This is Sida

This is Sida. He is genuine and kind and owns our favorite neighborhood haunt, Coffee 105. He was my introduction to Taiwan and the Taiwanese, so now he will be yours. The shop is in this tiny one-way alley, not three minutes from our apartments, and is a wonderful escape. My friends and I go there (Jim and Evan go daily) for an afternoon go at the crossword, Sunday “brunch” (cold noodles with cucumbers and spicy peanut sauce), and most of all, for the easy company of Sida and pals.

I love taking a book out there in the morning, and sitting at the high counter barefoot with the wooden floors and imported white sand underneath. Listening to Jack Johnson’s acoustic album and sipping a cold latte (which is excellent) with the “Windy City’s” breeze blowing by the open-air coffeeshop, you might think you were at the beach or a riverside veranda somewhere storied and ancient. That’s until you look across the street and see the rusted gate, bright blue with soured spots of red and brown, of the pay-per-hour parking lot, and then you remember you’re actually in Hsinchu, Taiwan, and that’s not so bad either. Next to the palm-lined canal downtown, the super-chill and convivial #105 is easily my favorite place in Hsinchu.

The first time I met Sida, not a week into my stay, we got to talking about my plentiful relations who just keep popping out of the woodwork with visits from out of town, early morning phone calls, and strange requests for me to edit their English. Hitting on the subject of an aunt who lives in Taizhong, a neighboring city, Sida invited me and Evan and Jim to go with him and friends to a night market there that weekend. And it was that easy. At a time when everything was uncomfortably new and dizzying and overwhelming, he promised to show me what the Taiwanese like to do, what’s fun, and most importantly what’s good to eat. He’s always ready with recommendations and frequently offers the use of his friends who are going places and who wouldn’t mind taking along a few waiguos (foreigners).

It’s his birthday this weekend, and we shall all party.

Stay tuned for the best beach day I've had in years. Just a few teasers: we had a gorgeous sunset, bonfires, sing-along time, and one unforgettable slap to Jim's tender arse.
See Webshots if you are impatient:
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