The first cicada chirp of 2007!

29 May was a very nice day for sound listening!
I was doing my regular jogging at the Hon-Shu-Lin (mangrove) protected area around the sunset time. Along the route, there were not only mangrove but also trees and bushes. Some but few people have been living in this protected area.
While I was enjoying the slow jog, a piercing chirp of cicada called my attention and made me saying:
'Hei! Cicadas! It's you again! Welcome back! It's year 2007!' ^_^
Later, while I ran passed a local resident's house, I heard a person chopping professionally. From the sound of the chop, I could tell that the knife was the big square style and the chef has been cooking for years-- the chopping speed was fast! Mmm... yum yum, it was dinner time and many mums of Taiwan were busy at preparing the dinner for the families. Chop chop chop, mums build up the fast chopping skill through her years of love and tolerance for the family!
Sounds of cicada and summer, sounds of mum and love... What a listening jog!

The crow of a phoenix

Have you noticed a peculiar sound made by the train of Taipei Metro (Damshui line)? I am talking about a sound made when the train is about to depart. For me, it is like a crow of a big bird, a phoenix maybe!
Actually, I heard the same (almost) crow when I took Shinkansen in Japan. The name of that train was White Bird. Therefore, when the train was departing and I heard the sound, I imagined that it was the crow of the white bird! Immediately, I fell in love with it--It was a sound with a sense of myth and magic. At the same time, it gave me a sense of freedom-- the white bird is about to fly!
Two days ago, I suddenly noticed that our Taipei Metro has the crow, too! I was so happy to discover it! Without travelling all the way to Japan, I can now hear it in my hometown! However, I wonder how on earth I just notice it?! haha! ^_^

Hearing the young people chatting aloud

It was very crowded in the train of Taipei Metro on Saturday afternoon. A group of young people were chatting loudly about recent TV soap operas that they enjoyed. By commenting on each show, they were enthusiastic to share their views with their friends.
I was standing right next to this group. Despite the train being crowded, they were so loud and excited!
In fact, I did not feel their loudness disturbing. On the contrary, I really enjoyed the atmosphere built by them. They were full of energy and happiness. I envy them having so many good friends to share life experiences. It's a kind of happiness I have not had since graduating from the university in Taiwan!
Good friends, loud laughs and happiness... They are priceless!

Sounds of rice paddy

On 14 May, I took a long walk with my good old friend. Although the day was hot, there were wild wind cooling down our sweat. When we were passing Quandu, we heard sasasasa sounds. It was the wind blowing the rice paddy. The sounds of leafs rubbing were so light and comforting.
Around the nearby place, we also heard 'gagagaga' sounds. They were sounds of wind blowing bamboos...
We stopped walking for a while and gave these sounds our attentive listening. They were soooooo beautiful!
It was Monday when most of the people were working. It was Taipei where most of the rice paddy had gone. It was relax and quiet when most of the places in Taipei were busy and noisy. Yes, we felt very lucky to have such an experience!

Bike riding

There is a route for bike riding between Danshui and Quantu. A few days ago, my brother lead me to ride on this route. We started late in the afternoon which ended with an evening ride. But you know, it turned out to be an amazing experience....
Around 6:30pm, the sky was dark. When we were riding, it was a grass field on our right-hand side and the Damshui River on our left. As street lights were not installed intensively, we depended on our dim bike lights.
Being in such an environment, I heard millions of insects singing! They were so loud and they penetrated my head with the powerful sonic force! Riding through their route with speed... jjjjjiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii.....(I passed through the route and sounds faded out)... WOW!
Unforgetable!