Member-berries and Intellectual Memorabilia

Chinese New Year is almost upon us. The year of the Ox approaches. No Taiwanese can tell you what it means; but I like to think it symbolises moving slow and steady, seeing the goal, and not getting distracted or deterred on the path. Cat Steven’s prophesied it already on Catch Bull at Four:

“Oh I’m on my way, I know I am
Somewhere not so far from here
All I know is all I feel right now
I feel the power growing in my hair

Oh life is like a maze of doors
And they all open from the side you’re on
Just keep on pushing hard boy, try as you may
You’re going to wind up where you started from”

I don’t know about you; but I can feel a power growing from inside; having recently transitioned from my 20’s, my responsibility senses are tingling. With power comes responsibility, and so one learns one’s place on this earth and what one wants. One starts to learn how to focus desire and use the power of will to manifest. Ophra was right all along, perhaps not doctor Oz, and Dr. Phil is of course debatable, but you live on that vertical line, and you start to notice how many of the past souls encountered drift further and further away. The island grows and less driftwood accumulates, as we accept the silence, and start to think aloud, every harder on how to spend our endless numbered days.

Amidst these days when we zone on our kush/oil/edibles/dabs; the mind drifts to moments, some meaningful, most trivial; but let me share one story of spacewalking on this little island. One tale takes us straight to the waterfalls. Now in Taiwan, you are able to find many a natural waterfall; there is one close to my town (only 40min driving) and some that take big treks and spelunking to reach it. One of my favorite pastimes being to take some mates (or a lady friend) up there, with a little green surprise and a pipe and then seeing what happens.

Now I’ve experienced a few things on missions like these, memories included:

A group of young hippies, Taiwanese, two of them zoning of of some Acid and seeing all the geometric patterns within nature falling into place, and forced to speak English to this guy, only further intensifying their trip. But it was all good, your faithful narrator is a charming man and knows how to read social situations. The bro’s had a little barbecue right there; makeshift on the rocks overlooking the pool, and yours truly escaped with only memories of swinging on a rope and jumping down the fall, and a few slices of watermelon. Great success.

“and yours truly escaped with only memories of swinging on a rope and jumping down the fall, and a few slices of watermelon.”

Another tale involves a woman, one who prefers the company of Westerners and going on the road less traveled, far past where most little Taiwanese fail to venture, seeing as a lot of them are not that good at swimming. If you don’t believe me, allow me to recall one memory where I found students (20-23) at one pool in the same waterfall area, waddling through the water with t-shirts and long jeans. A confused Jin asked, why was this strange phenomenon taking place; but all they could manage to mangle together was: “she is shy”. And yes, shy they are, but not this girl I was with (I digress). This short was well versed in the art of smoking and soon we were doing yoga on the rocks, venturing nude, and her holding onto Jin’s neck as we waded through deep waters. Spirit guides were summoned, chi was restored and a whole nest of butterflies were found after venturing deep enough, and no, potential perverts reading this; none of those were euphemisms for anything past PG13.

In Taiwan, there are many natural hot springs, and as a result, a lot of hot spring hotels and area’s; most to be found in a part of Taipei called Beitou. JinLiHai is a big fan of Beitou; (quick history lesson). Taiwan was colonized by Japan from 1895 to 1945. In that time, Beitou served as the place where a lot of Japanese generals resided, owing to the fact that the natural hot springs there probably relaxed them a lot, and reminded them of Japan.

As a result, Beitou has a very Japanese feeling in vibe and decor; it is situated very close to the mountains, with waterfalls easily spotted springing through the cracks of the mountains. I digress…my ex and I used to love going to Beitou. There are public baths where one can go, and overpriced hot spring hotels, where the mountain water can be jetted into your room’s hot tub. But the best which I would recommend, is a place where one can rent hot spring room for an hour or two.

It’s easy to smoke there; you just bring the pipe. Find the perfect balance of hot and cold water; get your bath filled to the brim. Let her rip, and then enjoy the waves and ideas that the sweet leaf brings to you and your partner. And yes, then PG13 goes straight out of the window (if there was one).

“and yes, then PG13 goes straight out the window (if there was one)”

So by all means. If COVID season is over, and the power that be decide that a disease with a 99% survival rate has caused enough poverty to drain the middle-class of all their blood, then please come and visit Taiwan. The green might be expensive; but if you’re cool enough, you might find someone with a cool vape pen, and enough time to show you around. Who knows, maybe one day by chance our paths could cross at a waterfall; and when that happens, always remember. Pass it to the left.

Stay high and stay lifted- JinLiHai

Tao Te Ching – Chapter 35

 Have in your hold the great image
And the empire will come to you.
Coming to you and meeting with no harm
It will be safe and sound.
Music and food
Will induce the wayfarer to stop.

 The way in its passage through the mouth is without flavor.
It cannot be seen,
It cannot be heard,
Yet it cannot be exhausted by use.- Lao Tzu