Midweek I had my birthday and was stoked to get so many cards in the mail, along with lots of email messages, electronic cards or messages on facebook. Thanks one and all for your thoughts: even though we’re rock solid over here now after all these years, it’s always nice to know you’re not forgotten and that people think of you from time to time.
I seem to get sucked into the organizing role of various events these days. What started as a voluntary role which I was more than happy to do, in farewelling friends like Ross and then Josh, has become almost my given role. In Lewy’s case, I was really happy to help out a bit as he’ll be greatly missed next year. We’re of a very similar vintage with similar interests (including horseracing), and of a similar political bent, globally, nationally and institutionally. I did a little ground work setting up the venue, getting the invitation done and tracking the rsvps, then making the DVD/slideshow/video.
The night was a spectacular success and we had our fellow book club members, The Craw, Kenny G and Wally H as the major part of live band QvQ, the obligatory visits from the cops to try to close us down due to noise, and the subsequent Mexican stand off as they waited, arms folded, for the band to dare to start playing again! It was pretty hilarious. There were speeches and presentations, and Lewy was kind enough to give me a special print he’d had made up almost 10 years ago of one of the first horses, Drizzle. We’d worked out a great deal with the bar where we could drink Taiwan beer or various cocktails all night for just $NT600, which was pretty cheap. As a result, and throwing in a rocking band and a late finish of 2 am, most people enjoyed a very, very good night.
Our trip down to the east coast started latish in the morning, but we relished the late start and relaxed pace of it all. I was determined to check out Nan Ao’s surf break when I knew there was not much swell around, just to see if it broke at all, and if it did, how. We had a scenic drive down and enjoyed the mountain roads once we’d dropped off the end of the expressway. The vertigo inducing drop-offs were frightening (for me) and the azure colours stunning. The light offshore breeze dusted the surface of the sea to make it picture perfect and we stopped at a few lookouts along the way to drink in the view. Nan Ao was indeed pretty flat, but we’re quite intrigued with this area and wondering why there is no building near the coast. Perhaps, it is just too far away from Taipei to be attractive. Apart from one immense duck farm and a quilt of verdant rice paddies, there is nothing in sight.
Driving back, the beach at Su Ao was pretty but the surf was small and weak. Wushi Harbour on the other hand was strong and bigger, but we were stunned by the swollen crowd: it just always seems packed here. The Taj Mahal (so called for the adjacent mosque) was the choice, and I had a short but pleasant surf there while Cass dozed under a stand of shade trees up on the promenade. An interesting recent development at Taj is a hotel which has sprung up with gleaming white façade and little turrets mirroring its “big brother” next door! In fact the whole rate of development in this area is phenomenal: it’s a far cry from when Ross and I stumbled upon a bucolic backwater after our excruciating mountain drive some seven years ago.
Photos: at the deserted Nan Ao, scenic lookout, koi carp for sale!, me getting a small wave at the Taj.