Run Away Toastmasters

I didn't have an agenda in hand. I just followed Linda and Lydia to Kaohsiung Sunday evening, and took whatever would be bestowed upon us with gratitude and delight.

Not knowing how long Linda and Lydia had planned the trip, I joined them at the last minute when they asked me if I'd be interested in seeing Gary and Jim again in Kaohsiung. Without a second thought, I said yes and looked forward to our reunion with two handsome young men we spent six days together in China.

From Taipei to Kaohsiung, it took one and half hours by the the high speed train. We left Taipei at 6:42 Sunday evening. Before I finished putting on my makeup, we were in Kaohsiung at 8:18. The geological distance between Taipei and Kaohsiung was unbelievable shorter than the psychological one we had in mind.

Upon arrival, Gary and Jim were excited to greet us at the station and took us to their secret garden. We were in a big hurry because the garden by the seashore would soon close at 10PM. Jim drove, Gary gave directions, we three clutched at the backseat. After we drove out of downtown Kaohsiung, passed Hsitzu Bay, we were on a long and winding road up in the hills.

停了車，Jim興奮地在前頭帶路，在一個夜黑風高的晚上，我們三女兩男笑聲不斷地徒步在隱蔽的小漁村裡。Linda那雙高跟鞋，讓她成為纏著小腳的女人，搖搖擺擺地緊跟著我們上上下下走在山間小徑。就在道路的盡頭，Jim站在秘密花園的門口，展開肌肉男的雙臂，歡迎我們走進他的秘密天地, Voila, Escape 41, here we came!

The restaurant is actually built on the cliff. On the open air veranda, we felt the sea wind caress our faces, saw the ebb and flow roar against the reef. Five of us reunited with joy, reminisced happy moments in China, toasted with tropical fruit punch, munched a huge authentic Italian Charcoal Pizza. It's hard to believe that Gary & Jim were total strangers three weeks ago, and we were like old friends, God knows, for how long. The rain fell in time when we were about to move on to our second rendezous downtown.

Hank was expecting us when we walked in "Cats and Billiards" at half past eleven. Without ado, five of us were given a big shower with five glasses of double Tequila Bon, followed by five B-52 Bombers in flames. Blowing off the fire, bottomed up the Bomber, all of us wore contented smiles. Lydia and I took challenge to accept Hank's invitation for a good game of Billiard. The huge Cats and Billiards of 20 pool tables looked bigger and merrier under the magical effect of a few doses of ethanol.

At a quarter past two, we were on the road again for our third party at Lydia's mansion in Kaohsiung. Nobody even felt exhausted. While we laid at ease in the black leather sofa transcending to night Shanghai of excitements, Gary and Jim flipped with interest two big volumes of photo albums Linda compiled and brought along with her to Kaohsiung.

I didn't know what time Gary and Jim left for the "night". Harry called at 3 in the morning when Lydia, Linda and I snuggled comfortably and peacefully in bed. "We're at home in Kaohsiung," answered Lydia, "Good night, sweetheart, have a sweet dream!"