Taipei 4 Teens!

Always accept a challenge!  And one of my challenges this week was to take 2 very lovely American teens around Taipei for the afternoon.  They were very interested and very keen to see everything!  Their parents were busy at a conference, so I offered to show them a few sights… First stop was the Changing of the Guard at the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial, whose days may be numbered, so it’s worth going to see now.  Not for the memorial itself but to see the guards. It’s hot work and they stand there totally not moving for a whole hour while … Continue reading Taipei 4 Teens!

Alishan 阿里山 2017 ~ Sakura Cherry Blossom is out!

And looking spectacular!  If you have any free time in the next few weeks, you just must make time to go to Alishan and see the cherry blossom, it’s stunning! I went yesterday.  It’s only a week before the official Cherry Blossom Festival is due to start, but most of the flowers are fully out – and so was the sun, perfect! Alishan is one of Taiwan’s most famous scenic spots, and for visitors from overseas, it is one of the must-see places.  Best to do things leisurely and stay there overnight, but if that’s not possible, go on the … Continue reading Alishan 阿里山 2017 ~ Sakura Cherry Blossom is out!

Happy Year of the Rooster ~ Taiwan’s Lantern Festival 2017 @ Yunlin!

A few photos from Taiwan’s Lantern Festival, held over the last 8 days or so in Yunlin ~ me and my good friend Ah-Guan went on Saturday night! What a masterpiece of organization by the local government ~ with a steady stream of free coaches transporting thousands of us from Douliu Train Station to the main site at Huwei, with a special designated lane on the main road so the hundreds of coaches had a clear run.  Police, workers and volunteers by the thousand to keep us all on the straight and narrow.  And free food and all sorts of … Continue reading Happy Year of the Rooster ~ Taiwan’s Lantern Festival 2017 @ Yunlin!

Only at Night ~ Sanzhi’s New Bridge!

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!

Ju Ming Art Museum 朱銘美術館, Jinshan, Taipei ~ a must-see on a sunny day!

And y’know, it’s really quite an amazing place!  A massive sculpture park set in the hills above Jinshan, just above Dharma Drum Mountain, the famous international Buddhist Centre, and just below all the huge graveyards that are higher up.  Beautiful views down over Jinshan to the sea.  Do check it out! Ju Ming Museum houses all the incredible art work of Ju Ming 朱銘, the world famous Taiwanese sculptor, born in Miaoli, Taiwan in 1938. You must go there once in your life, and that once must be on a sunny day, because all Ju Ming’s most famous art works are large … Continue reading Ju Ming Art Museum 朱銘美術館, Jinshan, Taipei ~ a must-see on a sunny day!

新北市淡水區興仁國小創校100週年慶祝會 ~ XingRen Elementary School, Tamsui celebrates 100 years!

Many congratulations to our local elementary school, XingRen 新北市淡水區興仁國小 on celebrating their centenary today, with beautiful sunny skies and temps of over 30 ºC! St. John’s University and Advent Church are in the XingRen Elementary School catchment area, and we have a really good relationship with the school ~ the principal, teachers, staff, children and parents are all our good friends, and there’s lots going on ~ here’s some of our friends on the school welcome desk this morning! Hundreds gathered for the centenary celebrations today ~ and we joined in! Advent Church has a drum class who were invited to perform, and … Continue reading 新北市淡水區興仁國小創校100週年慶祝會 ~ XingRen Elementary School, Tamsui celebrates 100 years!