Friday

This is what I'm working with the entire Friday. It's the DM for my team. I do love visual designing. I guess it's the passion that makes me work so hard for it. Otherwise, I usually don't work on real business stuffs until the afternoon. Ha!我想對一份工作有Passion真的很重要吧！

Tico Tmes v.s. Nica Times

Tico 是哥斯大黎加人的自稱 ，Nica則是尼加拉瓜人的自稱，Tico向來不喜歡Nica，覺得他們髒、窮。這個故事使自於尼加拉瓜的內戰，那時將近哥斯大黎加人口總數四分之一的尼加拉瓜難民逃到哥斯大黎加境內，原本無國家軍隊、享有高教育水準且以白人為主的哥國，必須接受這些窮苦且教育水準不高的尼加拉瓜難民，因此國內的反彈聲浪四起，有時罵人也會說"nica!"，就看得出來Ticos有多麼討厭Nicas，有趣的是在Costa Rica與Nicaragua陸路邊境的Peñas Blancas，當你辦理出關入關時，還可以看到一個招牌寫著" Ticos y Nicas son hermanos."意思就是說：哥國人和尼國人是兄弟，大家不要打架喔！！感覺真的是越寫越糟。
今天突然發現哥國的英文報紙The Tico Times有出一個尼國版本The Nica Times，真的非常有趣。這兩個歡喜冤家看來勢必要處處合作了。

Taichung with a super clear sky!

This is a view of Taichung. I had a business meeting on that day and it was pouring raining in the afternoon. I took this pic on the top of ChungYo dept. store right after the raining. There was a awesome and super clear sky at that moment. The moutains are at east edge of Taichung city, the 3rd biggest city on this island.
There are around 1 million dwellers in Taichung city and about 2.5 million dwellers in great Taichung. I like Taichung a lot. It's not as stressful as Taipei, nor as barbarous as Kaohsiung. Taichung has a distinct personality of its own. I think that's why it attracts the 2nd largest gay community on the island. Gay people go Chongcheng(中正) swimming pool for sun-tanning and swimming. There are also gyms and saunas and restaurants for hanging around.
As for Chongcheng swimming pool, I have to say something aound it. It's a really nice one. Nice music! Good equipments! and awesome bodies!
People say that's becoz the owner is gay, too. Mmm...only gay guy knows what we need!

Feel like traveling

Star Alliance的桌面，不過不知道為什麼選MX的航班，我也坐過MX的Havana(HAV)-Mexico D.F. (MEX)- Los Angeles(LAX)的飛機，只記得古巴上飛機時還是大熱天，夏季制服的空服員們到了快到洛杉磯機場時，每個都急急忙忙的衝進廁所換大衣出來，真有趣。

古巴-加勒比海的同志樂園

在去到古巴前 我也不相信這個傳聞
但
當同機乃至於其他外國遊客 出現許多同志結伴赴古巴的景象出現
我才感到 我對古巴的印象還停留在獨裁政權的階段

的確
哈瓦那這個加勒比海的最大城市
相當於一個台北市的規模
眾多的人口 當然按照「正常比例」的話來推估 同志人口應不少
但實際上變成同志旅遊景點的原因不在於此

整個古巴就是一個大型228或是三溫暖
雖然CNN說觀光業已經取代糖業成為古巴的最大外匯產業
但我覺得說「伴遊業」比較恰當

在古巴 國民所得只有10美元，雖然教育與醫療免費，但還是很多人希望賺取美金
因此在哈瓦那 幾乎是你看的到的男人，不管性傾向，你都有機會一親芳澤
(拉丁美洲的男人多數在軍中或是成年前都已有與同性發生關係的傳統
聯合國也為此做過調查)
這些古巴男子的眼神會直直的盯著你 看到你的靈魂裡去
也會主動的過來搭訕
要的可能是你請他一罐啤酒 或是一頓晚餐 or anything(據說連牙膏都可以)
他的回報呢？
使出渾身解數的性 讓你滿意為止
所以這種交易模式 也可以說是觀光客用啤酒買性
所以這裡常看到那種年老色衰的歐美阿伯旁邊跟著年輕古巴小伙子
阿伯處處掏錢...

我第一天抵達後 才出門逛不到30分鐘 就認識了一個小帥哥
幫小帥哥買瓶啤酒 說完掰掰 不到5分鐘 另一個男子又來跟我攀談
因此 第一天就讓我對這個共產制度下的城市留下深刻的印象

或許是因為要伴遊 外表很重要 或是古巴男人天生麗質(畢竟很多不是伴遊業的照樣猛)
這裡的男人穿得很性感 是中美洲我看過最愛穿無袖背心的城市
大奶男超多http://www.wretch.cc/album/album.php?id=hohiyan&book=7
看的我目不轉睛 口水直流

另外gay多 當然四面環海的古巴也會出現gay beach囉
http://www.wretch.cc/album/show.php?i=hohiyan&b=1&f=1105318271&p=17

http://www.wretch.cc/album/show.php?i=hohiyan&b=1&f=1105318288&p=33
位在Playa del Este 離哈瓦那約一小時的車程 相當方便
不過很特殊的生態是 這裡有警察控管
因為同性戀是需要control的 所以警察會在這裡巡邏
尤其是要「掃蕩男妓」 當地人如果沒有身份證件跟外國人在一起 將會受到臨檢
http://www.wretch.cc/album/show.php?i=hohiyan&b=1&f=1105318268&p=15
不過後面也有類似防風林的地方 範圍比較小 也不夠隱密就是了
但聽當地朋友說 他們還是在海中做愛過 隔壁還有德國人邊欣賞邊打手槍...
在那裡也有一個可愛的黑人小弟來跟我搭訕
http://www.wretch.cc/album/show.php?i=hohiyan&b=7&f=1105364462&p=37
一直跟我吹噓他多大 還可以試看
價碼從$10到$5到$3
我真的沒興趣 但看他蠻可愛的 聊的也很愉快
就用$1讓他讓我拍照 他也樂得賺得這一筆不用流汗的$1
離開時他還蹦蹦跳跳的走...

不過最值得紀念的 是我在跨年的那天 本來逛了一個早上和下午
跟一堆人眉來眼去(但又不想花錢:P)
也認識了來自巴西、瑞典、加拿大等等的遊客
但一直找不到可以一起跨年的伴(連一個很搞笑的黑人扮妝皇后都跟他拉勒了半天)
沒想到就在傍晚遇到了一對gay couple
http://www.wretch.cc/album/show.php?i=hohiyan&b=6&f=1105318734&p=129

http://www.wretch.cc/album/show.php?i=hohiyan&b=6&f=1105318735&p=130
他們很熱情的帶我到處玩
我也從原來一晚25美金的民宿搬到他們家(法律禁止外國遊客待在一般民眾的家中)
省下了好多錢
也更深入體驗了古巴當地人的生活
沒網路、沒手機、沒電話、他們家的電視也壞了
加上古巴大旱 還要節約用水
但這對couple照樣生活的很有品味
I love their house.
http://www.wretch.cc/album/show.php?i=hohiyan&b=5&f=1105318414&p=7
http://www.wretch.cc/album/show.php?i=hohiyan&b=3&f=1105317832&p=4
生活中充滿著音樂 舞蹈(與性)
因為他們 我也認識了西班牙的gay神父
http://www.wretch.cc/album/show.php?i=hohiyan&b=2&f=1105318604&p=2
隔壁Susana家庭和另外一對拉子couple

共產體制下的哈瓦那中 同志世界其實也是多采多姿
這對我這個從小接受共產體制是壞的教育的人來說 其實是很大的shock與自省
當然還有商業體制的shock 這些有興趣的再跟我討論吧

A city without history / 一個沒有歷史的城市是可悲的

有人說:
說實話，生活在台北，常常希望能有一次非常之破壞，然後再來非常之建設，老舊房子全部毀掉重建，所有大樓的一樓都規劃成自行車步道，人行空間和花園廣場，地下樓層都是停車場，二樓以上是營業空間（商店街之類）專用，樓與樓之間有通道相連（如：香港海港城）的無障礙空間，路面的二樓擴建成空中馬路，人車徹底分道，順便幫人行空間擋雨遮陽。

這真是個可悲的想法
這樣子的台北跟其他都市有何不同？
弄堂之於上海
胡同之於北京
古帆船之於香港
甚至巴黎、倫敦

城市之所以吸引人、吸引觀光客的地方
不會是到哪裡都看得到的自行車步道，人行空間和花園廣場
樓與樓之間有通道相連（如：香港海港城）的無障礙空間
路面的二樓擴建成空中馬路，人車徹底分道，順便幫人行空間擋雨遮陽

城市是由住民的集體意識共同建立起來的
台北長成現在這樣 是有其歷史因素
這也是他和島上、世界上其他城市不一樣的地方

lonely plante拍台北的封面絕對不會是一間一間樓與樓有通到相連的mall
也不會是台北101

他是什麼？

第六版的封面是一隻藍天下的龍

Costa Rica at a glance

During our stay in Costa Rica, we visited Vocán Póas, Plaza este de Escasu, museums, and heritages. I was getting to know this country better and better. After all, I have to live here for another 5 months or so. I liked the air here, which was a pleasant and comfortable 19-23 degree. It was pretty much like the one in Taiwan in the autumn. Humming birds were very easy to see here, too. Some restaurants hung a bottle of honey or sugared water under the roof to attract humming birds and customers. I also found that the east skirt of San Jose is quite luxury compared to downtown. Prime shopping malls and communities were all located there, which looked 1st world to me if you recalled I mentioned 3rd world in the past blog. Haha!

Los Angeles-San Jose by Lacsa 601

It was a nighttime flight. I saw nothing but several lights although I had window seats. Taco-like sandwich was served on the airplane. A-go, my friend coming to Central America with me, won the prize, which is a return free-tickets in the region. Oh, how I wish I could be the winner. I just seated next to him!
We arrived San Jose International Airport at 8AM in the morning. On the taxi to my friend’s house, I had the first impression of this country. It looks really green everywhere. The mountains are different from Taiwan, either. No wonder this country is called the Switzerland in Central America.
My friend’s house was located at curridabat, 15mins drive from downtown San Jose. Referred to San Jose, the small capital looked really 3rd world to me. It takes time to pursued myself this is the capital of the wealthiest country in Central America.
Although I slept along the way from Taipei to San Jose, I still felt dizzy in the afternoon, which I think was midnight in Taipei. I took the first nap in this new world and ended up in the smell of dinner.

Taipei-Los Angeles by Malaysia Airline MX65

After teaching my mom how to use web cam and messengers to communicate with me, I had a farewell dinner with my mom. I could feel the anxiety between Mom and me. It was a silent and bitter dinner. Each one of us had our own concerns for the coming 7 months but didn’t want them to be the other’s burden. 7 months is not a short period of time, after all. So controversy was what I felt at this moment. On the one hand, I was very excited about the unknown journey ahead. On the other hand, my parents had to be alone by themselves for the past several months coz I’m the only son here. I knew it gonna be tough for them.
Anyhow, I left my house in a summer night with a sincere Good-bye. Thanks to Moorna, my aboriginal friend, I arrived C.K.S. airport for just 1.5 hour from Keelung. Checking-in my baggage at MX counter is like checking-in my coming adventure. I was getting excited. However, I didn’t remember much on the airplane. I suppose it should be peaceful and calm. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be wake up and had L.A. skyline right outside of my window.
It was about 7PM in L.A. At this summertime, it was still clear in the sky. The sky looked like 3PM in Taipei. This was my first time in U.S.A. I was quite upset by the view of L.A. The city looked really brow and located in the middle of desert. Only few skyscrapers caught my eyes. It was totally not what I expected!
U.S.A. immigration officer has long been notorious by its attitude toward East Asians because of the illegal immigrant problems. This happened to me this time as well. No matter how detailed I explained to him that I didn’t need a visa to entry Costa Rica, This immigration officer still questioned about my ability to enter into Costa Rica with on-site visa. Problem solved by asking for a Chinese-look officer’s help. He confirmed to the original officer that people with Taiwan Passport don’t need visa to visit Costa Rica. Well…which was exactly what I said to him!
Past through several baggage and security checking, which lasted for more than 1 hour, we were in front of TACA counter in the super busy LAX. I had no idea of how Latino looks like until I saw the TACA counter. He has a sparkling curl hair and mustache. Very friendly, too. Our flight to San Jose, Costa Rica was at 1:30AM, quite plenty of time for us to explore this airport. We went upstairs looking for dinner, or breakfast if we had been in Taiwan. I had a Woo-long noodle. I remembered it was astonishingly pricy and had nothing but noodles! Mm….L.A. has ugly skyline and pricy bad food.