Runners Go Bananas in Kaohsiung

January 7, 2018January 7, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment bananas, cishan marathon, Kaohsiung, qishan

Six thousand runners participated in the second annual Banana run – the Qishan Marathon, in Kaohsiung this morning, Sunday, January 7. Many runners wore yellow clothes, some sported yellow sneakers, and a few even donned banana suits for the event. The route for the run meandered through banana plantations and fields of soy bean. Participants were treated to all kinds of banana flavored snacks including banana soup, banana egg rolls, banana cake, banana bread, banana popsicles, and banana vinegar drinks.

Aviation

January 6, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment forced landing, Taitung, ultralight aircraft

Two occupants of an ultralight aircraft declined medical treatment after making a forced landing on a beach near Chenggong Township in Taitung County this afternoon, December 6. The plane broke into several pieces after landing. Taitung County Fire Services Center received the first report of the incident at 15:33 pm. A member of the public reported that an airplane had lost power and made a forced landing on the beach, and that two pilots had disembarked from the wrecked aircraft.

Crime and Criminals

January 6, 2018January 6, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment firearms, guns, Taoyuan

A man nicknamed “The Master” was arrested in Taoyuan City today after being investigated for modifying model firearms to fire real bullets. Five handguns, an assault rifle, and more than 100 rounds of ammunition were confiscated. Mr Peng, the owner of a model gun shop, allegedly transformed model guns into real firearms and sold them to clients for between NT$50,000 and NT$80,000. Police were led to Peng after a case in which a firearm was confiscated several days ago. As

Drugs

January 6, 2018January 6, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment amphetamines, police-chase, Taoyuan

A suspect trying to evade the police crashed into another vehicle in Yingge District, New Taipei City, injuring two people as well as himself, yesterday, January 5. At around 8:40 pm, police noticed a vehicle illegally parked in Guishan District, Taoyuan City. When officers approached the car, the driver sped off. Police chased the vehicle to Yingge District. As the suspect ran a red light, he crashed into another vehicle. Two people in the other vehicle were injured and sent

An American man in a Taipei City police station after being arrested

Stupid Stuff

January 5, 2018January 6, 2018 Phillip Charlier 1 Comment drunk people, expatriate, Taipei City

An American man was arrested in Taipei City yesterday afternoon, January 4, after he harassed one man and four women near a Zhongshan MRT Station exit in an alley off Chang’an West Road. Police allege he sexually harassed women and groped their buttocks and chests. At around 3:00 pm, an obviously drunk Caucasian male was reported to be aggressively harassing passers by. Some women alleged the man groped their buttocks and breasts, and at least one reported being bear-hugged. Video

gas hot water system installed on enclosed balcony

Health and Safety

January 4, 2018January 4, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment carbon-monoxide-poisoning, hsinchu

A family of four in Hsinchu City was rescued at around 10:00 am this morning after relatives were alerted to the fact that the parents had not showed up at work, and the children did not go to school. Relatives who entered the apartment found the parents unconscious in different rooms, while the 2 teenaged girls were on the living room sofa suffering from dizziness and unable to move. The relatives quickly opened all the windows and doors and called

Health and Safety

January 3, 2018January 3, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment building fall, Changhua County, Da-Yeh-University, foreign students

A Malaysian student studying at a university in Changhua County fell from a 5th floor balcony and died this evening, Wednesday, January 3. According to witnesses, the man was taking a selfie while dressed in a Spider-Man suit. Witnesses said that Lee put set his phone in a tripod, then squatted in a Spider-Man pose on the wall of the balcony. He then wobbled and fell. Emergency calls to 119 were received at around 5:40 pm. Emergency workers who rushed

Traffic Accidents

January 3, 2018January 3, 2018 Phillip Charlier 1 Comment drink-driving, Keelung

[Picture: UDN] A man arrested after a drunk driving accident that saw a 19 year-old man killed apologized, and said that he had forgotten the lesson he learned after a similar incident 3 years ago. Mr Lee, 30, drove his car drunk and at high speed in Keelung City, Monday evening, January 1. Crossing the center lines to overtake another car, Lee’s car smashed into an oncoming scooter ridden by a 19 year-old soldier named Lin (some sources report 18

Fire

January 1, 2018January 1, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment fire, fireworks, Miaoli County

[Picture: appropriated from Apple Daily, source unattributed] Two adjacent recycling centers went up in flames shortly after midnight in Miaoli County, New Years Day, 2018. Residents suspected fireworks were the cause of the conflagration, but the fire department said investigations were ongoing. At around 1:00 am this morning, firefighters responded to calls reporting a fire in Zhunan Township. Large amounts of waste paper, plastics, and other combustible materials created an intense blaze that spread quickly. Due to much of the

crowd gathers to greet the first dawn of 2018 at sanxiantai

Society

January 1, 2018January 1, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment 2018, new year

[Picture: East Coast National Scenic Area Administration.] Crowds gathered at prime spots around Taiwan to greet the first sun of 2018, while in Taipei and Taichung ceremonies were held to commemorate the founding of the Republic of China, which is the nominal ruler of the island nation. In Taitung County, on the east coast, thousands gathered at Sanxiantai to watch the sunrise, but a veil of clouds led to many feeling disappointed, some of whom had stayed up all night

injured elderly man being treated by paramedics

Breaking News

December 31, 2017 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment New Taipei City, suicide attempt, Taiwan Railway

[Picture: Taiwan Railway Administration] A man in his 70s rushed forward and jumped off the platform as a train came into Shanjia Station, at around 8:05 am this morning. After being hit by the train, the man ended up between the platform and the wheels, suffering scratches and bruises, but conscious and not seriously injured. The man, dressed in pajamas and a light jacket, was rescued by firefighters and rushed to Far East Memorial Hospital in Banciao District. Shanjia Station

Runners Go Bananas in Kaohsiung

Ultralight Plane Breaks up After Emergency Beach Landing in Taitung

Gun Dealer Arrested in Taoyuan City

Police Chase Ends with a Crash

Drunk American Arrested After Harassing People in the Street

Family of Four Sickened by CO Poisoning: Mother in a Coma

Student in Spiderman Costume Falls to his Death

Drunk Driver Apologizes after Second Fatal Accident

New Year Fireworks Suspected Cause of Fire in Miaoli County

Taiwan Greets the New Year

Elderly Man Survives After Jumping into Path of Train