Taiwan Entry #2

It's been a pleasant and long trip, so many things that I've kept noted duly in my heart.
The trip so far has been pretty successful on meeting and finding who I can meet in Taiwan, being those that are friends of my parents. At the moment, I am staying in Mucha city, "Wood Fence"; a place where you can find the Taipei Zoo, which I've yet to explore. I moved over here at my biao yi's, since it's more accommodable and efficient to meet my parent's friends who mostly live in and around Taipei.

In Tamsui I was happily venturing the seaside docks where a statue of George Leslie Mackay sits in his solid boat forever remembered. During the Typhoon Dujuan he was actually flooded deep within water passed his nose, from what I've heard. I did properly have some of Taiwan's delicious milk flavored ice cream for about 30 TWD, and for the life of me it was heaven. Along the stay I had quite a taste-bud for a Japanese curry restaurant called Kyanpu Curry. Not to mention I had also tasted the different delicious foods from fried squid, Agei, iron eggs, plum juice, and fish balls of the "Fresh Water" city.

Sometimes I took visits to the Aletheia University (Oxford College) where I would visit the library and read whatever piqued my interest. One of these was a poetry book, to which I recall dealing with 1600-1700 poems.
Another visit comprised of reading the first book for The Wheel of Time series, such a lovely time.
On another day, I was actually playing volleyball in a practice session between the college students to which we totaled three on three. Then I was able to witness the last twenty minutes of their competitive match with another school around the 19th, they loss, but it was invigorating to be there.

Also not to forget, is that the household I was staying with, took me to Lover's Bridge. It was a very miraculous scene that I also won't forget.

I met with two uncles, one of which I had to deliver a copper picture that is older than me by at least ten years. The other was an important person based on the political cloud my mother's family went through during the 1970s, his father had gone through similar mistreatment. A wonderful dinner and good conversation ran the night tired, they both and an auntie dropped me off at where I am currently staying as of this journal.

A few mosquito bites later and an always beautiful moon of Taiwan, I met one of my father's friends from around 1972. She treated me to a grand meal at a Shanghai-style restaurant I can only translate roughly as The Red Hat Chef. With my host, the three of us had a magical night... I talked to my father's dear friend, Paula, about why I seek to be a writer and a poet, along with my many views on life. She shared likewise, and the time is probably going to be my most favorite across this entire trip.

I went on a date the 22nd, if I could call it that, with a intelligent girl I met online. Arriving early to the agreed designation I went to visit my mother's college, National Taiwan University, it was the strangest feeling. I first saw the "Life Sciences" building and there was even a small museum of animal fossils there from prehistoric mammals to birds of some sort, all eye-opening. I briefly walked into the library and then noticed the time, hurried off to see Drunken Moon Lake on the campus... there were so many critters and pigeons!

My date arrived at the Exit # 1 of the Gonguan station, and recognized each other out of instinct. (I didn't really know how her face looked like, mystery can be exciting) Gladly enough, she took me to a Cafe that I forgot to note the name of. I ordered a guava cranberry drink, she ordered tea and we talked a great deal. I told her about my family, myself, my goals, my interests, and asked her the same. Afterwards we checked out a sort of underground bookstore, and I saw a book about Kafka... I've grown an interest in that name ever since my trip here.

Next we walked in the rain with our umbrellas Stygian the unrelenting weather towards NTU itself. She helped me with being able to enter the main library itself, and also pointed out the old one where my mom probably used to go to during her youth. (It was now used for old displays)

My date also had graduated from the university, and while we walked up to the English section of books on the second floor we whispered the short distance away. I went to look for books to read, and became joyfully stuck reading Henry Thoreau's writings... mainly his poetry pieces. She on the other-hand was searching for books with my grandfather's, of my mother's side, name on it.
Eventually we got a bit lost from each other and as fate held we were reunited in the night. She treated me to dinner since I had willingly paid for the afternoon tea time. I accepted a intriguingly nice meal of genuine Chinese Beef chops and vegetables in a place of her experience. We then began to discuss more intimately even if it was for a moment. "Have you ever thought yourself sentimental?", were one of the questions she asked before we got where we ate. The thought crossed my mind again when she had given me a piece of her meat while eating. I do. That was what I had said earlier, and to her I thought how intuitive and well-taught of a person she is.

The night ended, I wished to wait with her for the bus she would later take. She's not fond of letting her friends practice the custom, but I insisted as I was infatuated with such an interesting first date.

Anyways later in the week, I made a trip to grab the rest of my luggage in Tamsui. That night I had also been able to attend an Chinese Opera class to meet two other aunties with the help of my host. (She's enrolled in those courses, and wishes I take them as well, so kind)

I came back home and slept. In the morning I got ready to meet another of my father's friends from his mountaineering days. This uncle met my dad when he was about 16 himself, my father was probably around 39. We had tuna, cuttlefish, seafood pizza with his daughter who is a creative writing study, and her cousin. There was also curry pizza ordered with bacon and mashed potatoes, I'm a curry monster. We ate, we laughed, we took pictures, and after found more time to continue our meeting elsewhere. (Such is how most of these occurrences have gone nicely)

Continuing to a place called Muu Cafe with the three of us younger adults, the father left early having also paid for our lovely lunch. I ordered an Apple Blaze, mostly made of sliced apples seething in apple juice and cider, very refreshing. We talked about technology, stories, personal thoughts on subjects, and ended the exchange with the cousin's health supplement jelly drink.

Tomorrow I will meet with another of my parent's friends that I have already met with before. This is basically a long vacation filled with plenty of smiles from everyone I come across, including their own. Even though, I've been informed that I won't be able to meet with two very famous figures, Master Hsing Yun, and the other a famous Chinese tragic love story writer, Chiung Yao... I am understanding of why and happy enough to have been given a chance to find the company of these close friends that my parent's have had for so many decades.

To end I've found my inspiration in writing to increase, and motivated even more by everyone and everything here.

"And rarely do I find myself in possession of my own thoughts, they rather become unwrapped within my mind... miraculous gifts if I must say.", is a new thought that has hit me prior to writing this entry. I hope that you've all enjoyed this entry, I'm not usually a writer for this sort of material.