-27th, we will arrive on the 20th and leave on the 27th.=

=**On the 20th we will land in Taipei and stay at the Royal Castle hotel Taipei for two nights. On the 21st we are very tired from the long plane ride. So we stay in the hotel al day and rest. On the 22nd we go window shopping at the** Pacific Sogo Department Store.= =**On the 23rd we will start our four day tour in the morning.**= = = = = =flight details:= =flying with Asiana Airlines= =refference number AUOZ58804/6 = =$1642 each (dont know if thats return or one way)= =departure date: 3rd of june= =return date: 16th of june ( dont know what time of day we are leaving)= = = = =

= = =day 1: arrive in taipei= =day2:4 day tour= =day3:tour= =day4: tour= =day5:tour= =day 6:tour= = day 7: =
 * (you can fill in the rest) **

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**day8: vist the bulding 101 ( tallest building in the world)**
day10: day11: day12: day13: day14: leave** http://www.orientaltravel.com/tours/Taiwan/5-day.htm
 * day9: elephant mountain ( see the whole of taipei)

= = = =

= = = = =Taiwan=

__ Geography __
The island of Taiwan lies some 120 kilometers off the southeastern coast of [|mainland China], across the [|Taiwan Strait], and has an area of 35,801 km2 (13,822.8 sq mi). The [|East China Sea] lies to the north, the [|Philippine Sea] to the east, the [|Luzon Strait] directly to the south and the [|South China Sea] to the southwest. The island is characterized by the contrast between the eastern two-thirds, consisting mostly of rugged mountains running in five ranges from the northern to the southern tip of the island, and the flat to gently rolling plains in the west that are also home to most of Taiwan's population. Taiwan's highest point is the [|Yu Shan] at 3,952 meters, and there are five other peaks over 3,500 meters. This makes it the world's [|seventh-highest island]. [|Taroko National Park], located on the mountainous eastern side of the island, has good examples of mountainous terrain, gorges and [|erosion] caused by a swiftly flowing river. The shape of the main island of Taiwan is similar to a [|sweet potato] seen in a south-to-north direction, and therefore, Taiwanese people, especially the [|Min-nan] division, often call themselves "children of the Sweet Potato."[|[22]] There are also other interpretations of the island shape, one of which is a [|whale] in the ocean (the Pacific Ocean) if viewed in a west-to-east direction, which is a common orientation in ancient maps, plotted either by [|Western] explorers or the [|Qing Dynasty].

__ Climate __
[|Siouguluan River]. Taiwan's [|climate] is marine [|tropical].[|[24]] The Northern part of the island has a rainy season that lasts from January to late March during the southwest [|monsoon], and also experiences //[|meiyu]// in May.[|[25]] The entire island succumbs to hot humid weather from June until September, while October to December are arguably the most pleasant times of year. The middle and southern parts of the island do not have an extended monsoon season during the winter months, but can experience several weeks of rain, especially during and after Lunar New Year. Natural hazards such as [|typhoons] and [|earthquakes][|[26]] are common in the region. Taiwan is a center of bird [|endemism]; see [|Endemic birds of Taiwan] for further information.

=__Currency__=

1 Taiwan dollar = 0.030432 U.S. dollars
=__Taiwan Popular Destinations__= With its hills, waters and its lush vegetation therefore, Taiwan offers an array of exquisite locales. The island is blessed with a coastline that not only provides an azure beauty, but also helps in maintaining a temperate climate that makes a visit to the island even more pleasurable. The Central Mountain Range runs along a part of the island providing a perfect backdrop to the hillside towns. The island produces an opulent store of natural vegetation that is home to a variety of insects and animals while the waters of the Pacific bear a vast resource of marine animals and valuable corals. It is located in a position that exposes it to a variety of natural landscapes, thus creating a number of destinations, each promising different levels of experience. The fascinating past which Taiwan had witnessed makes the island even more attractive to the tourists. Taiwan had been home to the aboriginal tribes until the foreign settlers moved into the island to influence it with their cultural heritage. The island had experienced Dutch, Spanish, French, European and Japanese influences which impressed the traditional Chinese culture to give it a distinct and enriched shape, as it exists today. The remnants of these past settlements are still visible in Taiwan, thus adding a different charm to it. With its picturesque landscapes and its ancient culture, Taiwan is today a land to cater a variety of attractions.

__ Religion __
Over 93% of Taiwanese are adherents of a combination of [|Buddhism], [|Confucianism], and [|Taoism]; 4.5% are adherents of [|Christianity], which includes [|Protestants], [|Catholics], [|Mormons], and other non-denominational Christian groups; and 2.5% are adherents of other religions, such as [|Islam]. [|Taiwanese aborigines] comprise a notable subgroup among professing Christians: "...over 64 percent identify as Christian... Church buildings are the most obvious markers of Aboriginal villages, distinguishing them from Taiwanese or Hakka villages."[|[30]] [|Confucianism] is a philosophy that deals with [|secular] [|moral] [|ethics], and serves as the foundation of both [|Chinese] and [|Taiwanese culture]. The majority of [|Taiwanese] and [|Chinese] usually combine the secular moral teachings of [|Confucianism] with whatever religions they are affiliated with. One especially important goddess for Taiwanese people is [|Matsu], who symbolizes the seafaring spirit of Taiwan's ancestors from [|Fujian] and [|Guangdong].

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan http://www.asiarooms.com/travel-guide/taiwan/taiwan-popular-destinations/index.html

CLOTHING: There are many different types of traditional clothing in Taiwan. For example there are headdresses, kimonos, tunics, and sashes, and even particular kinds of ceremonial wedding dresses. Clothing is an important part of the Taiwanese culture. Many people devote lots of time to find the right outfit for a ritual, ceremony, or traditional routine. There are also particular colors to go with every season and every social class. One kind of clothing originating form ancient Taiwan is a type of headdress which was worn from c. 475-221 B.C.E.These headdresses were worn by warriors. Sticking out from the top of the headdresses were feathers from a pheasant bird known for notorious fighting skill. The two feathers represent the warriors’ bold and warlike spirit.  There are about three main types of traditional Taiwan clothing; pien-fu, chiang-piao, and the Sheri. The pien-fu type of clothing is a ceremonial outfit that consists of a top similar to a tunic that goes all the way to the knees! Also the Taiwanese wore skirts touching to their ankles. This type of loose fit clothing is appropriate even with weather conditions. Finally, the outfit is topped off with a pien, a circular hat.

HISTORY: Human settlement in Taiwan began 30,000 years ago. About 4,000 years ago, the ancestors of current Taiwanese aborigines settled in Taiwan. The Han Dynasty settled in Penghu at about 1100 CE. There is evidence that the Han Dynasty knew about this island since the 3rd century. In 1544, Portuguese sailors sighted this island and named it “IIha Formosa” which means Beautiful Island. The Portuguese made no attempt to colonize this island, so in 1644 the Dutch colonized Taiwan with a capital of Tainan. The Ming Dynasty defeated the Dutch in 1662, and drove them off the island. Koxinga (Ming Navy commander) came back to Taiwan after the fall of the fall of the Ming Dynasty. He established a kingdom of Tungning (1662-1683). In 1683, the Qing dynasty defeated Koxinga. They placed Taiwan under power of Fujian province. In 1887, the Qing government made Taiwan a province itself. In the late 1800’s, Japan attempted to add on to the industrialization of this island. The Japanese extended the railroads that were just made by the Qing dynasty. They also built sanitation and a public school system. In 1935, the Japanese began an island wide adjustment project to bind the island more firmly to the Japanese Empire. Japan’s rule of Taiwan came to an end inWorld War 2. Japan’s singing of the Instrument of Surrender on August 15th, 1945 signaled that Taiwan was to be returned to China.