Checklist
Realised I've been saying "omg this is something I've always wanted to check off my list" a lot on this trip.
The truth is. There never was a list.
Hahaha I just keep adding things to this imaginary list spontaneously when I feel like "yas this is something I'll regret if I don't go ahead and do it".
The most recent thing I've checked off my list is jamming with a street musician in a foreign country! So fun!!
So basically, like every province in Taiwan, Hualien has a really big night market with street musicians performing for tips. That night on my birthday, while at the night market with Yang, we stayed and listened to a female and male acoustic duo performing at a corner.
I was really drawn by the female singer's voice and her music style is totally my genre. Her name is 蕾蕾 Lei Lei. So after checking that they'll be there every Monday, I headed back again on my own (Cause Yang flew backkkkkkkk ㅠㅠ) the following Monday to catch her. Her covers were mostly Taiwanese indie music so we exchanged contact so she could share more links with me of songs she likes.
After confirming that we have the same music tastes, I decided, what the heck, might as well since I'm only left with a week in Hualien. So I asked if she would wanna jam with me~ and she said sure!
We met at some shady alley way opposite the big Macdonalds and she led me into this abandoned mall. To be honest, the only thought that crossed my mind was "holy shiz this is so cool! It's like my dream kind of space, having the entire place to yourself". But after that she asked me why I wasn't scared or defensive at all, it made me realise my sense of wary is very low apparently. Hahaha oops. Something to work on marilyn.
But it's so cool! She borrowed an acoustic guitar for me and I listened and gave feedback to songs she's still practising, and also got to hear some original pieces she composed. Then she requested for Lenka's The Show and I sang for her. And she got amazed by my English skills so she requested more English songs hahahahaha
so we jammed for about 2hours or so. Then headed to the nightmarket to support her other friends from the same busking company.
Feels like music has always been an important and personal part of my life. And I especially love connections and friendships built on that aspect. This trip has blessed me with 2 such people - Fiona & Lei Lei.
So yeah!! Something to check off my list! YAY~ haha since we're back to the list, I shall summarize things I've done on this trip worthy of that list.
- Counting down to New Years with Michelle in a foreign country with a beer in hand, watching fireworks from close range
- Solo train ride to signify start of my solo trip
- First hitchhiking experience from Uncle Ah Cao
- Going to a Wild Hot Spring only the locals know
- Learning Korean from my host
- Doing the Mannequin Challenge for Bayhouse
- Playing basketball in the rain in a foreign country
- Driving in a foreign country!
- Sleeping in a treehouse!
- Joining the garbage truck queue with the locals
- Sitting at the back of the scooter while looking up to see stars
- Drinking the first cup of coffee that I actually enjoy
- Reunion dinner in a foreign country
- Dared to try full nude Hot Spring
- Watched fireworks from Extreme Close Range (right above our heads)
- Puked in a foreign country
- Jamming with a local street Musician
Here's what I have so far!
Hopefully the list continues to grow as I continue my travels :) feeling truly satisfied~
loves,
marilyn