By Douglas Habecker

"Pool has become a kind of meditation for me, so that it counts as a kind of sleep. It's a great way to totally relax and unwind, so I find myself coming to these places a few times a week and staying quite late," said an expatriate Taichung businessman and pool-playing aficionado.

Whether they see pool as a relaxing pastime or competitive activity, many city residents have become avid players, as indicated by a mini-explosion of pool halls over the past year. To cater to a broader base of clientele, these establishments have moved away from the often-seedy reputation of the past and now generally provide attractive, spacious, clean, well-run and well-equipped halls that are all open for business 24 hours a day. Most cater to eight-ball players although a few reportedly also have snooker. Most of the halls also sell pool cues and other equipment for those wanting to buy their own.

While there are too many halls to fully cover here, below is a sampling of some establishments of various sizes that provide some good options:

-Top Billiards (2, Tunghsing Road, section 3; tel. 472-5829)

Since its opening last year, Top has established itself as one of the best places to shoot pool in the city, with 26 tables situated on two levels and an attractive ambiance. The per minute price for a table varies according to location in the hall, ranging from NT$2.7 per minute up to NT$3.5 for an exclusively-located table upstairs. Due to demand, particularly on evenings and weekends, customers can call ahead to book a table. Heading south on Tunghsing Road, Top is on the left just after crossing Hsiang Shang Rd., next to the striking Cafe Dome.

-5th Avenue Billiards Park (17, Wenhsin Road, section 4; tel. 293-3555)

A long-time favorite, 5th Avenue has a big, bright open feel to it with 21 tables costing between NT$3 to NT$3.8 per minute. The hall, which will soon be expanded with another 10 tables, also has a snack bar. Another convenient feature is the basement parking lot and, if you get tired of pool, head upstairs for some bowling. Advance reservations may be a good idea on weekends and holidays. The hall is located next to the Wenhsin/Taya Rd. intersection.

-Steven Billiards Hall (6-6, Wenhsin Road, section 3; tel. 317-1918, 316-1907)

Currently the biggest of the city's pool halls, Steven has about 30 tables. Tables in the front cost NT$3.5 and ones in the back are NT$3.  There's one big special table in the middle that goes for NT$5 per minute. There's also a restaurant in the middle of the hall serving simple meals. Steven is located in the BuBu Disco complex, next to the gas station by the Wenhsin/Taichung Harbor Rd. intersection.

-ORIX Pool Hall (2F, 466, Honan Road, section 2; tel. 258-4209, 258-6240)

Located upstairs from the A-1 Ice World skating rink, ORIX has a quieter, more subdued atmosphere for those who really want to concentrate on their game. There are about 20 tables which, depending on the quality, cost between NT$2 and NT$3.3 per minute. Players can look straight down onto the ice rink through a glass partition if they get bored.

-Champion Gray House (222-2, Chung Ming Road; tel. 323-2866)

Those looking for a smaller venue to play in might want to check out this place, which has 10 tables.  Regular customers are encouraged to buy a membership card, which only costs NT$200 and is good indefinitely. For members, cost for mornings (8 am-2 pm) on weekdays is NT$2 per table per minute. This goes up to NT$2.5 on evenings, weekends and holidays. Non-members add about NT$1 to the price and there are a couple professional-grade tables that cost a little bit more. Gray House is located on Chung Ming Rd. between the Hsitun and Taichung Harbor road intersections.

-Hua Shih Pool Hall (144, Hankou Road, section 2; tel. 316-2447)

If you're looking for a small straightforward hall to play in, try out one of Hua Shih's nine tables, which cost NT$2.7 per minute. The hall is located opposite a large public parking tower near the Hankou Rd. Wellcome supermarket.

There are plenty of other halls waiting to be discovered around the city. Finally, someone looking for an almost-free, evening pool-shooting experience can fork out for a beer or meal, grab and cue and jump in at the single table at Napoli Italian Restaurant (424, Hua Mei St.) or in the basement of M&M News Cafe (392, Hua Mei St.).

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(Douglas Habecker considers himself among the world's worst pool players. He's still trying to forget the last game he played, one night 18 months ago at Christy's restaurant and bar in Danang, Vietnam.)