Swimming To Taipei   2004-07-18

I think I mentioned in a previous entry that death by drowning is the number two cause of death among Taiwanese students studying abroad. Sure ... it's a freakishly weird statistic to have at your fingertips ... but as we head into a summer season filled with martini parties and backyard barbeques it's a nice one to pull out of your back pocket when the small talk starts to stall.

i have no idea what the number one cause of death among taiwanese students studying abroad is. if anyone's bored at work ... or has some free time on their hands ... perhaps a little research project with real purpose ... like finding out the number one cause ... is in order.

before i start into the broad generalisations, sweeping statements, and rigid stereotypes that make a journal entry like this really sizzle ... anyone who's seen my breast stroke (ooops ... pardon) technique knows i'm no mark spitz and i'm certainly not pulling out the ol' "if i can do it anyone can do it" card. taiwan may be a sub-tropical island nation but that doesn't mean they're sending a swim team to the olympics any time soon.

a few recent trips to paishawan (translation - "white sand bay") beach on the northern tip of taiwan have shed some light on why drowning ranks high in the top five reasons for death abroad. it's because most taiwanese go swimming fully clothed. shoes, socks, jeans, t-shirts, and maybe even a sweater if it's a little cool outside. it's an interesting experience to sit on a beach with the sun blazing overhead and watch thousands of fully clothed people swimming in the water. those crazy cats.

pale skin is the order of the day over here and suntanning definitely doesn't rank very high on anyone's list of "things to do before i die." there's certainly no shortage of creams designed to lighten the colour of your skin a few shades. so ... i guess it makes sense that everyone covers up and tries to stay out of the sun.

but swimming fully clothed? come on now ... soaking wet jeans and soggy shoes must tucker you out after a while. it's no wonder taiwanese students overseas taking the plunge only do it once.


below are two links to pictures of paishawan beach. it takes about an hour and a half to get there from taipei. we take the MRT (mass rapid transport) to the end of the line and then jump on a rickety bus, which lets us off at the side of the road close to the beach.

the pictures will open up in a new window. those with a slow internet connection ... the pictures are quite large and may take a minute to load.

  paishawan beach facing west   the two bulbuous, mushroom-looking structures in the distance are military surveillance towers tracking chinese naval activity in the taiwan strait.


  paishawan beach facing east  

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