台灣光華雜誌

There is a neighborhood in the middle of Taipei that has some of the best spots within 10 minutes of each other. You can start at one end and thread in and out to several spots all interconnected and equally fun to skate. For most residents, it used to be the heart of the city, and have forgeten about it. They have memories of going to buxiban, catching a train to a place not too distant, or walking to Ximending from TMS with their classmates. They see the place as aged, and grungy.  For me, it is in a state of revival.  Within this 8 block radius it is constructed with massive amounts of smooth granite for the sidewalks, ground, stairs, and ledges ready to skate.

It is rivaling the best (LOVE, EMB), and has got the most video footage of any area in Taipei. A lot of the skaters who were here in the past are now grown-up/working/family, or off to one of the new skateparks. Its low profile now makes it perfect. I never get kicked out. 

In the daytime, it is bustling with students running off to cram school to prepare for their college entrance exams, but at night is empty, leaving an open door to the coliseum. You can find anything you want to skate here. 

You want a wallride? Take this one by the Bank of Taiwan. Get there before 2 am though, the newspaper delivery guys will stack all their obsolete products to be distributed on the ground.

You want a bank quarter pipe thing made out of pink granite. 

You want a Cinder Block Black Marble Ledge! Ok.

 

Rooster Cage

The skatepark in Keelung is just as unique and bold as the rest of the city. It is under the main bridge that will empty out all the visitors from Taipei which come for the night market. 

The park has a lot of resemblances to the South London banks. Maybe not as good, but a similar feeling.  The banks are more than solid. They must have poured at least a boulder the size of El Capitan to build these. They are pretty fun when you get warmed up on them.

Keelung has always been someone else’s possession. First it was the Ming Dynasty, then the Spanish because they lost a war in Macao to the Dutch and they wanted a distribution point, only to lose it to them in the later years. 

Somewhere in between or after, I can’t keep up, the Japanese came and built the harbor that is still there today because it is a deep water isolated port, which made it perfect for WWII fighting the Americans. But because it was such a great naval spot, it was the first sight the Americans bombed in Taiwan.  After that, stumbling-in on the biggest exodus in recorded time of 2 million people, the Chinese showed-up on the doorstep demanding to be let in and give them resources. The Taiwanese were disappointed to see their big brothers act so uncivilized and conflict again exploded.  Keelung was the first place the ROC entered Taiwan. 

 

There is a historic Baroque Mansion where an American Soldier had a bad end with a bar girl, ending in a complete tragedy. The building is still there today. 

I love walking around the city, there is no other place in Taiwan like it. It is a time warp. Every alley has a different kind of restaurant selling customized snacks, or a red light hanging indicating a past economy that served the Navy, during the Vietnam War, that is still allowed by the government. 

I got a little no-comply on the wood ramps on the ocean front. I skated it twice, due to being kicked out, and then sneaking a trick in a 2^nd time. 

Keelung is also one of the few cities still allowing pachinko like gambling halls. Every kind of vice can be found here. Just in this picture there are 3 places that would be illegal in America.  

Had to stop by the old house and see how it is doing. I will never forget my crazy neighbors. They would be awake yelling at each other drinking Bai Jiu until 4am. No one would ever call the police.They were one of the reasons I moved.  

Remembering Quito

The other day I saw a big tub of boiling pig/chicken parts in the wide open streets of Tucheng, Taiwan, which reminded me of another place across the globe. The pot gave off a strong musky smell, not too pleasant, but necessary for a good stock. Most developing countries focus heavily on this method of cooking to utilize all parts and pieces. This shows respect to the animals that bring them life, but most important extra meals.  After a strong inhalation of the stock I was taken back to the highest capital in the world, Quito. The place is a hidden gem. It has traditional European buildings, high mountains like the Himalayas, and food influenced from Spain.

While in that Ecuadorian town, I stumbled on a skatepark that was completely deserted. There was a long wide snake run at the beginning, dumping out into a fullpipe/open bowl. It didn't have a normal lip, but a mid-sized ledge where the vert should start. Really tall, but nice for the street skater who doesn't like transition. 2 years after being there, I saw a Thrasher video with J.Phelps and homies ripping it apart. It's always a humbling experience to compare what you did at a spot, to someone else that is on a level so much higher than you, that it makes you want to quit, haha, jk.

Link attached of Thrasher at spot: https://www.thrashermagazine.com/articles/videos/spitfire-wheels-equador-hellride-video/

There were a few situations that made me uneasy in Quito, but hold these stories dearly. Let me list them:

1. First arriving at the airport at 3am, I noticed someone holding a doll pretending it was a real child begging for money (maybe used as a prop)

2. A group of kids followed me and almost jumped me for money, but I skipped into the middle of the street to bring attention to the situation, narrowly escaping.

3. Being in the highest capital on the Equator will expose you to altitude sickness, and sun exposure leaving you with a flu for 3 days. 

Quito is the oldest city in South America, first created by the Incas. There have been civilizations in the area since 4000 BC.. You can feel a supernatural energy which was created by many people, events, emotions, and catastrophes to leave an eternal mark. The Spanish arrived after the Incas (forced them to the mountains), which they brought their culture, church, destruction, greed, and failure. The whole city is a collection of things amazing, and shocking that can happen in life.  

 

Nangang

This is in front of a music hall. During the tail-end of the recital or concert, I was able to ride it a few times for the attendees to see my performance outside as they were exiting. They were all in formal attire, like ballgowns and tuxedos watching me. I felt a little out of place, but this was a once in a summer night, and was able to skate it without getting kicked out. 

If I were with other skaters, I would have got kicked out. That is one of the silver linings to skate by yourself, you rarely get kicked out (Taipei). Not so much in America, but  for some reason in Taiwan, citizens are not threatened by the solo skater. Maybe they feel bad. Whatever the reason, it works, and have been able to skate things that everyone else says is a bust. 

Look at the new park that just installed some ledges. This area has been undeveloped for over 20 years, a lot of people speculate it was used as a POW camp by the Japanese and later ROC. It is supposed to be haunted, and could have bad luck if not designed correctly. In order to avoid any conflict with a spirit, they must bring in a shaman and he will perform a ritual and tell them how to create the best feng shui. 

There are too many things to remember when creating good feng shui, for example; clean your windows, place shiny things like cds in the front opening, don't place refrigerator in direct view of bathroom, no 90 degree angles pointing at couch or bed, no family photos facing bathroom, no chewing with your mouth open, go to bed before 9, no singing at night, no hanging white clothes up at night, don't look at someone that calls your name, don't sleep with your mouth open, always tuck in your shirt, comb your hair , no listening to the Beatles, ect... (Some of those are made up)

There is a hotel down the street from here that is said to be built on a prison during war time. There are many reports of people being woken up at night, and things moving. Every local has heard about this, and it has gotten so bad that they will relocate a block away just to save the brand image. When walking in the lobby you can see many ancient methods of trying to calm the angry spirit. 

Here's a link if you want to read more on the topic: https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/lifestyle/travel/a-taiwanese-ghost-story

Perfect height for thee ol' Jack

That makes me want to cry its so beautiful. Look at the stone work. 

I wonder if this place is haunted?

These are my favorite types of spots. Easy and fun. When you realize that skateboarding is your life-sport, you tend to look at it from a golf perspective. Take it easy, and enjoy. 

 What would you do on this?

Sanchong

I was in IKEA taking the escalator down and noticed some ditch like bank with remnants of wax markings. I went down and inspected it, and sure enough, it was a spot! However, I needed to get my ÄPPLARYD sofa back to my house. I later went there at night, and indeed its a rad place to skate. 

I sessioned it for about 45 minutes, but unsuspecting while i was taking a leak in the tree next to the bank, a guard dog crept up behind me. I could hear a growl, and looked to see a massive brown and black 台灣犬.. They must have trained it not to attack, because it could have taken me out quick. 

I respected it, and it respected me, and let the foreign unwanted guest go. I later found out that Formosan Dogs, as they are called in English, do not hold their bite on their target. This habit is adopted and may be traced back to early boar hunting All of this taught me a lesson about trespassing in Taiwan. They will have dogs, even at IKEA!

Youbike is the best way to go spot hunting. Its super cheap, found everywhere, and best of all, has a basket to hold your skateboard and brews on ice. I created a makeshift ice cooler in the front basket. Make sure to grab 2 ice packs at 7-11, and they will be as cold as ice. Really nice idea on a hot summer night. 🍺

Most Ikeas have some kind of skatespot. Is it just a coincidence or secretly planned by a  skater to gift the locals? Skaters are everywhere, majority of us need to find real jobs, but why not help out the community. I read that skatestoppers were created by ex-skateboarders who sold their soles/souls to the devil to earn a buck or two to help the state of California combat those who shred. How could someone turn their backs on something that gave them so much?

This is in an area where there is little to nothing surrounding it. You can skate here, day/night without being hassled. I gave it a go, and finally got a wallride to boardslide. Some gut watched me try it for about an hour. I thought he was trying to intimidate me, but after I landed it, he clapped and cheered me on. Really made my night. He was probably curious what I was doing, and why I was throwing myself on the ground, and realized my efforts in the end. 

Down the way, following the river, I found this bike bump park. The lights were still on as bright as can be. I love cruising the riverside in New Taipei. You can always find something. 

Freshly poured and painted

Another example of a random riverside park find. 

Next to the bump park

 In front of Carrefour are these banks which I've never seen open due to so many scooters parked around it. It's insane how many scooters are here. Luckily the teenagers find it not cool to modify their mufflers anymore. Many of them would form scooter gangs and drive around trying to be as loud as possible. 

I think they got the concept from Japanese biker gangs. Its pretty comical to see. They just ride around revving their engine to try and sound scary. Reminds me when I was a kid and would put baseball cards in my bike spokes to sound like I was a badass. The whole neighborhood can hear one of those modified mufflers. Recently the government is trying to put in sensors to combat the problem.