22 posts (19 chapters, 3 poems)
January – April 2024
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Nihao | 你好
Welcome to gay heave – I mean, Taiwan!
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The Best of All Worlds | 最好的世界
Taoist temples, reptiles, Dr Sun Yat-sen, Elephant Mountain, and great dates. Is Taiwan better than Japan and South Korea?
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The Taiwanese Roll | 好運連連
More great mountains, more great parties and dates, not one bad moment in this country. I call it… the Taiwanese Roll.
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One Year of Traveling | 旅行一年
New Taipei City, Donggnag, Liuqiu Island, and my first Chinese New Year, to celebrate this unforeseen milestone.
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Birthday Boy | 生日
My second birthday on this trip.
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Sentio Ergo Patior | 我感故我苦
I feel, therefore I suffer.
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Falling for Valentine | 愛上情人節
Cherry blossoms, racy parties, Chiang Kai-shek, and the best dating week of my life. Happy Valentine’s Day.
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19 Going on 29 | 十九歲接近二十九歲
228 Massacre, Beitou hot springs, Pingxi sky lantern festival, and the National Palace Museum. Growing older, growing lonely.
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Tantalus’s Playground | 坦塔羅斯的操場
Cherry blossoms and a new romantic mission make way for better dates, as well as my bloodiest hiking injury.
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Aeneas | 埃涅阿斯
Dido’s Lament, in Taiwan.
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One Month in Taiwan | 台灣一個月
Welcome to food heave – I mean, Tainan! Here are firecrackers we launch at you for good luck.
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The Pain Applicant, Part 1 | 痛苦申請者，第 1 部分
Tainan Art Museums, salt mountains, snoozy Kaohsiung, and a tear-streaked date.
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The Pain Applicant, Part 2 | 痛苦申請者，第 2部分
An enlightening and disastrous temple stay at Fo Guang Shan, farewell to Kaohsiung, and my first encounter of a Palestenian from Gaza.
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The Pain Applicant, Part 3 | 痛苦申請者，第 3部分
Guanzihling mud spring, Alishan, Yushan, 4,000 meters of longing, and one hiker on a mission to get hurt.
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Patior Ergo Vivo | 我苦故我活
I suffer, therefore I live.
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Waiting to Forget | 等待忘記
Sun Moon Lake, Taichung, Baishatun Mazu pilgrimage, and everlasting dates. Who will wait for me, and who will forget?
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Two Months in Taiwan | 台灣二個月
A new Korean friend in Taipei introduces me to dark world of Asian beauty ideals, as I party alone in and re-experience my otherness in Korea.
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Beautiful World, Ugly Humans | 美麗的世界，醜陋的人類
The Korean friend changes my perspective toward pain, beauty, and my fortitude as we hike Taroko Gorge together.
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Tantalus’s Punishment | 坦塔羅斯的懲罰
“I love you,” he said, but my trip was ending, and I was blue. Yehliu Geopark and duck blood offer refuge.
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The Meaning of Love | 愛的意義
A powerful earthquake and romantic Jiufen shake me into understanding what all the fuss is about.
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Zaijian | 再見
My last day in Taiwan sees me rushing to the emergency room and recreating my dizzying first night of partying in this country. I end my trip and dating life on a high note.
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Taiwan, Synopsis | 臺灣、梗概
After a lifetime of abandonments and sexual oppression, the friendliest country in the world was a social and romantic revelation. My dangerous adventures and dating life peaked when I began to pursue pain in order to understand love. In the end, I finished my trip with my mission complete.