Fire in the Sky

Sept 18,2005

They call it Moon Festival. I am not aware of all of the ins and outs of this strange holiday, other than it revolves around the full moon and people bar-b-que and light fireworks all night long. It was madness everywhere you went. It was loud and beautiful at times and downright dangerous at others, as Teenagers tend to shoot fireworks in to the streets at passing motorists.
"The Mid-Autumn Festival 中秋節, or Moon Festival, occurs on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month and celebrates the annual harvest. Families view the full moon during this holiday while eating rich pastries known as “moon cakes.”

My Birthday in Taiwan

We started off at our apartment. It was Karen, Dave May, Aaron, Kelly and myself. I was given many wonderful gifts and we were enjoying a Taiwanese beer or two. We converged with our three Canadian neighbors from across the hall and they along with their friends brought our number up in to the double digits.
We moved on to a bar called the Rolling Stone, where there is all the free foosball and pool you can play. We continued our madness and mayhem there in to the wee hours of the morning. Somewhere along the line, I got an ice cream smeared in my face and a wonderful bouquet of flowers was given to me. I vaguely remember the ice cream, however, the giver of the flowers is a complete mystery. If anyone has any clues to the identity of the flower giver, you can leave an anonymous tip in the comments. There will be no reward at all, except for the feeling of doing a good deed.
To everyone that was there to help me celebrate my birthday, I say thank you. To all of you at home, I was wishing you were here. Thanks to Kelly L as well, for being the only one of my no good friends considerate enough to send me an e-card.
I have officially kicked off the “dirty thirties”. Middle age is just around the corner. Lord have mercy on my soul.
-E


(Look! You are still allowed to smoke in the bars here!)



(What's left of the dartmouth crew)



(Not a pretty picture)




All photos taken by my lovely wife. (Which is why she isn't in any of them)

The Honky Motorcycle Club

I have joined the exclusive Honky Motorcycle Club. Dave May was nice enough to part with his Yamaha Husky 150cc motorbike. I was sick and tired of driving around on a little 90cc scooter; I am way to big for that nonsense. Every time I pulled up to a red light, I expected someone to pop up from behind a car and snap my picture. Then, of course, within hours I would show up in your hotmail the brunt of one of those terrible “….priceless” mass e-mails.
Mr. Johnny Shaw, formerly of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, currently residing in ‘Nam, was rumored to have said he would never own a motorcycle in Taiwan, as it was almost expected of him. He said that just about every North American who comes here gets a motorcycle, like they are too good for a scooter. I don’t know about all of that, I just got sick of riding around on a little mechanical, two-wheeled maxi pad. I am much happier with my motorcycle.
Karen has taken over full use and control of the Yamaha, Cabin 90 scooter that served as our only source of transportation thus far, and between the two of us we are tearing up the streets of Tainan. We have become known, locally as the “wheeled wygoran menace”, terrorizing locals and striking fear in to the heart of motorists everywhere. There is much cowering when the rumbles of our engines are heard thundering through the streets. The matching leather jackets are being tailored as I write this.
There will be pictures of our trusty metal steeds for the viewing pleasure of anyone who is still checking up on us. They will be posted shortly. I hope everyone back home has enjoyed their summer. I want pictures e-mailed to me of any Halloween shenanigans and whatever else that may be of interest. I am sorry for the long delay between blogs. I have been super busy at work. I will try harder to post more regularly.
Till next time,
-E




(The Hog in all her glory!)