Rebirth

December 11, 2009. It was an ending unlike other endings, with a series of unexpected events. There was so much happiness and general candidness. Dinner at Dozo with the PM team and endearingly the MIS boys. The early bomb of the night though, little P whom I thought was the baby of the MIS team was soon to be an accidental daddy and hence, married. Congratulations were in order. Before long, I was ushered to drinks and dancing at Ziga Zaga. Completely unbeknownst to us were the surprising presence of her majesty H and J at the door - they had dropped R off from their dinner. H and J were the last people any of us had expected to see. The fact that I had a minute's audience with H after lunch was already a minute too long. Poor W, caught alone at the entrance as they awaited my arrival. Some necessary chit chat eventually ended and we were finally dismissed. Inside, the group gathered strength and everyone seemed to be having a roaring good time. Some where in the middle we said goodbye to V and walked her out. As she left on the back of her boyfriend's motorbike a group entered the hotel. There were some camera flashes, some fans with pens and CD covers and bodyguards - three members of Guns N' Roses had arrived. T with drunken fervour asked for autographs. I soberly asked for hugs. With fairy dust dappled on us we headed back to the club. The night continued in great form. Drinks arrived on the house. Dancing dancing dancing. We were exuberant and having fun. Absolute darlings. Eventually the group diminished till there was only four, plus me. Lights were turned on. T was in no condition to go home less we were prepared to pay some massive cleaning fee to the cab driver so we decided to crash at the hotel instead. Drinks and cards till we couldn't keep awake any longer. It was finally dark and quiet and a few hours later, it was time to check out. We pretended lunch was a hang-over cure but it wasn't. Cab ride home at 2pm. I am at the front of my apartment building, ruined make-up, in last night's party clothes, holding a gigantic bunch of roses (a gift from the team). The finale* of a "lifetime" in Taiwan. The countdown begins again.

Some Snippets

A selection of photos from the last two weeks - dinner at Taiwan Beer Brewery 346 Warehouse Restaurant, Naomi's hotpot birthday, dancing at Primo, drinks at 2046. Addresses below.









Some highlights included meeting up with James, a backpacker I'd met two years ago in Sarajevo who'd recently arrived in town to learn Chinese; my best friend Mel visiting; Naomi falling asleep at 2046 after too many drinks, but still managed to smile for a picture; Sharon's sexy outfit that converted from dinner wear to clubbing wear by the removal of pants; the eggs.

VENUES
Taiwan Beer Brewery 346 Warehouse Restaurant
No. 85, Sec. 2, Bade Road, Tapei
(Cnr Bade Road & Jienguo South Road)

台北市八德路二段85號(八德路&建國南路交叉口)
Tel: (02) 2509-8346

Primo
2F, No. 297, Sec. 5, Zhongxiao East Road, Taipei
台北市忠孝東路五段297號2樓
Tel: (02) 2760-5885

2046
No. 24, Lane 205, Sec. 4, Zhongxiao East Road, Taipei
台北市忠孝東路四段205巷24
Tel: (02) 2711-5589

Brown Paper Packages Tied Up With String

I miss being in a relationship. I miss all the good things a relationship offers. Is there any replacement on Earth that can take away the desire for a relationship? It's all good and well to have male (or female if that's your inclination) attention, or company, or "friends", but at the end of the day isn't a deeper, intellectual and emotional connection with another person the goal of all flirtations?

Don't get me wrong, I think flirting is a great sport. Keeps the mind active, the wits sharp. But there comes a time, when you want to bring home the bacon, and not just have it for breakfast either, but all the time. Bacon is great. I miss toasted bacon sandwiches on white with brown sauce. Get one for breakkie from a greasy spoon if you feel a bit wobbly after a night of drinking and you'd instantly feel like a million dollars. Ha, good times in London.

But the point I believe I have powerfully demonstrated above. Who doesn't love a bacon analogy?

Aftermath

Nursing a horrific hangover. Feeling like I'm out at sea. The stench of stale alcohol and cigarettes linger in the apartment. Why do all good nights have to end this way?

It was indeed a fun night. An impromptu night as it was Ben's colleague's leaving party and Ben only texted me about it in the afternoon. I wasn't entirely up for a night out with a bunch of people I'd never met before, to say farewell to a guy I didn't know, and even Ben himself is a new recruit at his office so overall it was going to to be a very green experience. What tipped the scale was a colleague of mine calling to ask if I could suggest a place for us to all go out to. It was too easy. And only an hour before meeting up, another colleague called to chat and soon I had four people coming. Another two colleagues were already on their way to a salsa night but once that wrapped up they made their way to join our ever growing gathering.

The location was Sappho, a lounge bar with an emphasis on live music. A small, low key venue in the basement level, Sappho was a comfortable place to be. Our group sat together on cushioned lounges, a low table in the middle to keep drinks within easy reach. Our group dynamic is fantastic. I don't think I've seen a newly formed group of friends that seem to connect as quickly as us and with every person in the group just as contributive as the next.

As Brian the lead guitar/singer/soon-to-be-departee rocked the room our happy family was ransacking the bar. Rounds and rounds were consumed. We outlasted Ben's colleagues who all departed by my guess around midnight. We converted the event into our own affair and found the energy and rhythm to sway, jump, twirl, swing and dance to the music.

Eventually our own group began to dwindle and what was left were treated to a free shot of vodka by a barmaid named Bambi. We jumped into a cab and with each passenger we dropped off I felt increasingly happy. Not because I was finally ridding them of the night, but because each one seemed to be going home happy and that made me happy...

Until I woke up with a horrific hangover. I'm sure it wasn't the vodka shot. I'd been on vodka all night, now that I am old and wise and know not to mix my drinks. Vodka has always been good to me so why the heck... oh... I now remember in the middle of the festivities being treated to a free shot of tequila by a barmaid named Mini. That was it. Tequila and I are sworn enemies for eternity and I'd vowed never to let it touch my lips again. It bided its time and found a moment of weakness in me, too complacent as it were and I downed the vile brown liquid.

A barmaid named Bambi and another named Mini? The irony, as we are making an animated film with a director who's worked at Disney for a number of years. It's also somewhat traumatising for me to know that I was served hard liquor by two cartoon characters.



The screwed up faces of Tina Chen... We got there eventually.

God is a DJ

One man brought love back into my life for a few brief hours on Sunday night. He left at 4 in the morning. He's name was... Tiesto.

(cue female vocal, cut to thumping bass then let the lazer show begin)

Tiesto is the world's number #1 DJ and there is no disputing that fact. Queuing up in the line on Sunday night with thousands of other anticipating fans was nerve-wrecking for me. I would've pre-bought tickets if I wasn't so lazy to buy them online. It was a sold-out show and who knew how many tickets they were holding at the venue for last minute bandwagon-jumpers-on. In the queue with roughly 1000 punters, I was thoroughly surprised that within 30 mins I had three tickets in my hot, shaking, little hands. Perhaps that's Asian efficiency for you.

Returning later in the night with my two work buds, I was buzzing with adrenalin. The crowds were filing into the warehouse space, in a part of town not known for anything fun or even lively. The Nangang area traditionally had many cemetaries I've heard, so that was probably why there are many temples and other semi-spiritual alters I see all around, tucked between old residential buildings, appearing haphazardly, repeatedly. Spooky to walk around the empty streets at night to say the least, eeriely incandescent in red and gold (colours of good luck) and incense filled.


L: Warehouse, with light projection on wall. M: Classic DJ pose. R: We love Tiesto.

As we filed up the stairs into the thumping warehouse like disciples being called to prayer, my heart was pounding. We pushed through the crowd to get closer and closer to the front where the DJ stood on his raised platform like a priest at his pulpit and... ok, we've all heard the religious analogy before... but I cannot put it to you how much this experience lifted and warmed me. I felt love in that warehouse that night. From him, to me. And from me, to the world.

It was pure, pure, joy. And I was NOT intoxicated in ANY way.


L: The 8000 people crowd. R: Tiesto waves goodbye after his awesome set.

How's that aye? I've impressed at myself that I was able last till 4am without a lick of spirits or a whiff of anything else. Aha! I am still young aren't I?

The Anticipation


The Finale

Finally We Meet, Mr Tiesto

Tiesto is coming to town! Tiesto is coming to town!

Here is an opportunity to throw away pretenses of aging, don the true spirit of youth and re-enter the dance arena for a night of music and euphoria.

Tiesto is on his world tour and will be in Taipei on Sunday April 13th, tacked on after his gigs in Korea on Friday 11th and Japan on Saturday 12th.

I'm a little worried the man will be worn out from his hectic schedule. Will he be able to bring it to the table on Sunday? I am making the effort for his arrival. Despite my recent disaster at Carnegie's, the pull of Tiesto is greater than leaving the lax muscles in my rapidly out of shape body lax. I've been wanting to see him live for many years, and the cruelest part is that he's played several New Year's EveS in Sydney at the best parties when I was still living there yet it was never to be. Until now. On a Sunday night on some small island's city, and not even in the city centre but some venue off on the city fringe, on the rather dull side of town (incidentally 10 mins from my place and 5 mins from my work). Will he be motivated to give it his all?

Love Sick

Oh wow, so this is what it feels like. So new, so exciting, so sexy...

To have something to hold and say it's all mine.

I can't believe how satisfying this experience has been and how long I've waited for it.

And at 12 inches, it's just the right size...

Ladies and gentlemen, I have brought myself a laptop!

My very first, very own, very slick little number that gives me hours of joy. I am finally reconnected to the world, a world that has been denied to me at work, a world that I only glimpsed at home on a dirty laptop that's already been on someone else's lap but now it's a brand new day and now that me and my baby have found each other we're going for a long, long drive together.

Jazz and Blues

I went to a jazz club tonight.

Surprisingly, it was probably the best jazz club I have ever been to in my life. Kudos to Taipei. Has anyone ever heard of a song called Wild Women Don't Have the Blues by Ida Cox? Written in 1924 (that's right, 1924), the lyrics will strike at the heart of any woman worth her salt today. Brings to my mind Erykah Badu's Tyrone, from her 1997 album Live. Ida did it in 1924.

Wild Women Don't Get the Blues
I hear these women raving 'bout their monkey men
About their trifling husbands
and their no good friends
These poor women sit around all day and moan
Wondering why their wandering papa's don't come home
But wild women don't worry, wild women don't have no blues
Now when you've got a man, don't never be on the square
'Cause if you do he'll have a woman everywhere
I never was known to treat no one man right
I keep 'em working hard both day and night
'Cause wild women don't worry, wild women don't have their blues
I've got a disposition and a way of my own
When my man starts kicking I let him find another home
I get full of good liquor, walk the streets all night
Go home and put my man out if he don't act right
Wild women don't worry, wild women don't have their blues
You never get nothing by being an angel child
You better change your ways and get real wild
I wanna tell you something, I wouldn't tell you a lie
Wild women are the only kind that really get by
'Cause wild women don't worry, wild women don't have their blues

Tyrone
[Erykah] "Lets See How Ya'll Groove to this"
"Alright"
I'm gettin' tired of your shit
You don't never buy me nothin
'See Everytime you come around
You got to bring Jim, James, Paul, & Tyrone
See why can't we be by ourselves, sometimes
See I've been having this on my mind
For a long timeI just want it to be
You and me
Like it used to be, Baby
But ya don't know how to act
So matter of fact
[Chorus] I think ya better call Tyrone (Call Him)
And Tell him come on, Help you get your Shit (Come On, Come on)
You need to Call Tyrone (Call Him)
And tell him I said come on
Now everytime I ask you for a little cash
You say no and turn right around and ask me for some ass
Oh, Well hold up listen partna
I ain't no cheap thrill
Cause Miss Badu is always comin' for real
And you know the deal
Everytime we go somewhereI gotta reach down in my purse
To pay your way and your homeboys way
And sometimes your cousin's way
They don't never have to pay
Don't have no cars
Hang around in bars
Try to hang around with stars
Like Badu
I'm gon' tell you the truth
Show and proveor get the boot
I think ya better, (Erykah Badu-He, he he) (Call Him)
And tell him come on
Help you get your shit
You need to call Tyrone (Call Him)
[Erykah Badu] "Hold On"
But ya can't use my phone

Arabian Night

Moroccan inspired Foundation Room is a great space for a cocktail or two. It's dark and intimate, softly lit by tea lights and Moroccan chandeliers that glitter with coloured glass. Deeply coloured and heavy drapery and fabrics contrasted by mirrored tables makes this subterranean bar/lounge on the corner of Front and Church a retreat into the exotic.

We sipped our sparkling wine cocktails and nibbled on chicken skewers with lemon aioli, mushroom terrine served on pita and phyllo parcels of braised beef.

As usual, it was good catching up with Lorenz. We had met at the hostel here in Toronto. We'd both arrived from Europe, about a week apart, searching for something from this place. We'd meet once every few months and compare notes about how we felt about this city. Our conclusions are the same.

This particular evening as we swapped impressions and experiences about life in general, I noticed half of the bar was reserved, each table had seats on opposite sides, set in a general circular formation. Then came the Singles. One by one they came through the door, chatted to someone at the bar and were handed their name badges. In this harem-esque setting, Singles are preparing to flirt, flatter and fawn upon each other for a night of Speed Dating!

After observing and amusing ourselves with their collective body language (some very forlorn Singles. Out of practice? Or out of touch?) we left them to their 3 min bursts of endorphins. I hope they found what they were looking for.

We ended the evening and we left the Foundation Room on foot. At an intersection I noticed the street sign. We’re on Toronto Street. It's not my final destination and I can't wait to get home.