By Anne Lo
“Some day,” I said to my friend Jidy as he gave me a ride on his motorcycle, “I’ll have my own motorcycle. I’ll be free, roaming around the city on my own, and I’ll be able to ride REALLY fast – just like you!” Jidy didn’t answer, but I knew he heard me, because I saw him smiling from the rearview mirror. The wicked smile that said, “The hell you will!” The truth us that Jidy IS famous for riding really fast. He is known to have made someone scream for mercy while he zooms at 120 km/hr. And if there’s one thing that I love better than anything else, it’s fast rides. So what can be better than riding really fast on my own? This is what I thought of when I was buying my motorcycle. I chose a model similar to Jidy’s (only a little bit smaller) and in the exact same color (ice blue—like, wow!). Now all’s done except for a name. I happen to have a habit of naming everything I own. And now, as I thought of my motive of buying a motorcycle and what I wanted most out of it, I finally got my name. I named my own motorcycle Jidyette – sister of the great speed-master Jidy. So there I was with Jidyette fresh out of the shop ready for our first trip ever – to the gas station. For the first time, I realized how different it is to be riding on my own. It’s not as good as riding on the back seat – it’s a whole lot better! Oh, how great it is to be in control! How fascinating it is just to feel the speed! How wonderful, how cool… I got so absorbed in my excitement that I didn’t notice a truck approaching. It hit me and I fell off. I was dumbstruck. I had no idea what I was supposed to do, so I just lay there until the truck driver came and helped me up. I was okay, just a few scratches on my face and elbow (no, my face was NOT scratched by the ground, it was scratched by the rim of my helmet), but poor Jidyette! She was injured so badly she had to be immediately taken back to the shop – and be hospitalized for two whole days! No one felt sorry for me when they heard my story. They all laughed at me for my stupidity and for the fact that I looked like a cartoon character come to life – one Band-Aid on my left cheek and another across my nose. But the worst was yet to come. I had to walk around looking like that for at least three days and be asked what happened at least ten times a day. I got so tired of all those “How pathetic!” s and “How could you?!” s that in the end I just acknowledged by telling everyone, “It’s just one of those steps of becoming a man!” – which invited only more laughter from them. Well, Jidyette’s finally been released and I finally got to take my Band-Aids off. And what do you know? Jidyette and I had the same scar on our left cheek! After she recovered, we began to travel around together. Maybe it was because she was new, but for the first two weeks, she had a temper just like Jidy’s – quiet most of the time, but creating great chaos when she’s mad. I never understood what a motorcycle (even an apparently female one) could possibly be mad about, but there were times when she just wouldn’t let me lock her handlebars without popping the trunk open. I’d have to haggle with her for over ten minutes and it always makes me look like a fool in parking lots. Leaving the parking lot after finally settling her down, I can almost hear her snickering evilly the way Jidy has done so many times. Occasionally she would decide to start a riot for no particular reason. The gas pedal got stuck once and sent both of us tearing through a very bumpy construction site. This totally dislocated her kickstand and it was two more days in the shop for her. Now that Jidyette’s been with me for several months, we’re more accustomed to each other, and such conflicts don’t happen anymore. Now she’s a great helper that I can’t do without since she can carry me to and fro fast (no, I can’t ride REALLY fast yet, but I’m working on it!). But Jidyette will always be Jidyette, and I don’t think she’ll ever lose her mischievous nature (believe me, it runs in her family). Somehow I get the idea that she’s always up to something to make my life miserable. She found an ally a few weeks ago, and that was the lock I put on her wheel. This lock has tormented me for the past few weeks. Even though it’s fixed now, who knows what’s going to happen next? All I can do is try and stay out of trouble and hope Jidyette does the same. #Volume 6 Issue 4
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By Jennifer Lin
Impalas dance among the muted landscape of the bushvelds, cheetahs lounge on the stretching savannas, and some giraffes graze on leaves from sun-kissed treetops. The air is sultry yet full of a stimulating aroma that suggests endless surprise and excitement, and you can’t help but feel invigorated as you step into this vast and untamed nation—South Africa. In the age of fast city life, more and more people seek truly authentic Eco-travel to relieve them of anxiety and stress. South Africa is a land that is often called “the world in one country,” with snow-capped mountains, coastal cliffs and smooth beaches, rich grasslands, and desert dunes. So what could be better than immersing yourself in a land where nature has been virtually left untouched, and where there are nineteen national parks, including one bigger than New England? Our first stop in this fascinating country is the city of Johannesburg, which was established by the Dutch in the 1700’s and flourished during the gold rush era. Today this skyscraper-filled city holds millions of people, making it the largest in the country. In addition to exciting nightlife and great food, there are two attractions you wouldn’t want to miss. Gold Reef City, which is a reconstruction of 1750’s Joburg, flaunts Victorian fun fairs, miners’ houses, and a chance to see the mechanisms of a gold mine—such as seeing molten gold being poured and taking rides down the shafts. Another place to experience is a tour of Soweto, a town outside Joburg, where ethnic South Africans live, where you’ll get to taste their staple food, mealiepap (a gruel made from dried corn) and locally brewed beer, as well as take a peek into their everyday lives. The national flower, the protea, grows on the dry savannahs, particularly in Namaqualand, an area world renowned for its spectacular array of wild flora every spring. Protea abounds also in the Kwazulu-Natal Game Parks, where you can watch lions, rhinoceros, leopards, buffalos, and elephants. Sometimes, at dawn or dusk when predators hunt, the lucky game-watcher may be privileged to see the horrifying yet fascinating spectacle of the kill. Witnessing the course of nature indeed humbles and awes a person. On the other hand, if it’s milder recreation you’re after, there’s always the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, a World Heritage site for its rich birdlife and diverse landscape—everything from lakes, forests, to wetlands and coral reefs. For mountain-lovers, the Drakensberg offers fishing, hiking, mountain climbing, and horse riding, not to mention exhilarating skiing in winter. This impressive mountain range is the highest in South Africa, allowing those who persevere to the summit a view of boundless plains and forests. There is also the Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa’s most famous landmark, on top of which the Cape Peninsula, Table Bay and Robben Island, the prison home of former president Nelson Mandela, are all visible. For gourmets, Table Mountain is an incredible attraction because renowned South African wine is produced in these vineyards. Another place to be is Cape Point, where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet, and to see the two oceans lap at one another, one indigo and one azure, is a scene forever stamped in your memory. From Cape Town we can take the scenic Garden Route eastward. This magnificent stretch of coast extends from Heidelberg to the Tsitsikamma forest and the Storms River. Along the route, the Outeniqua Mountains stand sentinel to the jutting cliffs along which waves thrust themselves to create endless white foam, and further inland, the Lake District boasts a collage of crisp blue lakes bordered by verdant forests. In the Addo Elephant Park, herds of elephant wander across the grassland on trails established thousands of years ago. The seafood here caters to the hungry tourist too, and mussels, shrimp, and various fish such as cichlid and sole satisfy the stomach as the beauty of nature fills the mind. Other top tourist attractions include Kimberley, where first quality diamonds have been unearthed to the breathless world, creating a great diamond rush in the later half of the 1800’s. The Ostrich Farms in Oudtshoorn feature ostrich rides—it’s a challenge to stay on top of these large birds—and various goods such as fashionable ostrich leather, and often wonderfully painted or intricately carved eggs. Sterkfontein, another World Heritage site, is the place for archaeology lovers as the first complete hominid skull was found here, not to mention the recent discovery of Little Foot, a 3.3-million year old ape man skeleton. Before bid adieu to South Africa, take a look into Pretoria, the Jacaranda City, where jacaranda trees along the streets yield purple-pink flowers in summertime. The capital has more than one hundred parks, including bird sanctuaries and nature reserves. The first South African church was erected here also, in Church Square, surrounded by open-air markets, which still feature flea markets on weekends. The historic Union Buildings are also worth a visit, for their mellow stone halls and carefully groomed grounds. In the evening, visit the State Theater where artistic performances are engaged almost every day of the year. #Volume 6 Issue 4 By Hilda Ku
World-famous for tea, precious gems, and the Hinayana doctrine of Buddhism, Sri Lanka has various nicknames: Ceylon, Resplendent Isle, Island of Dharma, and Pearl of the Orient. Each of these names reveals its beauty and enchantment on a different level. For centuries, it has attracted many travelers and has even won itself the name “Tahiti of the East.” Let’s have a closer look at the “Teardrop of India.” Although small and remote, Sri Lanka has gone through many different cultures and rulers. The first settler in the small islet, which was called Ceylon, were the nomadic Veddahs, who were conquered by the Sinhalese around the 5th or 6th century B.C. Now under the control of numerous Sinhalese kings, the country suffered from endless invasions from southern India for the next thousand years. In the 16th century, the Portuguese arrived and took formal control of the island by monopolizing the spice trade. However, the remaining Sinhalese enlisted the Dutch and successfully expelled the Portuguese. After the Dutch, in the 19th century the country was at the mercy of the British. At this time Ceylon started to become more modernized. When colonialism died out in the 20th century, Ceylon became independent in 1948. The size of Taiwan, the island shares many similarities with us: climate, geography, economics, and ecology (an important seasonal home to migrating birds). The capital, Colombo, has a population of about two million people. Most people are Sinhalese, but there are minority populations making up around 25%. The official language in Sri Lanka is Sinhalese, but English is also understood with the development of tourism. Although a great majority of the Sri Lankans are Buddhist, there are also a number of other religions on the island, including Christianity. The climate is also humid and with an average temperature of 27 degrees centigrade. But Sri Lanka is also a tropical country. It has two monsoons and distinct wet and dry seasons. It is also mountainous. With fewer than twenty million habitants, it is not so populous as Taiwan. Although with a GNP of USD 2,500 per person, there is great gap between rich and poor, and Sri Lanka’s economy has been suffering from high inflation (about 9.3%), high unemployment (about 9%), poor infrastructure, corruption, and bad sanitation. Moreover, the major industries in Sri Lanka are labor-oriented, like tourism, processing, and agriculture. And due to religious conflicts, the political situation has been unstable for twenty years. Sri Lanka has always been the paradise for shopping. You can get a wide range of exotic handicrafts at very reasonable prices. Gems, silverware, ivory, and the best tea in the world are all affordable. As for tropical fruits, sorry, you can’t take them back with you. By the way, don’t forget that their business hours are different from ours: from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sometimes, certain businesses are open on Saturdays but only until 1:00 p.m. Prices are always negotiable in Sri Lanka and bargaining is quite enjoyable. But shouting and threatening doesn’t work at all. Just find out the approximate cost and then come to a mutually acceptable compromise. For example, I bought a delicate ivory jewelry box for less than NT 20. Since Sri Lanka is a country full of history and Buddhist culture, you should tak in numerous temples, ancient cities, and museums: not only Colombo but also Kandy, a hill city with a distinctive architectural character that is home to the octagonal Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth), a temple which preserves Sri Lanka’s most important religious relic – the sacred tooth of Buddha. There’s also Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka’s first capital and its most important ancient city; Hikkaduwa, the island’s most developed beach resort, and many others. National parks are also highly recommended, for there is a rich and exotic variety of wildlife and a long tradition of conservation dating back to more than two thousand years of Buddhist civilization. I was lucky to have the chance to visit Sri Lanka in 1995. But it is also a land of great poverty. It seem like only a paradise for tourists, but there are also a great number of people who don’t even have the money to go to school. I love Sri Lankans but I also feel pity for them. I hope its heartbreaking conflicts will be able to improve in the future. #Volume 6 Issue 4 By Christine Song
The narrow, up-winding path is packed with cars parked one after another. The partygoers, ticket in one hand, map in the other, unload themselves from their parked vehicles and, following the instructions, head toward the designated spot. It turns out to be a passenger pick-up. A shuttle bus then totes them to their destination—a ski resort nestled atop the city. Before they even see the venue, the techno beat pounds through the woods to welcome them. Police choppers hover above the party ground lest turbulence should strike tonight. The neo-hippies eagerly hop off, impatient to begin yet another all-nighter. Welcome to the L.A. Forest, host to tonight’s rave. A rave is essentially a big party playing techno music that lasts through the entire night. Its venues range anywhere from empty warehouses and parking lots to beaches, amusement parks and even forests, as is shown in the above example. The idea is that it is often an area with enough space to accommodate a large amount of people. But aside from the scene of the action, there are certain elements intrinsic to a rave. The first, of course, is the music. It is primarily techno, which is marked by electronic sounds and a heavy beat, as well as the absence of vocals. Over the years, the variety of rave music has grown to include house, garage, jungle, trance, breakbeat, etc. The significance of the music implies the importance of the DJ, who mixes and creates his own sounds. The DJ, who also serves as master of ceremonies, is therefore also the star of the event. The rave culture is the most interesting aspect of the rave scene, and the bulk of it is made up by the people, or, ravers. Although believers in individuality, ravers have their own distinctive appearance and behavior. Baggy pants are a favorite; they are comfortable to dance in. But do not associate this with the hip-hop scene. Ravers like to wear extremely fat bell bottoms, and often match them with a tight tee. The colors of rave attire are ones that produce a glowing visual effect under the lights. Namely, white and neon. The latter is especially ubiquitous on the rave scene as neon glow sticks serve as a party must. These enhance the rave atmosphere as they are used in a characteristic rave dance. Some ravers also wear glitter on their bodies and carry cartoon backpacks. They suck on pacifiers and lollipops and always carry water in their backpacks. So it is not hard to imagine that a non-raver would stand out at a rave scene. But this does not mean ravers keep to their own clique. Ravers believe in a positive vibe inherent to their party gatherings. Their spirit can be summed up in the acronym PLUR—Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect. They believe in accepting people for who they are. For this reason, a friendly atmosphere permeates the scene. On the scene, ravers give hugs to friends and strangers alike. So do not be taken aback should you be hugged by someone you don’t know at a rave. Despite the friendliness and the spirit of PLUR, the notion of going to a rave, or raving, does have a stigma attached. This is no wonder as drugs are an important part of the rave scene. Many partygoers take chemicals to intensify the rave experience. “E” is a popular drug; its users claim to experience moments of enlightenment and even ecstasy, the word for which it is named. Its most distinctive property is that it compels users to shake their heads. This is why it is known as the “head-shaking pill” in Taiwan. This can produce a nauseating effect for some people. Because of the drugs, raves have always been more or less an underground activity. In the case of the rave event mentioned earlier, tickets had to be paid for in advance. Upon paying, one is told where to pick the ticket up along with a map and instructions on how to get there. At the actual scene, cops in helicopters standby in case things get out of hand. Perhaps because it is underground, and bordering legal limits, that makes raving more appealing to people who seek excitement. Do you think raving is for you? #Volume 6 Issue 4 By Shawn Kim
“I don’t think you can be in love in high school.” I look thoughtfully at the basketball spinning on my finger. My audience sits on the wooden bleachers beside the court. They nod in general agreement. “It’s just, you know, for fun. Go out on weekends, hang out together …” “Make out,” one of my audience interjects. “Go to the prom.” “Make out.” “Promise to write.” “Then, seee-yaaa!” The boys all laugh. The bell starts to ring. Lunch period is now over, and we file off the basketball court. I walk behind my basketball buddies to our English class. The blazing sun glares off the crooked rim. The school days are half over. Yeah…Vacation in four months. Two years ago, I told myself that I had no interest in the female sex, because nobody in the female sex could possibly have any interest in a puny freshman whose sole redeeming value was that he did not yet have acne. Love, lust, infatuation – whatever I or John Keats or his dear mother chose to call it – would not be an option for me, at least until my eighteenth birthday, by which time I hoped to be done with puberty. Then, I met Catherine. She sat beside me in my freshmen English and said hi to me in the halls. I saw her occasionally in the cafeteria at lunchtime. She was a warm person, a minor entity in a school of non-entities. And that’s all I knew about her. However, the persistent state of feminine disinterest in me had nurtured my cynicism toward her. So, I found myself in a quandary when my basketball buddies informed me, on the basketball court as was customary, that Catherine liked me. I had then acknowledged the announcement with a simple, “Cool, ” and asked how the varsity had fared the night before. But later in the evening, sitting at my desk, head laid on an opened geometry text, I thought about Catherine. She had a round face with squinty eyes. Her nose was kind of scarred up. She had a lot of pimples. No curves whatsoever. Catherine still looks the same now in our sophomore year. Mild curvature has come with age. However, her eyes still squint into the thinnest slits when she smiles. One can barely see their black sparkle. Wait a minute…Geeks aren’t supposed to be arrogant, I tell my reflection. I haven’t realized that until recently. Very quietly, Chris has told me that I am not really a cynic. I am just arrogant. How could I have been so arrogant? So, it all happened only about two months ago. I went to the basketball court after school. After everyone else went home, I sat alone on the wooden bleachers and watched the sun set. I pictured Catherine once more…differently. Catherine possessed her own beauty. It was the beauty of her heart that made her extraordinary. Unfortunately, it took me almost two years to see that reality, all through my freshman and sophomore years. Her beauty as I saw it wasn’t about the curves but was about how sweet and how nice of a person she was. I knew my love wouldn’t be about her skin or nose or breasts. I still couldn’t remember exactly how it happened, only that as the sun streaked the sky orange and red, and the evening breeze had cooled the air, I had noticed that my heart was pounding. The next day, I told my buddies that I was in love. And so it was that my basketball buddies informed me, with some regrets, but mostly with what we might consider and inordinate sense of justice, informed me that Catherine was, unfortunately, no longer available. After a few more months in our sophomore year, I will be gone. I have noticed that I get goose bumps whenever I think about it. What if. What if I call her tonight? I can still tell her how I feel and how I want her to know since I am going to leave and never see her again that… Maybe I love her. I don’t look at my reflection because I know I won’t tell her. Maybe I am just being stupid. I rationalize instead. Maybe I am just scared like I was in ninth grade when I thought of every reason not to be attracted to her, so that I wouldn’t have to talk to her. I try to excuse myself. In fact, I have never talked to her. For whatever reason, I never did. I have awakened near the end of the class, only to daydream at my desk. I smile once more at my teacher. At the irony, I just comfort and tell myself to forget about Catherine. “It just wasn’t meant to be.” I hear the bell and class is finally over. My heart beats normally. I see the happy faces around me. We will shoot some hoops after school. #Volume 6 Issue 4 |
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May 2024
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