Category: Taiwan

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‘陽明山東西大縱走活動’ ‘Yang-Ming Shan East-West Vertical Traverse’ 2017!

Catherine Lee

It’s Dragon Boat Festival weekend, so we have 2 extra days off – yippee!  So far I’ve spent 2 days up on the Yang-Ming Shan Mountains above Taipei doing the East-West Traverse (Chinese version is here), a 25 km route, which I did in 2 halves – it takes in 10 peaks in total. Each of the 10 peaks has a marker post with a Chinese character on the top, and using a pencil, you make like a brass rubbing in a special book. Together the characters spell out the phrase ‘陽明山東西大縱走活動’ meaning ‘Yang-Ming Shan East-West Vertical Traverse Activity’.  So there … Continue reading ‘陽明山東西大縱走活動’ ‘Yang-Ming Shan East-West Vertical Traverse’ 2017!

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A Splash of Sunshine….

Catherine Lee

Reflections on the water bamboo field in Sanzhi early this morning…. ‘Each day I seek a sunbeam, a luminous moment of grace, be it a poetic passage, a compassionate glance, an affirmative word. Just a single sunbeam, nothing more. This morning while walking, a splash of sunshine fell upon a maple tree. It was too much, like the Mount Tabor epiphany, and I turned away, overwhelmed. I walked on asking God to turn down His glory lest I, like Milton, too soon would lose my sight.’ (‘A Splash of Sunshine’ by Robert F. Morneau) And late this afternoon, a rainbow … Continue reading A Splash of Sunshine….

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Lily Season @ President Lee Teng-Hui’s Old Home

Catherine Lee

Former President Lee Teng-Hui‘s childhood home is located right here in Sanzhi.  Always attracts many visitors.  But last September, half the roof fell in after several days of very heavy rains.  Well, a third of the roof to be more exact.  The left third.  Still not repaired. Multiple owners, all relatives, and as someone told me, everybody’s business has become nobody’s business.  But every spring, the front is filled with pots of lilies.  In flower now. Looking very beautiful! “If thou of fortune be bereft, and in thy store there be but left two loaves, sell one, and with the dole, buy … Continue reading Lily Season @ President Lee Teng-Hui’s Old Home

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Laomei Elementary School 老梅國小 celebrates 117 years!

Catherine Lee

Every school in Taiwan has an annual school celebration, with a mixture of performances, bazaar, fiesta, fayre and reunion for old school friends all rolled into one.  Lots of VIP visitors from the local community, and principals from other local schools come and bring their congratulations too.  On Saturday, LaoMei Elementary School, in Shimen Township on Taiwan’s northern tip, had their 117th birthday celebration, and invited me to go! This is LaoMei Village, nestling down there by the seashore…. I’ve been going there about once a month to help the children a little with their English. A few weeks ago our … Continue reading Laomei Elementary School 老梅國小 celebrates 117 years!

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Taipei 4 Teens!

Catherine Lee

Always accept a challenge!  And one of my challenges this week was to take 2 very lovely American teens around Taipei for the afternoon.  They were very interested and very keen to see everything!  Their parents were busy at a conference, so I offered to show them a few sights… First stop was the Changing of the Guard at the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial, whose days may be numbered, so it’s worth going to see now.  Not for the memorial itself but to see the guards. It’s hot work and they stand there totally not moving for a whole hour while … Continue reading Taipei 4 Teens!

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Spring has Sprung @ Sanzhi 三芝!

Catherine Lee

Yes, the cherry blossom is finally out, the azaleas too, and the swallows are back and starting nest-building.  The local council has planted 17,000 cherry blossom trees around and about, and after a slow start, yes they’re out.  Even more importantly, the sun is out too, and that improves things considerably! We’ve had a slow start to spring, apparently due to the fact that the cold weather took so long to arrive.  Still, it’s here now, and we’re enjoying every minute of the sunshine ~ so wishing you all a happy spring! Continue reading Spring has Sprung @ Sanzhi 三芝!

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Happy Children’s Day 兒童節 in Laomei Village 石門鄉老梅!

Catherine Lee

Laomei Elementary School 老梅國小 is in Shimen Township on Taiwan’s northern tip, and on a sunny day in spring and summer it’s beautiful.  The rest of the time, sadly it is not. The rain lashes down in buckets, the wind blows in great big gusts, and the children are well-used to spending endless days indoors.   But surprise, surprise, after a very wet weekend, suddenly yesterday was beautiful, the sun was out and it was warm! Laomei Beach is famous for its Algal Reef 老梅綠色石槽, formed from wave-cut volcanic lava and every year covered in bright green algae, especially in … Continue reading Happy Children’s Day 兒童節 in Laomei Village 石門鄉老梅!