[여행] 야밤 타이페이 강변 싸이클링
여유롭게 라이딩하러 갔다 야밤 미아될 뻔한 사건
먼저 블로그 방식에 있어서의 변화 시도에 대해 잠시 한글로 설명 드리고자 합니다. 원래 제 블로그의 주 목적은 '대만(또는 해외)'를 한국인들이 보다 잘 이해할 수 있도록 하기 위함이기 때문에 기본적으로 한글 포스팅을 고수하고 있었습니다만, 통계 자료 분석을 해보니 대다수 분들은 대만의 '관광'적인 요소 즉 유명한 관광지 (지우펀, 야시장 등) 및 맛집에 관심이 많은 것으로 나타났습니다.
어찌보면 당연한 결과로 보여집니다. 대만에 오는 주 목적은 관광/여행이니까요.
그래서 관광객으로서 관심도 또는 실행가능성이 떨어지는 내용의 포스팅은 대만에 거주하는 외국인이라면 누구나 읽을 수 있도록 영어로 포스팅을 하기로 하였습니다. (사실 한글/영문/중문 포스팅을 다 따로 하면 좋겠지만 시간 관계상 부득이...ㅠㅠ)
언젠가 중문으로도 포스팅을 하고 싶은데 일단은 영문 포스팅부터!
INTRO
Usually my blog's main target audience was Korean because the main purpose of my blog was originally to introduce Taiwan to Koreans.
However, as most Koreans are quite interested in "tourist" spots (which are understandable), I would like to share my experience that are "less-touristy" in English with broader audience because I believe these contents would be more useful to people who live in Taiwan.
PROLOGUE
So this night in mid August, after a few nights of rain, the weather was just awesome for outdoor activities. My colleague Francis who loves all kinds of outdoorsy stuff from hiking to cycling, decided to go for one tonight as he does quite often.
We have tried about 30km ride to the tip of Shezi Island (社子島) where Tamsui River and Keelung River meet. But this time, we decided to head more south to Dadaocheng (大稻埕) which used to be a dock to ship stuff for marketplaces in Dihua Street (迪化街).
Let's go~!
XIHU - DADAOCHENG: Typical bike ride
We started from our office at Xihu station and then entered the riverside cycling track via Meiti Riverside park entrance near Miramar. The cycling track is so well established in Taipei which provides a pleasant experience for cyclers. However, those who have little experience cycling in Taipei Riverside may have harder time finding the entrance (exit).
We ride to the east to the direction of Grand Hotel Taipei (圓山大飯店) and to the north. These are the pictures of Beitou (北投) taken from the other side of Keelung River.
Beautiful bridge
Beautiful reflection
The full moon makes the atmosphere extra mystic.
Panorama with the moon
So after a few more minutes of gliding through the moon, we arrived at Dadaocheng, which is yet another one of the few entrances to the riverside.
In this season, so many Taiwanese were going crazy catching Pokemons and this night was no exception. People swarm into this place to catch Pokemons. (which was just a beginning!)
Unfortunately, Niantic failed to have this dude as its active user. While I strived to catch a few water Pokemons, this guy filled up his stomach with a sausage.
It was indeed amazing how a mobile service can completely change the user behavior and motivate them to go outside just to play this game.
DADAOCHENG - CRESCENT BRIDGE: New discovery
OK, I haven't come down this south by bike before.
There were some cute graffitis along the track like this Kumamon.
As I was riding it, I was joking whether we are heading all the way toward Taichung. lol
There was a beautiful bridge down the road which looks like a rainbow. It turns out to be Crescent Bridge(新月橋) near Xinzhuang (新莊) station.
The reflection on the stream makes the view special.
Then, we encounter this scene. This was just a tip of the iceberg considering the scene of Pokemon zombies chasing after rare Pokemons that met my eyes in Beitou on the other day but surely at this time, it was still made me aghast to see so many coming all the way here at this hour (around 10pm) in groups to catch some Pokemons!
Taking Francis leading the way on bike. Maintaining the balance while trying to take the picture without dropping a smartphone is not an easy task, evident from my blurry pic there.
CRESCENT BRIDGE - TAIPEI METRO PARK: Unexpected misery
Until this point, I thought our journey was perfectly smooth under the guidance of Francis the cycler. I should have known better when Francis start mentioning his unfamiliarity with this night market (重新橋觀光夜市) under the bridge. But I took it lightly as we were equipped with GPS.
And besides, this night market looks interesting! It was just yet another discovery of new place for me!
I could have shopped around for a few night snacks but for some reason, I wasn't that hungry that night... so just ended up doing some eye-shopping.
It was interesting how they colored each column of the bridge with rainbow colors.
There were even some amusement park section for kids.
Kinda lost where we were but hack, let's take a photo together!
Now here comes the mission "Return to base"
As I was relying more on GPS map because I was relatively new to the area compared to Francis. But you know, once you are relatively more familiar with a place, you tend to stick to your senses more than data. So instead of my suggestion to head east, based on Francis' sixth sense, we decided to head west.
That got us to Taipei Metro Park... I have visited this place when I just arrived in Taipei. A friend of mine invited me for a picnic here... but time flies, it's been already more than a year since then! Now I am lost at a park-turned-maze at night. After circling the park for couple of times, we finally realized this was completely wrong spot that does not lead us to the right direction.
So we got back to the place where we should have headed east instead of west.
When you are not sure, it is best to trust the data more than your senses.
These are some of the mistakes that many people make because it makes "more sense" to believe their senses - what they see and hear - than what is not already in front of their senses.
But even if we found the right direction, there was still a long way ahead of us, first heading north along the river before we can cross it to head back east.
In the end, we ended up cycling 60km. For me, with a one full bag in the front basket of the bicycle and an umbrella stuck in between the wheels. I think I was pedalling more or less mechanically...
Anyway, thank god we made it back home. (even though it was 1am!!)
I am talking weekday here.
But all in all, good memories. Nothing left dull.
