Day 6 - health lecture and museum

Hey travel journal,
Another long day but it was very nice. We got up and had breaky, and then headed over to the lecture hall for a lecture on public health and exercise. The lady giving the lecture was a Qut graduate who came over to study nursing and then came straight back to Taiwan and started working for the government. She talked about a new initiative that incorporates health, fitness and exercise. They have 20 buses that travel around and provide health checks including blood tests and mammograms and more to the rural communities. The rural communities only sometimes have a small medical clinic and there are very few ambulance services in those areas. They also offer incentives to people to come and use the services including washing power or garbage bags (because they have to use certain bags). And will sometimes have raffles for I pads and other items. They do a lot for the community and are currently focusing on promoting, increasing and maintaining health in people of all ages (especially since a doctor - dermatologist - is the vice president of the country). This is especially the case as cancers are by far the highest killer in Taiwan and they are trying to reduce overall costs and mortality by catching them early. Then we went back to the room and chilled out for a bit while a group load of washing was on, and then we jumped on the MRT and then a bus and went to the national museum. It was pretty cool and massive. Three levels with different things in each section from paintings, calligraphy, jade, stone, iron, ceramicd and a pretty cool interaction IT centre where Sophie, Sam and Sara and I just took our time and checked out all the items. Then after a shop in gift shop (I got some souvenirs), a group photo and checking out the view we headed back into town and went to an awesome restaurant for dinner. No idea what it was called but it had a massive plastic dumpling man out the front and I ordered the pork fried rice and sophie and I shared some dumplings and there was complimentary jasmine tea which was so good. Then we went to a stationary store that had multiple levels and it was so cool. We got to the top level and I found this neck pillow that you like put your arms through, it's like a ball and had a cats face and is black and the softest thing you ever felt! And once I picked it up, that was it, I didn't put it down, I had to buy it. Then we headed down to a shaved ice store and got a few to share between us. Salami, Tony and I shared a mixed Berry with liche shaved ice bowl and it was amazing. After that we headed back full and happy but very tired as we got back at 11.20pm and did the nightly shower routine and now it's time to pass out because we have to get up early for an 8am start :s night xoRead more