Just thought I would record some emails of my experiences in Taiwan. I will change the format, but it's just a place to store it for the moment.
Date Sent: Wednesday, 16 August 2000 15:22
From: dcfraser
To: theseltine
Subject: RE: smoke on the water
Status: Urgent New
Hi T,
Speaking of stomach viruses, I've had the Taiwanese version of "Bali belly", which entails the runs from all the sloppy noodles and stuff we eat here. So I'm not eating today, util it's out of my system. Ironically the cheap eat's asian food here is not as good as home -they like things sloppy, brown, smelly and oily for somereason, although it is very cheap to eat out (Macdonalds is about the same).
My Kindergarten I am working at is having a 2 week break, so I am going to try and get some work in a "bushiban" -an after school cram school.
Still adjusting to the flat we're in -only one window rignt at the back -and the veiw? Stunning highrise veiw of the Palace Museum? No -ground floor veiw of a concrete wall literally 2 feet away. So I've now dubbed it "The cave". In our room it's always dark, so in the mornings you can't even tell if the sun is up or not, -I find this very depressing. I might get a timer to turn on a lamp outside as a "fake sun".
Anyway, we also don't have a phone yet, so I'll have trouble calling Telstra. Are you desperate to get CLI?
I haven't found a Taichi place yet, still settling in, but I am keen. Anyway, hope you are fit by the time I arrive in October. I will book a flight this week, and then let you know all the details, then I think we need to mobilise the other troopers if we will record, so that everyone is prepared.
OK, must go, kit
DOn
I am still in the small coastal town, but will move to Taipei next week. So
>>things are kind of cruising. I got a pay advance which has helped, and I
>>will buy a mobile soon.
>>
>>I get homesick sometimes. For eg one of our texts for the kids is called
>>"Henry's Story", and I always thing of Henry's Anger.
>>
>>Anyway, heard from the RV boys? Has Rod started his new band? I believe he
>>has emailed me to my Telstra email, but the stupid sight is always down, or
>>too much traffic, so I haven't been able to check it for weeks.
>>
>>OK, will stay tuned
>>
>>Ciao
>>
>>Don
>>
I am still in the small coastal town, but will move to Taipei next week. So
>>things are kind of cruising. I got a pay advance which has helped, and I
>>will buy a mobile soon.
>>
>>I get homesick sometimes. For eg one of our texts for the kids is called
>>"Henry's Story", and I always thing of Henry's Anger.
>>
>>Anyway, heard from the RV boys? Has Rod started his new band? I believe he
>>has emailed me to my Telstra email, but the stupid sight is always down, or
>>too much traffic, so I haven't been able to check it for weeks.
>>
>>OK, will stay tuned
>>
>>Ciao
>>
>>Don
>>
>>>From: "Donald Fraser"
>>>Reply-To: [email protected]
>>>To: [email protected]
>>>Subject: Re: smoke on the water
>>>Date: Fri, 14 Jul 2000 13:20:14 GMT
>>>
>>>Hi Tim,
>>>
>>>Thanks for the email, and it's good to hear you've got a smoke machine.
>>>We should set up a gig when I come back! And I am still practising guitar
>>>in my room here in Toucheng (small town outside of Taipei). It is pretty
>>>hot and sticky, but I am finally adjusting.
>>>
>>>I am teaching very small kids -3-7 yr olds -the type you would fine very
>>>cute,and some of them are, but they can also be cheeky!
>>>
>>>So, have you heard from the other two "Voiders"? I guess things are
>>>pretty dormant for the while. I miss playing in the band, but I may save
>>>up some money and come home with some gadgets. Anyway, will kit.
>>>
>>>Rhombiclly yours
>>>
>>>DOn
>>>>>>>>> >>>
" Were I so tall I could reach from pole to pole,
or clasp the ocean with a span,
I would be measured by the soul,
the mind's the standard of the man
'Tis true my form is something odd,
but blaming me is blaming God,
and could I create myself anew,
I would not fail in pleasing you. "
(Joseph C. Merrick, aka "The Elephant Man")
" I'm glad I'm not the Elephant Man,
otherwise I just wouldnt be the same as I am."
(Rhombic Void)
=============================
Date Sent: Saturday, 12 August 2000 21:47
From: dcfraser
To: Rod Fernandez
Subject: howdy
Status: Urgent New
Hi Rodders
How are things? How are all the westies? How are Johno and Wendy?
Anyway, I have just moved to Taipei now, and I am getting to know the brothers and and sisters here. Infact I have moved in to a new flat with an American bro and two Chinese, but it is still unfurnished except for some mattresses and a card table. There is no hot water either, only a hose, which doesn't matter for now but when winter comes we'll need a proper hot shower.
And how is the jamming coming along? I did a bit of songwriting myself before when I had some time in the coastal time. I am still coming back in late October and early Nov for Matt's wedding, and still keen to record the remaining Rhombic Void hits.
I don't think there is much of a music scene here except in the universities, and I did see acouple of student "grunge" bands a few play in a mall a few weeks ago. They play some english and some Chinese songs.
Anyway, let me know how things are going. Ciao for now
Your RV bro'
Donak
============
Date Sent: Wednesday, 16 August 2000 15:30
From: dcfraser
To: Timothy Heseltine
Subject: RE: smoke on the water
Status: Urgent New
Hi T,
I tried returning this email before but Telstra didn't come through, so I have to write the whole thing again. ANyway, still doing fine, but my cave -i.e. flat, is still bare. Only one window with beautiful view of a concrete wall 2 feet away. Can't see sunlight when I wake up in the morning, will have to get a lamp and timer.
Anyway, I've also had a stomach virus -so had the runs, like having "Bali belly", so I won't eat for a day or two. But good to hear you are getting committed to being fit and meeting more habs. You can always come here, heaps of habs to have! (I've been doing too much Dr Zeus with the kids).
I will book the flight for Oct 28 sometime this week, and will notify you so we can notify the other RV troopers, better to be well prepared in advance this time, budget and everything. OK, gotta go,
KIT
Don
=============
Hi Catz,
Thanks for the email update.
Yes I meant a shower flower thingy, well it is a cap that goes on the end of the hose, and has lot's of little holes so that it showers out lots of little droplets. Anyway, I'm kinda getting use to having a "hose" each morning now. But we'll need hot water when winter comes in a few months.
Anyway, I am on holidays again, because the school in Taipei has a break up to September, so I am tying to find a bit of extra work. But the pay isn't too bad here when I am working. I will earn 50 000 taiwan dollars a month, which is about $2 500 Au, (i'm not sure in pounds). It may not sound a lot, but expences, including tax, come to 30 000, which means I should be able to save 20 000 when working full time each month, (which is about $1000 aus dollars).
Anyway, so I'm still settling in, but I will go back to Aus because I am a groomsman for a friends wedding. I should also check on Nan and the house, and Tim and I plan to finish recording Rhombic Void's hits.
I had a bad experience doing my medical examination for my work permit. I had to give a blood sample, urine sample, x-ray and other measurements. But I couldn't perform for the urine sample, even after drinking a coke. So I had to come back the next day. So they charged me an extra AU$25 on tope of the fee of AU$60 just to wee into a couple of test tubes, I wasn't happy.
Also tell Mum I'm still waiting for an email, but I still love her. And send my love to the rest of the fam -Dad, Bella, Jarnz -and can how is Nan doing? I sent her a snail mail.
OK, gotta go, kit
Love Dons
Date Sent: Friday, 18 August 2000 17:18
From: dcfraser
To: Timothy Heseltine
Subject: Fire in the sky
Status: Urgent New
Eh, Tum,
hiws it going?
I may not have a veiw of the famous falls, but there is a fly on the wall. Anyway, I like feeling like Batman.
And what's new? I had a bad experience doing my medical examination for my work permit. I had to give a blood sample, urine sample, x-ray and other measurements. But I couldn't perform for the urine sample, even after drinking a coke. So I had to come back the next day. So they charged me an extra AU$25 on tope of the fee of AU$60 just to wee into a couple of test tubes, I wasn't happy.
Also, I have booked my flight already:
I arrive Oct 27 and will leave on Nov 7, it's not a huge time, but if we can arrange it, it should be enough time to finish our songs if you and the other "Voiders" can get time off work. Let me know.
OK, nothing else to report, except the toufu stinks here (it's called stinky toufu -it's fermented like green cheese). And they love pigs blood, pigs ears, chicken giblets, and lot's of sloppy stuff. And some hair saloons are cover up for brothels (if you can't see anyone getting their hair cut in the window, you know...) And they love America and everything American (which I'm getting a bit sick of) -they don't teach "english", they teach "American".
OK, must dash,
Ciao
DON
Date Sent: Tuesday, 22 August 2000 14:43
From: dcfraser
To: Rod Fernandez
Subject: Yo dude...
Status: Urgent New
How's it going? How's the west going? And Johno and Wendy? And Muzza? I miss the Aussie accent, because all the english speakers are canadians or yankees.
I'm still surviving in Taiwan. I have moved into the new brothers flat, but I am visiting another city right now because I have holidays with my new school.
I'm getting more used to the people and culture here, and knowing brothers definitely helps, I have to learn the language alot faster, otherwise it makes fellowship difficult, and I get sick of feeling like a dodo and saying "pardon" all the time.
Anyway, Tim may or may not have told you, I have booked my flight, arriving in Syd on 27th of October, and will leave on 7th of Nov. Give Timbo a call so we can arrange to record the last songs.
OK, ciao for now, and keep twanging
Sept one
Have got a push bike to help me get around Yonghe, but traffic is Chaos here in Taiwan. Most vehicles are mopeds with some cars and a few bikes like me, but now one minds who is one the roads,
everyone just kind of negociates their way through the traffic. They pre-empt green lights and exceed through red lights, so you have to be constantly watching, not that everyone seems too concerned. I've seen teenages on push bikes wading their
way through 3 lane rush hour traffic like sunday drivers.
And it is still hot and humid, although cooling down with sporatic downpours of rain. I live in a "cave", i.e. bottom floor of a 4 story building, surrounded by markets with raw pig and fish stalls, so not the greatest smells, but
when we get utilities for our kitchen we won't have to go far to get food.