https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMVkf9XEuvQ
I decided to get lost today, to take the Metro and get off at an unplanned stop, walking from there, in a random direction.
I turned off my phone and packed a $100 NT bill ($3.20 USD)
Leaving my house, I headed to the MRT, where I took the yellow line to dongmen. From there I could transfer to the Red Line.
I chose the red line for two reasons:
Part of the line goes above the ground, and also because its one of the few lines that leaves Taipei city.
I wanted to get out of my comfort zone, so I was going to get off at a station I had never been to before.
When the train pulled into Zhishan station, I suddenly decided it was time.
I made my way for the exit. I was hoping to find something extraordinary today, to record something special, to do this I needed to lose myself here.
I turned right and headed to a 7/11, to buy a drink. (-$25)
Leaving 7 I took a sharp right through a small alleyway, and began to explore the neighborhood. I turned right and left, until I spotted the main road.
From there I continued to walk, trying to get as far away from the MRT as I could. I came upon a small footpath, which led to a small temple and park. Nearby the park they were building a set of large apartment buildings.
I had accidentally wandered into an active construction site.
(I guess this is why people don’t just randomly explore)
The guard told me the only way out, was back through the way I came.
Once I returned back to the city, I wandered more.
I eventually found myself back at the MRT station I had been trying to escape.
I crossed to the other side, hoping I wouldn’t end up in another construction site.
The other side of the tracks were very different. There were more shops, restaurants and people. I turned down one of the streets.
I strolled down a few alleys, trying to get lost in the neighborhood, hoping to find the real Zhishan. Instead, I ended up finding myself in the middle of the most developed part of the city. I was face to face with an eight story department store.
I gave up my search for a moment, in exchange for air conditioning. I also hoped to get a view from the top floor.
I rode escalators up through the different stores.
I disappeared into machinery.
on the 8th floor There wasn’t a rooftop view, only delicious looking food that I couldn’t afford on my now $75 ($2.49) budget.
I nearly gave up for a moment, when I spotted a hallway behind the restaurants.
It wasn’t the most gorgeous view, but it gave me my next target, perhaps there I could capture the extraordinary moment of this video.
I took an elevator down to the first floor, and headed to the Carrefour that I saw from above.
Theres a Carrefour grocery store in Taipei as well, but it feels different than this one.
There was more movement and life in this store, the smaller space and shoppers made me a maze to navigate.
I didn’t find my extraordinary moment there, so as quickly as I came, I left, trying again to get lost in the alleyways.
Streets, turns and a skiddish grey cat, led me a park.
I passed the park and took the stairs on the other side.
From there a bridge to another park.
I spent a moment by this park, looking at the structures that surrounded it.
They all appeared to be abandoned houses, now crumbling and rusting back into the ground.
Back now across another bridge, heading back towards where I came.
A few more alleyways and streets found me back at the department store.
I cooled down in the air conditioning that seeped outside.
Zhishan was a harmonious contradiction. As I found my way back I was pinned between the old and the new. On my left, bricks from an age passed, on my right, glass and steel from the age to come.
Feeling hungry now, I bought two pork buns.
I walked back to the MRT station, where I ate on the stairs.
I wouldn’t explore anymore today.
I headed back into the MRT, ready to go home.
It was an anti climatic ending, to an interesting adventure.
I didn’t find my extraordinary moment today. That one thing that would make this video exceptional.
What I found, is more sincere to life as I’ve come to know it.
Life isn’t defined by any one singular moment.
It’s defined by collections of seemingly insignificant instants.
These blur together to form the tapestry of life.
If I am searching for any one thing to define my life, I’ll always end up disappointed.
Find worth in the trivial seconds, I told myself.
The train took one last breath of fresh air, before diving back underground.
See you guys tomorrow.