Taiwanese Impression

Swimming kites

2008-09-21T18:12:00.004+08:00

I've visited Anping harbour at Tainan several times. These are taken in the early season of last winter. It was cool, I mean it was good for me to enjoy wind and sunshine although my rider hated "cold" wind when riding scooter there. It was not surprising anymore to me that I'm from north anyway. I didn't feel cold much during the winter time in Taiwan. Actually either in Korea.

Harbour was nice as the other parks in Taiwan. I like they made reasonable efforts as well as budget. Their sense of design and architect of those historical sites and parks are quite better than those in Korea although I'm a Korean. I believe it's getting better in Korea.

You will be misunderstood if you think Taiwan is a small part of China as we know. This island has developed different sight and culture through modern history. It seems like HK or Singapore rather than cities of China.

There wasn't any dragon or lion in the sky. While no unique sign of typical style, I saw they are the Taiwanese kites.

I have no idea why many sea animals are used for common shape.

Real unity of Taiwan and China

2008-08-30T17:07:00.003+08:00

Brand new Taiwan? or Brand new dependence?

Taiwan today is running forward to the new aspect of political argument between big continent and small islands. However, merchandisers keep on producing attractive goods for ordinary potential customers who come from each sides. They are supposed to be the winner of the argument in terms of economy. Everybody would agree it is the point that distinguish Chinese people from other ethnicity. Money is the matter.

They(sellers) tried to confirm those fancy stuffs are very famous to young people in Taiwan. Well, did I hear about that? Or haven't seen it before on the street? I don't care. In fact, they don't care neither. They sell, I buy.

Andy, and Marylin, I'm sorry for that.

Is this co-existence chemical or economic?

It looks 'not bad' if we gaze at it far from the display.

Do you want to rule Formosa again? No way.

Communist-colored Jang. How is the taste of coffee inside?

From 桃園

Above all these mentions, I bought this there, unfortunately. Don't say anything about this consumption. It was just a trade, money and goods, capitalism. In a rainy day, I visited the graves of two Jang's at Taouen, surrounded by huge lake and a park with many serious sculptures of himself.

The last Taiwan food

2008-08-26T16:04:00.000+08:00

Many of my friends gave me souvenirs when I left Taiwan last week. I like those so much. However, it made me headache when I was packing and struggling with total weight of my luggage and bags. Finally I decided to send some of stuffs in advance through post office and I did it.

I received 2 boxes sent via air while still waiting 7 big boxes via ship. There were some cookies and traditional foods among air boxes. I show some of them. A big cookie looks like roofing tile is a famous "tile cookie" of Taiwan. Three pieces really big and large to eat, so people usually enjoy at party.

I'm not so sure when I can have Taiwanese food again. I expect I can visit there in Winter. I miss some very delicious food such as beef noodle or fried salt chicken as well as those below.

Street foods

2008-07-16T11:58:00.008+08:00

I am going to show some of common food in Taiwan. You can see and enjoy those delicious food in most of streets. Regarding taste, I'm willing to recommend noodles in various ways although I can't eat pork at all. I used to try them without soup, yet wonderful smell and taste of noodles will make you feel happy.

It's Danzi Myon擔仔麵. There are many good restaurants serving this nice traditional noodle in Tainan. Some old owner will suggest you strongly to eat it with boiled egg, then you just agree and try it. It is amazingly matching. I promise.

This restaurant is famous for its wonderful interior and decoration. The owner was once just a moneyless divorced woman, but she made great success in business, especially this beautiful restaurant. I like it. I'll introduce more about this restaurant in other post.

It's a kind of spring roll, ChunChuen春捲. But it's for vegetarian at this time. As other food in Taiwan, there are various different tastes in the same roll. You can order as you wish. I chose this vegetable roll. It's a bit big for one hand.

The other is fried chicken, named as SienSuChi鹹酥雞. It was my favorite for a long while. I don't enjoy much now because it's fried food, and I need to avoid that for the time being. But I miss that delicious flesh and side vegetables given together. I had enjoyed it at Wilujie in Tainan, near ChengKong university. This photo was taken at Peimen Ru.

Rodui and Neipu in Southern Taiwan

2008-06-21T13:13:00.006+08:00

Several months ago, I went a village, Neipu內埔. It is near Pingdong, a big city in Southern Taiwan, where some of my friends live. Around that city area is usually known as the place for aboriginal tribes, such as Tsou, Paiwan, and Rukai. Many of my aboriginal friends are also from Pindong. One of the famous places near that city is Sandimen山地門.

There are also large area for Hakka(their own pronunciation) people. Also known as Kejia(Mandarin), but the writing is same as "客家", originated from Guangdong廣東, or more North of China according to the history.

Their population is not more than 20% and have settled all across Taiwan. Some villages are famous place for tourism by their special culture and architectures as well as food.

This is their pedigree. I found it at a Hakka cultural center in RoDui(六堆), also locates nearby Pindong and Neipu. Each card shows one family name, and the seeking the root of their blood. Although there are lots of fascinating things and performances, this room was mostly impressive to me. As I know about their great historical endeavor for "loyalty" and "education," Hakka people's achievements and highly recommended culture can be admired enough. It's one of the precious resources of Taiwan.

One big bookshelf contains many small drawers, and each drawer has each family name, such as 楊, 林, and 酨. The card provide possible history and genesis of family names of Hakka people that speaks their long and hard struggle to settle not only this island but also Guandong and Fuzien, old and far more.

From RoDui(六堆) Hak...

Maju媽祖 of Luerhman鹿耳門

2008-05-02T12:18:00.009+08:00

Believing something or someone is mostly the matter of psychology. Trust is obtained and supported by experience, knowledge, and common sense. Faith or belief among people is formed with personal relationship and experience either. If we see some similar and common phenomena in many other people, we might not say it's a sort of psychology.

Without study of anthropologists, we know religious belief and faith are real in people's mind. Sometimes it's rapid fashion, sometimes habit and culture inherited for many years. And they are inseparable. Therefore, religion, culture, habit, custom and social engagements are all not only mental but also material factor.

From 鹿耳門天后宮

Maju媽祖 is one of the highest god in Taiwan, who originally came from South-eastern coast of China, the province of 福建Fuzen. Since they had departed to cross the Taiwan strait 400 years ago, they have believed this female god would protect their sailing. Now it is honored and believed by many Taiwanese as their own god who not only cares ship sailing but also other matters of entire human life. It was just a simple god for safe sailing but now became a great god who manages life and health, economy, business. Some part of liturgy is still related to their first place. But it seems to be regarded as different god now.

There are many branch temples in Taiwan such as Anping, Kaohsiung, and Pingdong. The temples send their representing performance team at common ceremony day as this day. They wear different uniforms, caps, and prepared special ceremonies one another. For example, a team performed a Tzgong and monks dancing, one brought a sedan as the vehicle of their god, one came with women who wear Qing dynasty's costume, the other spreaded a lot of crackers on the ground and sky.

Drums, singing, chanting scripture, playing puppet show, declaring liturgy order, exploding fire crackers, burning paper money, offering incenses, praying, eating, smoking, talking, etc... So many people gathered from all across the country when I visited there. And I was excited too.

From 鹿耳門天后宮

This temple is another landmark of Taiwan to me. And faith of Maju is much interesting phenomena to think much more from now on. I hope I can visit there again.

heavy protest

2008-04-30T01:46:00.006+08:00

Along the case of Korea, or much better than Korea, president election in Taiwan was also resulted as a change of regime. Not yet inaugurated, the new government is regarded as "pro" China while the former one is believed as "con." In other words, ruffly classifying, DPP is pro independence, and KMT is not.

Of course there are so many relating factors and matters to be considered. And I may not know much enough about Taiwan. I just see many people withdrew their support with disappointment. Moreover, many young people are not so much interested in heavy agenda such as independence disregarding what "dependence" really means.

Recently I got to know one Taiwanese singing group. According to my friend, they are more famous abroad than in Taiwan. Whatever, they were active and loud provokers for independence of This country. Actually, that group is a heavy metal band. Their costume looks even death or Gothic.

This is an image of their T-shirt on sale from their website. I lost the address so far. I'll post it when I find it again. The letters in back side means "reversal." And the second letter is purposely printed in the reverse direction. It should be "轉," but reversed as we see.

The number gives me a big impression. It is the number of vote for DPP in the last election. The difference was around two million, but they see hope from five million.

I don't know what will happen in Taiwan after Beijing Olympic. But I think I know what some people will do in Taiwan. That number may not be important indeed. It is important that they will not surrender as long as they are "proud of" it. Yes.

Traces of "first" Christianity in Taiwan

2008-04-23T13:57:00.002+08:00

I visited Changrong senior high school on Monday. There is an interesting museum of school's history as well as many national treasures (I believe) of Taiwan. For example, I found the first printer of this country which had used in this school for Christian missionary work.

This school was one of the first modern educational institution in Taiwan established in late 19th century. Some missionaries from Western Churches had devoted their lives to the mission in this country. It was 1860s here and not so earlier than when the first missionaries came to Korea too.

From 長榮高中

The earlier missionaries had made great efforts to help local context even though historically many of them were reported and blamed their (un)conscious leading of imperialism to Asia and Africa. They not only established hospitals and schools, but also devoted themselves to help people in fact.

The other exciting thing was a real rubbing copy拓本 of 大秦景?流行中國碑. Let me explain what it is shortly. That is a stone monument established in C.E.781 at Changan長安(Now it is called as 西安), the capital of Tang dynasty. It indicates that one of the earliest sect of Christanity has arrived to China at least 8th century. Historically, it is so important that I was really excited to find out the copy there. The title could be translated ruffly as "monument of the spread roman Chrisanity in China"(actually the bearers of Christianity were Nestorian missionaries, accused and executed as an heretic by Western Catholic in Rome).

From 長榮高中

One of the first three missionaries in Taiwan also had those sort of conviction and came to Taiwan as well as Korea. In result, I became a Christian after 100 years. Well, I have read many books about history and interpretations about the arrival of Christianity in Asian countries. I need to feel and get to know much more about what really brought the missionaries to unknown and 'dangerous' places, and what really made Asian people, just like my ancestors, converted their faith.

Subway at Kaohsiung

2008-03-17T17:36:00.004+08:00

Well, it's been long while again.

With millions of people of Kaohsiung, I rushed to the entrance of new subway. Crazy enough, but very much in order as same as other places in Taiwan. I just tried to remember what if this kind of boom in my country would happen when I was in platform with crowded other passengers. But I quickly stopped to think about it. Because... I won't write what I thought.

The first month is now free to everybody. That's why all people from all allies and avenues are rushing to subway. They are happy to take those quite clean and fast news train system while they already have traditional one.

There is the subway in Taipei. This is the second one in Taiwan as I know. It will be extended to Fongsan soon and Pingdong either. Train system in Taiwan is not bad. It's accurate and comfortable. I use it at every week when I go to Shinying. Recently they also opened High speed train from Kaohsiung to Taipei, I mean, Taipei to Kaohsiung. XXX...

New toy in night market

2008-01-05T13:28:00.002+08:00

I went to a night market. There were fishing shops for fun appeals to children before. This time I found young people were concentrating to fish small lobster from stainless container. I also saw they were waiting for cooking those small things beside the shop. Well, I think it's wasting time and efforts. It would be OK just for fun.

Spring is full in this way

2008-01-01T18:58:00.000+08:00

Since I've been here, one of the most curious questions was why people in Taiwan pin this letter "Spring春" upside down. The explanation is simple. The fortune will be filled there.

The color of letter is actually red. I cut and posted this letter in my room from a promotion catalogue for sale of Working House. Will it bring some fortune to me? I need money.

Hakka in Taiwan

2007-12-29T16:52:00.000+08:00

Someone asked me about Hakka in Taiwan. He(I guess) became to be interested in history of Hakka when reading a post on my another blog written in Korean language. I wonder the person has understanding of history of Taiwan or ethnic background. But I believe it's good for any foreigner to get to know more about this country.

I depict Hakka people as gypsy to explain easier. Indeed they are talented to artwork, music, poem, and so on. Even though they often has been excluded and shunned historically, they survived here and all around the Asia even Korea, Myanmar as well as Malaysia or Singapore.

They believe their ancestors are from north part of China and gradually has come down to southeastern provinces. Those in Taiwan also had crossed to island of Taiwan through hundreds of years. Their population is now approximately 20 percent.

As I blogged there, I was emotionally and really shocked by their history which recovered by great efforts of Hakka historians and artists. Their history was the history of blood as it was. They were attacked and boycotted whenever they tried to settle down near Han people's place so that another struggle, sometimes bloody combat, flight and wandering was waiting again.

So it's one more part of Taiwan history I've learned. There are much more complicated factors of social conflict in Taiwan as other countries. Among the them, except the relation with China, matter of ethnicity seems to be tough issue today.

What the bus shows now?

2007-12-27T01:30:00.000+08:00

I think I should take this photo in Seoul. I believe this big bus has something sexy. The important point is not what the ad is going to show me, but how model's pose is sexier than competing ad. To me, it was good, indeed. I like it.

As a matter of moral, it could hit some of holy religionists, I'll bet it. However, to tell the truth, I bet again they will enjoy this dizzy photo in their dream.

Now I would say why I mentioned above about Seoul. One of the most square and boring, but itself claims it's exciting, city in Asia is operating public transportation system, which is financially supported by city government, in other words fed by tax payers of Seoul. That system had been renovated recently into ambiguous practice which is good and bad to citizen.

The disaster is neither that bus company is eating my tax, nor former mayor is now elected as the next president of Korea unfortunately. Buses are four colors of green, red, yellow and blue. Each colors mean their range such as long distance or short shuttle. Whatever, and however, the appearances of those buses are amazingly ugly, well, to me.

Who said public, but private company's bus' color should be such a boring and flat monotone? Why the hell this kind of decision is being made by one handful of mayor-close designers repeatedly? It's not the only one case of course. Basically it's derived from long long and strong tradition of Confucianism, which still dominates Korean society in bone. Yes, all of 'public' things should be 'gentle' and 'charming' damn it. But secondly, it's by consensus of people themselves even though they deny. They like it. Actually they feel secure only when everything around them is grey, monotone, flat and quiet.

So, the bus must not be colored like this breaking ad in Korea. This kind of photo is very much immoral. It should be enjoyed IN THE NIGHT in their private room through Internets. That is the reason why Internet infrastructure is so much developed in Korea. They need advanced highway to peep these sexy photos, not in public. Because they are very much moral. My goodness.

Perhaps there is the same kind of ad-painted buses in Seoul too. I hope so. I hope I'm too much. But so far I have no idea about those kinds of thinking is naturally being exposed in Korea.

A lot of money to offer

2007-11-26T13:44:00.000+08:00

How much bundles of money have you ever seen in your life? Or, did you ever see some news about bank or stock on TV? It's a dream for everybody in the world to see piles of money in their own bedroom. Maybe you can realize that dream if you go this temple on a certain celebration day.

As you see, the piles of baggage are all "money." I'm not lying now. Only the problem is that the color of money is yellow and red. Yes, moneys are standby to be burnt or dedicated to their god(s) at altars of this temple in Tainan city. Peculiarly, this temple's highest god is "One." They worship "One" as well as the other known gods.

So many people gather, worship, wish, burn incenses and draw their fortune with prayer. Different from Churches, those temples and shrines of local folk religions are always open to any believers and visitors. Feast is a festival of not only believers but also merchants nearby and neighbors. I like it. I sometimes think Christianity lost this point which locates and co-exist with local society.

New slideshow by blogger here.

2007-11-24T13:06:00.000+08:00

I added a slideshow in sidebar as you see. Actually I was seeking a feed elements by google, but I just did it when I'm reading about that feed articels on web.

Flickr is nice but only 200 photos are available for free user that I cannot do anything more there. I have another account on yahoo but also it's hard to link with two different username at the same time.

The other recent discovery is photobucket. They provide 1G as well, however, it's not the point. They allow remix users' photos' and video clips on web with Premiere software. While Myspace bans any kinds of copyrighted sources, original sources are more important now when publishing.

One of my friends answered back, "enough!" when I tried to suggest to create a new account in photobucket if she needs more space for her fotos. It doesn't mean she has enough space, rather, my continuous suggestions of new discoveries is making her crazy on. I understand.

Even I am confused by so many usernames and passwords, dear... But the point is that I need a good space for my blogs and photos to share. I'm not free account collector even though I'm a collector of various stuffs in my room.

Let me see... I'll see how is this new slideshow with mix of feed, blog element, and photo space for the time being. The photos are from one of my albums in Picasaweb. Everything is google family now, dear...

Eating coffin with religious faith!!!

2007-11-17T11:52:00.000+08:00

Hey, can you imagine? They are coffin. Left is "garlic taste coffin bread," the other is "coffin meal." But they are delicious!

Coffin meal is a famous Tainan sepcial food. The restaurant I took this picture is proud of their 130 years history. As you see, it's a toast with very thick soup in the middle of it. Soup is usually chicken, seafood, and some vege. I've tried it a year ago somewhere and forgot the place. Recently A teacher showed me a book about a brave Taiwanese woman, which reads feeling and memories about this city, and also have some photos of food. And I found the one of this coffin meal.
You'd bet we've rushed there then, sure. It's in Hai-an(海安) road, where was old streets and streams but rennovated totally as a new town of young people.
The bread is found at the bakery near school. It's not bad neither. I don't like they baked it with too much butter, but I like garlic taste yet.
If you wanna visit and try coffin meal, please see my Picasaweb and check the map. I tried to point out the exact place, however provided map it limited as shown there. But you can find it easily.

Dragon Ball ?

2007-11-14T18:08:00.000+08:00

보낸 사람 variety of Ta...

It's from Picasweb Album.

Burning wish

2007-11-13T11:23:00.000+08:00

This is one of the most interesting scene I used to see in Taiwan. As I know, there is not that kind of custom in Korea. It's Taoism mixed with folk religion and faith. They buy bunch of yellow paper money and burn at temple, shrine, and street periodically. I can see shopkeeper or crew set a table of feast for their god(s) just in front of shop every half month. They also burn those paper money at the end of ceremony. It seems not different from Sunday worship of a peculiar religion every half of half month. It's the matter of faith, wish, and hope for something. That's people's ordinary life and mind.

Happy gods

2007-11-11T13:19:00.001+08:00

The building is totally a temporary construction. Behind this huge pantheon is just a bundle of wooden or metal beams. There are no hall, nave, altar, even no place fo monks.
The gods are fancy however. Some are hanging and moving by wind. Some are from ancient stories, some are captured from legends. Most are based on Taoism with folk religion. I am not capable to distinguish them of course even though I've visited so many temples in Taiwan.
Nobody was there when I went there. No clergy, no pilgrim. Only abandoned gods were moving by wind wearing smile, all the time, maybe forever.

King challenges Mc in downtown

2007-11-05T13:16:00.000+08:00

The second Berger King in Tainan. 20 meters opposite to McDonald.

fan, signature, business, street

2007-11-05T00:56:00.000+08:00

Not that woman, star was sweating a lot to give his signature on every books (or CD? I didn't concern in honest) which fans purchaced on the chair. See left corner.

He is, actually was, one of the member of so-called F4 in Taiwan. Yes, it's business.

She is trying to attract more passangers. It's in front of a department store in downtown.

the end

2007-10-30T12:10:00.000+08:00

a time te be born, a time to die
to everything, there is a season
I wasn't suprised, but thought many things. It is a dead fish on display even though it looks so fresh. What karma is immanent in its balley.

door

2007-10-22T11:54:00.000+08:00

The matter is how I can go out to bright side. Always, whenever I am going out, I wonder and worry I am bringing my keys. So, I'm worrying about to go out or to stop. Is there any better news outthere? Otherwise, I think I'm not moving out now, so far.

old house near Pei-mun Ru

2007-10-21T01:49:00.000+08:00

I have a new phone with camera now. This old house was captured by 2 megapixel phone camera, N6288. Not bad in daytime or in stable light. I'd tried movie clip too. But it was at night that I need to practice more.

rose garden

2007-10-18T16:16:00.001+08:00

rose garden, originally uploaded by leonidasseung.

It's rose garden in TTCS. Students put some mats there to dry this morning.

Divine hole, sacred hall

2006-11-30T12:40:00.000+08:00

A Hindu temple at Malaysia. We walked and stepped on hundreds of stairs along many statues of gods. And monkeys. At the top, a big hall was waiting. Several groups of people were having their worships besides the hall. I guarantee this hall was used as the great shelter for a band of primitive ancestor human race thousands of years before. Anyway, the ceiling is open and absorbing sunshine fully in the hall. It was divine enough for visitors as well as believers. Religious.

2006-11-30T03:44:00.000+08:00

Well, this is web-based documentation tool by google. In honest, I like google. I'm lazy but I think I'm getting involved in googling. I hope chinese is also working well here. I'm thinking about creating a chinese blog. But remember I said I'm lazy. Don't expect too much.

Sunny day

2006-03-09T09:36:00.000+08:00

Whatever you do, if you feel sleepy, you should take a deep rest, anywhere. I remember it's so sweet when I slept during a short rest inbetween the drill in army. If it's a day of Spring, I cannot resist it.

Aborigin Park at Anping harbor

2006-02-19T07:01:00.000+08:00

I visited aborigin park near the Anping harbor. I think people were preparing opening day yet. But I got some pictures of their images circled on the ground for perfomance.

Of course I've visited their places in the mountain and museums later but this park was also nice.

Stone images formate a big circle. Some were painted with colorful design and some were simply carved with aborigin traditional images.

Certainly this cultures are related to other Polynesian or Micronesian culture as historians say. I feel also some smell of American aborigin culture from it. Especially their music seems to be similar.

Ethnically they are explained not as Asian but as South Pacific origin. But in my un-scientific opinion, as my emotional opinion, it might be Asian to me.

Food

2006-02-09T11:23:00.000+08:00

I'm collecting photos of food in Taiwan. Already missed many chances but I'd like to post them I have. As I didn't know, Taiwanese food is much different from Chinese food. I didn't know that.

Their food is usually flat. They don't like spicy or strong seasons. Todays, young people enjoy hot and spicy hot pot. But it's not common. Most of their food are just boiled or roasted. On the street, many small shops sell 'fast food' and used to add pepper or red pepper if customer wants. But in the restaurant, it's totally different. They just eat a little salty food.

I ate a fried yam yesterday. In honest I forgot its name. It was not yam or potato but very big as bigger than my palm. And the taste was much similar to potato and good.

Money collecting gods

2006-02-01T02:55:00.000+08:00

Twin tower draws people's money all the time. Big jaws are open to collect money with the shapes of great ancient mythology. Dragon and tiger are usually just good symbols of myth, but here they are hired for fortune and grace as people wishes.

Of course some kind clergies and priests help people to pray and reach their wishes. Just giving money can invite any hands from the two great and powerful symbols .

Unfortunately, they need to pay for donating even. Fortunately, the day I visited were new year holiday that I was generously allowed to enter the towers.

The most curious thing was how they can bring fortune to people who pray before them. As I know, they are not gods. Just several hundreds meter apart there is a huge statue of North's god. Very handsome male god's statue is sitting as more than 30 meters high.

People gather not only to pray but enjoy holiday with family and just buy some incences. They shake and put into big brazier. And pray for a while. Is it working? Of course I don't know.

Only I know is that they are not serious but enjoying like picnic. That's it. I have no idea that they believe their wishes come true or just for fun. But it's certain that this busines is enormous industry of religion whatever they insist.

Campus of TTCS

2005-12-02T14:50:00.000+08:00

Anping and Barkley Park

2005-10-22T11:31:00.000+08:00

Barkley park.
A short trip to Anping and in front of a famous Taiwanese food shop

Not huge, a serene place

2005-09-29T19:38:00.000+08:00

TTCS campus. 130 years old seminary. I like here with nice buildings and trees. It's especially full of serenity at night.

Now they put some pots of pincetia in the circle of rose garden but before Christmas the circle was full of roses.

First Trip to Kaosiung

2005-09-29T11:44:00.000+08:00

I went there alone. After lunch I bought a fast ticket and took a slow train.

I just walked around near streets of station. Hot, sweat and hungry enough to come back soon. I arrived at dinning hall before dinner time.
I
It takes around 1 hour from Tainan to Kaosiung. I've beeb for only 2 or 3 hours there.

No person who I know, no place where I've been recommended, I walked and saw around the nearest streets and some back lanes.

It was enought time to feel I am a visitor.

Streets of Kaosiung

2005-09-28T17:56:00.000+08:00