So, I am trying to find the words to describe what Taiwan is like for me. I have never been too good with words. My mom blames it on the fact that we didn't play scrabble very often when I was a kid. But regardless of if this is true or not, I find it very hard to describe Taiwan. First off, it is sensory overload. Sensory overload, within a haze of humid heat that sticks to you like fly paper. Yes folks, its true, Taiwan is fucking hot! I am a lucky butt and have air conditioning in my room. Thank the lords. But when you go outside you drip sweat all the time. That is just how it is.
It is said that the Taiwanese like 熱閙。It means a bustling noise and excitement. 熱 means hot (temperature) and 閙 means noisy. And I would say that in comparison is the states...Kaohsiung is 熱閙! There is so much life in the streets---hence the snow globe reference. I really have never seen anything like this in my life. Everywhere there are scooters, pedestrians, bikes, food carts, alters for gods and loved ones that have passed, stray dogs. And these things aren't just everywhere...they mix and mingle like some beautiful choreographed catastrophe. There aren't really any sidewalks in Kaohsiung (at least the area I am in) and when there are sidewalks they are either part of an opening to a shop, have a food cart on them, or are used for scooter parking. It is amazing how pedestrians and cars and stray dogs move like they are doing the tango. Its amazing...seriously amazing. The problem is I have yet to capture the 熱 閙 streets of Kaohsiung in a picture. I never do it justice. So I will wait to post a picture of the streets of Kaohsiung until I come close to showing the raw energy of this place. Lets just say I am speechless. A picture is worth a thousand words---I am bankrupt.
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