And today’s neon temperature sign in Sanzhi is flashing 3°C…. A rare sight of snow wowed people nationwide yesterday, from Taipei to Pingtung County. Source: Cold weather brings snow to nation – Taipei Times Continue reading Cold weather brings snow to nation – Taipei Times
Unbelievable. Incredible. Amazing. There is snow on the Yang-Ming-Shan mountains! Not just on the tops, but all over. A light dusting. Very light. But it’s snow all the same! And it’s visible from all over this area. And just visible in my photos, taken this morning. We’re having the coldest temps in Taipei for over 40 years. 4ºC. Currently my phone is telling me it’s 3ºC, so maybe it’ll get even lower overnight. It’s cold cold cold, very very cold. Most people, including me, have no heating in their houses. This is a sub-tropical country, and summer heat is our … Continue reading Snow?! YES!
And so, a week after the elections …. From a K-pop scandal to mass cabinet resignations, Taiwan’s president-elect Tsai Ing-wen has seen on of the most unusal first weeks in a new job. Source: Taiwan’s Tsai Ing-wen: The strangest of weeks for a new leader – BBC News Continue reading Taiwan’s Tsai Ing-wen: The strangest of weeks for a new leader – BBC News
Last night was a very beautiful, very ecumenical Taizé Service for this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, organized by the National Council of Churches of Taiwan (NCCT), and held in 台灣基督長老教會汐止教會 Xizhi Presbyterian Church, on the outskirts of eastern Taipei – and served by the train line to Keelung…. This year’s theme is “Called to proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord” (1 Peter 2:9). Praying for Christian Unity around the world, in Taiwan, and in all our hearts and minds this coming year. Continue reading Week of Prayer for Christian Unity @ Taipei
Chinese New Year is coming, and coming soon ~ YEAH! Our students have all gone home, the local schools have broken up for the holidays, and everyone’s getting ready! Last night was our university Wei-Ya 尾牙, the end-of-year banquet for all our staff and faculty, plus VIP guests. There was food – lots of deliciousness all packed together, lion dancing, singing and dancing shows from our students, and lots of gifts for the lucky names pulled out of a box – red envelopes, an exercise bike, huge teddy bears, and the top prize of an Apple iPhone 6 Plus … And … Continue reading Chinese New Year Celebrations @ St. John’s University 聖約翰科技大學 尾牙餐會 Wei-Ya Banquet!
Yes, right in downtown Taipei, along by the side of the Control Yuan HQ no less, is a tree that looks totally dead with all the bark flaked off, until you look up and see it’s actually quite healthy up at leaf level! Helpfully there’s even a notice next to it giving it’s name as Cajuput Punk Tree. Turns out to be a kind of eucalyptus tree from Australia…. Quite amazing ~ and what a name! Continue reading Punk Tree?!
Totally surrounded by vegetables, that is! Cannot fail to be impressed by the man at his stall in Taipei’s Dongmen Market who is, yes, totally surrounded by his produce. And just down the market from him is this big tub full of Stinky Tofu on the boil – it’s called Stinky Tofu for a good reason, but it’s not often that the smell is quite so noticeable first thing in the morning! aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh! Continue reading Totally Surrounded @ Dongmen Market…
Pro-independence opposition candidate Tsai Ing-wen is elected Taiwan’s first female president, setting an uncertain course for future relations with China. Source: Tsai Ing-wen elected Taiwan’s first female president – BBC News Continue reading Tsai Ing-wen elected Taiwan’s first female president – BBC News
Tomorrow is Taiwan’s Election Day! Jan. 15 (CNA) Taiwanese voters will go to the polls Saturday to elect a new president and a new Legislature, and the results are expected later in the day. Source: Taiwan to elect new president, Legislature Saturday | Politics | FOCUS TAIWAN – CNA ENGLISH NEWS Continue reading Taiwan to elect new president, Legislature Saturday | Politics | FOCUS TAIWAN – CNA ENGLISH NEWS
Catherine Lee 