Don’t leave your bike outside Taipei Main Station overnight. The last time I went to Alishan with my sister and brother-in-law, I left my bicycle outside for two nights. When I got back my basket was gone. It was the only new part on my bike. This time I left my bike there for a few nights after I rode it there to pick up my plane ticket. I took the subway to work that day and all week have forgotten to get off at Taipei Main Station to ride it home. Someone tried to steal my bike but I have a small lock on the chain (smaller than a pad lock that’s used for doors. It keeps me from buying a new lock or chain). The lock rides up into the gears and well, that’s when they put the bike back. It must be funny when the thief starts riding away and then kahh-kggh-chhh goes the chain. I just had to open the lock and take it off. Then, put the chain back on like when I was little and the chain would pop off.

The even funnier thing is that I still have my bell but the thumb piece is gone. I don’t understand this part. Did they really need that piece? It’s a pain because I can’t use the bell anymore but it’s still there. It goes off by itself when I go over a bump though. That gave me a laugh on the way home and then I didn’t feel bad about the whole thing.

I’m going to Zhongli (中壢) tomorrow. Y.C., Uncle Kurt’s old colleague, is going to take me to Sanyi (三義) and somewhere in Miaoli (苗栗) to go hiking (If the trails aren’t wet. He has a piece of land somewhere in Miaoli.). Anyways, not sure if I’ll be back tomorrow night and Taipei Main is the most convenient place to leave the bike. So, I might just leave there again. Well, don’t leave your scooter there. It’ll get towed if it’s in the wrong place. I know that for a fact.

I have the Chinese version of valley girls chatting next door and a thin sheet of plywood in between. They can’t bother me now. I’m in a good mood. Tonight I saw a music concert with a friend. It was The Silk Rhapsody: The Beauty of Jiangnan Music (絲情話意 — 江南絲竹之美), a presentation of Southern Chinese string and wind musical instruments. I enjoyed closing my eyes and feeling the music. My head slowy swaying side-to-side with the rhythm, I felt like I was floating like a feather. I love this music.

I don’t think I ever posted these photos. This was when I was in Beijing two summers ago, July 21, 2005, a Thursday to be exact. In the late afternoon I decided to ride my bike and explore further out into Haidian district (海淀区). My start position was Wudaokou (五道口), near BLCU.

It looked like suburbs to me but is still considered the city. But there weren’t any tall buildings around that way, it was more residential and a lot dustier. It had turned dark and I was pretty far away from where I came. I was a little lost. I’d been to the Summer Palace (颐和园) before and knew it was close-by. I thought if I could be pointed in that direction I could find my way back. I asked a guy riding his bicycle for directions.

He told me to follow him. Instead of taking me towards the Summer Palace he took me into a college campus (中国农业大学 or China Agriculture University). I didn’t stop him because I didn’t see any harm to keep going. I just wondered where we were going. We ended up at his home on campus. Him and his father lived in two small rooms connected to their garage/shop. His name was Gao Linbo (高宁波).

Linbo still had some work to do that day. After I decided I wasn’t in a hurry, that there wasn’t much I could do but wait until he could show me the way, I settled down. They were nice to give me a bowl of rice and some vegetables left over from their dinner. I remember it was very salty and good because I hadn’t eaten. We couldn’t communicate too well because my Chinese was pretty poor. They seemed glad to have a guest and I was glad to rest.

Linbo’s father and I played chess. His father won of course. Did you see a missing pawn with a nail in its place? I was at their place for about an hour. I watched them at work and helped out by holding a lamp. I’m not quite sure what they were making but I know the cuts had to be exact. I think he said the part was going to be used in Japan. I took a picture of his spec sheet which had Japanese on it and a Japanese company’s name too.

After his work was finished, he guided me part of the way home until I knew the way. When I go back to Beijing I should visit him and his father again. The last photo is of Xiaojia River (肖家河), which is near 农大 (NóngDà)

I’d like to see a performance by the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan before I leave here but there aren’t any upcoming shows. I was reading about one, Songs of the Wanderers, which was inspired by the founder’s trip to Bodhgaya (city in India famous for being the place of Buddha’s attainment of Enlightenment).

I must be more studious these days than I used to be. I don’t remember looking up definitions much before, even when I was in school.

qui·e·tude [kwahy-i-tyood]

  - (n.) the state of being quiet; tranquillity; calmness; stillness; quiet…