It's hard to keep in touch in today's ratrace and therefore blogs help us to keep in touch with our friends and find out what they're up to. Mine, is no different. Enjoy!
Monday, February 19, 2007
Pig Out!
OINK! OINK!!
A happy Chinese New Year to you all. I hope that the YEAR OF THE PIG would be full of fun and fantastic adventures! Now you don't need any excuse for piggin' out!
As you know by now, I had my official book launch of my first book: AFRO-DIZZY-ACT : A potent adventure of a foreigner in Taiwan in Taipei last weekend at the International Book Exhibition. It was such a special occasion in my life and it’s something that I’ll remember for many years to come.
Speeding to Taipei
The long awaited High Speed Railway was opened last month and we took advantage of getting to the capital city in style. Last Saturday morning myself, Moz and Sean made our way up to the HSR Station in Tainan county. It’s a bit out of town, but once you’re there, you appreciate the beautiful county scenery outside. The white and orange train pulled in fast and we got on. It was awesome to drive 300km/h for the first time in my life. It didn’t feel that fast though. I couldn’t believe that the usual 5 hour drive was now only 2 hours. It helps a lot. My artist buddy Jasyn met us on the train and we discussed what could await us that side of the island. Soon we arrived in Ban-Ciao in Taipei and we headed into the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) towards the radio station. Rusted Chinese
Not only did I have my first radio interview in my life. I was asked all questions in Chinese and attempted… stress on attempted to answer as much as I could in Chinese. It was scary! But I was so stressed out, that I probably used a LOT of wrong tones. However, I think it went quite well. The DJ was very well prepared and we had an awesome time.
Book Fair
Jasyn and I headed to the book fair which was held at the World Trade Centre next to the world’s tallest building, Taipei 101. I knew it would be big, but it was HUGE!!! If I say that there were thousands of people inside, I don’t lie. I couldn’t believe how many books there were. Russia, Japan and many other countries were represented there and we zigzagged through the people to get to our stand. They used the “big 5” animal painting that Jasyn did on the wall and our book was promoted next to Johnny Depp’s! Ha-ha. How cool was that?! We met our host who would host our public show on Sunday. Her name is Medusa and she’s from Taiwan. My book was all around me on all shelves, and it was really a feeling that I can’t describe to anyone.
Amazing Friends
I have a few of these, but sometimes you meet someone and it’s almost as if you KNEW you had to meet this person in your life. By the time you’ve finished your first conversation, it feels like you’ve been friends for years. Well, I met Joan like this. An amazing girl from South Africa who invited my friends and me to join them for dinner at her place that night. We arrived there with my friend Connie who joined later. The house was homey and it felt so inviting. As I walked up, a Taiwanese boy walked up to Joan and asked her something. In 100% accurate Afrikaans!!! I almost fell on my back!! The WHAT?!?! Man, he could even say the rolling RRRR sound! Yes, Hans (as he was called) lived in Bloemfontein with his parents and came back to Taiwan some years later. It sounded so strange, but it was awesome. Joan also had other friends there and it was so nice to meet all these lovely people. Soon we made our own in-home dance floor and we boogied away. After a nice time, we left for one of the largest night markets Shin-Lin in Taipei, where I had a long awaited papaya milk.
Sunday, 4 February
Early Sunday we all made our way to the book exhibition. It was busier than the previous day and I almost arrived late for my own presentation. Ha-ha. We were greeted by the publisher and the South African Liaison Office who came to support me. It felt so special that my government was supporting me and helping show Taiwan what an amazing people we are in South Africa. There were quite a few people who attended. Jasyn and I had to sit on a stage and before we were asked questions, they introduced South Africa with beautiful clips. SA music was playing in the background and I felt like I was home.
"I couldn’t believe this
was really happening."
Pinch me!! As I was sitting there, my friends Teresa, Leandra, Connie, Marcelle, Sean, Josh (bless your souls) and many others were supporting me from below. It felt so awesome. Again I had to try and speak Chinese, and this time it went worse, because the host, Medusa, asked the questions really quickly. Ha-ha. Hey! If Miss World can get an interpreter, so can I. So Jasyn came in very handy.
Soon I had to sign books, and immediately a line of people were formed waiting for signatures. I had goose bumps all over, cause I couldn’t believe this was really happening. We were later asked to leave the area and go back to the stand where I had to finish the rest of the signing.
MA LI OH DAI NI FUNG TAIWAN!!!!!
This is the Chinese name of my book and when I arrived at the stand, people were walking with HUGE posters with the book and screaming the name. My wonderful friends Connie, Moz and Sean joined in soon and everyone was shouting. I had to sit at a small table and sign books. This kept going for about 2 hours. A small girl loved the pictures in the books and asked her dad to buy her the book too. She was so shy, but had the courage to pose for a picture. We also sold some of our Pie*Say T-shirts and we proudly promoted Taiwan too.
Persian relaxation
The evening we went to an Iranian restaurant where we indulged in a much deserved Persian meal. It was out of this world. And we were also soon entertained with a belly dance performance. Wow! I was in awe. Those girls must have the guys go wacko in Persia!!! They are like goddesses … I totally understand why Samson in the Bible got tricked by one of them. Ha-ha.
Monday
Early Monday, Jasyn and I headed out for our second Radio interview. This one was a big station and the security was so tight. I sat and waited with posters surrounding me of all the famous Taiwanese singers and actors. Cooool! The interview went a little better, cause the DJ could speak and understand English, so I was much more relaxed.
Catch the train!!!
While Jasyn and I were interviewing away, my other friends were at the museum. We had to catch the 12:15 speed train back to Tainan. Problem is, if you miss the train, you forfeit the money. Jasyn and I was there at 11:50, but no sign on the other friends. Unfortunately they didn’t realize how the time would catch up with them, and I got a phone call that they’re on the bus. They even got the bus driver to skip all his stops and head for the Railway Station as fast as that bus could go. I can imagine something like a Keanu Reeves scene in Speed. By 12:12 Chariots of Fire started playing in my head while my friends stampeded like scared zebras around the corner in slow motion. We pushed our way through the gates and still had to run down to the train. At 12:14 we jumped on the train through any opening that we could find. 1 minute later we were speeding away to the south. What a close call! It took us half of the trip just to get our breath and color back. But, what an exciting way to end such an exciting weekend.
