Experiencing Taiwan 2010 - Day 8

Day 8 - Main activity area: Chung Li

I went to help out the same group of people to complete their design - it is the final year final semester student design. They called this helping out as "帮抢" in Chinese. I helped them out with the model cutting and wood-saw at midnight. They are comprised of different semester students. I helped them until 8am in the morning. Quite tiring~

Mr.Teoh taking photo of the student's work

Then I made an excuse for me to got back to meet my fellow coursemates and Mr. Teoh. During the process of helping them out, I learned to use some machineries, they are some simple ones like wood plank cutter, a machine with belt to polish some hard n unfinished corner of timberwork. All of them are just some basic machinery. It is better if UCSI could bring in these machineries since we have paid for lab fee. I strongly believed that basic amenities do really enhance students' performance hence enabling the University to soar at a greater height. It is indeed a win-win situation.

Student work is displayed on the floor

Ya, after went back to hostel, I took a quick bath and went back so that I'm on time for their final crit. Their crit was held in a space with both of the walls acted as the viewing panels. It is quite spacious. Hence, 2 students can present simultaneously to the their crit panels.They presented their drawings, site model, close-up model, some of them even design a simple timber rack to house their models in a very organized manner. The model they did is not less than A0 size. It took them the whole final semester to do that. Also, with the help of the juniors they could and able to complete it on time. The presentation part is for their own to prepare. I was there to listen to the crit session. The crit panels they invited contributed really great feedbacks. Some really screwed up their graduation design by doing it without furhter thoughts put into the programme. On the other way round, others received compliments.

One of the student that utilized the projector screen to his advantage

For each side, they are about 7 to 8 panels of crit. There's one more thing UCSI can copy is that the inclusion of a projector screen for students that needed to show some presentation slides. In conclusion, they are indeed many of things to learn throughout the crit session. It could be enhanced further if they allowed the public to voice up their opinion. :)

Hard to imagine how many effort has been put into this model

The crit panel is listening carefully as the student is presenting

Look at how big is the group of crit panel. Quite scary...

The whole band of drawing is to be crit on the D-Day

After the crit, It was time for Lunch, Mr.Teoh kindly treated us a full and satisfying lunch at CYCU canteen area. The food is nice: Each of us ordered a main course (I ate stew lamb with lots of potatoes) haha... It's a buffet style lunch, I took myself few small plates of "猪杂"! I love the taste, though it's just small dishes yet it's cooked with Taiwanese home cuisine style, 超道地的！The taste is unforgettable! After the main course, there were some local fresh fruits: Guava - Juicy enough... :)  We had a moment of chit-chat session before leaving back to our dormitory.

Mr. Teoh said we would have a sharing session at night after dinner. We slept through the afternoon soundly in our dorm while the others were busy composing the power point slides. LOL! I think one of the reason was that we were not fully equipped with information of Damshui due to the bad weather. We planned to go by tommorrow.

In the evening, around 1715hours, Mr. Teoh: "Bring the last souvenir to the dinner later." We walked to the dinner spot. It's a large steel-structred space catering for people who holds big function - Family gathering dinner, wedding dinner, etc. Once arrived, we were asked to divide amongst ourselves to sit at different tables. Obj: to mix around and blend with the students of CYCU + Tianjin U. Due to CYCU students came late, argh~ So majority of students at our table are of Tianjin U. Is ok~ We had a quick self-introducing session. LOL! They are very friendly. We have a great moment there.

I found out that the culture of the Chinese students (Tianjin U) quite different in a way that they like to cheers for beer always no matter what~ haha... Quite funny, sometimes saying nothing, looking at each others, "来吧，干吧!" I was like "Sweat~" haha... Then, Mr. Teoh approached said: "Later go and cheers with the lecturers' table"~ LOL! oh my gosh~ How should I?  Yet, I braved myself after 4 glasses of beers. I summoned UCSI dudes and there we went for the cheers session. But this Song really terrible, he cheated by mixing Grain-stuff drink with the beer. Being cheated, those CYCU and Tianjin lecturers punished him with a new bottle of beer. haha...

After that, we chit-chatted and walked back to CYCU which is around 10mins walk. Then we started to set up our sharing session at CYCU Landscape Architecture building. Then Leong Wei + Joshua and I were busy composing our presentation. Still, quite nervous prior presenting. Our spoken chinese language is really sucks~ Hope they could really grab the meaning. :P

We talked about what we learnt from Day1 at Taiwan. Even some of the CYCU students dont really familiar with their own history. So do we I think. Mr. Teoh explained and corrected the wrong information we presented. This sharing session was a great and truly inspiring session especially for us and the CYCU landscape architecture students. We let them know that their effort of bringing us around throughout the journey is not wasted even one single one. We felt truly appreciated with the hospitality they had provided. It is indeed grateful to having them throughout the whole journey. They made sure that there is at least 1 CYCU student to accompany us thoughout a day trip. I myself did really touched with their kindness and patience.

The session finished around 2230hours, I had something to say to the CYCU students. Yet, I didnt voice out, seeing all of us rather wanting to go back dormitory earlier. Ok, So I'll say it here: "Dear CYCU students: Xiao Yu + Juan Juan + Xiao Mi + 王彦 + 豆花 + Da Rui + Ah Zhi, we UCSI U students are indeed very grateful to have you guys to join us with our study + leisure trip at Taiwan. I could sense that some of you like Xiao Yu even felt stressful where to bring us to and around, feeling of anxiety whether we like it or not. Xiao Yu, you shouldnt feel so. We are happy with what you guys had prepared and arranged for us. This words of gratitude are indeed come  from the inner soul of us. :)"

I said: "Though this marks the end of our trip at Taiwan, on the other hand, it is a beginning of solidified friendship and the understanding of cultures of both sides, learning from each other the GOODs and expel the BADs, let's learn from each other heart to heart, let's begin a dialogue of human revolution."

Experiencing Taiwan 2010 - Day 7

Day 7 - Main activity area: Tainan

Draft Outline:

1. 孔庙 - The First Temple in Taiwan
2. 妇人馆 - Restoration Site
3. 文学馆
4. 武德殿
- Lunch & Ais Batu Kacang (with fruits) -
5. High speed train to Hua Lian
- BBQ Dinner with CYCU principal
6. Visit & Help out at CYCU Architecture Department (5th Year Students works)

Going to help them out~ Feel serba salah if not helping them caused they've asked so~
NO sleep during trip~ LOL!

Ok, stay tuned. Out now.

Archustic Installation Site - UKM

These are some pictures of the site for installation competition within Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).

Site A

Site B

Site C

Site D

Site E

Site F

Site G

Site H

Site I

Site J

Experiencing Taiwan 2010 - Day 6

Day 6 - Main activity area: Tainan

The sixth day at Taiwan. That, we were going to Tainan from Chung Li district. Today was lucky that it was not raining anymore as the previous mornings~ We took train to Tainan. It (this was provided with seat number) took around 4hours 15mins. Throughout the journey, I just read book and enjoying the scenic view outside. Took a nap for about 2 hours.

Upon arrival to Tainan Train Station, here came a 29++ years old girl (one of the post-graduate student at National Cheng Kung University) approached us and brought us into a 18 person-seated bus. She was friendly. The first impression for the people there is good. :) We visited Cheng Kung University. The whole area is like you are hard to define that big! We visited their library - lots of books! We saw few installations placed within the Architecture Department buildings. We too went in to their students dedicated studio place. It was really owesome! Untidy yet they have that space which we carved so much for. :'(

Then, we settled our lunch at Chi Mei Restaurant. The restaurant was rent out by the university to a big tycoon company, Chi Mei Group Company (listed one) that sells television worldwide. During that session, we chit-chatted with the post-graduate students stuyding Architecture whom are also Prof. Fu's students. Simply, the lunch was tasty and satisfying~

After that we were brought onto the bus for a city tour.

I spot something. There is a different arrangement and layout of the traffic or vehicular circulation between Taipei and Tainan. Whereas I could hardly see any roundabout at Taipei but there are roundabouts here at Tainan in a short distance. As told by one of the "tour-guide". there are altogether 5 roundabouts built at Tainan. The interesting part is that almost all the civic buildings or government buildings are all surrounding or built near to the location of the roundabouts. I find this really very interesting. Why the local government built the buildings in that manner? Or on the other hand, what actually happened and is there any significance for the location of the roundabouts? Clues anyone?

The architecture built at Tainan totally different from the one we saw at any part of Taiwan. Do you actually come across with building building with sea coral reef? I dont think so but I saw it here. This is what exactly had amazed me and caught my attention. I think it is due to Tainan as a sea-reclamation area. Thus, the local residents built their dwellings using the local available materials.

The way back to hotel, we passed through verandah of a building; there was odour nuisance at the end corner. Were they beggars? Scary…

One thing comparable with Malaysian Train either KTM, LRT or Monorail, the speed of HSR is far more faster. Views to the outside are flashing through. Scenic views along the journey... I felt that the vast green land was floating the HSR letting it passed through in that high velocity~


2. Bus to National Cheng Kung University Architecture Dept.
3. Bus tour around city centre
4. Dan Ping early settlement for lunch + Brief look aroud
5. Temple

Dinner

(Will update asap too, sleep now)
Good night.

Experiencing Taiwan 2010 - Day 5

Day 5 - Main activity area - Ying Ge

It was a bit late we went down for breakfast. Mr. Driver was here to fetch us at 9am sharp~ We were late for around 10mins. Mr.Teoh called me in the cell phone. We managed to get all of us up into the bus very soon. Bus departed around 9.15am.

First destination for yesterday was Ying Ge Ceramic Museum. Upon arrival, it was there stood before us with a vast concrete building - the first look = "A Todao Ando's signature" - Light + Concrete + Space + Water feature. We took pictures around the whole area. The space is simply inspiring. The construction techniques are fresh too to me - the staircase and its support. I bought some souvenirs - bookmarks + a piece of ceramic to clarify drinking water.

Off we went for lunch at Ying Ge Old Street. Then we visited Ying Ge old street. A great place to go to especially for ceramic and pottery lovers. We found fine work of ceramic stuffs at there. It is a small neighborhood that is famed with its ceramic products.

As an architectural student I'm proud that we have made this trip possible for ourselves to visit Long Shan Si Temple 龙山寺 at the old street of Ying Ge.

(Will update as soon as possible, tired~)

Experiencing Taiwan 2010 - Day 4

Day 4 - Main activity area: Taipei City

We went through a lot of places today. We walked through different kind of spaces today. Each potrays different set of philosophy.

In draft:
1. 228 Peace Park
2. National Taiwan University Hospital (Old)
3. Shophouses
- Lunch -
4. The ancient gate of the City
5. The President Building ( = The White House)
6. Chiang Kai Shek Memorail Hall

Shilin Night Market - Most famous in Taiwan. (Taman Connaught Night market? , LOL~ )

Will be updated soon. Stay tuned. :)

Experiencing Taiwan 2010 - Day 3

Day 3 - Main activity area: Damshui Province 淡水镇.

Chung Li Train Station

We gathered at Chung Li Train Station at 0830 hours. The sky started to turn dark~ We were advised by the local students to buy ourselves an umbrella. We boarded train to Damshui Station. Rain started to pour after we were on board the train.

Damshui Train Station

A unique treatment of design

An underground subway :)

A view of the university building

A grand building inside the campus area

Juan Juan - A friendly CYCU student that brought us that day

Oxford College set up by Canadian missionary, Mr. Mackey

A pleasing and welcoming view towards Dam Kang Secondary School

The same view in 1925

Japanese octagonal roof

(main design element for a tower)

The row of trees giving a welcoming sense

Weights are put on top of the roofing tiles

(Weather - Strong wind + Typhoon)

Side entrance into Dam Shui Train Station

Dam Shui Train Station at far with cabs queued for customers

The places we went are recorded down.We went to Oxford College of Athelia University which is also a missionary university. We travelled there by boarding a public bus from Damshui station.
I made some on-site sketches after listening to Mr. Teoh's explanation on the special features of the structure. The architecture is a fusion of Canadian architecture + Chinese architecture. It is too bad that further rain had limited our journey. We visited Dam Kang Secondary Schooltoo. It was the setting where famous pop singer, Jay Chou had his MV - The unspeakable Secret, 不能说的秘密. The thing it was so special of its architecture is that it was also built in the Japanese Colonial Era.

Features of Japanese style elements  1. Beef noodle (Faiz 法伊止天佑 + Jing Mei + me + Xiaomin + Juan Juan + Shi Shi) and 2. BBQ Buffet(Mr. Teoh + the rest of us). hronologically.

Taiwan government emphasized on providing the
public space - Catered for the people

Curved steel roofing beams (Sure expensive)

A view of the Palace

This is what really amazed me
(A sense of protection + grandeur)

We were planning to go the old street at Damshui. But it was ruined by the unpredictable rain. Then, we went to the Gugong museum 故宫博物馆 at 1630 hours. It is tremendously a Chinese architecture which is so dominating towards the surrounding buildings. It is huge! Unfortunately, it closes at 1700 hours. So we only managed to snap a few shots of the exterior part. After that, we headed to Taipei Underground Market 台北地下街. We had a simple dinner there... I bought a pouch too, for convenience. We went back by train. It was extremely an exhausting day yet enjoyable. :)

Emphasis on symmetrical planning and

the application of tiers or layerings

Linxin posing before the straircase

Daniel + Kah Chuan

Tiong + Faiz

We went back by bus. Not many places we went due to the unpredictable downpour~

Certainly, Mr. Teoh advised us to come back to Damshui Province again for places that we did not visit.

Thanks God! Fortunately, we had made it on Day 10 of our trip here at Taiwan.

Do check with the Day 10-post for further local famous heritage buildings + famous food. :)

Experiencing Taiwan 2010 - Day 2

Day 2 - Main activity area: Chung Li + Taipei

Yeah! It is the 2nd day of our trip. After breakfast at the hotel cafe, off we went to Huashan Exhibition Hall 华山参展厅 to participate on CYCU graduating landscape architecture students works. Also, to join a small conference as an exchange programme after CYCU students came back from Malaysia + Europe + USA + China to share with us their experience of living at there. We spent almost the whole day at Huashan Exhibition Hall. The site was an old factory, the government didnt demolish it and people find it a good use as an exhibition space. So minor touch up work and renovation work was done to make it alive with soul~ It further enhanced with participants involvements.

The Site - An old factory

The local student with his awesome creation

Interior of the exhibition centre - Can imagine the working environment in the factory

One of the Taiwan student who came to Malaysia - Xiao Min

This is her work - site model

Another Taiwan student who came to Malaysia - 豆花

Her site model with some gifts from the juniors + admirers ;)

Soon after browsing through the long exhibition, off we went to the fast food restaurant - Subway for a quick lunch. And it is indeed real quick until I was eating like a 3 years old kid. (So dirty :P). Along the way, we saw an awesome installation. Mr. Teoh said that: ''Previously this site was a shopping mall that sell digitalized items same as Lowyat. It had to give way to urban planning development. Yet, the government erect this installation as it was the momory of the fellow citizens~" This is what I said the People's goverment.

Mr. Teoh talked about the exhibition

Kimmy was there to present her design

This is the installation I talk about - Simple yet meaningful

After that, we walked back to the exhibition centre. At around 1400 hours, students of the organizer + students from participating universities (UCSI＋Tianjin University, China 天津大学) were asked to share their experience + opinion regarding related topics (staying abroad) - the lifestyle of local people + landscape architecture + others... ... I was called up by Mr. Teoh to join in the conference with Kimmy. She was nervous too, so did I. I have no idea what they are going to ask up there. Luckily we just discussed about the emergence and the trend of today landscape architecture. (I said to myself I am not any expert in this field, so I just relate my idea honestly. Some of it might be associated with architecture + the built environment).

Student who visited Malaysia

(from Left - 卡车, 王彦, unknown, Shi Shi, Juan Juan, Da Rui)

Students visited Malaysia

(from Left - BoBo, unknown, 豆花, Xiao Min, Xiao Yu, Ah Zhi)

Then at the moment I relate my opinion, I talked about recycling. "Owh~ What the hack Zhen Ron
talk about this on the stage?" (Mr. Teoh thought :P). I bring about the emergence of carrying out recycling activity in my country, Malaysia. And I also said that we as the younger generation should talk initiative to start drill-in recycling concept as a must carry-out daily routine. It is part of our life. As I noticed that Taiwan is indeed a pioneering nation (China, please dont bomb me... :p) in recycling. Apart from that, I also talked about my first feeling after reaching Taiwan. I said that the people here is so friendly. Let me relate you a true example: I were there to ask an old lady for direction to somewhere, then she explained and lastly she said "follow me", when I reached there she told me "ok, I am going back to catch the bus". I was touched at that moment, guys, can you see how she "pointed" me the direction. I love that place alot! The people there makes up my days! - UNFORGETTABLE.

Mr. Teoh shares his experience and idea of architectural education

It (the conference) continued until around 1700 hours. Then, a session of group photographs set us off for dinner. We took some silly photographs too. We were jumping for the photo-shooting! LOL~ (Deep in my heart, they might see us as Sepilok's Orang Utans haha!)

I took few shots of the site before leaving

Facade with some Japanese influence elements

We walked through the urban scape of the city and came across with various kinds of architecture.
They are interesting to look at - they are simply humble + honest (meaning they are Bruton Brut construction - RC structures). Walking and walking, we walked quite a distance to search for a restaurant Mr. Teoh recommended. Mr. Teoh: "Stop at 翠林越南餐". Here we set ourselves at a Vietnamese Restaurant. The environment and lighting ambience inside is really relaxing. As usual, I ordered myself stew beef + rice. The food was really great. Mr. Teoh's daughter, Yu Ning was the centre of our topic at the restaurant. All of us enjoyed the Vietnamese cuisine. We left there around 8pm.

Mr. Teoh and his family were not with us after the dinner. Later, we walked to Taipei 101. Unfortunately, we did not go up due to the long queue. (Hope we still have the very chance to made it possible at the last few days of our trip - Yet, we were not able to make it due to the compact schedule). Along the way, we saw street performers - Musicians, Clown... After that, we walked to the Eslite Bookstore... Amazingly, it opens for 24/7. How good if Malaysia would have it there. Of course, first of all, the rate of average reading of Malaysian is expected to be likewised the Taiwanese. Otherwise, the bookstore owner lost money. The bookstore we went is really big. It has 5 floors with each floor has the floor area of approximately 3/4 of Mid Valley's MPH. One more thing that amazed me is that, they sell 18sx DVD on their rack. So open~ I felt unforgiven even to stare a minute at those few rows of DVD. On the other hand, I think this is good as the people there is exposed to relating topic earlier (unlike Malaysia or other Asian countries which their thinking is more conservative). I ended up looking at few architectural design books.

After that, before leaving the Eslite Bookstore, we were discussing what's next. Apparently, most of us were exhausted. So they wanted to go back Hotel to get rest earlier. But~ I wanted to have a look at the Nightlife at Taiwan~ There was a Taiwanese girl who joint us at the Taipei 101 kept saying "Let's go Clubbing"... But we ended up going back~ haha... We took bus back to Chung Li. After reaching hotel room, hungry I felt~ Walked down opposite of the Train Station and bought myself a Chicken Chop + Luk Luk + Watermelon Juice~ Nice food!

Slept with the TV
switched on~ Joshua was snoring aloud! haha... :P