Category: Taiwan

Taiwan11 Comments

合歡西北峰 Hehuanshan North (3,422m) and West (3,145m) Peaks ~ must see, must do!

Catherine Lee

AND we lived to tell the tale ~ and all still smiling, just! Can’t believe I’ve never been to Hehuanshan ever before, because it’s just, oh so famous! It’s Taiwan’s highest road, linking west and east coasts, and gets heavy snow in winter ~ so it’s become a major tourist destination especially for families wanting to show their children some real snow.  And in summer the place is full of flowers, and it’s lovely and cool.  End result is horrendous traffic jams all day every day.  But it’s so beautiful that who can deny people a chance to come and see … Continue reading 合歡西北峰 Hehuanshan North (3,422m) and West (3,145m) Peaks ~ must see, must do!

TaiwanLeave a comment

Tamsui 淡水 in June!

Catherine Lee

The best month of the year in Tamsui is definitely June ~ forget yesterday’s torrential rains and focus instead on today’s blue skies, blue sea and all the flowers, and especially at Dr. George L. Mackay‘s old clinic (now museum and coffee shop) and the old church – peeping through the gap in the buildings below. Tamsui is oozing with history, every old building tells a story. And these buildings and the Mackay statue are just a small part, there’s plenty more to see! So do come and visit and check it all out for yourself! Continue reading Tamsui 淡水 in June!

TaiwanLeave a comment

Sanzhi 三芝 Parade of the Deities

Catherine Lee

Every year at Dragon Boat Festival time, Tamsui and Sanzhi hold massive parades involving hundreds of gods, deities, idols, lion dancers, horn-blowers, drummers, firecracker-lighters and participants from the temples all around.  On Friday it was the turn of Tamsui, yesterday was the turn of Sanzhi.  This is known as 大拜拜 (da bai-bai) ‘Big Worship’.  ‘Bai-bai’ specifically refers to traditional religious worship in the home or temple, involving offerings of incense and maybe food to the ancestors or deities. Here in Sanzhi, people have been preparing for days, setting up small altars in the doorways of their homes or business.  That’s … Continue reading Sanzhi 三芝 Parade of the Deities

TaiwanLeave a comment

To Keelung 基隆, the hard way….

Catherine Lee

Have bike.  Old bike.  Very old bike.  Old heavy bike.  Old heavy bike that only works in first gear.  Old heavy bike with big strong basket in front.  Good for shopping.  Good for going to market.  Old heavy bike needs to go to Keelung.  New owner lives in Keelung. New owner wants old heavy bike for shopping in local market.  But new owner cannot ride to Keelung. Dragon Boat Festival.  Day off.  4:30 am.  Dark.  Me in yellow.  Me on bike.  Very old heavy bike.  Setting off for Keelung.  In first gear.  First gear all the way to Keelung.  40+ … Continue reading To Keelung 基隆, the hard way….

Taiwan2 Comments

Temperature in Taipei is the highest-ever for June – Taipei Times

Catherine Lee

The temperature in Taipei rose to 38.7°C yesterday afternoon, the city’s highest temperature in June the Central Weather Bureau has recorded since it was founded 120 years ago, the bureau said yesterday. Source: Temperature in Taipei is the highest-ever for June – Taipei Times And then the aftermath yesterday….. Extremely heavy rainfall brought by a frontal system pummeled northern Taiwan yesterday morning, severely disrupting operations at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and affecting more than 200 flights. Source: Rain wreaks havoc at Taoyuan airport – Taipei Times Continue reading Temperature in Taipei is the highest-ever for June – Taipei Times

TaiwanLeave a comment

Just popping by….

Catherine Lee

It’s summer and yes, the days are getting longer, and with Taiwan’s northern tip so close, and the Fugueijiao Lighthouse newly open to the public since last summer ~ who can resist popping by before it closes at 6:00 pm?! This was the lighthouse yesterday, and in the far distance to the right, you can just make out the shipwrecked container ship that is still there just along the coast….. Looking splendid eh?! Continue reading Just popping by….

TaiwanLeave a comment

Trinity Sunday in Taichung!

Catherine Lee

A city of colour even on a rainy day! Attended the morning service with the Filipino community, mostly migrant workers, who gather at the Church of the Immaculate Conception every Sunday.  The main mass is at 12 noon, and is always packed out, so they now have a new mass at 10:45 am too – that’s the one I went to.  The priest is a good friend of mine, Fr. Joy from Maryknoll Missioners. And check out that beautiful church minibus, their very own popemobile….. Now just waiting for the pope himself lol! Continue reading Trinity Sunday in Taichung!

TaiwanLeave a comment

Today’s ‪‎must-see‬ sights of Taipei!

Catherine Lee

Early this morning and a huge ‪‎inflatable Rev. George L. ‪Mackay‬ ‪馬偕博士 ‬ clutching a large ‪molar‬ was awaiting installation for tomorrow’s inauguration of Taiwan’s new president ‪‎Tsai Ing-Wen‬ ‪蔡英文‬ outside the ‪Taiwan Presidential Palace in ‪‎Taipei … ‪ Mackay was the first, and most famous early missionary in northern Taiwan, arriving in ‪‎Tamsui‬ ‪淡水‬ in 1872 from ‪Canada ~ he started as a ‪‎dentist and helped found the ‪Presbyterian Church in Taiwan ‪(‎PCT‬) which has been at the forefront of Taiwan’s democracy movement, and actively supports the ‪‎‎Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Taiwan’s first ever female president, Tsai Ing-Wen … Continue reading Today’s ‪‎must-see‬ sights of Taipei!