CHAPTER 3: EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Taiwan is infinitely more fascinating than I ever could have imagined.  Previously, I knew it for it's computer parts and as the origin of plastic witch noses.  There is a myriad of adventures that one can take part in on off days and vacation.

Aside from being a parade collective, The Dream Community has frequent parties to pass the time.

They often encourage artists to design their own party.

These lanterns were made for the annual boat festival in Keelung.  

Keelung also has one of the most interesting night markets.  Food and night markets will be covered in Chapter 4.

At night, all sorts of little shops open.

Hair Salon/Meat Market

The hot cold springs in Taiwan are incredible.  They smell like the inner workings of the earth.  Fed by sulfur caverns, the hot and cold baths coat the mountainside in bright yellow and blue clay.  You can move from hot to cold, equalize your chi and spend all day bathing in waterfalls.

For more local swimming, there is a swim spot right down the road from the dream community in a mountain-fed river.  

There is also an ocean surrounding the island.

Taroko Gorge National Park

This Ghost Boat Festival happens in Keelung. People make gigantic paper houses to burn for their ancestors.  They put them in the water where they are set aflame and float out to sea under a sky of fireworks.

I would not highly recommend the night clubs for dancing "impressively".  But they are interesting spots to see youth culture and get dressed up with your companions.

There used to be a really awesome club called "The Underground", which closed down in 2012 but the same owners are opening a new live music venue this year.  There are also some sweet tiny live music venues in Taipei like "Revolver".  We went and caught some friends from Brooklyn there earlier this month.

Also if you find a good "ok" bar, you have a chance that it might actually be amazing and not just for prostitutes, like Seamen Bar in Keelung.  A deaf lady of the evening bought me a birthday cake and we did some sweet kareok and hung out with sailors.  

Also, most of Taiwan is impassible mountains, previously inhabited solely by aboriginals.  Now there are many hiking trails that you can access for a day hike.

There is even a trail within walking distance of the Dream Community.

Mountain Tea Shop

Taipei Zoo

The baby giant panda will finally make an appearance winter 2013.

There are little pockets of art in Taiwan.  There is a large commune south of Hualien and Taipei has a thriving contemporary art scene.  

In November there is a digital art expo:
http://digitalartfestival.tw/daf12/artist_en.html
This year will feature Philip Beesley and his work "Protocell Cloud".

 For your free time convenience, you can take a train anywhere in Taiwan.  The island is only a 5 hour drive from top to bottom so the hotshot train can take you anywhere with very little hassle.  

Next Chapter: Food and Night Markets