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17 May 2009
Surfing and Changes of Pace
As I write this there is a large demonstration of at least a few thousand people going by our apartment window, protesting the same thing that the large demonstration that we talked about oh so long ago. It is really different living on a main street than living in a mountain community, so convenient and rather lively. It still feels new and foreign, but we are getting used to it. Soon I will be obtaining a 24 inch LCD to complement my archive of cartoons, life can only go up from there. Speaking of which, we have three trips coming up fast- hint to those of you who are going, and we are really excited. I cannot wait to eat nothing but Viet food everyday. I am finding the lack of access to foods I am accustomed to are taking a toll on my dream time. I cannot stop dreaming about breakfast burritos, surfing and the comforts of a jacuzzi.
Fortunately I was able to do something about going surfing. I basically harassed everyone I know who might be interested in surfing all week until someone said they would go with me. Ah, brings back good memories. The whole experience yesterday however, was filled with so many happy and unhappy experiences that not even LA could be as big of a fiasco as the beach we went to in Taiwan. First of all the train ride was two hours and it was early in the morning, but that I was ready for. The fact that the train topped out at 30 mph was a little frustrating, but who could expect Taiwan to have as good of a train system as China (the people outside would not be happy to hear me say that). At any rate, a surf shop offered to pick us up if my friend would rent a board, so things looked up. The next thing that would happen however, would make it very difficult to enjoy my surfing experience-- and walking. The beach had a very dark sand and spread widely between me and the ocean. I of course was bare foot. I can confidently say that that sand was the hottest sand I have ever walked across. About ten feet in I realized that the sand was burning my feet, so I began to run. I am not sure if that was such a good idea, but hey, I wanted to get the hell of the sand. Apparently the look of pain on my face and the desperate run that turned into a stop and bury my feet into not so cooler sand- though bearable, caught the attention of at least on beach goer. My lord and savior, some Taiwanese man, ranup with sandals for me. It was the nicest gesture anyone has ever done for me.
I made it to the wet sand and noticed everyone had taken their sandals and set them at the edge of the wet sand and hot sand like it was their doorstep. It would have been amusing if I really hadn't burned my feet. I kid you not, I have a few blisters on the bottom of my feet and redness, which I believe is a first degree burn and crossing into second, or so I was informed. Anyway, I toughed it out and got in the water. This is when I noticed that there were hundreds of people in front of me and the waves resembled something like wake on a lake, but smaller. Having a six foot two board, this just sucked. On a side note, last time I had been here there were at least one or two people who semi knew what they were doing. This lot was nothing like the last time. It was like watching penguins on rocks. Not only could no one, all one-hundred or so of them, not sit on their board let alone lay on their board, but they could not go sideways or diagonal- only forwards and backwards. I watched many a people run into each other at extremely slow speeds (no one was catching anything), some swimming alongside their board, some between sitting and rolling over, but all floating and pushing each other to get anywhere, like a very boring bumper boat ride. I really wish I could have taken a video, because I doubt I could experience this outside of an Asian country (no offense to anyone intended). Even my friend, whom I tried to help, could not sit on his board without laying down and straddling it with his legs (he was among those who could only go forwards and backwards). Hopefully next time we will have some waves to learn him on--> as my kids would say. All was not lost though, we found a friend there and he had a car! and he drives there every week! and he wants company! Woohoo, now I just have to convince him to go no Sunday and not Saturday. It was fun fun and not fun fun, but hey, I got to get in the water. Not exactly the waves of my dream, but who can really complain about the spectacle that only those who come to Asia can really experience. Oh and we saw Star Trek, it was great. Oh and we have started attending Pub Quizzes, which are exactly what they sound like. These tests are really hard and have a lot of questions, hopefully someone will come visit and join our team. I will have you know my random military history knowledge cam to use for one episode. Sadly though, I questioned myself on the who said quote and geography question (William Shatner and how many stars on Iraqi flag, three) and I didnt get to flex my nerd muscles for everyone to admire. Damn that girl who made me doubt myself.
PS> I forgot to mention that my friend is not very apt at applying sunscreen to people's backs or has never done it before. I have a bunch of streaks of sunburn all over. I look like I have a skin disease. Oh and that protest has grown larger, meaning it has been an hour walking by my apartment and its getting louder. I lied about thousands, it is up to tens of thousands now.
All hail the motherland, their's anyway.
Ed's B-day at an all you can eat/drink bbq place. Really popular in Taiwan- and anyone who comes here will be treated to a visit, despite the headache the Tiawan beer always gives me.
Lastly, it was supposed to rain everyday in April and May. I can tell you from experience in the Summer it does indeed rain everyday, but instead of the rainy season being rainy, we have had a drought for two or three weeks. By the looks of it now, that is about to change. Its weird how when the endless rain is finally gone, you miss it.
Fortunately I was able to do something about going surfing. I basically harassed everyone I know who might be interested in surfing all week until someone said they would go with me. Ah, brings back good memories. The whole experience yesterday however, was filled with so many happy and unhappy experiences that not even LA could be as big of a fiasco as the beach we went to in Taiwan. First of all the train ride was two hours and it was early in the morning, but that I was ready for. The fact that the train topped out at 30 mph was a little frustrating, but who could expect Taiwan to have as good of a train system as China (the people outside would not be happy to hear me say that). At any rate, a surf shop offered to pick us up if my friend would rent a board, so things looked up. The next thing that would happen however, would make it very difficult to enjoy my surfing experience-- and walking. The beach had a very dark sand and spread widely between me and the ocean. I of course was bare foot. I can confidently say that that sand was the hottest sand I have ever walked across. About ten feet in I realized that the sand was burning my feet, so I began to run. I am not sure if that was such a good idea, but hey, I wanted to get the hell of the sand. Apparently the look of pain on my face and the desperate run that turned into a stop and bury my feet into not so cooler sand- though bearable, caught the attention of at least on beach goer. My lord and savior, some Taiwanese man, ranup with sandals for me. It was the nicest gesture anyone has ever done for me.
I made it to the wet sand and noticed everyone had taken their sandals and set them at the edge of the wet sand and hot sand like it was their doorstep. It would have been amusing if I really hadn't burned my feet. I kid you not, I have a few blisters on the bottom of my feet and redness, which I believe is a first degree burn and crossing into second, or so I was informed. Anyway, I toughed it out and got in the water. This is when I noticed that there were hundreds of people in front of me and the waves resembled something like wake on a lake, but smaller. Having a six foot two board, this just sucked. On a side note, last time I had been here there were at least one or two people who semi knew what they were doing. This lot was nothing like the last time. It was like watching penguins on rocks. Not only could no one, all one-hundred or so of them, not sit on their board let alone lay on their board, but they could not go sideways or diagonal- only forwards and backwards. I watched many a people run into each other at extremely slow speeds (no one was catching anything), some swimming alongside their board, some between sitting and rolling over, but all floating and pushing each other to get anywhere, like a very boring bumper boat ride. I really wish I could have taken a video, because I doubt I could experience this outside of an Asian country (no offense to anyone intended). Even my friend, whom I tried to help, could not sit on his board without laying down and straddling it with his legs (he was among those who could only go forwards and backwards). Hopefully next time we will have some waves to learn him on--> as my kids would say. All was not lost though, we found a friend there and he had a car! and he drives there every week! and he wants company! Woohoo, now I just have to convince him to go no Sunday and not Saturday. It was fun fun and not fun fun, but hey, I got to get in the water. Not exactly the waves of my dream, but who can really complain about the spectacle that only those who come to Asia can really experience. Oh and we saw Star Trek, it was great. Oh and we have started attending Pub Quizzes, which are exactly what they sound like. These tests are really hard and have a lot of questions, hopefully someone will come visit and join our team. I will have you know my random military history knowledge cam to use for one episode. Sadly though, I questioned myself on the who said quote and geography question (William Shatner and how many stars on Iraqi flag, three) and I didnt get to flex my nerd muscles for everyone to admire. Damn that girl who made me doubt myself.
PS> I forgot to mention that my friend is not very apt at applying sunscreen to people's backs or has never done it before. I have a bunch of streaks of sunburn all over. I look like I have a skin disease. Oh and that protest has grown larger, meaning it has been an hour walking by my apartment and its getting louder. I lied about thousands, it is up to tens of thousands now.
Protest, one hour in.
All hail the motherland, their's anyway.
Ed's B-day at an all you can eat/drink bbq place. Really popular in Taiwan- and anyone who comes here will be treated to a visit, despite the headache the Tiawan beer always gives me.
Lastly, it was supposed to rain everyday in April and May. I can tell you from experience in the Summer it does indeed rain everyday, but instead of the rainy season being rainy, we have had a drought for two or three weeks. By the looks of it now, that is about to change. Its weird how when the endless rain is finally gone, you miss it.
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