Mark has set up a web site specifically for the mountain bikers in Taiwan … the old expats of Yang Ming Shan to write their tales from around the world…
Look out for more posts.
Blog
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Lane 33
Rather dramatic lighting for a lane near Jhongxiao and Dunhua meant I could not resist taking a quick photo.
Lane 33 – Alley of the stars -
Guns and Roses London Fan Club
Guns and Roses London Fan Club
The old days in London! I’ll be seeing you rockers in the new year.
“Slippery When Wet”
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The Office Dogs
Max is sadly so hilarious to look at in the office today after his fight with Gi-Li that I had to take photos. He is more or less addicted to licking things – especially my trousers, for some reason – so this has rather deprived him of his primary past-time. Gi-Li, looks on looking rather guilty. I’ll capture some pictures of the rather well-endowed Poky this week. You will not believe your eyes.
Max, looking a bit sorry for himself
“Who? – Me?!” -
ADSL !
Finally, after 10 weeks of waiting, we now have fast internet in the apartment. Ironically, I am sitting in the same position on the corner of my bed, where the old bootleg wireless connection was strongest.
Now I need a desk and chair and finally I’ll get my room in a state I am happy with.
Happy Happy Joy Joy!
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Wanko
HK clothing brand that makes me laugh! A great social weekend and a solo mountain bike ride on Sunday to test ride my new disc brakes. Unfortunately, I missed the morning (national holiday) ride due to hangover issues … but you can’t have everything … and I feel I made up for it by studying Chinese for a few hours. Such is life in Taiwan – I always feel guilty if I am not doing something constructive here. It contrasts with the UK, where I am perfectly happy to sit in the garden staring at clouds all afternoon. I guess the pace and culture are infectious.
Wanko -
The Daily Commute
My daily commuteI wanted to put some effort into logging some of my (now) more mundane activites, which upon reflection may not be so standard for you folks back home. For those that do not know, I scooter to work each day on my trusty ‘Duke’ and this is one of the places where the lights catch me each day for a couple of minutes. It is in these minutes that I sometimes get a bolt from the blue reminding me that I am in the South China Sea – particularly when I pause below the Grand Hotel near to my office. Still an arresting site, even after so much time here.One thing that I have realised is that my life back home is as exotic for the locals as it is the other way around. So many assumptions and stereotypes have been squashed by by time here … and an equal number reinforced! And it is of course funny to talk to them to hear what their views on what our lives are like back in Europe.
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Fortune Telling
A great weekend!
Amongst other nice things, I met Anita from Hong Kong and her friend. I took the time to take them to Shilin night market where we sampled foods, had portraits cut with scissors and where I was persuaded me to get my fortune told.
The Hong Kong guys, and their first time in Shilin night marketUsually, I am quite against these things – astrology, palm reading and so on – but in the spirit of hosting I agreed. The system is uninteligible in its entirety, but there was certainly plenty of mysterious clicking and shouting numbers and important looking magnets. Suitably impressed, I sat back, taking my palms with me, and waited to listen to the outcome.
The fortune telling system – I won’t pretend I can explain itI am fairly sure this is really supposed to be a secret, but if you don’t tell anyone I won’t either…
The crux of the conclusion is that I am descended from Aliens and it is they that are guiding me through my life. It also explains any particular special powers that I have, such as the ability to read people’s minds’, which will look great on my resumé. Enthralled, I listened to the man speak – though I have to be honest and admit that Anita did the translating. Finally, he recommended that I take a trip to Egypt at some point in the future to reconnect with the beings.
Their deity / lead priest / boss. A scary child – boy or girl!?
Anita and I after a few beers at Rich’s studio -
Dior Dahling
We had been looking forward to the Dior party for some time – held to commemorate the launch of the ‘Crystal’ ladies’ watch and hosted in the new stadium on Nanjing and Dunhu. A handsome building.
Dior – CrystalThe show’s invites instructed guests to be sure to wear warm clothing – it cryptically stated that the temperature could go as low as 18 degrees Celsius (positively Baltic!). Entering the stadium, it became immediately obvious why – the event was being held on an ice rink, with a strip of ice for the runway. Imaginative.
The show started out promisingly enough, if rather Taiwanese. A very elegant ice skater gracefullty pirueted (check the spelling on that later!) her way up and down the strip in time with soothing music, indicating some kind of narative. No such danger.
She departed and a pair of striking models strutted down either side flashing the watches, making for what turned out to be the pole dancing stage. Sadly / hilariously one fell over on a patch of melted ice and this introduced us to the remainder of the show, which was really rather naff – models pouting on next to pole miles away from the VIP / celebrity area (where I was enjoying the sports bottles of Champagne). Comedic value of models showing off the same watches for twenty minutes waned rather, but the Champagne took the edge off the boredom.
The DEM guys – Rick, Charlotte, Rachel, Berti and IThe next section completely baffled me. A man in a dark cape entered the ice arena, clearly tip-toeing for fear of his cranium. The chandalier at the centre of the stage descended and he dropped his cape to reveal he was a HUMAN DISCO BALL. Every inch of his skin was covered in mirror tiles, and the laser beams simultaneously pointing at him made sure your could not forget that fact. It also turns out he was incredibly flexible, and walked around very slowly flexing and bending. And then he left. And then I drank more Champagne. The End.
The Human Disco Ball! -
Classic
National Theatre at the Chang Kai Shek Memorial Hall – my Boss’ great grand dad.Paul, a Taiwanese musician friend, invited me out today with a group of friends for his birthday. Rather stylishly, we saw the Russian Philharmonia Symphony Orchestra of Moscow perform some numbers from Shostakovic (spelling I am sure is wrong) and some other dead guys. Rather special. Especially as we had front row seats – sweat off the musicians included in the price. But no bar at half time!
Front row seats!