Not for the faint-hearted! Some of the world’s top professional cyclists are scheduled to compete for the top prize at the annual King of the Mountain (KOM) Challenge on Friday. Source: Top cyclists prepare to tackle KOM Challenge – Taipei Times Continue reading Top cyclists prepare to tackle KOM Challenge – Taipei Times
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
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!
The basic question before voters in next year’s poll is not what kind of country they want to become in the future but whether they will still exist as a country Source: Taiwan prepares for turmoil as China watches its elections from afar | World news | The Guardian Continue reading Taiwan prepares for turmoil as China watches its elections from afar | World news | The Guardian
Off to the diocesan office today via the National Concert Hall and Freedom Plaza in the area around the CKS Memorial ~ all looking very patriotic after National Day celebrations last weekend… Can’t work out quite why there’s a car parked in a frame in the main entrance at the Concert Hall advertising the Jazz Festival, but, well, there it is! Continue reading Taipei City ~ in the sun!
Catherine Lee 