I woke up with the fear on that last full day in Taipei, Taiwan because I didn't want to face reality. No, that wouldn't be the only morning gripping me with sheer panic, I didn't need that in my life! Loving Taipei for the final day felt correct, I left my hotel feeling slightly hungover from the night before. Oh, the shadiness continued to follow me, I am now fine with what transpired.
Feeling like I need some spirituality in my life, I headed from Ximen to '艋舺龍山寺/Longshan Temple' because I needed a divine intervention! I felt like a local on the Taipei MRT, I hated the thought that I would be back to my reality the following day. Taipei had become familiar to me during those few short days, I didn't want to tell myself that everything was going to be alright, I couldn't! I found the temple after walking through a cute shopping centre, it gave 'everyday' rather than 'upscale' like Taipei Station had served. I loved the normalness because I was craving a less complicated vibe during that final day in Taiwan. I brushed past the those tourists and local visitors, I thought twice by thinking of something else. I was able to feel peace for a few moments, I was then able to process the trip thus far, I felt blessed. Longshan Temple felt like the perfect place to spend the late morning, I found those yellow and orange lanterns as I made my way to the exit. Those darling lanterns would be featured in a blog, that was a promise! 好的!
I had not had any breakfast, I was at that stage of the hangover where food would either cure me or make me even worse! I wasn't even badly hungover but I felt myself melting in the humidity, I used that period to sober me up because I was feeling the heat! I walked along several 'down to earth' streets, character filled with the Taiwanese street scene that I appreciated. I was craving a simple plate of food but to be honest I didn't feel like I could eat at the same time, I was in my feelings and needed to shake it off! I needed a livener! I caved in, I needed another beer to fix me up! That can of 'Taiwan Beer' from '7 Eleven' sorted me out in a matter of moments! That little tipple was enjoyed inside that air conditioned convenience store with ease, I used that time to hatch my next move! The temple had blessed me and the beer had brought me back to life, now that is what I called a 'divine intervention' with some much needed 'liquid healing!'. Ditching public transport, I walked towards my next destination. Taipei Botanical Garden? On my way!
The walk from the temple to the garden didn't take me long but it pushed me past my breaking point! Now, I detest birds! I had unknowingly walked towards a series of shops that were selling birds of all kinds, I was shooketh! Taipei had me treading carefully because that serious phobia of birds put the fear in me! All I wanted to do was run, you already know that I didn't and couldn't do that! Now, I made it through that rough patch because I needed to keep things moving! I needed to respond to a few work related messages but they weren't urgent considering it was still the holiday at that point. How was it walking? I didn't find it bad other than the birds because I had my maps switched on. Taipei MRT hadn't built a station between the temple and the gardens with a direct connection, I chose to walk because I didn't want to change lines, I just didn't! I found myself at Taipei's 'Botanical Gardens' before I knew it, I felt calm as I walked through the shaded foliage. Yes, I wanted to take it easy because I had walked a lot! Oh, Taipei!
Finding myself at the garden felt correct, I had found the 'Bamboo Garden' where the lush greenery was complimented by the humid conditions, it was practically serving 'rainforest!' I wanted to find a cool spot to sit down but I was attracted towards the 'Lotus Pond', that's where I sat down for a good twenty minutes with a full view of the lotuses bobbing in the waters calmly. I contacted a friend to see how his National Day Holiday was panning out, Andy said that he had very much enjoyed his overnight cruise from Hanoi, Vietnam. Everything felt calm, people were going about their business and so was I about to again. Taipei Botanical Garden allowed things to be relaxed with not much movement made throughout that visit, I felt grateful. My appetite played games with me, I wanted so badly to eat something but the lingering nature of that hangover saw me shunning food opportunities left, right and center. Now, I knew that I was a 'hot-mess.com', Taipei already knew this realisation before I did! The ultimate shade of it all, T!
Over the course of the last few days, I had seriously fallen in love with Taipei with it becoming more of a 'state of mind!' I could understand a lot of their Mandarin Chinese chat but the feeling on the street had me looking at those teaching jobs, those other differences had me feeling like I would miss Taipei a lot! I had decided that I wanted an oyster omelet like I had enjoyed the previous evening, that was a none starter because those quick service eating places were shut tight! Through those late afternoon ramblings, I was able to stumble upon a series of similar side streets that put me right into my feelings. I knew that Taiwan had changed my perspective on what her capital city served up, people on the other side of the Taiwan Strait had said some wild things. I was stood before a cosmopolitan mecca where new met old, where sense met inclusion. The street captured above had me pinching myself, I knew that I needed to soak every last culture-bite up! Finally, I was able to properly rehydrate! Back to life I felt! Chaos would ensue!
The humidity was getting a bit much, I was in the same area where that non-Ximen sauna had been, I wanted one last wander in the buff. I enjoyed a few hours relaxing in the dark with those last few hours in that underground sanctuary. I appreciated Taipei's saunas but knew that I needed to return to a different city to scout out a difference feeling, Taipei's had been completed for me! Content with that final roam around in the dark, I headed back to Ximen to finally get something to eat! I wolfed down a bowl of rice with beef and scrambled egg because I had gone past the point of hunger, I just didn't know what I wanted to eat before the feeling became unbearable. I knew that my lunchtime flight would require me to awake early, I had a really spur of the moment idea! It seemed like a bright idea to pack my case and then get ready for one final night out on the town! Had I lost my mind? To be honest, I wanted to have one last rodeo, it made leaving Taiwan the next day seem more bearable. I had it all planned out! Really, though?
During my younger years before hitting my 30s, I would be able to party right till the moment I would board my homeward bound flight! I had something wrong with me thinking that going out the night before a semi-early would be a good, sound and sane idea! No, that wasn't a question, it was a fact! I started my night at 'Commander D', I heard they had a 'Dark Room' with the bar having a more underground feel, I wanted to try for a few drinks! The house mixed drinks were fire, I think my iced drink was basically whisky and nothing else with ice and Coca-cola! It was strong! I did see a very curious aerial display, something that I wouldn't get to see anywhere the following days destination! A few welcome surprises were revealed. I surveyed the venue, it was quite cliquey in there and I wasn't down for a vibe like that. I also knew that I needed to be back in my bed before a respectable time, I was on something stupid! In the here and now, I can say that going out was the right choice but I wouldn't do it again! Back to 'Hunt?'
Yes, I headed back down a familiar path to 'Hunt' for the second time in two days! I didn't have to deal with putting my clothes in a bag but I was wearing a white shirt because they had a 'White Party' theme on that Saturday night. I danced the night away and drank a lot, it was a really great time to be in Taipei that night! I genuinely had a lovely time, there was a really good vibe in that bar/club. I knew in that moment that I needed to make the most of every single available moment. The feeling to just 'be' was wonderful, I couldn't express in that moment how freeing that final night was in Taipei. Concluding the night with a trip to 'Family Mart' saw me thinking with 'I have things to do tomorrow' but little did I know that setting an alarm would've been golden! The shadiest thing was the next morning, running for a taxi with panic engulfing my whole body! By some miracle I made the flight with an extra hour to spare, it didn't leave me feeling good at all. It was a life lesson of epic proportion, one I vowed to learn from! Surely, TW?
Shady Shade!
Desperately Seeking Adventure
