Going to Xindian
April 2nd, 2007 by MarkYesterday, PR and I went down to Xindian to meet up with Poagao (AKA TC). I showed PR my highlighted and marked up newspaper I’ve been studying from. It’s a technique integrated with flashcards that I got from the How to Learn Any Language document on Scribd. It was a surprisingly quick ride, maybe only 20 minutes to get to the end of the subway line.
After getting to Xindian, we met up with Poagao, rode a boat across the river and went hiking through the countryside. It was amazingly peaceful and clean for someplace so close to an MRT station. There were big dogs kicking their heels through knee-high grass, little kids running around, and wide open fields on all sides. It was really relaxing, and I can sort of see why Poagao’s been raving about how great Xindian is. There was even a decent pizza place called Rendezvous, that we hit on the way back. Better still, Poagao lent me a sci-fi book I’ve been meaning to read for a while- Red Mars
There’s no doubt about it. Xindian is so much more livable than the Linkou/Guishan area that I used to live in that there’s no comparison. It’s right on the main subway line, too. I’m still happy living in the heart of the city, though. Truth be told, I think I’d enjoy a bigger city.
Update: TC has written up the same day’s events far more eloquently than I did in this post.
:
April 4th, 2007 at 8:33 am
Mark,
If you enjoy red mars, I have the other installments-green and blue mars. You are welcome to them.
April 4th, 2007 at 11:36 am
It was a nice visit with both of you. Unfortunately, I brought (and forgot to give) small gifts we got for you in the Mainland. Ah well, I guess we’ll meet again…
April 4th, 2007 at 5:42 pm
hmm..seems like I have to register then I can leave a message here. I left a message in Chinese but it didn’t work, will try again.
I lived in Xindian when I first moved to Taipei 3 years ago, we lived there for 18 months then we moved into the city. Xindian is nice but a bit too far away from everything. We moved back to Chia Yi this January coz it’s cheaper down here and I am a full time house wife now.
I have a four months old baby girl and I am a happy mother. Life is good and simple. My husband is from Canada(the chef I told you about) he’s teaching English at a school just 5 mins away from the apartment.
Anyway, I just found out the the Chinese teacher Chen past away last November. That news reminds me of you, so I Google you and I found you (internet is evil….)
Ps. This is Joey, wonder if you remember me.
April 4th, 2007 at 10:36 pm
Red Mars, I haven’t read it. I’ll put in on my list. I wonder if I will be able to get The Prefect by Alastair Reynolds this week; it just came out and I really want it!
But I just finished The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson and that is pretty good.
April 8th, 2007 at 2:48 am
Hey, Joey! Of course I remember you. I’m surprised and sad about Chen Laoshi. She seemed so healthy just a couple of years ago. I think Jiayi really is a great place for settling down. Congratulations on your baby.
Sorry about your comments, by the way. They accidentally got filtered out as spam.
April 8th, 2007 at 2:51 am
Range, I just finished Diamond Age, too. I also enjoyed it.
May 7th, 2007 at 12:02 am
[...] I went down to Xindian last month, I picked up a copy of Red Mars, by Kim Stanley Robinson. Since I was in the middle of [...]