A four day weekend was just the ticket for us, a reward for a hectic few weeks leading up to the break with meetings, compulsory social events and testing/grading leading up. We decided to stay put in Taipei for the duration as we couldn't really summon the requisite energy or enthusiasm to get overseas or even another venue on-island.
As it turns out, it was just as well as Cassy succumbed to another bout of bronchitis on Wednesday. Scurrying down to see the mercurial and questionably capable Dr. Tseng in her lesson break, she managed to get drugged up quickly and managed to stave off the worst of the illness so it didn't ruin her break. As work loomed this morning, she had a bit of a relapse, but I think it might be partly psychological!
It's always great to get out and about in the city during regular working days as we get precious few opportunities to enjoy it without the pressing weekend hordes. We had relaxed breakfasts and lunches, wandered the shops and open spaces, and generally reveled in the space and comfort of just a few thousand people out and about. Isn't it sweet to partake of decadent pastimes while everyone else is beavering away?
We had a lingering brunch at 1bite2go before taking some rock memorabilia (two signed albums), a Japanese banzuke and some Merewether panoramas to the picture framers. Ross took a great panoramic sweep on the new Bather's Way at Dickson Park on their trip to see us in June, and we'd ordered two enlargements to bring back over here. We'll hang them in our respective classrooms when we retrieve them next week. Signed albums by The Cars and Blondie look great and my treasured sumo schedule from 1986 is finally getting professionally framed. To continue the rock theme, we wandered the road up towards Hola and dropped in at a very cool guitar shop before making our way through Hola for the first time in many years, looking for some replacement sheets. "Taiwanese queen size or American queen size, sir?" Ahhh, we'd also forgotten this frustration! Looks like Cass might be bringing back some sheets in her suitcase in April.
Next day we took advantage of the dearth of humanity to sample the extremely popular Universal Noodle ramen shop in Tienmu. Normally discouraged by the snaking lines to enter, we waltzed in to be the only customers and enjoyed a very authentic ramen feast, so hot I was sweating from the top of my currently chrome-like dome! Back over to the cinema to see The Drop, a surprisingly good thriller/drama, James Gandolfini's last movie. The other crazy experience was having the gigantic theatre all to ourselves...we moved ourselves right into the middle and loved the viewing!
We traveled down to the main inner city on Saturday looking to buy a camera for our upcoming trip to London, but after examining the product (after a lot of research) we decided that the camera the school supplies me with has done the job pretty well for years now, so we'll just keep using that one! We had two cameras stolen in last year's break-in that we haven't replaced, but we'll wait a little longer I think. On the way out we stopped for ages to look at a dance-off competition practice: these kids were very cute!
Longtable in the Hsin Yi district was next stop and we had a tasty, lazy lunch. Cass particularly enjoyed the fresh roses, which were adorning each table. Onward to the 24 hour, eight story book store of Eslite (can you imagine: open all the time, gigantic, shops and coffee shops and every book known to man in every language....why can't we do this in Australia?). I wanted to buy a dial version old-style red telephone, but they'd sold out and only had other colours....disappointing! We wandered a little more, marveling at the new buildings that seem to morph into existence every time we visit. Buskers and entertainers were out in force: one impressively muscular young guy performed miracles on a steel "hula-hoop"....Cirque du Soleil on the street!
One of the new modern hotels in the district, Hotel W, soars to 31 stories and boasts an exclusive restaurant on one side and a coffee shop on the south with an unimpeded view of the imposing Taipei 101. We managed to sneak in just when a couple had vacated the prime position: a little table for two sequestered away from everyone else in a mad cube of glass sheets hanging right over the city! Despite my occasional shudders of vertiginous panic, it was incredibly spectacular to take in the city sights from such a lofty perch. We stayed there as long as possible, which worked out pretty well: as we ate the snacks provided, they kept filling them up!
Yesterday, Cassy spent a great slab of time knocking over a stack of her essays for grading and she feels much better with the weight off. She can cruise a little easier this week as a result. I took the opportunity to rip into the steps once again: it was a muggy day and I arrived back home with a couple of sandwiches dripping with sweat. My knees seem to be holding up to the pounding really well at the moment: seems like ever since I bought two kneecap support braces for the climbs, I haven't needed them.....is that some "law"?
Videos: the muscly spinner and the tiny dancers as well as a small section of the steps going up and also down!
Photos: ramen, cinema, downtown sights, mountain path.