July 29, 2010
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Photo Opportunity
So we had chosen the photographer for the wedding - all we needed now was to find the places where we wanted the photos taken. I had some ideas, Joanne had some ideas, and so she borrowed a car from a friend so we could go on a trek to narrow down our list. We jumped in to the R-type Suzuki, and now so much zoomed but slowly rolled.
Up the mountain to Guanyin Shan visitor centre, where we found a newly prepared area that was perfect. Cool. That's one place sorted, we said. We also wanted to have some photos taken at the riverside close to our apartment, which we did not need to look at, as we live there. So 2 places covered, and it was not even lunchtime yet.
Joanne said she had heard of a windmill, and thought that was a romantic setting, so we went in search of it. Now being a European, I know windmills, and I was sure I would have heard of one in our area, but the wife to be was adamant. Windmill. Close to the ocean. In our town. So we took the car along to the port area, but no sign of what we were looking for. Having said that, the area looked good for a beach photo - ok, let's think about that one. And off we set once more in search of the windmill, along the coastal road.
Oh... so you mean wind generator. Are you sure that is romantic? So, that was one struck off the list. Sweet...
But now we were getting hungry, so we jumped on the expressway, on to the freeway, and out to see our good friend, Mr Chen, in Shenkung. The usual was ordered - hot spicy tofu soup, san bei, some long shu tsai... excellent, followed by shu bing a little bit further down the old street in the town. Fully satisfied, we got back in the R-Type, and slowly made our way back to the northern part of Taipei City.
Up the other mountain, Da Tun Shan, over to Ju Zi Hu, famous for flowers, and we found some nice flower gardens there, which would be perfect, apart from the fact that the end of blossom season was approaching, and would be there before we took the final photos. Hmmm... what flowers WILL be there when we want them? Ok... we'll think that one over.
Afternoon tea at once of the many tea shops up there, and the sun started to go down, and there was one more place I wanted to try - close to the river at Guandu, so we drove down and tried to find the place I wanted, but we couldn't. My navigation was ok, but my memory not so. I couldn't remember where the right angle was for us to get the sun setting over Guanyin Shan. Ah well...
We had already been to the 101 area, and seen how people were getting some wedding photos taken outside famous and chic boutique stores, like Prada and Versace, but that was not our style. We DID want to get a photo taken though at the 101. We headed in to the Grand Hyatt to pick up the coffee beans my friend had got for me, and there were some other people taking wedding photos. Hmmm... not such a bad idea either. I spoke with my friend, who just so happens to have rather a lot of influence at the Hyatt, and he said all I needed to do was call his secretary, and it was done.
And thus the day was done. We had a long list of places to go to, and lots of fantastic ideas as to where we wanted our photos. So the day was done, but we were keeping the car overnight, so we took full advantage of it by heading to Carrefour for a big shop. Damn, we need a car - I like the convenience of driving in, and buying loads of stuff. Shame I don't have the cash for (a) a car and (b) lots of stuff. But everything in good time!
A little dinner, and that was the day done. We had a plan and - like all good plans - we would see in time just how much of it we would change.
