Night Scenes

By 7:30, night blankets Feng Yuan. With the sun down, life in the city surges.



Scenes of a busy street Saturday night after watching Superman Returns. Each sense is engaged in the experience. Drink in the dazzling spectrum of lights in every direction. Taste the humidity hanging in the air, sweat beading on the brow. Hear the urban medley - scooter engines, indecipherable Chinese blaring from ad trucks, a dozen different radios. Inhale the wafting scents of foriegn foods, exhaust, and burning incense. Feel the pulse of the people. And feel overwhelmed.

Relief in a recognizable symbol. Three shiny stories of American majesty - resort for the homesick wanderer. Big Mac meals go for $109 NTD, or about $3 US. Not too bad for the frugal minded. I'm thinking McDonald's will certainly have its role. So far I've only been twice, and it was packed both times. A group of kids, busy about their hamburgers, began laughing at me when I sat down during my second visit. I'm not sure what for. English abilities were limited, but a deck cards belonging to one of them provided a simple solution. One little trick and we became fast friends. Card tricks transcend language barriers wonderfully.

Returning to the night. Only a few miles from the last scene and you discover the night market. Every Saturday night, an otherwise deserted parking lot transforms into a bustling hive - a hybrid flea market and small-town fair. Children empty parents' pockets for mini ferris wheel rides, ring toss games, and tempting bumper cars. Parents empty parents' pockets to satisfy appetites - fried squid, pie rolls, rice dishes, noodles, sushi, anything you could want (or not want depending on the reader). Merchant stalls offer clothes, books, toys, and all kinds of useless junk. Throngs of bodies press through the area like rush-hour traffic on the Beltway - only, minus rules to help govern the chaos.

To be continued...