Archive for April 2010

STAINLESS STEEL IN TAIWAN

All over Taipei there is a huge use of stainless steel.  Nothing similar exists in Australia.  MRT stations are something Taiwanese should be very proud of.  Sydney may have such a system in maybe ten years. Taipei is also a city of fire extinguishers.   (Note one in a plastic bag in this picture)  Nothing [...]

Posted April 21, 2010 by fathomTaiwan in My First Taipei Views, Taiwan Culture

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TAITUNG – FIRST GLIMPSE OF GREEN ISLAND

Taitung (and Hualien) both deserve longer visits in the near future.

Posted April 19, 2010 by fathomTaiwan in The Taiwan Coast

GREEN ISLAND, OFFSHORE AT TAITUNG

It was a one-day visit to see what scuba diving facilities existed.  While touring the island (surrounded by blue water, ideal for diving) we found a couple of jails.  One is now a museum for the departed, the other appears active. (Click  on picture to enlarge for better viewing)

Xuegang Wang – First mate of Shen Neng 1

(click to enlarge image)

Posted April 16, 2010 by fathomTaiwan in News

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CHINA COAL SHIP STRANDED ON DOUGLAS SHOAL

Wild dolphin at Great Detached Reef – northern section, Great Barrier Reef On the southern section of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park last week, A Chinese-owned ship loaded with coal departed Gladstone, Queensland, the 6th largest coal exporting port in the world. A couple of hours later the ship scrapped across the bottom of [...]

GOOD SAMARITAN OF KOAHSIUNG?   Leave a comment

We wish to reward this person for her kind assistance at Kaohsiung, in August 2004, while walking along the beach, with her friend, another nurse.  Both are good Samaritans.

Posted April 6, 2010 by fathomTaiwan in The Taiwan Coast

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NORTH VIETNAMESE SOLDIER WRITES

While in Taiwan I keep in contact with Australian news via our excellent public broadcasting system’s website.  It covers TV and radio.  Far better than anything in the UK or USA (I believe). Late Night Live is probably the most sensible piece of media of all.  It’s a radio show.  The host improves year after [...]

Posted April 5, 2010 by fathomTaiwan in Uncategorized

ARMED FORCES MUSEUM, TAIPEI

Informative book on heavy paper was for sale. Directions to locate this extensive military collection: Ximen MRT exit No.6, walk SOUTH.  Turn left at second corner where there is a large supermarket and it’s right in front of you.  Torpedo’s and modern canons outside the entrance. Admission is free.  Closed Monday?  Friendly female staff in [...]

ANTIQUE FRENCH CLOCK

It looks French but is it?  A former Australian Prime Minister (Paul Keating) is a collector of French clocks. Owned by the Lin family is was recently on display at a poorly advertised and even more poorly attended historical display held upstairs on the third floor of a colonial era police station, of all places.

Posted April 5, 2010 by fathomTaiwan in Taiwan Museums

WILL POWER IN THE NATURAL WORLD

AN abandoned building is being restored near the Danshui River part of Taipei.  For years a tree has been growing near the roof.  Nothing so unusual in this part of town except this is a good example. I’m always amazed with the survival determination of a tree.  Some grow seemingly out of rock in Australia. [...]

Posted April 5, 2010 by fathomTaiwan in Nature