Attitude - I'm not a big expert, but I'd say a nice necklace or some red flowers with a few small teddybears should do it for the first time. I'd be a bit careful about girls from the web, there are many scams or exploits out there, but if you're sure about what you're doing - good luck.

jacthques - Thanks, that's always nice to hear. Sure, you can link as much as you want :P

David - yeah, I believe we have shortly debated and perhaps at times disagreed on this topic before on your blog.

I'm not saying foreigners aren't entitled to their own opinions and that if they have an opinion they shouldn't express it. Yet, there are a few things to be said about the way it should be done, and the point I'm referring to here is that bashing, as opposed to constructive culture-sensitive criticism, is often the case with foreigners when judging others rather than one self. It's especially troubling when expats go into a glorification of their own cultural and national background, coming from a stand point of superiority and higher knowledge-skills-understanding than locals.

When it comes to China, Taiwan, and especially Israel I sometimes support the view that foreigners do not understand their target of criticism as they rarely speak the local language, know anything about the local culture and norms, and live off scraps of translated information through a self-serving politically-biased international media. I've even seen that with world renowned called experts who - as far as my limited understanding allows me - are at times severely lacking in their perception of simple situations (as I'm sure I do too). It's not to say that their views should be ignored, but that they should perhaps be more sensitive and follow what you wrote in your last paragraph.

cfimages - you're my hero. ^_^

Seriously, I've always wanted to know more about photography, but the insane costs of equipment, how heavy the whole thing is, and the fact that nowadays everybody's into it kind of puts me off the whole thing. You are among the selected few that have managed, somehow - not sure how, to turn this into a livable profession. I've seen quite a few talented folks who have invested alot of their lives and finances into it and are still struggling to make their way (you probably know Tainan's Garret).

Carrie - Glad to hear things are working out with Wordpress (love what you did with your blog, looks very professional) although you seem to be running from one health incident to the other? Is that Taiwan related or just bad luck?

Hopefully, will keep having interesting stuff 'round this parts to write about.

Nitzan - as you can clearly see in the garbage truck photo, the photo was taken from the Starbucks next to the university looking at Chimei cafe (sign saying "daxue rd." in Taiwanese Pinyin). Those trucks are all over Tainan. If you haven't noticed them so far, I say - lucky!

RanE - ^_^ Well, it's perfect but not without flaws :P . The Japanese guy casted has horrible Mandarin, the Taiwanese girl can't really act very well, and some of the historical facts are questionable (were Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu such good friends? probably not). Still, I've been told by some of my Taiwanese friends that this movie does a much better job than most TV dramas made on the period so far, historical accuracy issues included.

PaserbyJ - Thanks for the names, looking good, indeed.

PaserbyJ - Oh wow. I have to say that I've been in Tainan for quite a while but never saw anything quite like this girl :) Yeah, I agree, she's gorgeous.
She looks like a very traditional girl :) ( http://fashion-photography-album.blogspot.com/200... )

Any other recommendations?

PasserbyJ - "Akemi Katsuki was born in Brazil, but growed up in Tokyo. Now at 20 and based in Taiwan, she is dubbed as the hottest pin-up girl in Taiwan after supermodel Lin Chi Ling." I guess someone thought she's considered to be Taiwanese.