Three days

Back from Beijing. A little sad and shaken, as expected, but happy too, with many good memories to cherish. Three intense and exhausting days, doing many things that I will tell about as soon as I can.

And my company? As you can guess, excellent and lovely. Very special.

NNW

Life has a knack for taking very curious turns. A little more than three months ago, I could say the day, hour and the place exactly, I denied I could ever do what I am about to do. I was not believed, of course, but I deeply truly believed it. After all the things that have happened, and because life goes on and I refuse to chase ghosts or negative people, I am about to cross the South China Sea again, to visit someone very special to me and to enjoy (hopefully) three very nice days.

Life is always surprising, especially when after the rain, the Sun comes out again.

Elections

One of the good things of being in a country so far away from your own is that you do little things that you would never imagine you would do. For instance, last Sunday, I got together with three other Japanese in a bar close to the Taipei 101 to see the F1 —well, as the ones who know me can say, I am not a big fan of it, but it was an excellent excuse to do something. The place is a Gordon Biersch bar, an American brewing company that brings me some good memories from years back.

So, what was the unexpected thing? Following live the results of the Japanese elections, through the web of one of the biggest Japanese newspapers, seeing all the funny little cartoonish animations, and all the political commentary of my companions. Very interesting.

Good-byes

Xavi and Anna, the first two visitors I have had at home in Taiwan, left yesterday. As I write, they must be flying back to Barcelona after spending almost three weeks in Taiwan. I think that they had a good time here in the end, with all the hikes, trips and natural phenomena.

It is not surprising that having somebody staying at home changes the usual pattern of my life, and everything becomes a little bit more disorganized, but I think it was really good for me to have them here these last few days and be able to talk with them or just go out. I think I will miss them now, specially if I look at the pathetic state of my social life here. It still amazes me that after so many years of saying goodbye —even if it was generally me the one leaving— I still have a lump in my throat when the moment arrives. In any case, the experience has been positive and that is the important thing.

Hiking

When black clouds gather inside my head, a way out is to meet some friends around a table and spend some time to see if the conversation, jokes or serious stuff manage to cheer me up and I end up walking out with a lively step and flying again over my worries. Besides, if they also ask me if I want to go hiking on the following day, the best thing to do is to say yes.

So, Saturday morning, I met with some other post-docs met at the Taipei Main Station, took the MRT to Beitou, then a taxi to Zhuzihu (Bamboo Lake, even if there is no lake and few bamboo trees) to hike in the Yangmingshan National Park, north of Taipei.

As I have probably said more than once, Taipei is surrounded by mountains, around 1000 m high, and Yangmingshan is supposed to be one of the more beautiful places. I had wanted to go for months, but I only did it for the first time yesterday. It was a wonderful sunny day, as many of previous ones,

which meant that it was very hot and the Sun was bound to burn you.

After a good meal, and under the naked Sun —I could almost hear the prototypical old man complaining about the time we were setting off, but the company was like that—, we took the trail that lead to Xiaoyoukeng

made of stones and/or steps, going up, gently in some parts, steeply in others. The initial part of the trail was flanked by a thick forest of different kinds of trees, bamboo trees among them,

traversed by many different sounds, butterflies of many colors (and oh so beautiful)


colourful fireflies


and full of plants with odd leaves.


Once we were up there, the landscape had changed from the initial forest, to pine trees to a kind of tall grassland without any trees, and later we could see the fumaroles at the feet of Qixingshan, while we recovered from the walk (listening to Abba, by the way)


Some of us climbed up Qixingshan (the 7 star mountain), of 1120 m, the tallest mountain of northern Taiwan. I really enjoyed it, pushing myself up the very steep steps that took us there. We found several fumaroles more on our way up, and were subjected to the changing wind and Sun, sweating a lot.

We could see Taipei at our feet on some parts of the trail, even if the air was not so clear as we would have wished.

At the top, we had a magnificent view of the North-East coast to reward our effort —I could even see Yehliu— with a very clear sky and that great feeling that comes from reaching the summit, it does not matter how small.


We climbed down on the other side of the mountain, where there were similar or even steeper slopes, even if they were short, and we managed to catch the last bus to Taipei.

One of the postdocs asked me later, while we had dinner, what was the goal of hiking, to get tired?. I do not know, but for me, it is that mix of walking in nature, reach a beautiful place and stress my body with exercise, which on some day, and while I am still healthy, it is the best thing to do. A clean body, a clean spirit.

Buff

A day late, of course. What seemed that was coming, which was very probable to happen, but I never ever wanted, has finally happened. Now, I will have to breathe deeply a lot and see what we can do. It won't be easy. Buff!


At least, I could listen to "Waterloo" & "Dancing Queen" up in the mountain today, which is always a reason to be happy.

Shopping

It is difficult to believe, I have been one year in Taipei and I did not go shopping for clothes until yesterday. Yes, I have bought foods, things for my apartment, some gifts, books and similar things too before, but I never did that thing of going to one shop, and then another to see if I found anything to wear. Yesterday, a night walk around the Gongguan night market, even if I was there more for my nice company than for me, but I saw some interesting things. I must go back soon. For once, I did not just walk by all the little shops in those streets. A new dimension.

St Jordi

St Jordi's Day (St George's Day) in the distance always feel very strange. To me, it is one of the more magical days in Catalonia, with roses and books, Spring in full bloom and, usually, accompanied with good weather (or that is how I always remember it). When you are away, you cannot see the flower and book stalls, people on the streets, with roses in their hands, couples meeting, the smell of the air, the particular light of that day, all that. Far away, it is not a special day for people around you, but it is still for you. And I always did something on this day if I could.


Today, after days of rain and clouds, we had a very sunny day, a blue sky with white clouds, and warm, as it should be. Perfect to remind me what day it was, even on the far end of Asia.

And yes, I could find a red rose, small but very pretty, to give to a beautiful girl.

Danshui

We had a wonderful Saturday this weekend, like last week. It seemed as if somebody had really worked hard to get us perfect weather. The Sun was burning and it was very warm, when we arrived to Danshui just before 4pm, but it was not too bad because we are still in April.

We then walked along the market that follows the river, in the direction of its mouth. As we expected, it was very crowded. With all the many shops, the things being sold in them, people performing on the street, it was the very definition of the mix of colors, sounds and smells.



With many different things on offer too. From panda bears, which you can find anywhere in Taipei these days,

to imported foreign machinery.


We then walked on until we reached a short pier, where we sat down for a while enjoyng the nice Sun, the sea breeze and the small waves in this mix of river and ocean.


Waiting for the sunset.


Later, excellent dinner, dessert and a walk along the bike path that follows the river bank, as far as the next MRT station. A true pleasure, to walk in the dark, with the smells, sounds and the better feelings of the night around us.

A really wonderful day.

Wow

And that is all I can say right now.

More farewell parties

March. New post-docs are surely about to arrive, but at least one, Youhei, is going back to Japan. A funny guy that arrived here a month ahead of me. We had a farewall dinner for him last Thursday. At Shao Shao Ke, a northern Chinese food restaurant in Taipei, also remembered by lots of graffiti on the walls and ceiling.


The food is very good. The typical dessert, made from deep fried cheese ans sugar, is excellent; but it has to be ordered in advance.

A night of eating and drinking.