Taipei: A Reservoir by Jordan Hu

Taipei: A Reservoir

A publication by Jordan Hu

Taipei: A Reservoir

Taipei: A Reser voir

Here lies the countr y of Taiwan, an island where temperatures are insanely high but ever ything is super duper cheap.

Taipei: A Reservoir

N W E S

Taipei

7,602 miles away from the States

Preface Taipei: A Reservoir is the third installment of a 6-part site-specific project called â&#x20AC;&#x153;Simple Little Things.â&#x20AC;? This publication primarily focuses on the origins of Taipei, Taiwanâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a place where I spent the majority of time during my visits back to the country. It becomes a reservoir of preserved memories that I still somewhat have access to. In this publication, I specifically focus on Taiwanese culture and its slow-paced and leisurely progressive tradition and lifest-yle. The content generated for this publication is meant to further elaborate on the concept of being able to archive, record, and document things that should have disappeared over time. Taken direct inspiration from Taiwan-

ĺ?° ĺ&#x152;&#x2014; Taipei: A Reservoir

ese aesthetic, this book takes on a more illustrative approach in narrating these personal stories and narratives. Ultimately, what I love the most about coming back to Taipei is having the option to revisit the simple, little things that makes Taipei feel like a home to me.

Table of Content

1 Zhongxing Jia, 233, Xian 2 The Playground 3 Forbi

Long Bao Cart 5 Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Not 7 Market 7 The Lazy Susan 9 The Ultimate Convenien

Taipei: A Reservoir

ng Ba Nong 23 Hao idden Garden 4 Xiao 7-11, Just ‘7’ 6 Morning n 8 Battle for the Bill ncy 10 Boba, Bubble Tea

Zhongxing Jia, 233 Xiang Ba Nong 23 Hao Perhaps the very first landmark residue that I’ve ever taken notice of within the Zhonghe area is an advertisement that I refer to as “Mr. Tomato Man.” Mr. Tomato Man exists on a segragated landmark at the side of the road towards the front intersection between our road and the main road. I never figured out what the actual advertisement is about, but it features an illustration of a person with a tomato for his head. The illustration indirectly alludes to Taiwanese aesthetic because it is without a doubt colorful, playful, and derpy. Everytime I go anywhere whether that be leaving the house to grab a

Taipei: A Reservoir

cup of coffee or walking to the subway, I have to pass by Mr. Tomato Man. It will forever be a distinguishable landmark residue that embodies the area I live in Taipei.

Mr. Tomato Man

she sits â&#x20AC;&#x153; Everyday in that armchair either sleeping or dreamily gazing out at the road ahead of her as if she is waiting for something

â&#x20AC;?

Taipei: A Reservoir

Just a little ways ahead of Mr. Tomato Man is an apartment. I personally am not familiar with the family who lives there, but that place has somehow found its way into my memories of the area. Propped outside the apartment entrance is a wooden armchair where an ancient grandma sits. Everyday she sits in that armchair either sleeping or dreamily gazing out at the road ahead of her as if she is waiting for something. I’ve always wondered to myself what exactly is going on her mind, especially at her age. It’s also quite remarkable to me how this feeble old grandma can endure and withstand the intense humidity throughout the day. For some reason everytime I pass by her with somebody, I would turn to that person and whisper “Oh, she’s still there,” as if her day by day existence is amazing. 3

Mountainside

Here is a fun cognitive map illustrated solely from memory

The Playground

Everything you need within close proximity.

School

Xiao Long Bao Cart Soybean Breakfast

Wellcome

7-11

Shared Garden

Taipei: A Reservoir

“oh, she’s still there”

Hong Kong Barber Shop

Mr. Tomato Man

Market

Fish Pond

Morning

Pagoda

Home

The Playground Right next to the entranceway that leads to the mountainside, there exists an elementary school. The school owns a playground and a track field that is also accessible for public use. Every now and then when Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m idle at home, I would find some time to drift over to the playground just to sit, re-

Taipei: A Reservoir

lax, and simply take in the moment to appreciate the environment. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s refreshing to watch all the activity that goes on thereâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;especially watching it together as a whole. During the day, the use of the playground is rather sparse but after 4:30pm, that is the time when people really begin to crowd in. There are elderly people practicing martial arts, high schoolers playing basketball, and babies using the slides.

The elementary school is situated next to a mountain, or a mini mountain to be exact. At around 6:30AM, residents from around the area come to climb the mountain for an early morning exercise. My grandmother used to climb all the way to the top of the mountain every single day. This truly amazes me because it is not by any means an easy climbâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;in fact, I would say that it is actually rather unsafe for the elderly because of the uneven and steep stairs. Hidden inside the mountaintops, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve discovered many different things from elderly men practicing martial arts to finding stray dogs to even people playing badmington! Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s truly amazing what you can find up there!

Taipei: A Reservoir

Forbidden Garden I refer to it as the “Forbidden Garden.” Shared by several neighboring residents, the terrain behind our house has been transformed into a public garden where everybody individually grows their own fruit and vegetables. From winter melon to bananas to mangos to papayas—pretty much anything within our staple diet can be found growing back there. Aside from vegetation and a mob of angry mosquitoes, you know what else you can find back there? Snakes. Yep.

Taipei: A Reservoir

I’ve only ever been back there maybe twice in my entire lifetime because of my inexorable phobia of snakes. Or I guess it’s more accurate to say my phobia is more of creatures that actually pose a threat to you that can promptly appear out of nowhere. My mother constantly warns me not to go wandering back there without supervision—as if I would anyways. As our house is by the mountainside, the chances of bumping into random creatures wandering around the vicinity is significantly higher. I’ve never actually seen a live snake in the wild before but I’m petrified simply from thinking about it. As I usually come back at night from a long day of adventure, I would always be slightly anal about potentially stepping on a snake that just coincidental-

Taipei: A Reservoir

ly happened to be on the roadside. So as much as I love looking at all the vegetation growing in the garden, this phobia has somewhat prevented me from going back there. It also makes me overly cautious whenever I step outside, day or night. My aunt once told me a story that years ago, my fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family encountered a snake that happened to be right outside the front of our house. My grandfather who is a thin old feeble man had boldly grabbed a hoe and apparently stabbed the snake with a hoe to death. The whole image and thought of my weak old grandpa battling with the snake is quite an amusing one.

Xiao Long Bao Cart Hours: M-Sun 5:00AM-12:30PM

Taipei: A Reservoir

Located towards the far end corner of an alleyway adjacent to our road, there exists a tiny family-run soup dumpling (小籠包, pronounced Xiao Long Bao) cart. I’ve been coming to the same exact dumpling cart to eat for the past 15 some years. The soup dumplings from this cart tastes just as delicious as it did the first time I tried it. Comparitively to various other soup dumplings I’ve tried throughout the Taipei area, these by far exceed them all. If you ask your Taiwanese friends for a recommendation to eat soup dumplings, they will most likely refer you to a mainstream Taiwanese chain restaurant called Din Tai Fung. Considered as a must go restaurant, Din Tai Fung is internationally known for its cultural Taiwanese cuisine. Even though I love dining at Din Tai Fung, I much prefer the soup dumplings from this tiny cart 17

near my house. For me, the most precious and beautiful things don’t necessarily always exist in a broader form. Sometimes they exist in places where you least expect them to be. The past few years I had been trying to figure out what made this specific cart’s soup dumplings so delicious and different from the others I’ve tried. I discovered that the difference was that the dough itself is completely handmade, which makes a world of difference in the outcome of the buns. The handmade dough creates a semi-gloss matte texture on the exterior while at the same time surprisingly sealing the juicy succulence within the interior. In a way, this dumpling cart serves as the ideal example of slow progression in Taiwanese lifestyle. As everything in Taiwan is

Taipei: A Reservoir

super laid back and defined as â&#x20AC;&#x153;comfortable,â&#x20AC;? progression is superficial and almost unnecessary. Over the past 15 years, the only progression that this soup dumpling cart has really seen is that it now has an air-conditioned indoor seating. All the same, I would have preferred it to not progressed so much, because then the overall feeling of it would have changed.

Taipei: A Reservoir

I’ve always half joked with myself that if things don’t work out I could always move to Taiwan, invest in my own little cart, and then sell my own Xiao Long Bao’s—at the same time being perfectly content with life. decisions, decisions... 21

It’s Not 7-11, just ‘7’ 7-11 is an international convenience store that originated and migrated over from China. It has now since been distributed throughout both in America and Asia— Taiwan included. In Taiwan, there is always one just around the corner. Literally. And if not ‘7,’ there would be other convenience store options at hand such as EasyMart, FamilyMart, and etc. These stores has made everyday necessities much more accessible in that everything is just merely a few steps away. In comparison to the States, convenience stores (and a whole lot of other things) in Asia are just generally much better. Maybe I’m biased, but I’m more infatuated with the unlimited options as well as

Taipei: A Reservoir

...

A brief conversation with a family friend

A: I’m curious to know why Taiwanese residents say ‘7’ instead of ‘7-11?’ B: We say just ‘7’ because we are just too lazy to say ‘11.’ Haha, just kidding. It’s because when the convenience store first began, the hours were from 7 to 11. Since then, it has now changed its hours to 24-7.

Taipei: A Reservoir

the overall customer service. For me, customer service makes a world of difference and is what constitutes a clear distinction between the United States and Asia. What I love the most about 7? Aside from the overwhelming selection of drinks to choose from, I would probably say the 24-7 hour service of deliciously freezing air conditioning. After spending the whole day walking in the humid weather, I love the guilty and almost exhilerating feeling of entering a convenience store. 7 is pretty much guaranteed of maintaining an abundantly low temperature. It makes me wonder at the back of my mind how much money they have to pay for the electricity bill.

Oh yeah, ‘7’ can also act as your own 24-7 cafe!

Taipei: A Reservoir

Many will probably find this kind of unusual—heck, I even think it’s rather odd. Everytime I enter either convenience stores or the more luxurious shopping mall known as ‘SOGO,’ I love hearing the employers greet ings. This is yet another example of hospitality at its finest in Taiwan. Specifically in SOGO, the building is split into 11+ different floors, the majority selling clothes. The stores are side by side and within an open area. If you walk down the long aisle, you are pretty much guaranteed to be followed by a chorus of “Huan Yi Guang Ling.” This is a standard greeting that employees are required to say anytime a customer is within range. Not really sure why but it kind of gives me an inward satisfying feeling hearing that chorus of greetings, even though I generally don’t really buy anything.

Taipei: A Reservoir

歡迎光臨

Huan Yi Guang Ling

歡迎光臨 Huan Yi Guang Ling

歡迎光臨

歡迎光臨 Huan Yi Guang Ling

歡迎光臨

Huan Yi Guang Ling

歡迎光臨

歡迎光臨 Huan Yi Guang Ling

Huan Yi Guang Ling

歡迎光臨

歡迎光臨 Huan Yi Guang Ling

歡迎光臨

Huan Yi Guang Ling

歡迎光臨

Huan Yi Guang Ling

歡迎光臨

Huan Yi Guang Ling

歡迎光臨

Huan Yi Guang Ling

歡迎光臨

Huan Yi Guang Ling

歡迎光臨

Huan Yi Guang Ling

歡迎光臨

Huan Yi Guang Ling

a satisfied Jordan 歡迎光臨

歡迎光臨

Huan Yi Guang Ling

歡迎光臨

Huan Yi Guang Ling

歡迎光臨 Huan Yi Guang Ling

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hot as hell here. Ask anybody who has been to Taiwan about their experience and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll most likely either mention the cheap delicious food or the unbearable humidity. As I come back pretty much every year, I have somewhat adapted and have learned to embrace the ridiculous humidity in Taiwan. Taiwan is consistently above 30 degree Celsius and can reach as high as 40 degrees Celsius. The humidity and high temperature supplements to the super laid back Taiwanese lifestyle as well as the overall attire worn. People here typically are never in a rush and they leisurely saunter about their daily errands as if they have all the time in the world. In terms of attire, Taiwanese people generally wear very simple loose clothing. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve noticed of-

Taipei: A Reservoir

tentimes the choice of colors is usually a rather faded color contrasted with a super saturated color. It’s rather uncommon to find many people wearing really professional clothing like fancy suits because it is just way too hot. If you walk around Taipei enough, a common trend you might see are elderly women wearing a traditionally black and red visor that is much too oversized. Another thing you might also see are elderly people holding umbrellas to shield themselves not from the rain but from the heat.

太熱了 31

The only time I can’t stand the heat is when I’m indoors. When indoors, I prefer to stay clean, dry, and comfortable which is why I use the AC and fan excessively. The heat doesn’t bother me as much when I’m outdoors. However, if you aren’t used to the humidity and temperatures, the air conditioner and the fan will be your new best friends.

Taipei: A Reservoir

One time the electricity in my house went out for approximately six hours. I thought withstanding the heat for a few hours would be doable. I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have been more wrong. It was legitimately the most painful experience I had ever gone through. 33

Morning Market At the crack of dawn around 5AM, the residents of the Zhonghe area hustle to the local morning market. Only a few minutes walk away from my house, the morning market exists as a venue where all the local vendors and producers lay out their goods for potential customers. Early birds who arrive on time get to select from the freshest produce, while those unfortunate customers who arrive after 8am are succumbed to select from whateverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s left. Despite having my own personal discretions on the cleaniness of the produce sold at the market, there is no denying that everything is fresh. I seldom ever go to the morning market because of my nasty habit of staying up too late, watching one too many movies or working

Taipei: A Reservoir

on self-initiated projects. However on those rare occasions, I absolutely love it. My family often goes up there to buy fresh coconut water and an herbal grass jelly called äť&#x2122; č?&#x2030; (xiang cao.) The vendor would expertly slice open the coconut with a hatchet in front of us, pour the majority of the juice into a tall slender plastic container with a red cap, and then give us the remaining juice in a small paper cup to drink on the spot. The slender container would then be placed in the refrigerator to get cold and would be drunk later on in the day. 35

Sel ect

Only three easy steps for you to enjoy your own refreshing coconut juice.

o n c ut! o c r u o y

Step 1

Off wit

d! ea Slurp the c o

juice 37

nu t co

t h it s

Taipei: A Reservoir

The Lazy Susan A Lazy Susan is an interactive revolving stand commonly found on dinner tables. For my family, the Lazy Susan is a representation of encouraging and promoting communal meals. Dinner is predominantly the time where everybody’s attendance is required where we typically gather around the lazy Susan to share a single meal together. It becomes an act of sharing, unification and family bonding. If it isn’t obvious already, food is a huge part of Taiwanese culture—or really any culture for that matter. There is so much a person can learn about tradition and culture simply from sharing a meal with somebody.

Taipei: A Reservoir

My mom makes this dish quite often for dinner. Everytime my grandma tastes this despite having eaten this before, she always publicly takes note of how very fresh and delicious it tastes. If I was to describe the flavor, it is subtly flavorful. Subtle in that it has a distinct yet light flavor. It is definitely a familiar and homey dish that makes you feel refreshed after eating it.

Taipei: A Reservoir

This is my all time favorite dish. I’m not really sure if this dish qualifies as part of Taiwanese cuisine because I feel like mayonnaise is a very American product to use in cooking. Regardless, it is delicious either way so it’s okay. When my grandmother could still cook, she would always make this dish. Thinking about it now, I question whether or not she only made it for me when I came back to visit—you know, because I’m American and all. It’s been awhile since anybody made this dish probably because it is a little more complicated than your average dish to make.

Battle for the Bill Every year when my family comes back to Taiwan, we would schedule to meet up with a few family friends who live in Taipei and rely on them to take us around. This oftentimes involves them taking us out to various different places to dine. After every single meal that we share together, when the bill has been handed to us, my mom and her friend would routinely fight over to pay the bill. Seriously, this happens every single time. I will always find this entire scenario to be rather amusingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help but sit back and watch with an entertained expression on my face, watching the two squabble over the bill. I find it even more hilarious when the waiter/waitress is caught in the

Taipei: A Reservoir

middle and doesn’t know what to do when two elderly woman are arguing and yelling at him/her to take their credit card. Perhaps it is because I was born in America that I can’t fully comprehend why anybody would be so desperate to fight for the bill. Of course I totally understand this idea of courtesy and treating, but never to this extent. I’m wondering if they get a sense of accomplishment or pride from being able to pay the bill. I know firsthand that I myself get an inward satisfying feeling being able to treat my friends, but irregardless I wouldn’t be opposed to somebody paying for me too.

不我可付以我 ! ! 付先 ! 生 !

Taipei: A Reservoir

小不姐我可 ! 请以 , ! 我请 45

The Ultimate Conveniency Known to be the largest metro subway system in Taiwan, the MRT is super convenient and clean. The MRT in Taipei is able to maintain its renowned cleanliness because of its strict policy of prohibiting eating and drinking inside. Be wary because if you are caught, you can get stuck with a huge fine. The wayfinding system is bilingual, so it is foreigner-friendly. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not even necessary for residents to invest in a car or scooter because of how convenient the MRT system is. From a design standpoint, the wayfinding system in Taiwan was what pulled my attention to graphic design and its application in a physical space. Systemized with 6 distin-

Taipei: A Reservoir

guishable colors and a very straitforward infographic map, it is so unbelievably easy to navigate. To fully take advantage of the metro subway system, you need to purchase an EasyCard (otherwise called a YoYo Card) where you can add money to it at your convenience. In addition to giving you access to the MRT, the card also acts as a debit card because many stores in Taiwan now officially allow you to purchase things with your EasyCard.

Your Savior, the Easycard 47

MRT (Subway)

Taipei: A Reservoir

Jingan Rush To get back home to Zhonghe, I take the Nanshijiao light orange line and get off at Jingan Station. A funny story that I always bring up anytime I am asked about where I live in Taipei is a story that only exists at Jingan station. On the far end of the stop, there is an escalator and an elevator. Usually around rush hour when the subway doors open, you will get the pleasure of seeing a herd of people sprinting as if they are in a running marathon to get to that escalator and elevator. I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help but laugh because the majority of the crowd are elderly people and watching them sprint just to get ahead of a few people is amusing like no other.

Taipei: A Reservoir

Boba, Bubble Tea If there is anything foreigners really know about Taiwan at all, it is probably that bubble tea originated from here. For those that donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know, bubble tea is a tea based drink mixed with milk and chewy tapioca pearls. I believe that the huge difference between bubble tea in Taiwan and the States is the quality of milk. The milk in Taiwan has a more creamier and thicker consistency, which makes the flavor more distinct. Bubble tea is truly the best in Taiwan, but you need to be careful in selecting where you purchase it from. There has been multiple incidents in the past regarding tapioca pearls containing banned chemical additives. My suggestion would be to only purchase from more well-known brands.

Taipei: A Reservoir

Love me some boba. 53

Sugar level content

100%

75%

50%

25%

Taipei: A Reservoir

In Taiwan or maybe just throughout Asia, whenever you order bubble tea or any type of handmade drinks, the barista will always ask you how much sugar and ice you want added to your drink. On the contrary in America, they never give you that option unless you specifically ask for a custom amount. Sounds like a policy that needs to be carried over to America, yeah?

Taipei: A Reservoir

谢谢 !

Writing, illustrations and design

within the course of a month an was typeset in Cheltenhm BT

printed on letter size Domtar 8

Unknown Blue Paper using an

Taipei: A Reservoir

ns by Jordan Hu finished

nd a half. This publication and Yuanti SC. Inkjet

80 lb. text Green Paper and

n Epson Stylus Photo R2000

What I love the most about coming back to Taipei is having the option to revisit the simple, little things that makes Taipei feel like a home to me. Taipei: A Reservoir is a collateral publication to an ongoing site specific project called â&#x20AC;&#x153;Simple Little Things.â&#x20AC;? This publication focuses on Taiwanese culture and its slowpaced and leisurely progressive lifestyle, showcased through a series of illustrated personal short stories. The content generated for this publication are meant to elaborate on the concept of being able to archive, record, and document things that should have disappeared over time. Taipei becomes a reservoir of preserved memories that I still have somewhat access to. Taipei: A Reservoir August 20, 2015 Printed in West Windsor, NJ All rights reserved to Jordan Hu