Pray for Taiwan…… An earthquake topples a number of buildings in the south Taiwanese city of Tainan, killing at least three people. Source: Deadly earthquake topples buildings in Taiwan city of Tainan – BBC News Continue reading Deadly earthquake topples buildings in Taiwan city of Tainan – BBC News
Yes, it’s open all day every day all this week ~ the week leading up to Chinese New Year ~ and you just MUST go! The Jian-guo Flower Market happens in the car park under the Jian-guo Overpass, not far from the Da-an Park in Taipei – normally it’s a car park during the week, and a flower market at the weekends (at the far end it stretches into the Jade Market), but this week, it’s open all day every day until 10pm. Yesterday afternoon it was totally totally completely packed out full of people buying flowers of every kind … Continue reading Jian-guo Flower Market 建國花市, Taipei ~ THE place to go all this week!
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
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 