Archive for the ‘taiwan’ Tag

ASTORIA RESTAURANT, (Revisited) TAIPEI   2 comments

LUNCH at the Astoria – previous visit. (click this text) Address: 2F  #5 Sec 1, Wu Chang Street, Taipei 100 See  “Lunch at the Astoria”, top of this page for a link.

STORE SALE PRICES   Leave a comment

It’s written in reverse to what we are accustomed to in the west.  While we are used to seeing 10% off,  or reduced 30% and so on, the local system is with the shop owner’s interest indicated first. We see large single numerals so what do these indicate I have often wondered.  Here’s the answer. [...]

FONGSHAN AT NIGHT (KAOHSIUNG)   Leave a comment

Both pictures show the same street food restaurant.The food shop (above) had a unique device to remove excess cooking oil from the food.  It was a mini-spin drier much like that in laundromat’s – designed especially for a kilo of food.  Same eating house is shown in the top picture – far left side.  Food [...]

TAITUNG RESTAURANT- FISH DISH   Leave a comment

We selected the beautiful Coral Cod from fisherman’s wharf at Fugang Harbour. A large-sized ‘A’ grade fish, not common in Australia where it’s cousin, the famed Coral Trout is more plentiful.  (Coral Trout are exported live from North Queensland to HK). In Australia we fry fresh Coral Trout fillets as the common way of preparing [...]

A GOOD STORY INVOLVING TAIWAN   2 comments

The  little girl (surrounded by stars) lived on a beautiful Polynesian atoll in the Pacific. One of my favorite pictures taken decades ago with a medium format Rolleiflex camera during an adventure that has remained the best  for all those who were involved. A seaplane safari to “a lost island paradise” we said at the [...]

WELCOME TO THE EAST COAST   Leave a comment

My 4-star hotel has free-use bikes for guests.  I went looking for The Bank of Taiwan and met some vicious, huge dogs – fortunately chained up. Within 15 minutes I was lost – but with a map.  I needed to know where I was in order for the map to be of any use. The [...]

UNUSUAL CUSTOMS OF TAIWAN   Leave a comment

Walking back from the Port of Kaohsiung on Sunday night I heard very loud music and the voice of a girl singing in Chinese. Investigating, the sound came from up a narrow street surrounded by residential apartments on both sides about eight or more floors high. In the street were about 250 people seated under [...]

SURF TAIWAN – C I J I N ISLAND   Leave a comment

Eileen (above) is Swiss-German with a Taiwanese mother. She speaks good Chinese Mandarin. Leo is a chef and member of the surf club. Eileen told me a little about the Cijin surf club. 1. Members  can store their boards and can over-night at the clubhouse if they wish. 2. Surf board hire  NT$500 per day. [...]

SEAFOOD STREET, CIJIN ISLAND, KAOHSIUNG   Leave a comment

People love shark – for one thing there are no bones.  The rule expert sea lovers have is ‘eat small fish when possible’.  It’s a good point to remember.  At ‘Seafood Street’  the corner restaurant (shown in the top picture, on the left) Mark was honest and helpful.  The sardines had eggs and would be [...]

EATING CHEAPLY – KAOHSIUNG   Leave a comment

I don’t read many Chinese characters so this menu on the wall was a waste of time for me.  I spotted fish and rice at the counter behind glass. The fish cutlets were Spanish Mackerel (OK when the fish is small – avoid large-sized cutlets as this species is a known source of a tastless [...]