It is fair to say that 2015 was a pretty good year to me. Steady work, lots of travel, new experiences. I knocked some things off of my bucket list. I visited Japan. I got my writing published at Focus Taiwan, a news website. So I wanted to send it off in style and ring in the new year with hope for a good start.
I asked my friend Grace to watch the fireworks and sunrise from Jiantan Shan. She has been my constant companion and support throughout the year. Things have been up and down, with fights and stress, but somehow we keep finding our way back together for new adventures.
Things started off a bit rocky. It was a last minute plan with a lot of dependent factors. There were questions about exactly what we were going to do. Should we bring her tripod for her camera? Miscommunication. Lots of miscommunication.
Still, after work we met up at the Xingtan Temple MRT and got dinner at Taco Taco. It was her first try at eating a burrito. After that, it was on to Xingtan Temple to pray for good fortune and get a blessing. As a note, if you go to the ladies with incense for a blessing, take your backpack off before hand or you look silly trying to get it off while she is standing there.
We walked across the city and over the Keelung river to get to the Grand Hotel. Grace thought the we could just go up there instead of all the way up the mountain. I was none to surprised that they would not let us up to the top. There was a party going on up there, so guests only and we could not bluff past. This lead to some arguments, but somehow we kept it together. We could have gotten a shot from the parking lot, but figured to soldier on to the top.
We marched up the mountain steps. The trails at Jiantan have short stone steps and there are numerous areas set aside for temples, patios, and badminton courts. We ended up following along with some other hikers while listening to people sing karaoke at their own little parties. We would stop now and then to test the view, but always kept marching on in search of a higher, better view.
The problem with any winter hike is the fight between sweating and freezing. That was particularly the case because as we rose higher the wind picked up to steal away our heat. It was a nice 15* C out, but the wind might as well have made it bellow zero, or so it felt. It was not so bad while in the tree cover or on the west side. In other words, places not suited for taking photos.
We finally reached a high area with viewing platforms. We were not the only ones wanting to take pictures though. I advocated just crowding in, but Grace did not want to do that. With a bit of searching we found an old trail below the platforms that was partly roped off. With a bit of work we got the tripod set up there and waited in the wind for the show to start.
At midnight Taipei 101 erupted in a pyrotechnic plume. Red, blue, and gold fireworks burst in stunning patterns. I did what I could to captures a few shots with my little camera. I was counting on Grace to get the good shots with hers though. I watched the show and enjoyed the distant sparkles. It was over a bit too quick though, and I am sure it went on far longer last year. We could at least watch a few of the other light shows going on below, including a group of teens down by the Keelung river setting off their own.
We huddled a bit and planned our next move as the others started to disperse. With the bone chilling wind we decided it was not in us to stay up on the mountain all night. We trotted back down the mountain to the Grand Hotel. We sat around a lobby to get warmed up until we were kicked out. Of course, once we were down low the wind was less of an issue.
We sat around and talked before finally going to see if anything was still open at Shilin Night Market. While it seemed dead at first, there was indeed still life. Others were hunting for late night food and there were a few stalls still catering too us nocturnal creatures. A coffin sandwich provided me with a bit more energy to try and ride out the night.
After some time sitting around an underpass for warmth, it was time to head back up the mountain. We dragged our worn out rears back up. I was cursing bringing the tripod along. By 04:30 and 05:00 there were already some people hiking up. Old folks wanting early exercise before the sun even rose. I guess that is the secret to living forever. I for one shall pass on that.
We made it up faster than planned. We found a familiar spot on the leeward side to talk as time passed. We huddled together to keep warm until the sky started to lighten. We hurried over to the observation deck where a few others joined us to great the first sunrise of the year.
The city below was shrouded in a thick haze. Either smog from China or fog from the Keelung and Tamsui rivers. 101 was barely visible and we feared that it was all for not. Things were saved, though, as the rising light burned away the clouds above Taipei. The city itself was still mostly obscured, but up above were vivid hues of orange and purple as dawn broke at 06:39. I took as many pictures as I could, counting more on quantity over quality. I might not get 101 bathed in light, but I could at least have the painted sky.Our quest complete, we headed down the mountain. We were tired, sore, and hungry. As it turns out you can get breakfast at KFC. Also, you should not. We made our way to the MRT and said our goodbyes. We both needed showers and to lay down for a long rest so we would be fresh for the new year.
