Night Ride

Things are getting better … the class is beginning to feel less like the beginning of kindergarten cop. With some tips from friends I’m working on making the class more structured. Yesterday we went over class rules and reprimands for poor behavior. Oh yes, Teacher Sarah is getting a voice.

That night I went on my first night ride since returning to Taiwan. The full moon was out as we stocked up on gas and headed for Yo-ming-shun (sp?), a nearby mountain with incredible views overlooking Taipei. From the busy city streets we transitioned to suburban roads that began leading upwards to the mountain. This area always reminds me of the Pacific Palisades in LA. On one main road we passed a line of shrimp restaurants. The restaurants all specialized in letting you catch your own shrimp. Using nets or something similar you sit around a large pool in the middle of the floor and fish with your friends and family. Everything you catch the restaurant then cooks up for you. I marked the place in my memory to visit on another occasion.

As we travelled farther up the road the air became more chilled and the houses more sporadic. The roads were wide, but full of twist and turns. After another 10 minutes we reached the mountain road that would take us to the top. Reflectors lined both sides of the road and the middle, shimmering brightly by the bike’s light. Continuing upwards and around more turns I saw glimpses of the city spread out below. As we reached the top I heard talking and the clinking of glasses.  Infront of us stood a coffee shop and several food stands. It was strange after so many empty roads to reach a bustling restaurant and find the city’s teens hanging out at the best viewpoints. We grabbed some cold coffee and headed toward a barrier next to the road where you can sit and look out over the city. It was a bit surreal, us talking in English gazing at all the city lights, but standing near another 5 or 6 little groups next to their bikes speaking all in Chinese.