New book: Merde Actually
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Square One (Poolside Story 2)
The previously dubbed "uncarved jade" has now become an "incompatible jade."
They say a story should have coherent beginning and ending. To make my story complete and coherent, I decided to visit the location where the beginning of this story took place about 6 weeks ago.
I went inside the swimming pool premise around the same time as last time when the sun was leaning against the western sky. The sun felt stronger and harsher than last time. It had been a softer and gentler sunlight the first time I was there when the story began.
I chose exactly the same spot to sit and lay down. As I sat back and relaxed, I found that the poolside area right in front of me was as almost deserted as when it is winter time. People were either leaving, swimming in the pool, or sitting somewhere farther away to my right.
Where had he sat by the pool 6 weeks ago? I was recalling every single detail I remembered. He was sitting or lying down right in front of me, reading, listening to music, stretching his body, checking people out, and occassionally glancing at me. He even moved to a spot to my right when his original spot was shadowed by the nearby structure, all the while kept checking me out with all his innocence.
Of course I was checking him out, too. What a cute guy from the same gym I go to.
But today at the exact spot, nobody was there, except that swimmers occassionallywould get out of the water and walk by.
I took out my book, trying to read, but I was staring at the empty spot in front of me, looking for any sign of glances directed towards me, and a face I had been thinking of fairly often for the past 6 weeks.
As the sun was sliding lower and lower, and finally blocked by the structure, I decided to bid farewell to this deserted poolside before the sun set. I walked past the spot where he had been lying the first time. I rinsed off my body in the shower room and left the builindg as the sun was nowhere to be seen. Then here came the bench.
Nobody was on the bench, waiting for me to come out of the building. I stood there and let the image of desertion sink into my brain, and then took a right turn and kept walking, looking for the location when he first smiled at me and voiced his desire to get to know me. When I arrived at the forking path and looked behind my shoulder, well... I let a few drops of tears fall and then kept walking.
Maybe I should pretend that nothing had happened when I left the swimming pool 6 weeks ago, just as nothing happened today when I left. However, I can't pretend that I didn't have fun these past 6 weeks.
A
They say a story should have coherent beginning and ending. To make my story complete and coherent, I decided to visit the location where the beginning of this story took place about 6 weeks ago.
I went inside the swimming pool premise around the same time as last time when the sun was leaning against the western sky. The sun felt stronger and harsher than last time. It had been a softer and gentler sunlight the first time I was there when the story began.
I chose exactly the same spot to sit and lay down. As I sat back and relaxed, I found that the poolside area right in front of me was as almost deserted as when it is winter time. People were either leaving, swimming in the pool, or sitting somewhere farther away to my right.
Where had he sat by the pool 6 weeks ago? I was recalling every single detail I remembered. He was sitting or lying down right in front of me, reading, listening to music, stretching his body, checking people out, and occassionally glancing at me. He even moved to a spot to my right when his original spot was shadowed by the nearby structure, all the while kept checking me out with all his innocence.
Of course I was checking him out, too. What a cute guy from the same gym I go to.
But today at the exact spot, nobody was there, except that swimmers occassionallywould get out of the water and walk by.
I took out my book, trying to read, but I was staring at the empty spot in front of me, looking for any sign of glances directed towards me, and a face I had been thinking of fairly often for the past 6 weeks.
As the sun was sliding lower and lower, and finally blocked by the structure, I decided to bid farewell to this deserted poolside before the sun set. I walked past the spot where he had been lying the first time. I rinsed off my body in the shower room and left the builindg as the sun was nowhere to be seen. Then here came the bench.
Nobody was on the bench, waiting for me to come out of the building. I stood there and let the image of desertion sink into my brain, and then took a right turn and kept walking, looking for the location when he first smiled at me and voiced his desire to get to know me. When I arrived at the forking path and looked behind my shoulder, well... I let a few drops of tears fall and then kept walking.
Maybe I should pretend that nothing had happened when I left the swimming pool 6 weeks ago, just as nothing happened today when I left. However, I can't pretend that I didn't have fun these past 6 weeks.
A
Saturday, July 4, 2009
電癮
2009夏天必進戲院用大銀幕看的電影（銀幕愈大愈爽）：
已看：Wolverine, Star Trek, Angels & Demons, Terminator Salvation,
未看：Transformers 2, Harry Potter, Up, Final Destination 4, G.I. Joe, The Time Traveler's Wife, 2012, more to come...
其它已經看的電影：17 Again, He's just not that into you, Slumdog Millionaire, Confessions of a Shopaholic, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Yes Man......
希望不要再讓2008年瓦力事件重蹈覆轍，最後居然是2009年過年時，帶DVD到奶奶家用小電視看，感覺真差，愈看愈覺得委屈....
A
已看：Wolverine, Star Trek, Angels & Demons, Terminator Salvation,
未看：Transformers 2, Harry Potter, Up, Final Destination 4, G.I. Joe, The Time Traveler's Wife, 2012, more to come...
其它已經看的電影：17 Again, He's just not that into you, Slumdog Millionaire, Confessions of a Shopaholic, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Yes Man......
希望不要再讓2008年瓦力事件重蹈覆轍，最後居然是2009年過年時，帶DVD到奶奶家用小電視看，感覺真差，愈看愈覺得委屈....
A
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Destiny
Sometimes you would wish that you had known someone at an earlier or a later time, but the truth is, if you had met such person at a time more desirable to you, probably neither of you would have been able to achieve what you have or don't have right at this moment. Probably you wouldn't have wanted to know each other; probably you would have become foes, instead of friends.
It's destiny.
A
It's destiny.
A
Monday, June 15, 2009
Paoma Historic Trail （跑馬古道）
I just saw on a website about Paoma Historic Trail (跑馬古道), which reminded me of Wufengqi Waterfalls （五峰旗瀑布） so I did a little research on this historic trail and found out Wufengqi Waterfalls is actually very close to this historic trail.
I have been to Wufengqui Waterfalls few years ago so I guess it was probably on my way to the waterfalls that I caught sight of the sign to the historic trail, which made the name seem so familiar to me, but I am sure that I have never been to this grandiose-sounding historic trail. God I really like its name.
Paoma Historic Trail is said to be part of the grander Danlan Historic Trail (淡蘭古道), linking current Xindian (新店) and Jiaoxi (礁溪). According to the websites I found, the transportation to this trail is not quite convenient. It may be easy to get to the entrance on the Jiaoxi end, but there's no connection transportation on the Xindian end once you finish the hike.
Well, I am sure I will visit this place one day, but I just don't know when and how.
A
I have been to Wufengqui Waterfalls few years ago so I guess it was probably on my way to the waterfalls that I caught sight of the sign to the historic trail, which made the name seem so familiar to me, but I am sure that I have never been to this grandiose-sounding historic trail. God I really like its name.
Paoma Historic Trail is said to be part of the grander Danlan Historic Trail (淡蘭古道), linking current Xindian (新店) and Jiaoxi (礁溪). According to the websites I found, the transportation to this trail is not quite convenient. It may be easy to get to the entrance on the Jiaoxi end, but there's no connection transportation on the Xindian end once you finish the hike.
Well, I am sure I will visit this place one day, but I just don't know when and how.
A
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Poolside Story
I was swimming in a mixture of warm yet fading sunlight, upbeat yet tedious music, informative yet brain-hurting magazine, and my calm yet somewhat distracted mind, when all of a sudden a face I recognized came into view.
The swimmers kept swimming; the smokers kept smoking; the readers kept readingl; the watchers kept watching; and I, for one who was distracted by the sight and plunged into a myriad of episodes of poolside fantasies, could only keep on pretending nothing had happened.
Yet the occasional glances seemed to foretell a destined encounter that would take place a few minutes later. On this particular day as usual as ever, an extraordinary event occurred, caught me off gaurd and led me into an unfamiliar path.
A
The swimmers kept swimming; the smokers kept smoking; the readers kept readingl; the watchers kept watching; and I, for one who was distracted by the sight and plunged into a myriad of episodes of poolside fantasies, could only keep on pretending nothing had happened.
Yet the occasional glances seemed to foretell a destined encounter that would take place a few minutes later. On this particular day as usual as ever, an extraordinary event occurred, caught me off gaurd and led me into an unfamiliar path.
A
Saturday, June 6, 2009
YOUTH Park
The very first commemorable episode in my life of an exciting event took place in Youth Park on Saturday 30 May 2009.
That event really made my day and, so far, my week.
A
That event really made my day and, so far, my week.
A
Saturday, May 30, 2009
FIVE Movie Reviews
Well, I haven't written anything about movies on the blog lately even though I have seen 5 movies in the past one month: Wolverine, 17 Again, Star Trek, Angels & Demons, and Terminator Salvation.
Where should I begin? Everyone knows that it's gonna take double or triple the efforts if one doesn't finish one's assignment in time. Now with 5 reviews yet to be published here, I am feeling kind of lazy, even reluctant to write anything about them.
Maybe I will come back to these movies some other time, or maybe I will just copy & paste the reviews I wrote on Facebook to this blog.
But if I am going to compare these five movies, I would say:
Star Trek > Terminator Salvation = Angels & Demons > 17 Again > Wolverine
A
Where should I begin? Everyone knows that it's gonna take double or triple the efforts if one doesn't finish one's assignment in time. Now with 5 reviews yet to be published here, I am feeling kind of lazy, even reluctant to write anything about them.
Maybe I will come back to these movies some other time, or maybe I will just copy & paste the reviews I wrote on Facebook to this blog.
But if I am going to compare these five movies, I would say:
Star Trek > Terminator Salvation = Angels & Demons > 17 Again > Wolverine
A
Sunday, May 24, 2009
tryout for my new camera
So I got a new camera. To try it out, I decided to go hiking yesterday on Qixing Mountain. It was sunny in downtown Taipei, but as soon as I got off the bus in the mountain, I could see fog coming from all directions.
I took some photos of the mist in the woods,
I took some photos of the mist in the woods,
some photos of the steam coming out of the rocks,
some photos of lizards (some blue-tailed ones, and a HUGE brown one (see above)
I also tried the panorama function of the camera.
The hike was good, but I'd rather hike on a clear day. I also had to hike in the rain sometimes this time. Generally, it was a good camera, but I still have to try it out again on a sunny day.
For more photos, visit my photo album by clicking on the album on the right side.
A
(p.s. I adjusted the size of the original photos so that it was easier to upload.)
Sunday, May 17, 2009
問路 / Directions
When I was walking in the alleys to the south of Zhongxiao East Road today, a scooter driver stopped in front of me, and asked me for directions to Lane 233 of Dunhua South Road Section 1 (敦化南路一段233巷), I guess. I, of course, gave her the most detailed directions I could think of to help her find her way.
After making sure she understood what I had said, I kept on walking. All of a sudden, it hit my mind that I probably gave her the wrong directions. The whole time I was thinking about "Lane 223 of Zhongxiao East Road Section 4 (忠孝東路四段223巷)," which is to the north of Zhonxiao East Road. I immediately turned around, wanting to make prompt corrections to the scooter rider, but she has already been quite a distance from me. I was not able to tell her the correct directions. I felt so bad right at the moment, for giving her the wrong directions.
Oh well... I hope she was not in an emergency. I hope she's found her way by this time.
A
After making sure she understood what I had said, I kept on walking. All of a sudden, it hit my mind that I probably gave her the wrong directions. The whole time I was thinking about "Lane 223 of Zhongxiao East Road Section 4 (忠孝東路四段223巷)," which is to the north of Zhonxiao East Road. I immediately turned around, wanting to make prompt corrections to the scooter rider, but she has already been quite a distance from me. I was not able to tell her the correct directions. I felt so bad right at the moment, for giving her the wrong directions.
Oh well... I hope she was not in an emergency. I hope she's found her way by this time.
A
Saturday, May 16, 2009
加州見聞錄04 (brown puddle at a showering room)
昨晚在某健身房的廁所外，偷聽到清潔人員的抱怨。
聽完後讓人覺得超級噁心，怎麼會有人在淋浴間拉屎。
嗯…其實這並不是第一次聽說了，我也聽朋友說過他的親身經歷，不過當然不是說我朋友曾經在那裡拉屎過，而是他親眼在淋浴間看到那種黑棕色的塊狀物，受到驚嚇的他，迅速逃離現場，更換淋浴間，所以他也無法證實那幾塊深棕色的塊狀物，是否為「人造物」。
昨晚清潔人員抱怨的說詞大致上是這樣：「拉屎就拉屎，一塊一塊的還好，可是怎麼會有這種一大灘的，而且還到處都是，地上有，牆壁上也有…」
...
聽完後讓人覺得超級噁心，怎麼會有人在淋浴間拉屎。
嗯…其實這並不是第一次聽說了，我也聽朋友說過他的親身經歷，不過當然不是說我朋友曾經在那裡拉屎過，而是他親眼在淋浴間看到那種黑棕色的塊狀物，受到驚嚇的他，迅速逃離現場，更換淋浴間，所以他也無法證實那幾塊深棕色的塊狀物，是否為「人造物」。
昨晚清潔人員抱怨的說詞大致上是這樣：「拉屎就拉屎，一塊一塊的還好，可是怎麼會有這種一大灘的，而且還到處都是，地上有，牆壁上也有…」
...
Friday, May 8, 2009
about historic trails / 關於古道
Expecting a possible hike on the well-known Batongguan Historic Trail (八通關古道）, I thought of the historic trails I had been to.
Well, the most memorable one must be Caoling Historic Trail (草嶺古道) since everything started from there. Anyway, this trail, in the past, was the only way people traveled between the current Ilan and Taipei areas. It's actually a part of the longer Danlan Historic Trail (淡蘭古道), with Dan referring to the old name of Taipei area (any connotations to DANshui?) and Lan referring the name of Ilan area. I've been to this historic trail several times, and I still like this place. It takes about 3 hours to for this hike, and then you can go sit in the water at Fulong（福隆） if it's summertime.
I've also visited Yulu Historic Trail (魚路古道, that is, fish road historic trail, being the path by which the fishermen in the past carried their fish to Taipei to sell), a.k.a. Jinbaoli Path（金包里大道）, linking Jinshan (金山) in the northern coast and Taipei basin in the past. I've hiked the northern section of the trail, from Qingtiangang (擎天崗) at Yangming Mountain to Bayan（八煙） with the section between Bayan and Jinshan replaced by car roads, several times. As for the southern section, I think I've only hiked once, but I am not sure since the southern section is quite short, and mostly gone. The northern section of the historic trail takes about 2 hours. If you are hiking out of Yangming Mountain, you can catch a bus at Bayan to go to Jingshan and enjoy the beach there in the summer, or just stroll around the historic streets and have some sweet potatoes. YUM
I've walked downward on Tianmu Historic Trail（天母古道） several times. It's just a short hiking path for people to have a quick exercise. The view is quite nice on clear days. The stairs can be quite steep at some points. Now I wonder if Tianmu Historic Trail has anything to do with Yulu Historic Trail. Some people say it might possibly be the southern most section of Yulu Historic Trail but I don't know. I'll just let other people worry about it, and keep enjoying the hike and the scenery.
I just checked on the Internet and found that there are actually several historic trails in Yangming Mountain National Park. Maybe I've been to some without knowing it.
Well, the most memorable one must be Caoling Historic Trail (草嶺古道) since everything started from there. Anyway, this trail, in the past, was the only way people traveled between the current Ilan and Taipei areas. It's actually a part of the longer Danlan Historic Trail (淡蘭古道), with Dan referring to the old name of Taipei area (any connotations to DANshui?) and Lan referring the name of Ilan area. I've been to this historic trail several times, and I still like this place. It takes about 3 hours to for this hike, and then you can go sit in the water at Fulong（福隆） if it's summertime.
I've also visited Yulu Historic Trail (魚路古道, that is, fish road historic trail, being the path by which the fishermen in the past carried their fish to Taipei to sell), a.k.a. Jinbaoli Path（金包里大道）, linking Jinshan (金山) in the northern coast and Taipei basin in the past. I've hiked the northern section of the trail, from Qingtiangang (擎天崗) at Yangming Mountain to Bayan（八煙） with the section between Bayan and Jinshan replaced by car roads, several times. As for the southern section, I think I've only hiked once, but I am not sure since the southern section is quite short, and mostly gone. The northern section of the historic trail takes about 2 hours. If you are hiking out of Yangming Mountain, you can catch a bus at Bayan to go to Jingshan and enjoy the beach there in the summer, or just stroll around the historic streets and have some sweet potatoes. YUM
I've walked downward on Tianmu Historic Trail（天母古道） several times. It's just a short hiking path for people to have a quick exercise. The view is quite nice on clear days. The stairs can be quite steep at some points. Now I wonder if Tianmu Historic Trail has anything to do with Yulu Historic Trail. Some people say it might possibly be the southern most section of Yulu Historic Trail but I don't know. I'll just let other people worry about it, and keep enjoying the hike and the scenery.
I just checked on the Internet and found that there are actually several historic trails in Yangming Mountain National Park. Maybe I've been to some without knowing it.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
My Own Hiking Trip
So yesterday I decided to go hiking by myself on Qixing Mountain. I think the total distance I've walked was nearly 5 kilometers on the winding steep hiking paths.
I startde from Xiaoyiukeng and walked all the way to the main peak of Qixing Mountain, and then, instead of cotinuing on to the east peak as usual, just hiked down to Miaopu (another hiking entrance), and finally back to the bus stop.
The weather was awesome. I saw some lizards on the way, but only one or two of them were the kind with a golden-bluish tail. I think I saw more during the past hiking trips.
I tried to take photos of downtown Taipei, especially Taipei 101, but my phone camera is actually not very good. It came out as some blurry dark spot. I think I should really go get a good camera so that I can take better photos.
My phone camera, however, still takes good photos of a strange sign whose illustration probably means "do not set yourself on fire" whereas it is actually telling poeople not to burn incense or paper money:
I also took a photo of a cute caterpillar:
A
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Affirmation - Savage Garden
I haven't posted anything for some time. Well... here is an old song from Savage Garden that's very good. Check it out:
I believe the sun should never set upon an argument
I believe we place our happiness in other people's hands
I believe that junk food tastes so good because it's bad for you
I believe your parents did the best job they knew how to do
I believe that beauty magazines promote low self esteem
I believe I'm loved when I'm completely by myself alone
I believe in Karma what you give is what you get returned
I believe you can't appreciate real love 'til you've been burned
I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side
I believe you don't know what you've got until you say goodbye
I believe you can't control or choose your sexuality
I believe that trust is more important than monogamy
I believe your most attractive features are your heart and soul
I believe that family is worth more than money or gold
I believe the struggle for financial freedom is unfair
I believe the only ones who disagree are millionaires
I believe in Karma what you give is what you get returned
I believe you can't appreciate real love 'til you've been burned
I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side
I believe you don't know what you've got until you say goodbye
I believe forgiveness is the key to your own happiness
I believe that wedded bliss negates the need to be undressed
I believe that God does not endorse tv evangelists
I believe in love surviving death into eternity
I believe in Karma what you give is what you get returned
I believe you can't appreciate real love 'til you've been burned
I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side
I believe you don't know what you've got until you say goodbye
Until you say goodbye
**
I believe the sun should never set upon an argument
I believe we place our happiness in other people's hands
I believe that junk food tastes so good because it's bad for you
I believe your parents did the best job they knew how to do
I believe that beauty magazines promote low self esteem
I believe I'm loved when I'm completely by myself alone
I believe in Karma what you give is what you get returned
I believe you can't appreciate real love 'til you've been burned
I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side
I believe you don't know what you've got until you say goodbye
I believe you can't control or choose your sexuality
I believe that trust is more important than monogamy
I believe your most attractive features are your heart and soul
I believe that family is worth more than money or gold
I believe the struggle for financial freedom is unfair
I believe the only ones who disagree are millionaires
I believe in Karma what you give is what you get returned
I believe you can't appreciate real love 'til you've been burned
I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side
I believe you don't know what you've got until you say goodbye
I believe forgiveness is the key to your own happiness
I believe that wedded bliss negates the need to be undressed
I believe that God does not endorse tv evangelists
I believe in love surviving death into eternity
I believe in Karma what you give is what you get returned
I believe you can't appreciate real love 'til you've been burned
I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side
I believe you don't know what you've got until you say goodbye
Until you say goodbye
**
Monday, April 27, 2009
The Cows
I miss the tiny yellow fish that nibbled on my feet, the silvergrass that cut open my fingers and arms in the mountains, the seawater hot spring on a raining summer morning before sunrise, the squid that I never caught on a night fishing boat, the beautiful scenery when I was on a propeller plane across a myriad of lakes, the goats on the steep hills by the ocean on the island with a double heart-shaped fishing trap, the waterfall far in the mountain with few people swimming underneath it, the two kids that liked to hold my hands when we walked to a movie theater, the sunburn that I get every year, and definitely the cows that witnessed everything.
A
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