Tag: Taipei City

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Taipei Guest House 臺北賓館 and Taipei Botanical Garden台北植物園…..

Catherine Lee

Lots of visitors on the horizon ~ and one place we always go is C.K.S. Memorial and the Presidential Palace in downtown Taipei City…. But in between the two, and behind a big wall is a very ornate Baroque-style mansion, known as the Taipei Guest House 臺北賓館, and today was its monthly opening to the public… Built in 1901 as the residence for the Japanese Governor-General when Taiwan was under the Japanese Colonial Government ~ and then in 1952, the Treaty of Taipei 中日和平條約between Japan and the Republic of China was signed here, marking the formal end of World War II and … Continue reading Taipei Guest House 臺北賓館 and Taipei Botanical Garden台北植物園…..

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端午節 Dragon Boat Festival….

Catherine Lee

Today is the 5th day of the 5th lunar month and a holiday for  端午節 (Duan-Wu Festival) or Dragon Boat Festival ~ every year Taipei City organizes a huge Dragon Boat Race Competition on the river below the Grand Hotel, so this year checking it out… Teams from all over the country and all over the world, including Philippines, Australia, Malaysia, Israel, teams from companies, schools, colleges, towns and even small islands, all competing in a whole weekend of competition… races all day long! In the afternoon, off to Luzhou, part of Taipei’s urban sprawl, and right in the middle of … Continue reading 端午節 Dragon Boat Festival….

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Taipei Student Protests ~ The Sunflower Movement….

Catherine Lee

Taiwan’s student-led protests and occupation of the Legislature are now into their 3rd week…. so I thought it was high time for me to go along and check out what’s going on! Yesterday (on my home from the diocesan office) I passed by in front of the Legislature Building in downtown Taipei City – the main door guarded by police, but crowds seated on stools listening to speakers, and of course people posing for photos, as always! Then around the back of the Legislature building, and in amongst the student protest area, located around a crossroads.  People, tents, stalls, speakers, … Continue reading Taipei Student Protests ~ The Sunflower Movement….

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Pandas World Tour hits Taipei!

Catherine Lee

Yep, there’s currently 1,600 of them right there in central Taipei – and only a few minutes walk from where the the student protesters are occupying the Legislature.  Such contrasting scenes – but all involve large numbers and a lot of sitting around, which is what both the students and the pandas are doing… Pandas World Tour started with the World Wildlife Fund and the number 1,600 is reckoned to be how many real live pandas there are, 3 of which are in Taipei Zoo – baby panda Yuan-Zai is Taiwan’s latest ‘cute’ obsession.  So this world tour comes at … Continue reading Pandas World Tour hits Taipei!

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Yang-Ming Shan 陽明山: All Smiles YA!

Catherine Lee

Wonderful weather yesterday for Taiwan’s 228 national holiday ~ and it seemed like the whole of Taipei was up on Yang-Ming Shan Mountains making the most of the last few days of the Cherry Blossom season…. And it was quite some day, I can tell you!   3 very delightful students from our university student fellowship and me ~ there we all were standing at the bus stop outside the main SJU gate in the dark at 6:00am, all set for me to lead them on their first ever great ascent of the Yang-Ming Shan mountains…. Can’t believe we did it ha … Continue reading Yang-Ming Shan 陽明山: All Smiles YA!

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Treasure Hill 寶藏巖, Taipei….

Catherine Lee

Only 5 minutes walk from Taiwan’s most famous university, NTU (National Taiwan University), and its busy student shopping area and night markets, is this rather amazing village stuck on the side of a hill, Treasure Hill in fact…. After the war, lots of KMT soldiers were released from the Chinese military and settled here, building their own homes with rocks from the river, many still live here, plus artists in an artist village… This month, the village is hosting an art festival, hence lots of weird, wacky and wonderful objects! Fascinating place, well worth a visit! Continue reading Treasure Hill 寶藏巖, Taipei….

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Chinese New Year 2014!

Catherine Lee

And what a New Year it was!  The best weather ever ever ever, certainly ever since I ever remember – it was wonderful!  Praise God YES! Started with the New Year’s Eve Banquet just up the road at Shuang-Lian Senior Care Centre, invited by my good friends Rev. and Mrs. Hsu.  Definitely the in-place to be on the night!  Over 100 tables, over 1,000 people, whole families of 4 generations, delicious food and red envelopes for all the residents – fun! Then on New Year’s Day (Friday) to Taichung by High-Speed Rail – not easy to get a ticket, but … Continue reading Chinese New Year 2014!