Balinese Kecak Dance at CKS Memorial 中正紀念堂廣場的 印尼克差舞表演

After the encounter with the cosplay folks in Ximending 西門町, we walked across town a bit to the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial 中正紀念堂. Ping had learned about a performance of traditional Balinese Kecak Dance 克差舞 that was to be held there. Our route led past another event: the closing party after a parade in support of gay marriage. Once again, we fit right in (if you don't count the guys in black vinyl hot pants, suspenders and homburg hats who stood out in contrast to everyone else there).

The Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial is a wonderful venue for outdoor events with its wide expanses of stone pavement. The Balinese dance was held next to the National Theater Concert Hall 國家戲劇院,

Video for Halloween Ximending 西門町 Style

Ping took a couple of videos of the Ximending 西門町 Halloween parade and the posing session just afterwards. We've posted them as a single 2:22 clip on YouTube. Click on the image at left to check it out! Amazing detail in the costumes.

How cool that this is what we find when we just go take a look!

Halloween Ximending 西門町Style

The Taiwanese celebrate every--I repeat--EVERY holiday, bar none, without exception, and with liberty and justice and something yummy to eat for all. You might not get the day off work, but you can always celebrate!

So it is with Halloween, that spooky trick-or-treat extravaganza that Americans do each 31st of October. In Taiwan, it can take the whole week. You want costumes? We got costumes. Heck, we've got a whole STREET of costumes! (You can get your Christmas and Easter stuff while you're at it.)

台北的萬聖節遊行 Halloween Parade in Taipei

我們不常出門。馬克喜歡創作，我喜歡做心靈功課。一不留意，我倆可以一整個禮拜待在家裡，而且還常常覺得時間不夠用。有趣的是每次出門，即使只是上菜市場買菜，我們似乎都有身心的收穫，總是異口同聲的說應該多出門。

我聽說昨天在台北紅樓會有萬聖節的活動，心裡蠢蠢欲動，實在太好奇台灣人怎麼慶祝這個外國人的節日了。其實馬克對這種湊熱鬧的事情一點也沒興趣。但是可能是害怕不去的後果，勉為其難的答應陪我去走一回，看一看。

在出發之前我只依稀知道一點大概，心想到了大約地區之後跟著人群走就對了。結果我們下了公車後看到了不少新鮮的東西，就是沒看到穿costume 的人。但是既來之則安之，剛好肚子有點餓，所以倆人買了老天祿的雞翅，素雞等滷味吃將起來。準備吃完後繼續隨性亂走，胡亂逛逛。好難得到鬧區來，其實隨便怎麼走都好玩，絕對不會失望的。

話說才剛吃完，突然間看到遊行隊伍朝著我們走來。哇塞！台灣的萬聖節服裝打扮還真有特色！可以看得出來參加遊行的人都是非常用心的。這是我們第一次親身體驗Cosplay，馬克和我各拿一個相機跑前跑後地照個不停，竟然不知不覺地跟著遊行隊伍走到最後的廣場。雖然已經入秋了，這一天的天氣卻是相當的炎熱。從遊行者的裝扮可以看得出來他們的服裝道具是層層講究的，因此不難想像他們熱的程度。令我感動的是他們很有耐心地和任何人合照，並且讓你照到滿意為止，每個人的態度都和藹可親！

我好慶幸我們來此一遊。沒有親臨現場，我對Cosplay 的感覺是七分好奇，三分怪異。經過了這次的經驗，我了解Cosplay 不過是一種嗜好；就像我的一些好朋友，有的喜歡玩模型火車，飛機，有的喜歡搞樂團，玩電玩，或賽車。我們都有自己喜好的東西，都希望把生命過得充實，有趣。這個萬聖節遊行提醒我要保持客觀的態度，多學習尊重彼此的差異，並常常真心替人開心。

每次出門都學到東西，真應該多出門耶！

（請按”Halloween Ximending 西門町Style“欣賞相片。雖然是用英文寫的。懶得讀英文的人還是可以欣賞相片的噢！）
 (請歡迎按“Video for Halloween Ximending 西門町 Style” 欣賞影音短片）

"Love Theme For Aliens" - New video!

Mark's posted a new video for a song he collaborated on with good friend (and incredibly good musician!) Larry Benigno. Check it out on our YouTube channel. ～好奇走一回～的最新音樂。請欣賞。

[Mark]
Larry Benigno and I have never actually met, but thanks to Sue Morton, we've been friends for several years! In fact, I don't think we've ever been within less than 3,000 miles of each other! Sometimes things just click. Larry and I collaborated on this piece

One Size

In Asia, the phrase "One Size Fits All" means something a little different than it does in the U.S. In much of the world, the phrase has been shortened to two words: "One Size." This seems to be more accurate. But what is "size" really all about?

Ping has this remarkable ability to wear sizes that don't seem to apply to her and make it look like that's exactly how the designer intended the outfit to look. When she buys sweatshirts, she gets XL because she likes them loose. When she buys tops, they're generally XS.

I think the best example was a Nike Jordan knit vest that she wore with a black top and leggings. Add a cool belt and it became uniquely fashionable. I mentioned this to a fellow Nike employee who said: "I didn't know Jordan had a women's line."

"They don't," I confirmed. "It was a Men's Size Large."

Just like Yin needs Yang, the opposite also holds. I can wear something and make it look ill-fitting, regardless of size. To be fair, though: much of what we find in Asia doesn't fit me anyway.

Check out these hotel slippers, for example. As we often say: "One Size Fits Ping."

Random shot from a street corner in Taipei 台北街景一瞥

（中，英文，in Chinese and English)
It was a nice cool sunny Fall day yesterday. We decided to enjoy the beautiful day by checking out some Halloween costumes. Yes, you heard me right. Our friend Kerri told us about a street full of Halloween costume shops.