Hisaishi Conducts Hisaishi

Roy Thomson Hall

好久不见 !

I finally visited China again after leaving during the height of the pandemic in 2020. This visit was leisurely - slow days filled with spring flowers, cats, and auntie’s homecooked food.

It's unsettling when you visit the place that used to house you: buried memories of everyday life (both good and bad), the familiarity of the people that were once a consistent presence in your life, and the uncertainty if you will ever get to experience this all again.

Until next time, Romeow.

EXCLUSIVE EXPRESS TOUR OF TAIPEI

I was stopping over in Taipei for a few quick days this spring and I wanted to make the most of it. Luckily I had a “tour guide” (ie. friend) who led me on a whirlwind tour in and around Taipei. One of the perks of having a local show you around is he handled all the planning, navigating, and talking - I told him what I was interested in seeing and thankfully he figured out the logistics!

The View from Elephant Mountain

Dadaocheng Pier 

Even in the spring time, Taipei is hot. I can’t imagine it in the dead of summer. We did the hike up Elephant Mountain (which is basically just 20 minutes of stairs) but it was sunny, humid, and the temperature was in the mid-30s. We were both drenched by the end.

Maokong Gondola

Taiwan is so very mountainous, which is beautiful to see but I imagine this can make it a bit difficult to get around. We took the Maokong Gondola and went high up into the mountains. The crystal cabins of the gondola have a clear floor so you can see the forest below - it's a bit trippy to be so high up.

We were able to do a day trip out to Jiufen, the city that is famous for inspiring the beautiful imagery of Spirited Away but not actually. We wandered the alleys of the Old Street and grabbed different souvenirs and food along the way, including a stop at the famous Amei Teahouse for some sweets and tea. 

Amei Teahouse

Jiufen wasn't nearly as crowded as the pictures I've seen online, perhaps because we went on a day it was supposed to rain. There was actually a thunderstorm that morning and the rain flooded the streets so much that the cockroaches came out onto the sidewalk. Luckily, the rain eventually cleared up and our afternoon in Jiufen was breezy and rain-free.

Everyone uses a bubble tea cup holder, so I got one as well due to FOMO.

One of the highlights of this trip were the many night markets. I ate frog eggs (not actually), chicken ass (actually), Taiwanese sausage with sticky rice, oyster omelette, stinky tofu with Taiwanese kimchi, a lot of fried chicken, grilled mochi, super long french fries, tanghulu, and more! Everything except the french fries were worth it. I demanded to go to a night market every day.

Songshan Cultural and Creative Park 

I basically ate a lot and shopped a lot. My tour guide thought of all the classic Taiwanese dishes for me to try, like pork belly rice bowl, beef noodle, and xiaolongbao from Din Tai Fung! I got one of those Gaji market bags and it was a hit with my mom. My dad got a Taiwanese beer glass, which was also a hit because he enjoys alcohol. 

Perhaps the most memorable experience was living through Taiwan’s biggest earthquake in 25 years. Of course, at the time, I was not aware of the magnitude of this earthquake until I got a bunch of messages from friends and family asking if I was ok. Everything was shaking but I survived. Admittedly, I was woefully ignorant of proper earthquake procedures, so it's a good thing I wasn't at the epicentre.

The View from Taipei 101

Wuji Tianyuan Temple

My time in Taiwan was too short. I loved every part of this brief trip and there is so much more I want to do. Eventually I will return... and hopefully my Mandarin will have improved by then.

The End of April

We went for a walk amongst the blossoms - apparently not cherry blossoms, possibly crabapple, but still pretty. I am slowly emerging from my winter hibernation as spring settles in and nature blooms. Sunshine and pretty flowers make me want to explore the world, no more hiding away from the cold. Never underestimate the power of a good walk!