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A Day Trip to Danshui

Wednesday, April 25, 2012


So Danshui (or Tamsui) is a "seaside district" in New Taipei City, named after the Tamsui River. Before I go any further, I'd like to file a complaint with the place-naming bureau of Taiwan, please. The romanization of Taiwanese/Mandarin is terribly inconsistent in Taiwan. Mainland China uses the Hanyu pinyin system, which I was taught in college when I took Mandarin. Prior to that, I'd always learned Mandarin the Taiwanese way, which (prior to 2002ish, according to Wikipedia) was through Taiwan's own phonetic symbol system, BoPoMoFo (or BuhPuhMuhFuh).

But apparently between 2002 and 2009, Taiwan adopted a form of pinyin that was all their own, called Tongyong pinyin ... are ya confused yet? That is why something that is clearly (at least to me, in Mandarin ... not sure about Taiwanese) pronounced "Tai Zhong" becomes "Tai Chung" on signs in Taiwan. And something that sounds, to my ears, like "Dan shui" becomes "Tam sui." (I believe that's the Taiwanese pronunciation.)

Rant over!

I don't know very much about it except for the fact that it's widely thought of as a day trip getaway from Taipei, because of the nice views and waterfront areas. You can take a ferry across the river to a town they call "Bali" (another word of contention with me, as both Bali in Indonesia and Paris, France are pronounced "Bali" in Mandarin). Further down, you can take a ferry to the Fisherman's Wharf, or walk. We didn't have the time to check out the Wharf, but maybe it's worth checking out.

I mentioned earlier that the Danshui stop is at the end of the Red line of Taipei's MRT (subway system), so it's an easy and smooth commute, about 20-25 minutes from Taipei Main Station at the heart of Taipei.

Here are some photos ...

A lonely bubble floating towards the Tamsui River

A father making bubbles for his daughter

The Old Street, where snacks and knick knacks can be found


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Photo: DJ Avicii at Nangang 101

Sunday, April 08, 2012


Was invited pretty much last minute to what I can only (with my limited trance-electro-dance music knowledge) describe as a 21st century rave. It was housed at Nangang 101, a huge warehouse whose insides eerily resembled the insides of my college gymnasium where, incidentally, all the crazy dance parties and would-be raves were housed. The party started at 10pm and included a line-up of DJs playing some sort of trance-Eurodance-electro mix (do I really know the difference between trance and electronic music?). 

DJ Avicii, a 23-year-old from Sweden, was the guest of honor. I liked him best only because he played two songs I actually recognized while among the other DJs, I recognized one song. I tried to dance, but how do you dance to trance, I'd like to ask? We stayed until nearly 3am, when the crowd began falling apart (in every meaning of the word). The crowd was very interesting; the most English-speaking crowd I've found myself a part of since I've been here, but also the drunkest, craziest, wildest, freest, gayest, sweatiest, nakedest, highest, oddest. Everything -est. 

I got stepped on three times on both my big toes -- once by stiletto, next by platform, last by a dude. I felt old beyond my years because I didn't know what to do with my limbs like everyone else did (but maybe they had the advantage of being high on E or something). Instead, I stood with my knees locked, bopping my head up and down to the beat (because, really, what else was there? No lyrics, no real melody) like an awkward boy at a middle school dance. For 5 hours. 

Despite the pain and crowdedness, it was a sight to see and one I'm glad I experienced. Now I know that trance-electro-Eurodance and I don't really get along. Perhaps with the help of some hallucinogens we might be able to ... ;)


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