02 Sunday Dec 2012
Posted in Entertainment, Video
Tags
Asia, ceremony, Longshan temple, pictures by photojournalist john harding, street procession, Taipei, taiwan, video
Very interesting shops in this arcade. Snakes, seafood, novelty items and finger nail trimming etc.
Huge drums were a feature.
04 Sunday Nov 2012
Posted in Health food, Health tips
If you don’t drink enough water, the brain will suck moisture from your spinal cord which will/may lead to a ‘bad back’, such as lower back pain.
‘Worry’ will also do the same thing to your lower back.
Meanwhile remember that our body is 85% water anyway (or some similar percentage).
Pure water is essential. 7Eleven have the best and best value water I’ve found this trip. Something around NT$33 for a large bottle. Nothing in Wellcome grocery stores matches it.
I always check the sodium percentages, the lower the better (in taste) this one at 7Eleven apparently has no sodium but I don’t know what the two Chinese characters represent.
The sodium character is always last on the list and is also wise to memorize.
14 Thursday Jun 2012
Posted in How to Save Money
Tags
Still pictures and video show Yan Ping Road North (window shopping) – a walk from the old city North Gate north to the first MRT (new one) with an unpronounceable name. Yan Ping Road is significant as it was once the most fashionable area of Taipei – before Zongshiao East Road began.
Presumably the retail prices in Yan Ping Road would be good – if only for the cheaper rents for the buildings. The variety from one shop to the next is entertaining and far beyond the scope of this simple video. This only shows one side of the street too – the east side. I’ll eventually explore the west side and see if anything outstanding was overlooked.
NIGHT scenes are a protest organized against the importation of beef containing the leanness enhancing drug Ractopamine.
I read about the protest in Taipei Times and considered it might be worth a look.
The newspaper said protesters ‘would march to the President’s building’ – well, they marched in that direction, but did not get there.
At a point near the 228 Peace Park a wall of police stopped the crowd in its tracks. Senior police stood in front of their troops and the crowd quietly dispersed.
Everyone should have been happy with the results, except the media perhaps (who love to report otherwise. They can’t help it).
Footnote: (The TT newspaper is always available in the 7-11 and Family Mart type stores with TWO copies being delivered. Recently only a single copy – not a good sign of circulation figures).
Taipei Times sample story on local food for Americans.
http://taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2012/06/14/2003535266
12 Tuesday Jun 2012
Posted in Taiwan Culture, Video
Tags
Arts and Entertainment, dragon, drums, fireworks, horns, night market, smoke, Taipei, taiwan
Quite an amazing chance encounter to see this. Part of the procession entered the famous ‘snake alley’ section of the night market, (shown at the end). Fireworks in the street always attracts me – especially as these are no longer in most Australian states.
The restaurant that specializes in ‘just desserts’ was mentioned in an earlier blog entry.
I hope you will enjoy this HD video, my first posted. Images were with a Sony TX-9 camera.
11 Wednesday Apr 2012
Posted in Small Shop
Tags
VIDEO Triton Shell CLICK ME
Discovered this shop today – not far from Hyatt Fortune Hotel. Shop is in Chang-An West Road. The old Chinese vase may be the most expensive item for sale. The silver and ruby encrusted Triton Trumpet shell is amazing. About AUD $200 – HOWEVER, this shell is certain to be on the CITES list of endangered species and therefore, a sharp-eyed customs man might confiscate it upon your arrival home – in most countries. (Same could apply for the red coral jewelry mentioned yesterday). The cotton bag with what appears to be a religious object, maybe from India, is unique in my memory. The bag has a shoulder strap. The object it contains has a Buddha-like figurine behind a tiny glass panel. Maybe it was a traveling temple? Personally I have no need for objects such as these. They are good for anyone who plans to live forever – otherwise what is the point? Keep your life simple would be my suggested comment. However most like to collect a heap of treasure during their life of travels.
10 Tuesday Apr 2012
Posted in Taiwan Museums
North Gate – when Taipei was surrounded by a wall, and when the city was far smaller. Thousands of people passed through this tunnel gate – many with hopes of a better life ahead. For some this was not going to be the case, for others – fortunes were to be made.
There is little doubt that the local Taiwanese had a rough time when Japan surrendered in WW2 and the Chinese Nationalist KMT government arrived and installed martial law for the next 38 years. How many Australians understand what martial law is?
Today Taiwan is the first Chinese democracy. View below is overlooking Liberty Square from the CKS memorial.
(Picture looks like a postcard with retouching by an artist….. it’s not).
I find an art form in old brick walls like this one near Guting MRT, this week.
Australian’s would go crazy for a pile of historic bricks like these, and use them to build a modern dwelling. Old Taipei will see more demolishes like this one near Zhongshan MRT on Nanjing E. Road.
13 Tuesday Mar 2012
Posted in News
Tags
The story by a Pulitzer Prize-winning author is available on-line at Taipei Times.
http://taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2012/03/13/2003527643
10 Saturday Mar 2012
Posted in Entertainment, Video
Tags
Asia, Camera, High-definition video, kaohsiung, night market, Sony, Taipei, taiwan
Kaohsiung Tourist Night Market <HD VIDEO – Click title to play
This is the night market featured at the top (masthead) of this blog – that original picture was in 2003 with a 5 MP Sony digital, a just released camera.
Clicking the picture should enlarge it – also view the HD video of my Facebook friend selling his Turkish ice cream. The expression on his customers faces is priceless. Good entertainment value with an equally good product.
26 Sunday Feb 2012
Posted in How to Save Money
Tags
My first feed back in the city is usually at this establishment. Always delicious. Roast duck has a similarity with roast lamb I considered today. (Years since I’ve eaten lamb or beef though).
Taipei rice is always good too. This eatery was reviewed two years ago. Nothing much has changed.
If entertaining a friend an option might be to buy half a duck and have it served with the vegetables and rice ‘of the day’. Open for lunch and dinner.
NT$90 which is now less than $3 in USA/Australia currency.
22 Sunday Jan 2012
Posted in Entertainment
Tags
Chinese opera girls, cks memorial hall, fireworls, history films, KMT, Kuomintang, Taipei, wh donald
The man standing behind CKS with his head down was Australian journalist WH Donald. He was a good friend of Madame Soong and probably very helpful in writing press releases for the USA media detailing CKS’ struggle against the Japanese and later the commies. WH Donald had a state funeral courtesy of the KMT and was in their very good friends category.
A website detailing his history is at: http://donaldofchina.com
Meanwhile have a look at the variety of Taipei in the 720P semi HD video.
