Category: Taiwan

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Beauty of a Beast…

Catherine Lee

Thought you might to see what I found chilling today at St. John’s University ~ a Batocera rubus albofasciata, otherwise known as a Mango Longhorn Beetle ~ looks kinda handsome but turns out to be a pest, as it bores into trees and munches its way through them…. Turns out to be quite common in Taiwan, but if even one turns up in Europe, it’s a mega-crisis, with special monitoring in place….. Beauty ‘n the Beast? Here they’re combined in one ~ ah, the Beauty of a Beast! Continue reading Beauty of a Beast…

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Yang-Ming Shan Mountains 陽明山 ~ you can never have too much of a good thing!

Catherine Lee

After weeks and weeks of rain, suddenly the most beautiful weather for the weekend ~ and the whole of Taipei spent yesterday on Yang-Ming Shan Mountains! Mega-long walk, 4:00am start from Sanzhi  三芝 via the graveyards – 5 hours to the top of Datun Shan 大屯山 (1092m), then 2-3 more hours to Qixing Shan 七星山 (1120m), finishing in a free foot-bath at the Lengshueikeng 冷水坑 Hot Springs and bus back at 2:00pm….. Typhoon damage on the roads and paths meant some are still closed, and vandalism to the summit pillar on Qixing Shan means that it is currently all wrapped up in plastic… … Continue reading Yang-Ming Shan Mountains 陽明山 ~ you can never have too much of a good thing!

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Hakka Week ~ Hakka Style!

Catherine Lee

Hakka week ~ so got ma Hakka shoes out! Wikipedia says that about 15% of Taiwan‘s 23 million people are of Hakka origin, with a worldwide population of about 80 million…. And that includes my good friends, Rev. and Mrs. Hsu, who live up the road in Shuang-Lien Elderly Care Home.  September 1 was Rev. Hsu’s 91st birthday.  The family had celebrated with them earlier in the summer, but they are such a lovely couple that we just had to celebrate this big day on the very day itself.  Rev. Hsu totally loves Japanese sashimi, a glass of Taiwan beer and … Continue reading Hakka Week ~ Hakka Style!

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Porn star to be featured on Taiwan travel cards to ‘cheer commuters up’ | World news | The Guardian

Catherine Lee

This idea is just crazy! Protests after Japanese star Yui Hatano’s image is printed on Easycard travel cards which can be used on metro and bus routes Source: Porn star to be featured on Taiwan travel cards to ‘cheer commuters up’ | World news | The Guardian Continue reading Porn star to be featured on Taiwan travel cards to ‘cheer commuters up’ | World news | The Guardian

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中元普渡 Climax of Ghost Month

Catherine Lee

中元普渡 (Jung Yuan Pu Du) is the climax of Ghost Month… The actual day was last Friday, but many have been busy all weekend making offerings of food and drink and burning ghost money.  That includes my neighbours in Sanzhi 三芝. Taken from an article in the China Post of this subject: Jung Yuan Pu Du – The China Post Pu Du (universal salvation) are sacrificial rites with the intention of appeasing ghosts with no heirs to care for them. Jung Yuan Pu Du falls on the fifteenth day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar. Similar to lunar fifteenth … Continue reading 中元普渡 Climax of Ghost Month

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Around half of Taiwan’s population lack a gene required for metabolising alcohol – Health News – Health & Families – The Independent

Catherine Lee

Very interesting article…. Around half of Taiwan’s population lack a gene required for metabolising alcohol – Health News – Health & Families – The Independent. Continue reading Around half of Taiwan’s population lack a gene required for metabolising alcohol – Health News – Health & Families – The Independent

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Very early morning in Taipei….

Catherine Lee

Very early morning means sunrise, 6:00am-ish and this week I’ve been out and about…. to see Taipei 101 before anyone else was out, the roads strangely deserted, and not a tourist in sight.  Plus of course, sunrise from the hills at the back of the Grand Hotel…. Ah yes, and mustn’t forget a sculpture I happened upon near Taipei 101. So this is art?! All I can tell you is that my toes don’t do that ha ha! Continue reading Very early morning in Taipei….

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Hadid wins bridge design contest – Taipei Times

Catherine Lee

We’re getting a new bridge ~ and this’ll be it! Sinotech Engineering Consultants and German firm Leonhardt, Andra und Partner have won an international design competition to build the Tamkang Bridge (淡江大橋) over the Tamsui River (淡水河) in New Taipei City with a design by Zaha Hadid Architects, the Directorate-General of Highways said yesterday….. Plan your trip to come and visit, and read the rest of the article here…. Hadid wins bridge design contest – Taipei Times. Continue reading Hadid wins bridge design contest – Taipei Times

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Top 10 taboos to avoid during Ghost Month in Taiwan | Culture | FOCUS TAIWAN – CNA ENGLISH NEWS

Catherine Lee

Taiwan’s Ghost Month starts today.  Everyone is busy making offerings to the ghosts and burning ghost money.  From now on, for a whole month, people are generally fearful, expecting the worst in every bad situation.  A lot of prayer is needed. This article is very clear, explaining the taboos… Top 10 taboos to avoid during Ghost Month in Taiwan | Culture | FOCUS TAIWAN – CNA ENGLISH NEWS. Continue reading Top 10 taboos to avoid during Ghost Month in Taiwan | Culture | FOCUS TAIWAN – CNA ENGLISH NEWS