Sounds & Sights of Silva – 2023.01
Taipei Take Two
Two months ago, I returned to Taipei. A whirlwind of circumstances converged on a one-way ticket from JFK to TPE, a mere five months after my previous stay.
I accomplished so much during my first go-around: traveled to many of the cities across the islands, ate a diversity of cuisines at so many different restaurants, met so many new friends… yet the time felt incomplete for some reason.
The colder climate of the Taipei winter awaited me, and I sit writing this under three layers of blankets, despite the temperature not dropping below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. The near maximum humidity here makes the cold feel even colder, as if it penetrates your skin and seeps into your bones.
But newer experiences have appeared in between the moments of frigidity, not just new in the context of Taiwan, but new for my personal growth. I started to ride a bike, and probably surpassed my up-to-this-point lifetime mileage within the last two weeks of riverside rambles. I just got back from a trip to the Guanziling Hot Springs, an area that served as a rehabilitation community for Japanese soldiers during their occupation of Taiwan at the beginning of the 20th century, now a spa and resort town that capitalizes on being one of only three places in the world with mud hot springs.
On the day of Chinese New Year, I went alone to the mountainside visible from any city street of Taipei, one that always felt close enough to be able to reach just by walking, and I tested and proved that theory to be true. I climbed the steep and slippery walkway to the pavilion at the top and looked upon the cityscape of Taipei. I was reminded of the seemingly infinite opportunities that were nestled in these streets, and the efficiency that guides most residents. The community temples on every other block, the lu rou fan stalls in our local night market, the parks that simultaneously celebrate peaceful rejuvenation and encourage active movement.
The first visit last Spring was a taste test; this visit is a full-on tea ceremony.
Parannoul - “Arrival”
Only one track to accompany this version – The newest record from South Korean shoegaze/indie rock artist Parannoul landed, with its grandest track appropriately titled “Arrival”. It’s a masterpiece of hazy, emotional storytelling that places you in the mists of your memories and emerges into tomorrow.
Follow the full playlist of Sounds of Silva featured tracks.
Listen to Zach’s radio show archive for Friend From A Big City on Deadbeat Radio. Listen through the most recent episode.