On My Way to Taipei

I could see the end coming.

It was all of a sudden upon me. Being unemployed in resort-like surroundings for three months was good going. To pack up and move for a job within two days of getting notice that you're hired was just too fast for my liking.

That was only two weeks ago but feels like an eternity.

It was barely morning when we started on the road. Hence the happy face below:


Plus it was turning out to be a Bad Hair Day.

Dud

I met a guy today. An online friend I'd exchanged two or three emails in the last two months with.

First impressions. Slightly greasy unkept hair. The kind that some guys think is cool, but not. Bleary eyed. Like he'd been partying way too much the night before. Non descript clothes. Didn't look too close cause I'd seen enough. Why is it that foreign men in Taiwan feel they can discard all fashion sense once they spend more than a month here? It's because they're white and can get girls no matter how ugly, poor, uneducated and unkept they are. And this guy knew it.

We sat down in a bar. And without taking even a sip of his drink while I had two, he droned about his work. He says he's an "artist". No sir, you are an engineer with the stupid idea of wanting to make what is essentially a mobile phone into a piece of wearable jewellery. Twat.

He is gay. I don't mean that in a degrogatory way. I mean he IS gay. My gaydar had already peaked from his emails but confirmed by the way he carried on about how he likes girls, really likes girls. Then the freudian slip of repeating a question I hadn't asked. Do you mean if I had a boyfriend, I mean girlfriend? No you schmuck. I said family. FAMILY.

Two hours went by and he had to go. Said he's going out and asked people to go out with him but everybody declined. But he's still going cause it's Wednesday, ladies night.

Go. Be my guest. GO.

Drudgery

Tired. So so tired.

Working full time again. Public transport in peak hour. Fluorescent lighting.

I even have a cubicle.

God help me.

It's no where near as fun and exciting as one of my favourite films, Working Girl. In that movie, lowly secretary Melanie Griffith makes her way to top in mergers and aquisitions in investment banking with her padded shoulders, big hair and icy blue eyeshadow. Throw in handsome Harrison Ford as love interest and that all time favourite sing-along song 9 to 5 by Dolly Parton that enormously jovial song bird and you have any little girl's dream come true. Alright just mine maybe. Look I grew up in the 80s OK?

Just over a week ago I got a job as a lowly secretary in wholesale bank finance of an investment bank.

But there's no theme song. There's no Dolly to cheer me up with her big enthusiasm. No Harrison hunk to kiss behind closed boardroom doors. And it's certainly not working out to be 9 to 5. Way to go to destroy one's own dream.

Dance

I went to Taipei's answer to Coyote Ugly the other night.

Sadly no Tyra Banks to be found but thankfully no Leanne Rimes either. Just people, like me. I was reminded of my glorious youth when I was a crazy, happy, little dance nymph living with an anything-goes attitude exemplified by my dance motto: "If there is a stage, I'm on it".

Encouraged by free champange for ladies before 12, I felt inclined to make use of the bar top and purpose-built railings. But after only a minute and a half of shimmying to the overplayed but much loved Groove Amada classic Super Stylin I found myself already out of breath. My god, I thought as realization hit, it really was a lifetime ago. Women my age wear these damn heels because we cannot dance anymore, excusing ourselves from exertion beyond the walk to the loo and back!

Was it fortunate that at least in the grand scheme of things, I was not the only person on that bar top? I guess so. But it was unfortunate that a few moments later a salaciously dressed woman chose her piece of bar top real estate right next to me. Gold strappy heels, denim hot pants, bikini top. She hid her identity behind large bling sunglasses. Bless.

The men in the bar of course gaped at her like frozen apes, looking like a succession of eggs were about to pop out of their oral orifices.

I'm not jealous. Hell no. There was nothing in her appearance or moves that made me wish I had her aura of cheap stripper nasty. The point is, have I become an embittered old woman, cursing the rightful place nubile babes have in the dance pecking order?

Nah.

I've always loved to dance and glad to find I still do. And this experience has also racked up my Countries of Bar and/or Table Top Dancing count to 8: Australia, Singapore, UK, France, Germany, Bosnia, Canada, Taiwan.

I've seen Greek mothers and grandmothers getting up on table tops to dance at hen's nights and weddings. I feel a kinship towards them right now.

Opa!

Tourist in My Own Country

I visited the National Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Park and the Dr Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park in Taipei. These two memorial parks are named and in honour of two men of controversial importance in the complex and entwined history of the Republic of China and of modern China itself.

Within the mammoth grounds of the National Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Park stands the National Theatre and the National Concert Hall and at the far end, a white building with blue octagonal roof is the Memorial Hall. Within the hall is a large sculpture of a seated Chiang Kai Shek, though it was closed for renovations during my visit.

Chiang Kai Shek played a large part in Taiwan's history. Towards the end of the Chinese Civil War against the Mao-led Communists, Chiang and his Nationalist Party, Kuomingtang (KMT) retreats to Taiwan in 1949. His retreat meant a temporal move of the goverment of the Republic of China (ROC) which was first established in 1912 by his mentor Dr Sun Yat Sen. Here he claims his government to be the rightful sovereign over all of China and Taipei its provisional capital. In 1949 Mao establishes the People's Republic of China, in China. Chiang and the ROC has effectively been ousted.

Chiang was elected as the President of the ROC in 1948 and remained in the position until his death in 1975. Taiwan under the Chiang and the KMT was a single-party state. In fact, Taiwan is placed under martial law until 1987 and this entire period is known as 'White Terror', suppression of all political dissent against the KMT. Actual or even perceived dissention was punishable by imprisonment or execution. Even something as trivial as the local Taiwanese dialect is banned and Mandarin, favoured by mainlanders and KMT is enforced. I clearly recall my childhood as a first grader, in 1984, discussing with my friends in know-all tones that speaking in Taiwanese is not allowed.

The Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall was officially opened in 1980. It is an impressive building, its blue and white colours and traditional shape stands proudly in the large open square. Under Chiang's rule, Taiwan under goes massive developments and throughout the 60s and into the 70s grows an economy of envy, earning a place as one of the "Four Asian Tigers".

With the Cold War in place during this time, Chiang is regarded by the West as a legitimate and respected leader of China (which included the island of Taiwan) even though the ROC had no actual control whatsoever with anything that occurred on the mainland. One has to remember that Chiang led China into WWII as an Allied force and was the one of the four most powerful nations at that time along with the USA, UK and France, collectively known as the "Four Policemen". At the end of the second world war, Chiang was the head of a country that became a founding member of the United Nations and also a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

With the lift of martial law in 1987, criticism of Chiang from the people of Taiwan is finally bubbling forth. Many monuments, statues, streets named after or in honour of Chiang are being gradually removed or replaced. In fact in 2007, President Chen Shui Bian of the Democratic Progressive Party announced that the National Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall to be renamed the National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall. However supporters of the original name (predominately KMT members) objected to the change and now due to political scuffling and legal tug-o-war the old name is still technically the correct name but none from either side of the political fence likes to refer to it as such. Kinda like Taiwan's own political/legal status. I mean ROC.

Technically Taiwan does not exist as a county. Doesn't that just blow your mind?


L: Impressive gates to the Memorial Park; R: CKS Memorial Hall, large and looming in the distance. High school kids in the foreground.

L: Troops in prep for the "Double 10 Day" parade (or Independence Day, held on the 10th of October), in front of the National Concert Hall; R: The National Concert Hall, under renovations for the celebrations.

L: Front view of the National Concert Hall with troops parading ant-like in front; R: Sweaty soldiers guarding rifles during a break in their practice.

I mentioned earlier that Dr Sun Yat Sen was a mentor to Chiang Kai Shek. He is considered by both the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China as the "Father of the Fatherland". Dr Sun's influence culminated in the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty in 1911, the last dynastic family that will ever rule China.

Inside the memorial hall which is topped by a wonderful golden roof, is a large statue of Dr Sun, guarded by two military personnel at all times. There is a sign in front of the statue asking visitors to bow to the statue as a sign of respect. I did not, as one is under no obligation. But I did see a Taiwanese man and his wife bowing deeply upon entering.

The memorial hall sits in a less austere sounds and its verandah on the shady side that day sat many old men playing Chinese chess with other old men onlookers.


L: Old and new - SYS Memorial Hall and Taipei 101; R: Side view of SYS Memorial Hall.

L: The front of SYS Memorial Hall; R: Mosaic on the foot path.

L: Sign declaring new name for CKS Memorial Hall, technically not correct due to legal and political game play; R: The verandah of SYS Memorial Hall.

L: A Chinese chess game in session, one of many on the day; R: Sign in front of Dr Sun's statue requesting visitors to salute. Bowing is acceptable.

Bling-a-licious

Saw these tacky custom mobile phone covers the other day. They are regular phones with stick-on sparkly things on them. Turn your phone bling-a-licious in an instant. You can take them to special customising stores for these professional finishes.



So I decided to do the same with mine. ButI thought, why spend all that money when you can D.I.Y.? A small pack costs only NT$50. I think for complete coverage you need 3 to 4 packs depending on the size of your phone. I used 2 packs.

My phone has been with me since May 2006, but as you can see it's waaaaay old from a lifetime ago. It was a hand-me-down as I had at the time lost my (actually it was my company's) nice new one with colour screen and camera. The hand-me-down was pretty scratched up so this was the perfect opportunity to do something about it.




Ok, so it's a little mutton dressed as lamb...

But hey, when in Rome!