Taiwan

Trips and Videos

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In a couple weeks, we’ll be in Taiwan. I’ve upgraded (or downgraded, depending on how you look at it) all our travel video gear. This year, in addition to digital cameras and phones that can record video, we’ll be carrying two different mini-HD cameras. Chu-Wan has a “Flip MinoHD Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Black)” (Flip Video) … Read more

It’s not quite “Money for nothing”

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It seems like just yesterday when I was waxing poetic about my thoughts on environmentalism, recycling and the Taiwanese psyche about finding news ways to skirt any inconvenient laws. I’m humorously reminded of it in this article Taichung: No More Full of Sh*t at The View from Taiwan. In it, Mr. Turton explains the city … Read more

Fun with traffic – Taiwan

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Here’s an amusing little video from Taiwan (fortunately, I don’t think anyone was too badly hurt.) In Taiwan, scooters are supposed to drive on the right, and when they want to make a left turn they are supposed to cross straight across the intersection, then stop, reposition their scooter and continue to the left when … Read more

Flickr Find – Kewe

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I’ve been waiting for just the right moment to blog this one for a couple of months now. I think in keeping with my earlier post about the Out-Of-Office notice, that we should be reminded that it isn’t just the English and the Welsh that don’t always get their translations sorted out. This photo, from … Read more

Taipei 101 Swings

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This one has been floating around the ‘net for a bit now, but it’s worth a look. I’ve been to the Taipei 101 and seen this thing and it is impressive. A massive counterweight that helps stabilize the building. Still, when you look at those cables (bigger around than a person) and those massive shock-absorbing … Read more

The Ultimate Taiwanese Restaurant Photo

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Hat tip to Michael Turton over at View From Taiwan blog for this picture. (Posted to flickr) Many, many times I’ve wanted to capture the very essence of the nearly ubiquitous Taiwanese open-front restaurant, with it’s little plastic stools, fold up tables, metal work area, that strange metal box thing in the back and the … Read more

Alishan trip, then and now

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It wasn’t intentional (at least not on my part), but I managed to get several similar pictures on this trip as I did on my original trip to Alishan in 1998. In this one I’m demonstrating on the train, traveling in style in 2007. These purple flowers are all over at Alishan. I’m quite certain … Read more

…and sometimes green makes sense

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So that it doesn’t seem like I’m constantly down on Taiwan’s dubious implementations to be more “green”, here’s one that makes perfect sense at every level. Taiwan’s Bureau of Energy, under the MOEA, said Taiwan now has 350,000 traffic lights using LEDs as a lighting source, with the remaining 420,000 traffic lights to also use … Read more

Will this grow a magic beanstalk?

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I’ve already recounted my tale of the Giant Rat of Sogo, in which I was trapped for 4.5 hours in a rat-infested department store, but what I failed to mention were the “magic” rocks. We were in the bedding department, negotiating the purchase of a house-warming gift. The negotiations were in Chinese, so I was … Read more