Travel Blog

My friend Louis and I engaged in a very interesting topic tonight over fine scotch.  We both find ourselves back in Kaohsiung for various personal reasons, where we suffer from a lack of cultural sensory input, after having lived and traveled to cities that represent heights of our civilization.  So the question is, if we cannot move back to where we have been, how do we bring it to Kaohsiung?

How do I bring New York to Kaohsiung?  San Francisco to Kaohsiung?  London? Buenos Aires? Barcelona? Or even Taipei?  What are the key elements that make these cities so unique in their respective ways?

I present no solutions here.  But I have now made it a personal objective to identify the factors and make this come true.  Whatever the answer is, I know red velvet has something to do with it. 

I just spent a perfect weekend in London.  2 full days of walking around, refamiliarizing myself with the city after almost 20 odd years of being away.  Live 8 was happening with the anchor Pink Floyd reunion, followed by U2, the list goes on.  I didn’t go cuz I didn’t get free tickets.  It was a lottery thing.  So instead, I did plan B.  I hit the London Gay Pride parade to check out if English gays and lesbians were just as carefree and "out" as the San Franciscan gays and lesbians.  The answer is a resounding YES.  Mind you, I’m not gay, but am very prideful.  Just for kicks I marched along with the Trans Gender group just to throw people off.  Bangers and mash, ladies and gentlemen…it’s all about the bangers and mash in London. 

Well after an almost 24 hour ordeal, I’m home in Kaohsiung, in my own bed.  You see, when you travel for 2 months out of a Southwest legal roller case with only 4 pairs of underwear, being home is a good thing.  It’s hot and humid here.  In fact, the timing couldn’t have been more terrible to return to Kaohsiung.  But I have my own bed and I have no laundry issues.  The aircon is on full blast now, and I won’t turn it off until mid September. 

Life is good.