Subject: Day 1 Taipei
The trip here could not have been smoother. It may have been oddly, the best flight I’ve ever had. This is only odd because I landed right in the middle of a Typhoon. People here really pay them little attention. Apparently, it occurs very often. From what I’ve seen, it just means lots of rain and wind.
My hotel is sumptuous. It’s relatively new and my first time staying here. My young friend Jimmy Chang is in their management training program.
Wei Chun arrived promptly at 11:00 and there was lots of caffeine. We went on to meet Jimmy for lunch at the hotel bistro, Une, Deux, Trois. The chef was trained in France. Everything was…perfect.
When it came time to chose a wine, ironically, the wine list had a Sancerre from Henri Bourgeois, Loire Valley, the same winery we’d met at and toured together, now many years ago. And yes, it too was perfect. Just when we thought we couldn’t stuff one more thing into our mouths following escargot, bisque, etc…the desserts came. There was chocolate cake with orange filling, lime sorbet, fruited cakes with gelato served with dry ice. Did I mention the hazelnut soufflé?
Then Jimmy had to go to work. Dr. Patricia Wu another dear friend arrived. Lunch officially took three hours. The chat constant and so much laughter. Sometimes, it amazes me how I can have so much in common with people from so far away.
We headed out, the rain was unyielding. After a bit of a detour, we found our way to Hsingtien Temple. Every time I visit Taipei I make time to visit this sanctuary of Taoism. Things have changed a bit. They’ve gone green. No more offerings to the Buddha. No more burning incense. But, they’ve kept the serenity. There’s a calmness that you can not escape. It envelopes you upon entering. There are groups chanting the sutra, volunteers to cleanse your soul. And there’s the opportunity to ask the Buddha a heartfelt question.
I won’t share mine, but I will say that the answer and explanation were spot on. The temple had a different vibe today from other times I’ve visited. My friends noticed too. Maybe it was the pounding rain? Or maybe the lack of people? Or maybe it just works better without the incense and offerings. Whatever the case, you leave feeling better than when you arrived.
From there, another tradition: We went to The 101 for dim sum at Ding Tai Feng. You take a number, and you wait. And you wait. There are hundreds of people…waiting. Because they know.
The dim sum here is an art. The dumplings are filled with broth. You put them on your spoon, poke a hole, let the broth drain, and eat the dumpling followed by the broth. And then you savor. It’s like magic in your mouth. Oh, and the Shanghai cucumbers. And beer. Lots of local beer.
I then hit the wall. A wet cab ride back, fond farewells…for the night. Tomorrow, more adventures…and maybe the typhoon will be over?
Oh, one last thing…Wei Chun’s t-shirt…outfit of the day. She’s so funny.
marybethruth 