Super Typhoon Wipha

Tuesday we stayed at home, as government announced "Typhoon day". Fourth this year, as Super Typhoon Wipha approaches Taiwan. It will pass north-east of us, between Okinawa and Taiwan, to slam near Shanghai, and we will get good bath here in Hsinchu.
Even when there is not strong wind (when you are at the outskirt of typhoon as we are this time), there is LOTS of rain. No way to go out and stay dry.
I did effort to make some pics from the top of our building. Looks high-tech, ha? And it is, as it is view in the direction of Science Park, where some 85% of the motherboards IN THE WORLD and the same for LCD's , is produced!

You also can see the facilities of our dorimitory. Let me start from the corridor, when we are out of room. Elevator, it is an usual element for 6 storey building, but unusual (in some parts of the world, still) is water fountain near the elevator, you can take cold, warm and boiling water there. Tap water in Hsinchu is not so bad, I was drinking it when here in 2005 and am still alive, but there is a move for filtering. I think concern is more in tubes than water itself, as there is control of public water here in Taiwan.

Here is the usual look at the top of the buildings here, washing and drying place.

Note the device for hanging and drying clothes under ceiling, it is really a good idea. There is a special rod for placing the clothes so high.
Very convenient, and I like the place I am staying in, as it is new building (I was the 1st one to move in back in 2005), landlords are nice people (they live in apartment at the top) and it is close to TsingHua University campus, where I work. I measured recently, I need 8 minutes, door-to door, by bicycle, to my work. When back, then some 12 minutes, as it is more uphill then.
My lunch today, mniammmmm! Rice-noodles with pork and some shrimps. Thanks Mala!

Visit in the library

Today we (TIARA warriors) performed massive attack to the Humanities Library of TsingHua University. Did I tell you that this University is, oficially, still part of the Beijing university of the same name? Kuomintang, and rather its impersonation in Chiang-Kai Shek, had (failed) idea of "governing" China from Taiwan. Rat thought he can eat the cheese from TV, I would say ;-).

Anyway, campus here was established because of this idea: "After the Republic of China moved to Taiwan in 1949, the University was re-installed in 1956 in Hsinchu." is from the official webpage of TsingHua University http://web.nthu.edu.tw/index-e/intro/intro.htm . We read further: "When it was reinstalled in Hsinchu, nuclear science and technology were the major accentuation. It soon expanded the programs to include sciences and engineering, and added the life sciences recently. In 1984, the University established the College of Humanities and Social Sciences that made it a delicately balanced institution. ".

So, we went to this delicate balance-Rebecca noted that that College is built on the graveyard terrain, and there are stories of a lady in white gown, eithout feets, walking around and bringing bad luck to the ones who meet her... I like these stories, remind me to some in our catholic popular culture.

Building is Escher-like, as the same architect who did the Physics department,did it. It has its land-mark: chimney, I said "like crematorium", but I learned it represents Dragon (?!). It is visible from the pics of TsingHua campus on the posts here, VERY prominent feature.

Library is well equipped, albeit a bit haphazard. I found 'The Golden Bough' by Frazer, time to read at least parts of it, also some Camus, Bernhardt, Jelinek...

I went, this way, far away from my hometown, Varazdin in Croatia, old library, where I was quite known for bookish attitude some...longer time ago.

It is interesting that no library took place in my everyday as this one in Varazdin. Maybe it is simply the fact that I moved so frequently afterwards? Also, later I was mostly buying the books I wanted to read, it became possible by emergence of Amazon (when I was in Germany). In Poland books were acessible and cheap to buy. When back in Croatia from Germany, I brought and read, all the fat books I did not have time to read before. Now they lay (and weight) on shelves improvised by me in the Kolan house, made from side-parts of old beds.

A bit about food, as usual, recently.
Coconut milk is really good when you drink it directly from the coconut:

Another fruit I present you today is what Buddha has on his head, I do not know the name, quite tasty thing, as well ripe pear, interesting.