A recent diplomatic row between Taiwan and China has cast light on a massive international telecoms fraud problem which both sides have been fighting for years. Source: The massive phone scam problem vexing China and Taiwan – BBC News Continue reading The massive phone scam problem vexing China and Taiwan – BBC News
Alishan has two 7- Eleven Stores, and claims they are the second highest in Taiwan ~ and Taiwan’s #1 highest post office too. Another must see! And Taiwan’s #1 highest elementary school. Wow, that’s quite something! 2,195 metres above sea-level, that’s over 7,000 feet. Imagine that eh? But of course, none of these reasons are really why Alishan is so popular. It’s very well up on the list of THE places to visit in Taiwan. Tourists from all over Asia and especially Mainland China, zillions of people have it on their list. Alishan is famous, very famous. We’re talking about an area of … Continue reading Alishan 阿里山 2016
Six weeks ago, the container ship, TS Taipei grounded itself just off the northern tip of Taiwan, in Shimen District, and broke in two. This is the scene this afternoon…. And this was one of the reports at the time…. The T.S. Lines freighter, is grounded on rocks close to shore after losing power in bad weather shortly after departing from Keelung Harbor en route to Hong Kong. Breaches to the hull resulted in flooding of the engine compartment and damage to a fuel tank. After grounding on March 9, 2016, rough conditions hampered efforts to approach the ship, but … Continue reading The TS Taipei Shipwreck ~ 6 weeks later…
It’s been raining or overcast for weeks and weeks, but today late afternoon the sun came out, and Sanzhi was looking good ~ the waterwheel was working… Flowers out everywhere… And this house has a very ingenious way of getting up to it, via 2 flowerpots and a rock! Love a bit of ingenuity! Continue reading Early Summer in Sanzhi 三芝…
Actually there’s a whole wall of street art in the form of a mural showing old Taipei scenes… very near St. John’s Cathedral! Love it! Continue reading Taipei Wall Mural @ Technology Building MRT Station
Several days of heavy rains and thunderstorms are in the forecast – already started in fact, so it’s good to remember yesterday’s visit to Tam-Kang High School in Tamsui where the azaleas are looking splendid. Not so the poor camellias – which are struggling. But azaleas are blooming everywhere ~ in white, red and every shade in-between! Ah, Azalea Heaven! Continue reading Azalea Season in Taiwan!
Yep, there I was at Taoyuan Int’l Airport today and the crowds and cameras were there too to welcome famous Chinese actor, 高雲翔 (高云翔) Gao Yun-Xiang, on his arrival in Taiwan…. Just love to be part of a media frenzy lol! Continue reading Movie Star Spotting!
Yes, everything is upside-down and it’s really amazing. I totally love it! But so does everyone else, ha ha! So the first time I went, at Lantern Festival a few weeks ago, there was a 2-hour queue to get in….. and then the second time I went, a few days ago, there was hardly anyone, and the queue was 10 minutes! It’s wonderful! The Upside-Down House is at Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914文化創意產業園區), Taipei’s old winery dating from the Japanese era ~ first producing sake and ginseng wines, and breeding moth orchids, then it moved into production of rice wines, liquors and … Continue reading Taipei’s Amazing Upside-Down House @ Huashan 1914 Creative Park!
Yes, a very big big welcome to my good-friend-with-the-same-name, Catherine! We met in Dodoma, Tanzania many years ago when she was there with her family through the New Zealand Church Mission Society NZCMS. Now she’s retired in Tauranga, New Zealand and a member of Holy Trinity Church ~ where there’s lots of outreach among the Chinese community, so the first time Catherine came to Taiwan 6 years ago was actually with her Taiwan friend Shu, who took her to visit lots of wonderful places in Taiwan, and she spent a few days then with me too. Ah, great memories! Now Catherine’s back in Taiwan … Continue reading Bowling her way around the world ~ welcoming Catherine to Taiwan!
Catherine Lee 