6/1~6/7

Recently, many of my college mates were talking about having a mini-trip to Taipei in summer vacation and wanted to ask me to be their guide. I was exciting to introduce my friend my city and special spot especially for youngsters. I began to search for some information about the stores and exhibitions with unique style, of course some delicacies. I found a very interesting and attractive exhibition at Taipei Fine Arts Museum. That is “Mobilité, sons et formes”, ”Curated by the Centre National De Création Musicale in France, Mobility, Sound, and Form is a sensory experience comprised of ten audio-visual works, which transform sound through digital media.” This exhibition, which also includes video, installation and performance art, presents new forms and ideas while challenging our preconceptions of music. http://www.tfam.museum/Index.aspx
Next, I thought of a restaurant that I loved so much. That is “ZABU”. It is a small but delicate coffee shop with counter meals. Located across the National Taiwan Normal University night market, ZABU is popular in college students. The store also cooperates with some indie music company and original hand-made market. The atmosphere in ZABU is cozy and pleasant. Providing creators with free space, the founder build an arts space to both the consumers and artists.
http://zabustudio.blogspot.com/
If the meal is not enough for you, we still got dessert! “Coffee Alley”, is now the most famous dessert store in Taipei. It is recommended by many ladies in high society such as 孫芸芸 and 曾馨瑩. Despite of the fact that the price of the dessert there is not too expensive but the meal is extravagant. Especially the flavored waffle with fresh fruits and ice-cream, I just cannot help but become mouthwatering as soon as I think of the picture of the cuisine.
http://www.coffee-alley.com.tw/Home/Welcome.html
After googling for those information, I feel that I just cannot wait for the summer vacation anymore!

5/25~5/31

This Sunday, May 30, is the presentation of our Cloud Gate 2 curriculum. Before the performance, we have been attending the class for two weeks and working together every night. At first, our teachers, the professional dancers of the Cloud Gate 2 taught us to explore and get familiar with our body. And then fall in love with every inches of our body, even finger tips. During the process, we found many possibilities of our physical limitation and the relationship between man to man and man to environment. We also did many experimental minor performances and improvisations. For instance, at the first weekend, we tried to make a presentation which was one of the works in the performances of Cloud Gate 2 this spring. The dance was called “the floating room”. The work conveyed the relationship between a person and his or her room. The objects were influenced by their owner and became emotional and alive. In our own presentation, we combined the impromptu and the original edition. I thought it was an amazing experience. We learned not only dance but also the team work and listen to other’s body. We worked together and helped one another. The cooperation made us become closer. On this weekend, we are going to do our major performance at gym. Precisely, we will dance in the whole building, at every unexpected corners and spaces. The presentation will last 2 hours and the idea of it is about the relationship and spaciousness between man and environment. Combined with unpredictable potentials such as weather, light, passerby and other conditions, our presentation will be full of surprises and creativity. It is a whole new innovation and challenge to both students and dancers. The original idea carves out our imagination and physical limitation. I can be very sure that this performance will be worth expecting!

5/18~5/24

Recently, I read another book that I loved very much and wanted to recommend it to my friends. Actually, I had already read it when I was a junior high school student for so many times. That is “Battle Royale,” which is the master piece written by Koushun Takami. It is a realistic and horrible but extremely spectacular novel. However I do not think it appropriate to all the readers since its description is bloody and disgusting. The setting of the story was in Japan, after World War II. The government raise a project which is applied to the junior high school students in the whole country. First, they would draw lots and choose a school as the experimental subject. During the graduation trip, the students will be taken to an island and start the massacre competition. It sounds ridiculous but no one dare to rebel against the government. After all, the only way of survival is to put all your classmates into death! The novel is very photographic and the plot is bloody but vivid. The author stretches the mental conditions and personalities of each character, as well as their relationship with other classmates and their family background. In the book, I can see the deepest evil in human’s heart and the psychological state of people in anxiety and thorough crazy. When human expose in the danger, they will behave irrational and become skeptical. Whereas, there are still some expression of good side of humanity, some roles sacrifice for the one they love or help each other to get through the difficulties. The weakness of humanity in this book is clearly embodied and so do the struggle in human’s heart. Although the book is a bit disgusting and the slaughter is terrifying, still think it a good story for the profound meaning behind and outstanding description. It is indeed a book worth reading.

5/10~5/17

Recently, I have read a book called “69, sixty-nine”. Written by a significant writer, 村上龍, the book is hailed as the a most popular and best-selling Japanese novel in that age. “69” is also adapted to movie version and cause a great sensation. The setting of the story is based on 1969 (that’s also the reason of the name of the novel.), a remote, coastal town in Japan. 1969 is a year of controversy since it’s duration of the Vietnam War and the holding of Woodstock Music Festival, an age of anti-war, hippies and rock ‘n’ roll. In the remote small town of Japan coast, three high school students come up with some crazy ideas. They decide to make their own carnival, just like the music festival in USA, and raise the revolt toward their school as well as the whole educational system. Being inspired western culture, such as rock music, literature and the New Wave, those youngster determine to start a small revolution. With simple motivation, bold action and excessive energy, the small revolution cause an incredible aftermath. The plot is very incentive and interesting and so do the dialogue. I think the Japanese-Chinese translated novels are inclined to have a unique intonation, especial at the end of the sentence. For me, the particle and speaking tone are both the most intriguing parts of Japanese novels and movies. The story is full of imagination and creation. The setting and the plot are all innovative. The combination of a lag-behind small town in Japan and the colorful and exciting western culture are queer but remarkable. 村上龍 is an amazing pioneer and a talented writer. His works always bring a whole new vision to literary and movie field. The story “69” is one of the best models. No matter the text or the movie, this story shares both great popularity and the value of literature.




http://images.plurk.com/5341719_7a1081a9ad7ab40f3109faac435171a5.jpg

5/2~5/9

Last weekend was Mother’s day. Usually, on the Mother’s day, we will have our family dinner party at a restaurant. In fact, the routine of Mother’s day bores me. However, this year was very special and I really had great fun during the weekend of the Mother’s day.
On Friday, we had the motorcycle trip along the way to Tainan. First, we came to the Taiwan literature museum. The atmosphere of the museum was very graceful and the decoration and the traditional Taiwan literature and art were combined with new technology. Therefore, an innovative feature was born. Next spot, we came to Anping street and hung around there. The attempting cuisine that you should never miss was Chow shrimps roll and toast coffin. The unique taste was ineffable. The ending spot was Da-Don night market. Vapors and smells of cooking meals spread everywhere. There were so crowded and noisy but very “Taiwanese”.
On Saturday, I went to my aunt’s home and had barbecue party with my relatives. The warm breeze and the firecrackers were awesome. Summer and beer were always the best partner. We chatted and laughed out loud on the front yard. I was extremely full at that day but so did my heart-- full of love!
On Sunday, after finishing the delicious lunch, our family and my relatives went to hypermarket for free cool air. Although it was a common thing for a normal family to go shopping at hypermarkets, but I never did that with my family before. I felt very excited even if our purpose was weird.
After going to the college, I barely saw my parents, grand mother and other relatives. Within three days, I saw all of them and spend a wonderful time together. I think that was the best mother’s day I’ve ever had.

4/26~5/1

On April 25, a significant festival was created by some creative and fantasy-loving youngsters. That is “mmNA boyz&girlz festival”. The central spirits of this festival were love, peace and fantasy. We spent three days for all the schedule arrangement, activity planning and former preparation. That was crazy but interesting. Before the festival, we made an application for those who willing to join the activity. In the introduction of propagandistic information, we made a few rules for the people who wanted to attend the festival.
1. wearing the clothes with bright color, pink is even better. Girls are skirt or dress only.
2. bring a teen-book with you
3. bring a heart of young and light!

Whoever qualified with above three rules were welcomed to join us. We even prepared the efficient food and beverage for them. At the morning of the mmNA boyz & girlz festival, we staffs made some “special meal” for the picnic activity and the food included “mmNA exclusive sandwich” and “exciting, surprising but a little bit terrifying rice roll”. The ingredients were toast, lettuce, meat floss, roasted seaweed, tomato, sweet potato chips and, last but not least, our whole heart and soul! We also made little surprise in some rice roll, hoping those lucky stars would enjoy our painstaking and innovative heart.
As for the flow of the whole festival, we also made thorough plan. Including staff opening, secret sharing, guitar playing, singing and playing group game such as “traffic light” or “一二三木頭人”. The spring breeze and the warm sun at the afternoon were really suitable for such a wonderful event. We were completely immersed in the cozy and easy atmosphere, wishing that we could never call it a day. Raising this picnic festival was a fabulous experience and also my first time holding an activity. This was one of my beautiful memories during college years.

4/5~12

Today, I’m going to introduce a fabulous website that I have been using it for a while. That is INDIEVOX. The function of the website is similar to APPLE STORE. It sells mp3 file of music legally. All you need to do is applying for its membership with your e-mail address and then you can store value into your account. It is convenient and easy to operate.

Unlike normal music download websites or software, Iindievox cooperate with many indie music companies and underground bands. As a result, you can say that this website has exclusive access to the indie music and it’s especially designed for indie music lover. The music in the website is well categorized and the data of every album or singer is explicit so that you can easily find the information you want. Every songs charge for 15 to 20 NT dollars and some of them are even for free(it is called “pay what you want”, 隨你付.) since the original intention of establishing this website is not for making money but for promoting indie music and encouraging sunrise bands. Also, almost every song has about 1 minute listening service. Before buying the whole album impulsively end up find out that there are only a few songs worth listening, you can have a trail listening first. It’s also a function that fixes the problem on the current album market. We can choose the songs we really enjoy it in one album rather than buying a delicate crap! Other than that, they also offer the service of selling live shows’ tickets, online radio program, personal blog and social net work.


I think Indievox is far beyond an online music store. It is a dream for all the indie music lovers and musicians.