I had a pretty great night out last night – went to VT Art Salon to see live electric geetars twinned with fiendish techno beats. Exceptionally cool, and rather nice to meet several people again that are fast becoming good friends here in Taipei. They took their time!
I took some photos on the way home – a rather sinister looking entranceway to a super gangsterish night club, a street corner, and me in a lift watching the doors close.
Stay on target
Intersection
Sliding Doors
Tonight is the night of several large Halloween parties in Taipei. I put some thought and consideration into my costume and I have decided to go as a Mormon missionary – a plague of religious righteousness that has hit Taipei straight out of Salt Lake City. As if lifted from a David Lynch movie, they appear from the middle of nowhere, squeaky clean and cookie cuttered out, passing out leaflets to unsuspecting locals. I find the whole activity sick.
Hence, I am dressing up as a blood-sucking Mormon missionary tonight! – the basis of my little anecdote;
I went shopping today for vampire teeth and blood to have pouring from my mouth. Sadly, none of the costume stores had anything suitable, so I went to the local pharmacy chain, Watsons. I announced to the cosmetics girl that I was looking for ‘blood red lip stick’, at which she relayed my request to the entire shop – “THERE IS A TALL MALE FOREIGNER LOOKING FOR BRIGHT RED LIP STICK.” I walked out with some deep rouge lippy and bright, shiny lip gloss (and even redder cheeks). I’ll see what the results are like soon when I get ready!
This is what I am after tonight – wholesome, blood sucking goodness (image courtesy of Flickr)
Update:
I easily looked scary enough without the blood … and we managed to create less of a costume and more of a disguise.
The God squad
Ludvig the Bible Basher
I had been looking for him all night
For me, Grafitti is not simply defacement of public property, but an intrisic part of urban culture – a reflection of the city, and a barometer for its political climate, sense of humour, tolerance and a thousand other things that people feel the need to express when paint hits wall.
One of the things that I miss in Taipei is having this barometer. The kids simply do not seem to want to express themselves in the ways I am used to. However, it seems the times they are a-changing, and quality artwork is appearing on the streets. Moreover, it seems to have a style not completely borrowed from New York, London, Berlin or Melbourne – and is developing in a subtly Asian way.
The highest quality work has been, without a doubt, the stencil work. Though not up to the standards of Banksy, it is pleasant, and infinitely preferable to visual pollution in the form of adverts, neon and the further commercial hijacking of our environment.
Tree frogs appearing to brighten up the concrete
Rather nice flowers – definitely asian style.
Also, one of the things I really love, is the municipal stencil work – I just spent a few minutes looking for some photos – but these will have to wait for next time.
Taipei is fast discovering a hot grass roots design scene, and it is great to be involved in it. One of the things that I have been looking for of late is ‘Campo’ – a fashion and accessories market run by the young things, with live music and a party atmosphere. I went today – and discovered some rather nice gems.
Link to Campo
Hot Dog!
The area – before the rain arrived
I found some shoe repair people here – each ‘booth’ is seperated by a wall of laces, which is rather nice I think.
Later on, I helped Rich n Nick at Keep move their store from the Breeze II centre back to their place. They are both in NZ at the moment, and really I should be there with them!
The aftermath
Keep Moving
I have finally got round to posting an entry about Andres – possibly the loudest person I have ever met, but somebody who became a great friend in his time here. He has now gone back to the US to continue study and prepare for stardom.
A native of Columbia, he was never short of the most fascinating stories. His family owns the world’s second largest balloon factory and it was a source of constant amusement for Michael and I to tease ever more ridiculous stories. The most amazing one revolved around the eagles that frequented his grand father’s office – the population convinced they were the spirit of his grand mother.
Anyway – some photos for y’all:
Well dressed as ever
Always the centre of attention – a night out with Marta and the Asus interns
Andre and I visited a coffee shop themed around the humble Thomas Crapper – sadly, the concept was not very well implemented (so much more possibility!)… and the food, served in potties, was indeed, shit.
Here’s to you Andres!
Posted rather late – so some photos of an awesome weekend of music, in one of the finest gig locations I have ever seen – at the old Taipei zoo location near the Grand Hotel.
Very special – doubly so since Andres, Nelson, Marta, Dean, Christina and others joined us. It was the second time I saw The Super Furry Animals live, and was blown away by the sure footed swagger of Dirty Pretty Things – half of the Libertines.
So, finally, some music!
Magical mystery cones – Peter rugby tackled one later on, much to the ire of the management. A case of not quite knowing how to handle foreigners in a rock festival mood.
Shoes
The star of the show
Blurry
Beer from a tea pot. No, it made sense. Apparently.
Quite the most fantastic location for a concert. The best location since seeing Mogwai in Wulai
I need to kick start my blogging again so the best way to do this is to simply upload some photos. So, here are some amusing things that I have seen on my travels of late.
A labrador seen near Danshui – shaved clean of any dignity
Dad bought this in Hong Kong … amazing
On the way home, I snatched this photo of a guy who could hardly turn he had so much foam loaded onto his scooter
One of the local tradesmen specialises in brooms and hats and taps and bowls. As you begin to tune into Chinese you begin to hear the sounds of ‘buo li’ (glass) and other household items blairing (is that a new verb?) out of pre-recorded loud-hailers
Taiwanese people like food. Taiwanese people like weapons. Taiwanese people like food shaped like weapons. (stretching the truth for the benefit of the blog)
Blimey!
I’m 27!
The detail I will remember will surely be racing around town attempting to arrange a last minute emergency Visa for China, but realising there was less than 6 months on my passport … hence an emergency application to the Hong Kong Embassy – a result of the diplomatic status of Taiwan in the international community. Hopefully, I’ll be on the plane next week!
A fantastic birthday dinner with a really great array of friends
I had a nice walk in the spring sunshine today to Ximen. I saw rather an interesting shop sliding door which caught my eye. Initially, I thought it was for accupuncture, but it turns out it was for a fortune teller. Essentially, palm-reading … but with your face.
Each point, marked with a Chinese character, indicates where it might, for example, be bad luck to have a mole or blemish.
His…
… and hers
Quite a clever little trick. Opens up the possibility of having quasi-3D adverts. Imagine a dragon flying up those stairs…
Taipei City Hall MRT Station