Argentina phenomena/ Carlos Pueblo

Argentina phenomena/ Carlos Pueblo

A news on today’s newspaper says, Argentina new president, Malicio. Macris

begins his political reformation by reversing his predecessor , Cristina Kirshner’s

policy such as no tax on export, decrease income tax, replace central bank chair,

replace two supreme court judges, He doesn’t believe that Argentina has time

to wait. He also abolishes the nation’s two exchange rates, one official bank rate

and one black market rate. Let the nation deal with actual market rate of the

national currency peso. I am very impressed with Argentina after two weeks

staying in the capital city, Buenos Aires. I call it the Argentina Phenomena, what

phenomena am I talking about? The national territory is so huge, 80 times larger

than Taiwan, 10 times bigger than Texas and yet only 41 million population.

Farming land is so rich and produce is so huge, yet the nation is struggling, even

though Argentina is still a bright hope among the South American nations and a

hope for foreign immigrants.

Currency exchange rate will be following the market rate to reflect the real

situation of Argentina peso. Throughout the years, Argentina owes a lot of

foreign debt and the nation has a hard time to repay it; therefore, I can see

why the new policy to waive tax on export to gain much needed U.S. dollars.

Argentina still posts U.S. dollars control and the exporter is required to change

his foreign payment to peso and Argentina central bank will hold the foreign

currency. This is a common practice for the developing nations such as China

and Taiwan before 1985. After the abolishment of two exchange rate, the

peso formerly de-valued, the government must face the inflation at the present.

Within the city limit of Buenos Aires or a little bit of nearby metropolitan area,

you can enjoy very good mass transit systems, subway,  bus and a short distance

of light rail. Outside of the city, you can only rely on buses and I have no experience

of freeway systems if they are available. I could not find a reasonable transportation

to visit three places, Iquazu Fall, Mendoza Vineyard, and Formosa Province due to

high cost of airfare and bus tickets.

After the trip, I pay more attention to the domestic cities of the U.S. I really need to

visit at least 50 of U.S. cities in order to feel the progress of modern architecture in

compare with a city like Buenos Aires of the past glory.

Formosan of Argentina/ Carlos Pueblo

Formosan of Argentina/ Carlos Pueblo

I had walked across the June 9^th Avenue several times when I was in Buenos

Aires, Argentina and every time, I would run into the protest of Argentina

Federal Government from the Formosan of Argentina. These had brought me

back to the last 40 years of my life in the United States for our protest of

Chinese rule in Formosa, or  Taiwan. We also call ourselves Formosa and Formosan

to distinguish ourselves from Chinese and most of the educated Argentina understands

it. Formosan of Argentina are aboriginal Indian. They occupied the pedestrian island

between Ave Venezuela and Ave Belgrano, built tents city and hanged banners. One

day, I took some pictures on their gathering on the street sides, the next day I walked

on Belgrano across 9 of June and asked a man in charge and regretted that my Spanish

was not in the level of political discussion yet I did see murder and persecution on the

post and I liked to know what was going on. On the next morning, that was the 4^th time

I passed by, I got a help from a Brazilian lady’s help, she spoke good English. She indicated

That they would end the protest on that day because the new President Malicio Macris

agreed to meet them.

Several years ago, I planned to have my dental in-plan work done in Buenos Aires. I noticed

the province named Formosa and the National University of Formosa exactly the same name

of Taiwan also called Formosa and the National Formosa University at my hometown Huwei,

Taiwan, Formosa, a Portuguese name for the beautiful. I would like to take some pictures of

the Formosa U for the memory of Formosa U at Huwei where I used to teach in the 70’s. The

authority abolished the old senior high school campus to build a new institute later became

the Formosa U in 2006 while Argentina Formosa U inherited the original National University

of the Northeast to National Formosa U in 1988. Instead of going to visit the campus physically

, I did visit the Formosan to protest their government in Buenos Aires, the capital city.

I brought back a very simple flyer of their demand to the hostel and asked the manager to

explain to me. He shook his head and agreed what it said on the flyer. It has been 523 years

ever since the European have colonized the land Formosa, it still has no progress at all. This

reminds me what the ancient Confucius talking, it’s a shame that you’re rich when the nation

is out of order; you can speak and act with no restraint when the nation is in order; yet act

directly for your purpose and speak carefully when the nation is out of order. The order means

the rule of law. Confucius also says that it’s a shame if you are rich while the nation is in turmoil

while you are poor when the nation is prosperous and in good order.

I must admit that I am very frustrated when I see such a wealthy nation as Argentina has such

a phenomenal where citizen are asking for help quite that often. 

Tips for European trips/ Carlos Pueblo

Tips for European trips/ Carlos Pueblo

I was very fortunate to run into three European tourists at the hostel in Buenos

Aires, Argentina. All three gives me some tips for my European tours next year.

I am going to have two months trip each next year to Europe, in April and September.

I’ll take a re-positioned cruise from Houston to Barcelona, Spain in April and with

The same ship back to Houston in October, of course I’ll have a round trip to fly

back and to Houston from Frankfurt, Germany in between.

First, I met Julian Von Usslar, a well learned young engineer from north Germany.

He said with such long time available in Europe, I should take a side trip to Istanbul,

Turkey for at least a week. The air fare is about 100 Euro from any of German city

to that city by Turkish Air Line because there are 3.5 millions of Turks live and work

in Germany. Istanbul is amazing that I have been told all the time. He says that sipping

sweet Turkish tea across the strait connecting Asia and Europe is like in the heaven.

On our brief exchange, we did cover a lot of territory and I was very amazed how broad

this young man knew, Sarajevo, Bosnia, Richard Holbrook, Dayton Accord, Santiago

Walk, Mt. Denali, Thich Nhat Hanh, Hakka, etc. He said German race has nothing to do

with Attila Huns, nothing related to Asia Huns as I asked him. We did have touched

Immanuel Kant, the philosopher from Konigsberg, East Prussia where his grand parents

were from. He didn’t know Kant’s book yet he recommended a book to read. I told him that

I knew Kant due to that Viet -Namese monk about phenomenal and nominal world,

horizontal and vertical which affected me ever since I read his book.

When I arrive Barcelona, I would go directly to a small nation on Franco-Spanish boulder,

Andorra for a visit. A young French lady, Helene Billand, drew a map for me. Then northward

to Toulouse,Rodez her hometown, then Lyon, Paris. I can also take a train across the middle

of France to Bordeaux, a famous wine country. She recommends me visit the Eastern European countries especially Slovenia.

I showed her drawing to another German senior, Jurgen Kurz, he said that was very closed to

his hometown, Freiburg, on the bank of River Rhine. I was very pleased that at least I knew

where to go in April, 2016.

Shopping at downtown Buenos Aires/ Carlos Pueblo

Shopping at downtown Buenos Aires/ Carlos Pueblo

I went on shopping at downtown Buenos Aires, Argentina for leather belts,

Leather shoes, leather jackets. It is very difficult to believe that my main

Function to visit the city is shopping and walking to the streets of downtown.

I was a little bit of concern for the stack of 100 peso bill which I exchanged

from a foreign currency service. I didn’t feel fair to use my credit to buy anything

due to the official rate was 60% less than my exchange rate, yet carrying out those

pesos worried me very much. I felt more secure if I converted to purchase items

and stored in my luggage inside my hostel room.

First visit to Recoleta Cemetery was on Saturday, there was open air market inside

the park. I was looking for any of the items listed above and I found 4 leather belts.

I have had bad experience to purchase leather belt on a cruise trip which took me

a lot of anxiety because of a fake leather product. I tried to look at some stores in

Taipei, Taiwan and got leather sandals instead. This time was my lucky try, I had

had 4 with a 10% discount with total 720 pesos, about U.S. $14 each. I replaced my

34 years old belt immediately so the risk of losing all four becoming three.

My roommate David took me to take the subway, Subte, to Mayo Square, la Plaza

de Mayo, to find another open air market on the next day, Sunday. We did find it

and I believed the street name was Peru on the other side of Florida. The entire

street side was full of stores. I did find a leather jacket stand and purchased 2 man’s

jackets with David’s Spanish language help. That was 3000 pesos and the lady owner

said if I kept on negotiating down the price, she would go back to Houston with me.

It was about 25 years ago, I bought a leather jacket made in China for U.S. $100 and

was not as good as these two in quality and style fashion. When I returned home, I

give one to my son Arthur and found out he has already had a sheep skin leather jacket

as a gift from his aunt 10 years before and never wears it due to Houston weather.

At an advice from a young Chinese grocer on Avenida Rivadavia near the Congress Square,

I walked 18 blocks on Avenida Venezuela tried to find San Jose to search shoes store.

He said that I might get a better deal outside of tourist area. I didn’t find Av. San Jose

yet I did find a good shoes store on the corner of Peru and Venezuela, actually it was not

too far from the tourists center. The sale lady Graceta, speaking good English, helped me

to negotiate the price in two different days, so I bought a pair of short boots and a pair of

dress shoes for 2600 pesos.

Finally, I was wondering on Av. Florida and a soliciting sale inviting me to a  fashion store.

The sale lady claimed that the store would accept U.S. credit card for an exchange rate of

1:15 called on line purchase. I bought a lady jacket for U.S. $150 for a gift to Amy. It fits

very well for her.

Taking a bus to Palermo, Buenos Aires/ Carlos Pueblo

Taking a bus to Palermo, Buenos Aires/ Carlos Pueblo

Palermo is a district of Buenos Aires with admiring real estate price which

people recommend me to visit. I took number 61 bus from Avenida Pasco

through Congress building area and circle a lot of city to the end station.

The beautiful building is not quite similar with Houston rich oil man mansions

such as River Oaks subdivision or New York city Long Island Oyster Bay, is a high

rising or semi high rising architecture and the real estate quote price is based

on U.S. dollars.

Passing by an army barrack, los regimentos de infanteria, with some soldiers

cleaning the complex. Actually it looks more like a beautiful office campus

than an army barrack. A unique Islamic center is next yet it was not open

for visitor on that day. I kept on walking to enter a pretty shopping center with

a McDonald store to have an ice cream and exit to meet a small group of handsome

dogs resting on the ground of a park. This is the entrance of a city park with a

beautiful rose garden. This is one of the best rose gardens which I have visited in

many cities including U.S. and Europe. Out of the garden, I was on Avenida del

Libertador and passing by a beautiful Japanese Garden which I decided to pass due

To my next trip to Japan in January. The building becomes more and more pretty,

some of them are foreign embassies. I walked toward a shining metal art work,

Floralis Generica which means general flowers. Before I went to the metal flower

Park, again I ran into a group of 16 dogs on their routine walk to a common area of

the plaza of Chile and Uruguay.

A young man with piggy tail and beard were walking 16 dogs across two intersections

on Avenida Pte Figueroa Alcorta to enter the park. He had had two dogs, one in the

front and one in the back, to herd 14 others, of course with a  belt each dog to be

controlled. I followed them to the park and I took a nap on a bench for an hour until

they were ready to leave. It was a beautiful day indeed.

Floralis Generica is a new park with a unique design. Next to the park is the University

of Buenos Aires campus. It is free for students to have college education and this benefit

also extends to foreign students. I walked toward Recoleta Cemetery again to visit the

old church and Eva Peron. I walked back toward the Congress building on Avenida Callao

until I was tire and took the subway back to the hostel.

Visiting Chinatown in Buenos Aires, Argentina/ Carlos Pueblo

Visiting Chinatown in Buenos Aires, Argentina/ Carlos Pueblo

When I am at an oversea trip, I always like to find a Chinatown for its food

And I have had a very good memory for its cost. I know that there are

Immigrants from Taiwan and I like to visit their village, or machi in Japanese

, or barrio in Spanish. I found this barrio chino between Avenida Juramento

y Avenida Mendoza from a recommendation of a new Chinese merchant on

Avenida Rivadavia nearby the congreso nacional. Many Chinese immigrants

Inform me that Taiwanese immigrants are still in the city and well established.

It took one or two transfer subway to reach Jaramento station and I walked

one block to see Avenida Mendoza. Instead of intersection, both streets are

parallel and south of the railroad track is Chinatown. It is quite new in compare

with general oversea Chinatown and has been established since 2007 with

lots of controversial, a strong resentment from local Taiwanese population, and

the arch donation 500,000 pesos from Chinese government are in violation of

city building code, in violation of diplomatic procedure of the department of

foreign affairs etc. I found out the information on the internet after returning

home indeed a Formosan Presbyterian Church staff did tell me the story. That

church is across a Taiwanese owner supermarket, Eastern Asia, which is a permanent

place to get information of Taiwanese immigrants. According to estimate, Taiwanese

immigrants shrink to 10,000 while Chinese population reaches to 200,000 now a day.

I got the Taiwanese immigrants information from a brief conversation at a pizza

restaurant by a railroad stop. I guess now the name is barrio chino on Jaramento.

She referred me to Eastern Asia store, yet I found the church and Chinese school

across the street. It was very interesting to meet my fellow Taiwanese in such a

strange country. This lady and her co-worker stopped their work and chatted with

me for a while. I had had my questions of this rich nation answered. I am very

impressed such small church, about 100 members can obtain a big church with

school facility and function.

Before the church visit, I did take a train ride to the city of Tiger at the end of the

track. The train is on the way to a suburban passing by many beautiful subdivions

which we call in Texas.

Walking down the street of Buenos Aires/ Carlos Pueblo

Walking down the street of Buenos Aires/ Carlos Pueblo

Metro transit pass is offered at Ezeiza terminal A for 20 peso which is

Why I get first 100 peso rate 1:9 plus 58 peso ATM fee. In my two weeks

Staying, I walk most of the time with some bus and subway in between.

All three transportation mean passes the congress building, Congresso

Nacional, then down to Avenida de Mayo, the famous boulevard to the

Plaza de Mayo. This is the beginning of the European architecture which

Is showing on the pictures of the city all over the world.               

 I turn left on Avenida 9 de Julio, the independent boulevard, toward a

Monument, like Washington Monument, called el 9 de Julio also in

Memory of the independent. I see that I pass the Plaza de la Republica

And I do not stop. It is still quite early for the local business yet I do have

an opportunity to get a haircut and my Spanish is still at the beginner’s

stage and cannot quite follow the number above 10, 16 or 60 etc. I try to

go back to the plaza of republic but run into a tip guide group in front of

the French Embassy. I join them to the Recoleta Cemetery where I visit

the tombstone of Evita Durante, Eva Peron, Don’t cry for me Argentina.

It is Saturday, there are open air stand stores inside the park. I look for

some man’s belt and buy 4 of them and I am very pleased. I follow the city

map on Avenida Callao all the way back to the Congress building and find

my way back to the hostel. How many miles have I walked? I believe more

than 10 miles on a pair of tennis shoes.