Tag: Sanzhi 三芝

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Sanzhi 三芝 Matzu Temple Centenary Celebrations ~ Coming Up Soon!

Catherine Lee

Two weeks ago the plot of wasteland opposite where I live suddenly sprang into life.  Trucks full of bamboo poles arrived.  People came.  Cranes and trucks and people and – well, action!  One week later, and this was the view from my front gate last Sunday…. Happening now right outside my house is the ongoing construction of a huge 4-storey structure, the site of a forthcoming 醮 (pronounced ‘jiaò) and loosely translated as meaning a Taoist Ritual.  Copy this character ‘醮’ into Google images and you’ll see plenty of examples of what it might look like in a few weeks … Continue reading Sanzhi 三芝 Matzu Temple Centenary Celebrations ~ Coming Up Soon!

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Rainageddon Hits Taiwan

Catherine Lee

And it was quite some weekend…. 644 mm of rain fell on Sanzhi on Friday from about 2:00 – 11:00 am. That was the start of it all.  This was the scene on the coastal road on Friday morning from inside my bus…. Fridays’s report about the situation from the Taipei Times is here…. The local river at Sanzhi on Friday afternoon …. The rains spread south over the weekend.  Tons and tons of rain.  2 dead, several missing, homes and businesses washed away or flooded. Terrible damage to infrastructure, agriculture and businesses.  This is today’s Taipei Times report here Yesterday I … Continue reading Rainageddon Hits Taiwan

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A Splash of Sunshine….

Catherine Lee

Reflections on the water bamboo field in Sanzhi early this morning…. ‘Each day I seek a sunbeam, a luminous moment of grace, be it a poetic passage, a compassionate glance, an affirmative word. Just a single sunbeam, nothing more. This morning while walking, a splash of sunshine fell upon a maple tree. It was too much, like the Mount Tabor epiphany, and I turned away, overwhelmed. I walked on asking God to turn down His glory lest I, like Milton, too soon would lose my sight.’ (‘A Splash of Sunshine’ by Robert F. Morneau) And late this afternoon, a rainbow … Continue reading A Splash of Sunshine….

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Lily Season @ President Lee Teng-Hui’s Old Home

Catherine Lee

Former President Lee Teng-Hui‘s childhood home is located right here in Sanzhi.  Always attracts many visitors.  But last September, half the roof fell in after several days of very heavy rains.  Well, a third of the roof to be more exact.  The left third.  Still not repaired. Multiple owners, all relatives, and as someone told me, everybody’s business has become nobody’s business.  But every spring, the front is filled with pots of lilies.  In flower now. Looking very beautiful! “If thou of fortune be bereft, and in thy store there be but left two loaves, sell one, and with the dole, buy … Continue reading Lily Season @ President Lee Teng-Hui’s Old Home

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Spring has Sprung @ Sanzhi 三芝!

Catherine Lee

Yes, the cherry blossom is finally out, the azaleas too, and the swallows are back and starting nest-building.  The local council has planted 17,000 cherry blossom trees around and about, and after a slow start, yes they’re out.  Even more importantly, the sun is out too, and that improves things considerably! We’ve had a slow start to spring, apparently due to the fact that the cold weather took so long to arrive.  Still, it’s here now, and we’re enjoying every minute of the sunshine ~ so wishing you all a happy spring! Continue reading Spring has Sprung @ Sanzhi 三芝!

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Only at Night ~ Sanzhi’s New Bridge!

Catherine Lee

Yes, we have a new bridge at Sanzhi 三芝 over the Balien River, opened at the end of December.  The bridge goes nowhere other than to a field over the river – and if you only come in the day, you’ll be wondering why we need a new bridge to nowhere.  But come at night, and it is beautiful ~ all those lights change colour – I love it! Come and visit – but not in the day of course, and be careful not to fall in the river in the dark taking photos ha ha! Continue reading Only at Night ~ Sanzhi’s New Bridge!