Tanzania holds its most tightly contested election, as a new opposition coalition tries to end the governing party’s 54-year grip on power. Source: Tanzania election: CCM faces strong challenge from Ukawa – BBC News Continue reading Tanzania election: CCM faces strong challenge from Ukawa – BBC News
A few days ago, Taiwan was getting worried that Typhoon Koppu (which has had a devastating effect on the northern Philippines over the last few days) would be heading towards Taiwan next. But we are mightily relieved that the typhoon has weakened considerably and with the cooler autumn temperatures further north here in Taiwan, thankfully it’s unlikely that we’ll have any more serious typhoons this season…. So as Taiwan’s 2015 Typhoon Season draws to a close at the end of this month, I was reminded of past years and past typhoons when I passed through Taipei Main Station yesterday afternoon…. … Continue reading Taiwan’s 2015 Typhoon Season Draws to a Close…..
A case where a Taiwanese woman gave birth on a passenger jet en route to the US has been met with scepticism in Taiwan. Source: Airplane birth sparks controversy in Taiwan – BBC News Continue reading Airplane birth sparks controversy in Taiwan – BBC News
can’t wait… not! This glass-bottomed bridge suspended far above a spectacular valley is not for the faint of heart. Source: Taiwan opens terrifying glass bottomed walkway | Fox News Continue reading Taiwan opens terrifying glass bottomed walkway | Fox News
If you’re anywhere in the Tamsui (Danshui) 淡水 area of Taipei, and you haven’t been to the Rock Cafe, then you have to go. Honestly, GO! It’s such a great place! The Rock is a outreach ministry of YWAM Taipei offering ‘English. Coffee. Truth.’ A great combination! It’s really the top 2 floors above some shops in the main night shopping street of Tamsui, and is open every weekday evening for free English conversation, helped along with free coffee, and staffed by YWAM workers and volunteers, young people from all over the world. Last night we took our St. John’s University … Continue reading The Rock Cafe 磐石咖啡館: You just must GO!
In July last year, as reported in my blog post here, we gathered to congratulate one of our former students, and son of one of our church members, Mo-Huan, on his successful admission to Police College ~ after a long year of studying English with me, Maths with Rev. Lennon Chang, and generally getting up to scratch for the Police Entrance Exam, with encouragement from our church members, former police officer Ming-Chuan and his wife, Meng-Jen. After a lot of hard work, Mo-Huan got the required grade, yippee! And we had a great dinner to celebrate, hosted by his mother. And … Continue reading Congratulations Mo-Huan, again!
Taiwan’s ruling Kuomintang party drops Hung Hsiu-chu as its candidate for the island’s presidential election in January amid poor poll ratings. Source: Taiwan’s KMT party ditches Hung Hsiu-chu as candidate – BBC News Continue reading Taiwan’s KMT party ditches Hung Hsiu-chu as candidate – BBC News
And quite an amazing event it turned out to be! Every year the Lions Club of Sanzhi 三芝 runs a ‘health walk’ through the countryside for anybody and everybody, ending with a huge gathering for a lucky draw. And so it was that by 6:45 am this morning, huge crowds had gathered at Sanzhi Junior High School for the start. Me too! Met some people I knew, and a group of children who I didn’t, but they were so lovely, and we spent half the walk going through all the English vocabulary they knew ha ha! And so off we set. A … Continue reading Sanzhi 三芝 Lions Health Walk
Yep, finally it’s harvest season for all the zillions of water bamboo (or water oats 茭白筍) growing all over Sanzhi 三芝 area. The plants are now huge – up to people height, but are being cut and bagged up ~ the actual vegetable is a bit like a leek. All along the roadsides are people selling bags of the stuff…. It’s also known locally as ‘Beauty Legs’ 美人腿 after their shape… well, enough said! And next weekend Sanzhi District Council is holding a Water Bamboo Festival ~ and excitement is mounting! Continue reading Water Bamboo Time!
