I can't help mentioning it: I'm still taking cold showers. But during a recent conversation someone used the word basin which got me thinking. The sink in any bathroom is a modern equivalent of a an ancient wash basin. I used to wonder why old sinks had two faucets: hot and cold, but not one that mixed the water into warm. It never made sense to me because you'd either have water that was too hot or too cold. But eventually someone with experience and knowledge of such things told me that in the old days they mixed the hot and cold water in the wash basin and used the water out of the basin to shave and clean, almost like a mini-bath. This inspired me once I heard the word basin. So I took my tea water heater, a handy device that keeps water nice and hot for tea, and dumped half of what was left in it into my water basin and added some cold water to it from the tap. I had a sink full of nice warm water!

I'd much rather take a shower, but using warm water again, after five days is just wonderful. I gave myself a cowboy shower, I guess that's what you'd call it, I cleaned myself with a wash cloth and warm water, wonderful stuff. Afterward I gave myself a thorough rinsing with that nasty freezing cold water. I notice though that the cold water didn't seem as bad after my warm wash cloth bath. I was even able to let my muscles relax, they normally tense up in protest to the torture. And I must say too: warm water does a much better job of cleaning, I haven't felt quite clean these last few days, but today I felt clean and renewed. So I guess I've found another way to adapt and acclimate to this place. So if you're ever stuck with cold water for showers, remember the hot water mixed in the sink trick. You might be able to boil a pot of water or something. Tonight I filled my tea water heater to the top, so I'll have about 5 times as much hot water in the morning. I'll be able to take a luxurious sink bath tomorrow (followed by a cold rinse shower) and have water left over for tea.

I saw something tonight I hadn't see here before. After meeting five of us made the short journey through the rain to the Shida night market and chose a new place to eat. We ended up talking about James Bond and Leonardo Dicaprio over our meat and rice dinners. But after the meeting I walked to the bus stop, on my way home, with Leah and Sanae, two Japanese sisters that are permanent and active members of the after-meeting-dinner club. Right before our paths separated us we passed the MRT (subway) entrance and saw a couple leaning against the side of the entrance with their faces hidden in each other's faces. Or you could say they were "making out" or "kissing." And they were doing it for a very long time too, and it looked like they were enjoying it. I'm not sure how I could tell since I couldn't see their faces, but you just can tell I guess.

Normally I would see that, smirk, then forget about it. But I guess I haven't seen that since I was back in America, a land semi-comfortable with PDAs (Public Displays of Affection), not common here at all. The phrase is supposed to be "Sometimes you don't miss something till it's gone," but you could also say, "Sometimes you don't miss something until you see it again and realize you hadn't seen it in a long time." I feel kind of weird, especially as a single guy, saying that "I miss seeing people kiss each other," but for some reason I wanted to yell encouragement to them. Maybe you'd have to go for nine months without seeing a single kiss to appreciate it. This may be one of those blogs that I'll regret posting later.

I had a nice 25 minute walk home too, it's a bit longer walking back because I walk much slower from the meeting than to it. But I didn't watch my shadows this time, but I did listen to the sound track of the 1989 Batman movie on my MP3 player. I think it would be extra scary being chased by Batman in the rain at night than if it wasn't raining. Which means it would be extra cool being Batman when it was raining. I don't know if Taipei really needs a Batman, but he would have lots of tallish buildings to jump off of and tight little allies to chase bad guys down. But he'd have to change the Batmobile for a Bat Scooter. I wonder how his gravely voice would sound in a tonal language like Mandarin. (edit 483) Permalink