Sulfuric Fire Fishing

scoop nets and fire are used to catch sardines in nothern Taiwan

June 27, 2016June 29, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment fire-fishing, Jinshan

A traditional method of catching Japanese scaled sardines (Sardinella zunasi) was formally recognized as a cultural heritage asset in Taiwan in 2015. This year, tourists are being offered a chance to experience the annual harvest up close. Sulfuric fire fishing involves the use of sulfur, a resource abundant in northern Taiwan, to produce fire from the gas produced when it comes into contact with water. Boat crews use the fire to attract the fish and corral them close to the

An old well in Taiwan that may have been built by the Dutch

Culture

May 31, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Chiayi County, Dutch Formosa, history of Taiwan, Lantan Reservoir

Receding water levels at a reservoir in Chiayi County have revealed a well that has been submerged since the reservoir was reconstructed during the Japanese colonial period. The Lantan Reservoir was originally constructed by the Dutch when they occupied Formosa 1624 to 1662. After the Dutch left, the reservoir fell into disrepair. A Hakka immigrant surnamed Wu bought the land where the well is located, but during the Japanese colonial period, the land was resumed, and the reservoir reconstructed to

Culture Environment

May 20, 2016May 20, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment electricbicycles, electricvehicles, trafficlaw

Taiwan’s Ministry of Transport backed off on plans to introduce licences for riders of electric bicycles starting next year. Thursday, May 19, officials announced that while they will continue with enforcing safety provisions for the vehicle class, they won’t require riders to be tested and licensed. Academics and industry members have been criticising the move to introduce the licence requirements since the Ministry of Transport announced their plan earlier this month. Critics tend to agree with the need for tighter

Culture

April 17, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment

is just like this.

Culture

March 30, 2016July 10, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment 3000 Brewseum, Beer, Beer Museum, Hengchun

A brewery and museum dedicated to beer has opened in Hengchun in on Taiwan’s south coast. The 3000 Brewseum boasts 3000 beer glasses from breweries around the world, and a large portrait of Mona Lisa made with 8,400 beer labels. Visitors can learn about the history and science of brewing and enjoy drinking craft beers at the bar afterwards. The collection includes more than 80 year old Krueger’s Cream Ale and Krueger’s Finest Beer cans that are claimed to be

A man is seen suspended on a frame where he endures an attack with fireworks rockets during a festival in Taidong City Taiwan

Culture

February 23, 2016February 23, 2016 Phillip Charlier 1 Comment gang violence, Lantern Festival, Taidong, Taitung

Fights broke out in between gangs attending Lantern Festival processions in at least two Taiwan cities last night, and the violence continued tonight in Taidong (Taitung). The Lantern Festival is traditionally celebrated on the 15th day of the first lunar month of the Chinese New Year. While the traditional Chinese celebration focuses on pretty lanterns, strolling with the family to view the lanterns, and eating sweet snacks like tung-yuan, on the ‘renegade island’ of Taiwan, native Taiwanese celebrate with fireworks,

Culture

December 16, 2015December 14, 2017 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment

A pigeon-napping extortion ring has been busted after three months of investigation by police. The suspects were nabbed in the mountains of Miaoli County, where investigators found money, drugs, and nets with dead birds hanging in them. The thieves used their knowledge of topography and pigeon-flying routes to place the nets and also used fireworks rockets to frighten birds into the nets. They had managed to catch over 100 birds, some of which died, either in the nets, or while being

Peanuts are seen occupying both sides of a main road in Yunlin County Taiwan, November 2015

Culture

November 18, 2015 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment farmers, harvest, peanuts, Yunlin

November is peanut harvesting season in Taiwan, and in Yunlin County, peanut farmers take over the roads beside their fields to sun-dry their peanuts. On some roads, they leave one lane open for traffic, but in some cases, they take over the whole road, erecting a barrier at either end, forcing drivers to make lengthy detours. This traditional practice is drawing complaints from motorists who face the inconvenience of finding an alternative route to their destination. Farmers state that they

John Bon Jovi and band arrives in Taipei at Taipei Taoyuan Airport Sunday, September 27, 2015.

Culture

September 28, 2015 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment bon jovi, taipei concert, typhoon dujuan

Tonight’s (Monday September 28) Bon Jovi concert has been cancelled due to Typhoon Dujuan. John Bon Jovi and fellow band members arrived in Taiwan last night to find the Taipei municipal government had issued a stop-work order for Monday. Stop work orders are issued in Taiwan during typhoon events in the interests of public safety. Thousands of Taiwan’s Bon Jovi fans have been looking forward to the first Bon Jovi concert in Taiwan in 20 years. Bon Jovi last performed

Chinese Propaganda Parade: Celebrating 70 Years of Military Defeat.

Culture

September 5, 2015September 6, 2015 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment

This week in Beijing, bus lines were placed under transport restrictions, hospitals were put under an order to provide emergency treatment only, and television stations were under order to show only programs related to World War II and the Victory Day celebrations organized by the CCP. World War II was re-branded as ‘The anti-fascist War’, with particular focus on ‘the war of resistance against Japanese aggression’. The parade was publicized as being an international event with participants from 17 nations. The

A 12 year old boy is seen stumbling and accidentally punching a hole in a 350 year old masterpiece at an art exhibition in Taipei August 2015

Culture

August 25, 2015August 25, 2015 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment art, Huashan Culture Park, painting, Paolo Porpora

Taipei: A 12 year old boy accidentally punched a hole in a painting when he stumbled during a visit to an art exhibition at the Huashan Cultural Park in Taipei, Sunday August 24. The painting, “Flowers” by Paolo Porpora (1617-1673), is valued at more than 1.5 million USD, and is part of a collection of 55 paintings from the late renaissance period on loan to Taipei as part of “The Face of Leonardo, Images of a Genius” exhibition. A security video of

Culture

Sulfuric Fire Fishing

Low Water Levels Reveal Old Well: Maybe from Dutch Era Formosa

Transport Ministry Back-pedals on Licences for Riders of Electric Bicycles

The Breaking News Section of Shiny, Happy People Magazine

Taiwan’s First Beer Museum Launched Near Kenting

Taiwan Lantern Festival Celebrations Marred by Gang Violence

Pigeon-nappers Nabbed

Motorists Complain about Peanut Farmers Occupying the Roads

Bon Jovi Taipei Concert Cancelled

Chinese Propaganda Parade: Celebrating 70 Years of Military Defeat.

Boy Punches Hole in 350 year-old Painting