il Giardino Romantico

Parting is such sweet sorrow.
- The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet.



Recently, I have often been accused of being overly sentimental.  Can you blame me?  For Taipei, not Taiwan mind you, has been a place that I have unwillingly lived with grudge.  In 2003, I came back to this city disliking it.  In the years that followed, I did not come to like it any better.  Seeing it from the Chinese point of view, Taipei and I are just not compatible in anyway. 

However, I had yet another revelation.  True.  Sentimentality is one of my biggest problems in life.  Today, I've decided to turn that into power, and show myself how great a city Taipei really is.  Not unexpectedly, I came home feeling even more sentimental, but in a very positive way. 

I was downtown on a mission of finding myself a nice, but reasonably-priced laptop bag.  With nothing else planned for the rest of the evening, I went to my usual spot, ordered a Heineken, and read my book.  After half a bottle had gone to my bladder, I was tempted into putting down my book and stare at the people and the sky with Taipei 101 in the foreground, and the white clouds pacing around in the background.  All of a sudden, I realized that Taipei is wonderful place.  Though this will not affect my decision in the future, I will always continue to deem Taipei as one of the greatest places in the world.  

So I made a few calls, sent a few sentimental text messages to my dear old friends and old students as a sign of saying farewell to this beautiful city.  Soon after that, I was ready to go home.



I took my time and enjoyed watching the people around me.  I thought to myself: I wonder if they realize what a wonderful place this is.  But it doesn't really matter.  Because experience tells me, that in order for you to really love a place, you have to leave it first.  As I waited for the light at a certain crossroad, I turn my head to the right and saw the beautiful orangy dusk sun setting into the cement building horizon.  Then, I turned my head to the left, and saw... A RAINBOW! 

I let out a loud "Wow!", but no one heard me.  That's what it's like here.  No body really cares.  I turned my head in all directions in search of anyone who had discovered the beautiful rainbow.  I found none.  I felt like shouting: LOOK THERE! YOU BLOODY FOOLS!  THERE'S A RAINBOW IN THE SKY!  But I didn't.  Why didn't I?  Perhaps there is a time for everyone to discover Taipei.  They must all come to that on their own.  No use thrusting the idea upon them now.  

The light turned green, and I followed the rush-hour crowd towards the MRT, got on and made sure that my mind had captured the distinct features of the people sharing that ride with me.  The fact that I was almost pushed over didn't even bother me like it would have usually done.  All is well.  

Here I am, sitting in front of my iBook, typing this insignificant recount of my eventless day, still feeling extremely sentimental.  Yet, I couldn't stop thinking about the rainbow.  It's good omen.  Something great and wonderful is surely awaiting at the end of it. 

I saw a rainbow today.  Tomorrow, I will walk on it to the other side.  The day after that, I will see that at the end of it, only the good awaits me.



I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.  And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.

Genesis 9:13-15 (Authorized King James Version)