Dasi: the Town of Extremes

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          I was confused and bored when I first read Italo Calvino’s Invisible Cities. I was confused because I knew there must be some kind of message about the distant cities in the book, but I couldn't figure it out. I was bored because I was confounded by the simple but abstruse words. I am still confused, but luckily not bored, reading it again. Besides the feeling of confusion, I found the poetic writing is like a magnet: It draws me into the imaginary cities. Italo Calvino (1923-1985) (Wood) expanded his imagination and came up with Invisible Cities. The book was nominated for the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1976. There are nine chapters. Each chapter is with an opening and closing interlude in between the dialogues of Kublai Khan, the Tartar emperor, and Marco Polo, the Venetian traveler, talking about 55 cities accordingly in 11 groups in Calvino's Invisible Cities. If we take a closer look at how Calvino played with numbers, the design of displaying the cities in the chapters looks like the skyline of a city. The way Calvino used mathematical structure to describe Invisible Cities, we see how OULIPO, which is a workshop devoted to apply math in literature, had inspired him (Botta). The book makes me think more about the places that I have visited. If I have to describe Pleasanton, where I live, using one adjective, I’ll say, “quaint.” It’s a pleasant little town where my heart doesn’t belong for I always feel like a foreigner. On the other hand, every time when I go back to Taiwan, where I was born and where I think I belong, I feel like an outsider. Calvino says:

                     The more one was lost in unfamiliar quarters of distant cities, the more one

                     understood the other cities he had crossed to arrive there...because the traveler’s 

                     past changes according to the route he has followed…Arriving at each new city, the 

                     traveler finds again a past of his that he did not know he had: the foreignness of

                     what you no longer are or no longer possess lies in wait for you in foreign,

                     unpossessed [sic] places. (28)

I have traveled to more than fifty countries so far in my life. Looking back, which city impressed me the most? Dasi, a small tourist town in north Taiwan, never sleeps on the weekends with high level energy that sometimes turns into chaos. On the other hand, Dasi is very still during the weekdays. The town's daily life's pattern is made up of peaks and valleys. Whether you like the excitement on the weekends or the peace and quiet during the weekdays, you'll find it in Dasi. Dasi is a town of extremes that renews your spirit on a weekly basis.

                                                           Dasi Introduction  

          Dasi, my home town, was voted as the No. 1 tourist attraction on March 10, 2012 in the survey, “Taiwan’s Top Ten Tourist Towns,” which was organized by the Taiwan Tourism Bureau (Wong). The result promotes local economic prosperity, but the influx of people causes traffic problems on holidays and weekends. The terrible congestion was the primary reason that my whole family escaped to the big city, with
 its conveniences and public transportation. However, I chose to stay in Dasi because I love the unique quality of the town.  You might sometimes dream about leaving your hectic life behind and travel to an exotic place where you can experience a different way of life; where people are friendly but speak a strange language; where exciting festivals, parades, and other events are held throughout the year; where it still possesses its rich history that takes you into the past; where it is safe. This place preserves its natural scenery; where you can immerse your body in the warm healing mineral water while you are enjoying the beautiful scenery that surrounds you; where you can taste special cuisine that you’ve never seen or eaten. Wouldn’t it be great if you could easily find all of these wonderful things in one little town? You can discover it all in Dasi.

                                                                The Old Street

          You may choose to have a leisurely stroll to soak up the nostalgic atmosphere of old Taiwan during

the weekdays; alternatively, you may choose to participate in the activities that are held on the weekends. 

The Old Street in Dasi provides you with extreme opposite adventures depending on when you visit. It is

6434 miles from San Francisco to Taiwan, which is located on the west of the Pacific Ocean. The flight will

take 11-14 hours depending on the winds. 

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It takes about 50 minutes driving from the airport to Dasi. Dasi means “big creek,” the territory of the Da Han River (Daxi). When I read the city of Zaira in Invisible Cities, I think of Dasi.

                    Zaira...I could tell you how many steps make up the streets rising like

                    stairways... The city does not consist of this, but of relationships between the

                    measurements of  its space and the events of its past...the three old men seated on

                    the dock mending nets and telling each other for the hundredth time the story of the

                    gunboat of the usurper… (10)

Like Zaira, the steps from the dock lead you to the Old Street in Dasi.

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http://raiders.66diqiu.com/col/raider_detail.php?articleId=10190

While you’re standing on the top of rising stairways, looking down, the water in the river is running rapidly

 from the mountains towards the Taiwan Strait. In the olden times, this used to be a port at the most

 upstream section of the Da Han River. The river bank and the dock were often crowded with businessmen

 and tourists. Today, this is still a popular tourist site for the Baroque architecture on the sides of the archaic

 street, which leads you to the bridge, which portrays an even more classical style. Ambling along the Old

 Street in Dasi is such a carefree feeling when the twilight falls during the weekdays. The sunset causes a pink

 hue, which blends with the clouds as far as you can see. Across the river, the hills are covered with a haze

 due to a light mist, which in turn causes the lights on the bridges to be dim. Thinking about the scene of

 returning boats in the old days and indulging the pacified moment are so romantic as if you were in the city of

 Zaira. On the contrary, the atmosphere will be the opposite on the weekends, which includes the fireworks

 at night, the street performers, occasional pop concerts, the colorful native costumes, the carefully followed

 rituals, the intriguing legends, and the crowds of worshippers, all combine to make a genuine and

 unforgettable experience for visitors.

  

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                                     The Lala Mountain & Gala He Spring

            The Lala Mountain and Gala He Spring remain as in a natural state. To relieve the stresses of modern hectic life, nothing beats a good long soak in a therapeutic hot spring set in a peaceful forest. This is what Dasi offers you, an extreme peaceful experience. 

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http://www.backpackers.com.tw/forum/showthread.php?t=981205

California is 11 times larger than Taiwan. Small as it is, Taiwan takes pride in its rich natural resources. Geologically, Taiwan is situated between the Eurasian Continent and the Pacific Ocean. For tens

of millions of years, the constant movements of tectonic plates have given Taiwan a hugely varied terrain. Two-thirds of the land in Taiwan is covered by mountains and foothills (Her). It takes you only a couple of hours driving up to the Lala Mountain in Dasi to reach the largest Red Cypress forest in Taiwan. There are 24 giant red cypresses that are 500-3000 years old and up to 188 meters high (620 feet) (Lala). Because the Tropic of Cancer runs through Taiwan, you will experience the tropical weather, also the spring, fall, and winter environment on your way up to Lala Mountain. There are not many places in the world that can give you four seasons in a day plus a wonderful spa in hot springs. “Taiwan has one of the highest concentrations (more than 100 hot springs) and the greatest variety of thermal springs in the world” (Hot). There are several springs in Dasi. The temperatures range from cool to hot. The one I love is called Gala He Spring, which is located at the edge of Lala Mountain. At this spring, the water flows from above and cascades over the rocks into pools below where people soak or lay under the water that’s falling from the sparkling rocks. Unlike other famous hot springs near the capital city, Taipei, which are highly commercialized with nice restaurants and modern hotels, Gala He Spring and Lala Mountain remain in a natural state, and the Lala Mountain road is very narrow with many turns and switch backs; the difficult drive makes Gala He Spring and Lala Mountain a remote paradise. This contributes to the beauty and charm of the area that frees you from aggravation that is caused by modern frenzied life.                                                        

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                                                            Cihu & Statue Park         

          Meanwhile, your experience all depends on whether you like to be with the crowds and have the festival feeling on the weekends, or you would rather have a sense of peacefulness by yourself during the weekdays. It’s your choice to enjoy the extremes in Cihu. Dasi possess rich history that you’ll discover if you

 visit The Culture Resort of The Jiang’s (Jiang, Kai-shek and his son, Jiang, Ching-kuo) at Cihu Mausoleum,

 an elegant and tranquil mausoleum, where the changing of the guard is the focus of attention, which bring

 tourists by the bus load on the weekends.

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The Culture Resort of The Jiang’s represents Taiwan’s history after the 8 years Chinese and Japanese War

 (1937, 7.7- 1945, 9.2. the Pacific War of World War II). In addition, The Jiang, Kai-shek Statue Park was

 developed during 2007-2008 when Jiang, Kai-shek fell out of favor of the current Taiwan government

 because they perceive him as a brutal dictator. As a result, the statues of Jiang, Kai-shek throughout Taiwan

 were removed and placed in Cihu. This park has the most statues of a single person than any other park in

 the world (Cihu). However, Cihu Mausoleum is able to preserve its original natural scenery because part of 

the region was a military restricted area for a long time. The ecology and environment have been protected.

 Migrating birds and small wild animals are often seen while walking on the ancient paths. Even today, the 

forest along the paths has been well maintained. A visit to Cihu not only provides you a little of Taiwan

 history, but also renews your body and soul.  
       

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                                                                 Local Food

          Again, go visit Dasi according to your mood; try the delicious cuisine at any restaurant. During the weekdays, dining will be elegant; yet, on the weekends, it will be chaos. Unlike here in the U.S., every small town in Taiwan has a food specialty of which you can only get the taste by visiting. Taiwanese love to eat. Therefore, the main attraction in Dasi is the food. You can either drop into one of Dasi’s many Dried Tofu Houses to try dried tofu prepared in hundreds of different ways, or have a rest and enjoy some fine Taiwanese teas with other local snacks, such as taro or yam cakes or herbal sticky rice cakes. Dried tofu is best known as a delicious local snack, which at first may seem a bit strange, even to adventurous foreign visitors (The). 

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                                                            Conclusion

             Moreover, Dasi is also famous for its wooden furniture, which is specially made for religious

 purposes (Traipse). This is one of the reasons I love Calvino’s Invisible Cities so much. The book always

 brings me back to the good memories of Dasi. For example, “The Great Khan tried to concentrate on the

 game: but now it was the game’s purpose that eluded him. Each game ends in a gain or a loss: but of what... 

It was reduced to a square of planed wood: nothingness…” (123). When I read this paragraph, I felt as if I

 were walking along the street in Dasi which have a lot of wooden furniture stores.

                                                                 

http://taiwanpedia.culture.tw/web/content?ID=13455

The difference is with more thoughts of how we should live. Is life nothing but a game in which you’re either a winner or loser? It should be more than that, shouldn’t it? Polo’s answer not only overwhelmed Kublai, but it surprised me. How could Polo discover such a large quantity of things in a little piece of smooth and empty wood? For Polo, a piece of dead wood symbolized another adventure (131, 132). Is it time for you to take an adventure? If you love Invisible Cities by Calvino as I do, you might want to visit Dasi, the town of extremes, for you will find so many shadows as if you are in Calvino’s imaginary world. Try to stay in Dasi for two weeks, and, you will experience the whole picture that Dasi offers you: The extremes renew your spirit on a weekly basis. (2187 words)