June 10th, 2024
We are into summer now, real tropical weather. June 10th, 2024 was very humid; according to weather.com, the weather was 31 degrees, but felt like 41 degrees.
Four years ago, pre-COVID19 quarantine, I wrote a post on the Dragon Boat Festival. Now this was the first unrestricted Dragon Boat Festival after COVID19 quarantine – where does the time go?
I also briefly referred to zongzi, “a traditional Chinese rice dish made of glutinous rice stuffed with different fillings and wrapped in bamboo leaves. Fillings can be either sweet, such as red bean paste, or savory, such as pork belly or Chinese sausage.”
Taste Asia Food says: “The history of zongzi 粽子is closely related to a famous poet and patriotic minister Qu Yuan 屈原 of the Kingdom of Chu during the Warring States 戰國 period of China (ranging from 481 BC to 403 BC). Qu Yuan served as a minister for the Chu but was ousted for opposing the alliance of a much larger kingdom called Qin. When the Qin eventually conquered the capital of Chu, Yingdu, the grief was so intense that he finally committed suicide by drowning himself in the Miluo River 汨羅江 on the 5th of May. Moved by the patriotism of Qu Yuan, the local people rolling their boats to save him. The act to save Qu Yuan was the origin of the dragon boat races during this festival. After they had failed to retrieve his body, they threw packets of sticky rice into the river, hoping the fishes would eat the rice instead of his body. Chinese people serve zongzi every year on the day when Qu Yuan committed suicide, which happens on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese calendar. This day had slowly evolved to become the Duanwu Festival or Double Fifth Festival; both means the date and month as mentioned. … Duanwu Festival (also called Dragon Boat Festival) has slowly shifted its focus from commemorating Qu Yuan to become a carnival, with dragon boat competition and eating zongzi as the key features.”
In the above image (courtesy of Google Maps) the competition was held in the red squashed band, near Zhongshan Airport. I thought I’d catch the MRT to Yuanshan (圓山) MRT station, on the Red line at the top of the picture, immediately below the Keelung River. Then I’d take the 132 bus, or failing that, a taxi, to the Dajia Riverside Park (大佳河濱公園), where the event was held, at the Dragon Boat Pier (龍舟碼頭). I prepared written instructions for the taxi driver just in case.
On the MRT, heading towards Yuanshan MRT station. Notice the masks of the passengers; I was wearing a mask myself.
Yuanshan MRT station. Google Translate interpreted 圓山 as “Round Mountain”.
Another picture of Yuanshan MRT station.
Looking out towards the dragon boat racing. Yuanshan MRT station is close to Taipei Expo Park.
On the map Yuanshan Bus Station is directly below Yuanshan MRT station, so I thought the 132 bus would be only steps away. My error: there was no 132 bus either directly below, or cross the street. I was worried that I would have to flag down a taxi and explain in execrable Chinese. Fortunately a station guard helpfully pointed out the way. The above photo shows people walking to the bus (center right).
I got onto the crowded 132 bus (above), a tight squeeze. Immediately a gentleman insisted I sit down – I was very grateful.
After a 10-minute trip we reached Dajia Riverside Park (大佳河濱公園). Everybody got off, and I took a photo of the empty bus.
The above YouTube clip shows you the Dragon Boat Festival better than I could.
Dazhi Bridge (大直橋), with the temporary booths underneath it. The weather was stifling – probably due to the humidity.
Under the Dazhi Bridge, amid rowing crews (above). In the background there were a few fast food stalls, though it’s hard to see them. Unfortunately I didn’t try any on the zongzi.
The Dragon Boat races, on the Keelung River at Dajia Riverside Park. I discovered that the boat races hadn’t started yet.
The Dajia Riverside Park Public Toilet (大佳河濱公園公共廁所) – it’s on the map.
The television crews were already in position.
A view back along the riverside to the bridge. In the photo it seems there was water on the ground, but that’s not how I remember it. I’d say there was water in the air – the humidity was suffocating.
A view in the opposite direction.
Rescuers patiently waited.
I strolled for half an hour, but the heat and humidity proved too much; my shirt was becoming drenched. I headed for the bus to take me to Yuanshan MRT station and home.
Wandering Richard 