Mid-winter back in Taipei City and the ill winds that bother, the damp that sinks into limbs and the bone-chillin' temperatures that torment were all in abeyance this fine weekend as we set off on yet another Youbike adventure in ebullient weather.
Searing blue skies, a rolling breeze and caressing warmth greeted us on Saturday morning and virtually begged us to get on our bikes and ride! A quick check of the real-time interactive station map and we realised that we weren't the only ones looking to take advantage of this sensational weekend day. Never mind, there are at least 4 Youbike stations close by these days and we managed to score a couple of the last few bikes down at Mingde. A slightly precarious ride through the streets to canal-side followed, a stopoff at 7-11 to get some water, and before we knew it we were dropping down off the Shilin bridge to the canal bike paths heading to the Grand Palace Museum.
We'd never tripped in this direction and on this bank of the river before, and we were in for a real treat. The weather was just tailor-made for biking: the breeze wispy enough to cool down and wipe away the sheen of sweat that appeared, the sun full and overhead but insipid. The trail was beautifully paved and meandered gracefully and languidly along the very wide manicured bank. The freshly mown grass and strategically placed beds of perfumed flowers added to the scent of spring: the whole scene was a sensory overload!
The path truly has yet another surprise around every corner. We passed ballroom dancing rooms under highway overpasses, replete with mirrors for posture checks and stage seating for the audience or the resting. There was a full 18 hole Putt-Putt golf course, impeccably maintained, just waiting for the budding champions to supply their own clubs and balls. Signposts at regular intervals indicated the street hookups or places of interest while regular seating, tables and pagodas provided spots to rest and refuel. There were even strategically placed taps with their little soap-on-a-rope: well used and of course, undamaged!
The most amazing thing of all, however, was the uniquely Chinesey wildlife. Egrets and cranes bobbed along riverside, shaking their top feathers and scanning for bugs in the grass. Several more had their slender legs submerged riverside as they scanned the river for errant fish flitting through the reeds near the bank: they were statue still as they concentrated, staring fixedly. The "moop", an unknown species of bird which we occasionally spot near our house, was in abundance by the river and its chameleonesque eye movement and camouflage was as creepy as usual!
We spent hours out on the paths, tracking all the way to the Aboriginal Museum on the lower slopes of eastern Yangminshan before retracing our ride back all the way on the opposite bank. We docked the bikes at a different station (another handy benefit) and paid the princely sum of about $1.10 each for the privilege! We hopped straight onto the MRT and quick snacked at a British "chippy" and vegetarian curryhouse respectively before wandering the specialty market and settling down at The Three Lions, a British style pub nestled in the corner of the complex behind the old Yuanshan soccer stadium. As usual, the crowd was vibrant and friendly, singer-guitarists strummed away in the central courtyard beside the gardens and fountain and we settled in for our early evening meal and relax. As the sun slowly settled, we ate Mexican burritos and enjoyed the ambiance of a pretty good attempt at English pub style....we just can't get enough of it!
Sunday, we did some specialty shopping at Carrefour on the scooter (by specialty, I mean get some mince: Taipei hasn't yet gone completely cosmopolitan!) then went over and did the regular shopping on Mingde Road. Earlier in the day, we'd enjoyed the latest Clint Eastwood directed blockbuster, American Sniper. We found it to be a bit jingoistic, but it was beautifully photographed and visually and aurally stimulating: for a guy who is 84 years old, Clint still does an amazing job!
We're still basking in the afterglow of that gorgeous weekend weather as well as one of our great holidays of recent times. I'm off to a meeting now and even that doesn't seem to be that awful a prospect....maybe I have sunstroke!
I'm reading "The Girl on the Train" and Cass is reading "The Goldfinch" by Donna Tarte. Photos: Letters are often addressed just to "david", there are not too many around! Our postbox at home, shot of the 27 roses Cass got for our wedding anniversary, I took the whole of Grade 4 to the movies mid-week for a crazy selfie, and lots from the canal bikeway and evening meal spot. Last photo is of our favorite icecream sandwich bar, now with an accompanying chocolate bar....oh no!
Just for fun, here are 51 ways Taipei is the number one city in the world
Also, the "Jetsons", a group of weird houses near one of our surfing spots years ago, features as one of the creepiest abandoned cities!