Monday, March 22, 2004

Escape to paradise: Alishan Mountain - Central Taiwan

To get away from the histeria of the last 4 days, I seaked refuge on the beautiful mountain of Ali Shan:
I had the chance to spend a weekend away from today's reality, with my new friends, part of the Zhuo tribe.
The experience in Ali Shan was devine: the tribe dance's and fire party, the 4 am hike towards zhusnan to watch the sun rise, the walk down the mountain in the pine forest, the cherry blossoms, the food and the air quality - all a must!
It was a great getaway from politics...




Ali Shan Sunrise



Ali Shan Forest




Cherry and Plums Blossoms




Enjoying the company of the people from the Tsou tribe - Fighting Dance

To know more about Alishan click here.

Taiwan Markets react to socio-political instability

Reuters reported that Taiwan stocks tumbled nearly seven percent today, after the razor-thin election win for the president prompted opposition calls for a recount and widespread protests.

Social instability in Taiwan - Summary of the last 4 days' events.

Friday, 19 Mar.04, the president and vice-president are gunned shot.


President Chen and the vice president Annette Lu, after receiving treating in a Tainan Hospital.

All campaigning activities are canceled by both candidates;
Nevertheless the emotions among the public raised to a very high level of tension. It was quite visible the inability to deal with a young democracy. The atmosphere in public was not a very pleasant one. Some had fear to express their opinion and some were furious if they heard anything contrary to their own opinion.
Some speculate about the source and political intention of this attempt.

President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu canvass for votes in Tainan yesterday seconds after being shot. A bullet hole is visible in the windshield of the Jeep.
PHOTO: WU HSING-HUA, TAIPEI TIMES

Saturday, 20 Mar.04, The DPP wins the elections with a margin of around 30000 votes, a total of 50.11% from the valid votes (see report here)



President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu announce their victory in yesterday's presidential election at the Democratic Progressive Party's campaign headquarters in Taipei last night.
PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES

Sunday, 21 March 2004, The KMT announces their concern on the votes counting and demands a recount, but the Cabinet said to let the legal system rule on the matter. KMT also demanded an independent investigations on the president’s shooting incident.
The KMT supporters went out to the streets to protest against the election results, supporting Chairman Lien Chan.
The protest turned out to be very noisy and violent at certain points:



A pan-blue campaign truck rams into the gate of the Kaohsiung District Prosecutors' Office while demonstrators try to push the gate over early yesterday morning.

Pan-blue passion
A supporter of the pan-blue camp waves the national flag and blows a whistle during the protest in front of the Presidential Office at dawn yesterday demanding an election recount.
PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES



KMT's supporters protest in front of the presidential palace in Taipei since saturday night. For more photos covering the last four days events click here.

Monday, 22 March 2004, The KMT supporters’ protests lasted trough out the night.
After riots in Kaohsiung and Taichung, the Taiwan High Court asked for all presidential ballots to be seized and a recount organized.
According to a local newspaper the pan-blue camp claims it has heard that the President Chen, Vice President Lu and close colleagues frequently held secret meetings at a monastery in Nantou County. It also claims that followers from that monastery had told them that Chen was planning to create a shooting incident on March 19 to boost his election chances.


SCOTCHING RUMORS: After suggestions by political opponents that the president's shooting was a stunt, the presidential office released more pictures and records.


High Court grants pan-blue ballot demand
RECOUNT: After riots in Kaohsiung and Taichung, the Taiwan High Court asked for all presidential ballots to be seized and a recount organized
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan and People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong yesterday filed their application to the Taiwan High Court to ask the court to seize all the ballots from Saturday's presidential election and recount them.

Divided and Tense Taiwan is waiting for the recounting results

What is going to happen next… will dictate Taiwan's stability and order, in the near future.

Friday, March 19, 2004

The president was shot....

The president of Taiwan, Chen Shui-Bian and the vice president, Annette Lu has been shot in Tainan City and taken to a nearby Hospital.

O Festival de cinema de Taipei serve como prato principal cinema espanhol.


Pedro Almodovar, Luis Bunuel, Carlos Saura, Victor Erice, Julio Medem, Alejandro Amenabar, Fernando Leon de Aranoa sao os nomes representados e bem neste festival.
A sobremesa sera asiatica com uma boa representacao de Taiwan e Coreia do Sul.
Para mais informacao vejam aqui.


Quando: de 21 de Marco a 3 de Abril 2004

Onde: - Zhongshan Hall, 98 Yenping S Rd, Taipei
- Metropolitan Hall, 25 Bade Rd, Sec 3, Taipei
- President Cinema, 4F, 59 Zhonghua Rd, Sec 2, Taipei

Quanto: 150 NT$ ate ao dia 21/03/04, e 180NT$ apos esta data.

Taiwan Votes their future - O Povo de Taiwan traca o seu caminho

As the Spanish did last Sunday, tomorrow 20 March 2004, the Taiwanese will have the chance to direct their future.
The 2 candidates of their choice are:

- Chen Shui-bian (actual ruling president)- Democratic Progressive Party;
- Lien Chan (Nationalist Party of China Chairman (Kuomintang) - Kuomintang
& People First Party Alliance;

Brief Historical Background:
In 1949, Chiang Kai-Shek lost the war in the mainland China, and fled to Taiwan, where he established the remainder of his regime.
The KMT regime imposed on the Taiwanese people is often remembered as a fascist and authoritarian one;
The pressure and oppression on the Taiwanese people provoked a silent revolt, and after a few attempts, the people succeed in the change of regime.
The DPP party was founded in 1986 and the martial law was lifted on 1987;
1987-1992: The democratization process is initiated and Taiwan's people start to experience freedom;
Dec. 1992: First democratic legislative elections;
Mar. 1996: First presidential elections: KMT president is elected;
Mar. 2000: Second presidential elections: DPP's Chen Shui-bian is elected;

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Amanha, 20 de Marco de 2004, o povo de Taiwan, ira tracar a tragetoria do futuro de Taiwan.
Com uma escolha de dois candidatos:
- Chen Shui-bian (actual presidente)- Democratic Progressive Party
- Lien Chan (Nationalist Party of China Chairman (KMT) - Kuomintang & People First Party Alliance

Nota de ultima hora: Quase simultaneamente 'a publicacao deste post, o presidente Chen Shui-Bian’s foi atingido a tiro enquanto participava no ultimo dia da campanha eleitoral (em Taiwan nao existe as '24 horas para reflexao' antes das eleicoes).

Wednesday, March 17, 2004

Taipei 101 - The tallest building in the world


Taipei 101, is currently the tallest building in the world and it's located in Taipei City, the capital of Taiwan.

Tuesday, March 16, 2004

Spring in southern Taiwan - the ancient capital, Tainan City

Last sunday, 14 March 2004, in Tainan City:


Tainan City


Tainan life


Spring in Tainan Park


Trees in Tainan Park


Spring in Tainan City


A Tainan University


The modern cool side of ancient Tainan

Monday, March 15, 2004

une lettre plus longue, pas une "ca va, moi aussi, il fait beau"

Coucou
Le temps passe si vite que l'on ne se rend pas compte du poids qu'il exerce sur les autres. Mais la surprise concentre tout ce poids en un instant si precieux!
Je suis de retour a Londres. J'ai ramasse mes affaires que j'avais laissse chez tous le monde, j'ai decouvert tout ce que j'avais laisse derriere moi. Les petites choses materielles qui font un personnage, les bouquins d arts (Tapies, Venise, La renaissance, mes CDs de Bach, de Monteverdi, d’Al Green, de Salomon Burke, Aretha Franklin, et tout le reste).
J'etais arrive a Londres avec le meme sentiment que tu m'avais partage lorsque tu etais revenus de ton pays. Un sentiment d'etre different, de ne pas appartenir au monde que l'on croise dans les rues, dans les halls du metro, sur les bord de la Tamise et meme (oui) a la Tate Gallery!
Ce sentiment de n'appartenir a nulle part, d'avoir un pays au fond de soi qui combine tous ce qu on a vus et goute. Un monarchie ou la seule reine est la multitude d'experiences que l'on a partage avec les gens de cette terre. La joie de se ballader dans un ville ou l'on est individus, la joie que l on pourrait jeter aux gens comme l'on jette des miettes de pains a des oiseaux.

J'ai fait des rencontres qui m’ont fait un tel plaisir parcequ elles etaient au faond des rencontres avec soi meme, une discussion avec mes sentiments envers les autres et voila!
J'habite maintenant au Docklands, la nouvelle City. Le quartier n'est pas splendide, cependant le charme cachee, je le trouve, dans la cotoiement de ce complexe banquier et du quartier tres populaire de l'autre cote de la rue, avec les pubs, kebabs et little India. Et il y a les jours ou je me reveille avec le soleil sur mon visage qui vient eclairer mon lit.
Ensuite il y a eu les premiers jours de travail. Tout un autre environnement par rapport a l'Asie. Des europeens, banquiers, une vie paisible, mariee et une histoire que l'on croit connnaitre. Mais avec le temps on decouvre des cotes caches, que les gens concernes ne connaissent pas d'eux meme. Les caracteres qui ont constamment envie de plaire aux gens, ceux qui parle et parle et parle pour se liberer de leurs constante soumission, ceux qui ont un jour ds leur vie decider de reussir dans leur profession et vivent un existnce monacale avec tout l exercice de pouvoir que cela implique! Mais il y a aussi tout le cote humain de ces qualites! Des animoux pensants, une comedie de la vie. Bien sur je travailles de nouveaux comme un obsede, mais avec la certitude qu a la fin du tunnel il y a une lumiere, et un acquis professionel (savoir faire certaine chose) et social (savoir lire les pensees des citadins).

Et enfin il y avait la famille! Elle est grande, tous ces petits enfants qui courent a gauche a droite qur te regardent avec des grands yeux comme je le faisais quand j'etais jeune. Les petits intimides et etonne par le monde des grands. Et les grands, les oncles, tantes, pere, mere, grand mere, cousins, cousines, sans vraiment leur parler ca fait plaisir d une certaine facon d etre avec eux. On partage pas vraiment mais l'on remarque leur monde construit, avec des frontieres toutes faites, sans qu il y ait vraiment de douanes pour les autres mondes!

Je voulais une lettre plus longue, pas une "ca va, moi aussi, il fait beau" (mais il est vrai que le temps a Londres est gris, les bouffees de chaleur de l'Asie me manquent enormement). Et voila, il ne faut pas que je perde les personnes qui me sont cheres. Tu m avais dit, a la fin plus que tout argent au monde, reussite etc, c'est les amis qui pulsent la vie. Les surprises, les elans d'emotions, il faut seulement les maitriser lorsqu il s'agit des amis. Pour le reste, la VIE, la VIE, la VIE sans compromis ni lassitudes.
Que penses tu alors d "A bout de souffke", de Farinelli, de Bergman et de tous les chateaux celestes du cinemas? Les livres, Kundera, Camus, Boris Vian et Romain Gary? Racontes moi tout!
Moi j'ai contre mon gre mais avec grand plaisir recommence a lire les literaires allemands. Hiob, d'apres le verse de la bible, par Joseph Roth. L'histoire de Hiob de la bible, c est celle d un brave paysan qui est tout a fait dedie a Dieu, un vie plus que virtueuse. Au meme moment Dieu rassemble ces enfants autour de lui et le diable se deguise parmis eux. Dieu leur parle de cette homme Hiob, qui a un vie exemplaire. Le diable soumet ensuite Hiob a un crescendo de supplices incroyables. D abords ces recoltes sont miserables, ensuite leur premier fils meurt, le diable tue le deuxieme et ca continue. A chaque etape de son calvaire, Hiob continue a croire que Dieu est juste, que tout ce qui lui arrive decoule de justice divine. Ces amis le croient. Mais de plus en plus son entourage le plein et lui dit qu il ne merite pas tous ces supplices. Finalement Hiob hait Dieu! Je crois qu a la fin punit le diable, et rend tout a Hiob (suis pas sur, mais bonne fin obligatoire ds la bible) L'histoire ds le bouquin est transposee au 19 eme siecle avec le protagoniste qui va aux US apres avoir endurer ses souffrances en Russie. Mais je trouve que l'histoire est parfaitement raconte avec une tendresse etonnante. Et une ecriture qui a le meme rythme que nos coeurs. Il est tres beau ce livre. Sinon je lis des livres sur la physique modernes, qui sont aussi superbes. Ils me donnent un vue toute a fait differentes de ce qui m entoure. C'est ce qu on appelle des bouquins de sciences populaires ou rien est ecrit en formules mathematiques mais ou l'on comprend les enjeux.
(Un mois vient de passer sans que je finisse ma lettre, je te l envoies donc, comme ca je n attendrais pas la fin des fins)


par un tres bon ami qu'ecrit encore des lettres, et des lettres si belles!

Hong Kong can also take your breath away...


This was the slogan chosen by the Hong Kong Tourism Association before the SARS outbreak... it was changed for "Asia's city of the world"... both not far from the truth!

Esta e' dedicada a ti, Boss!


Esta e' a 1a. foto pessoal que ponho aqui, gracas 'a ajuda do Boss, que me acendeu as luzes no tunel da blogoesfera, Obrigadao!
Taiwan is a small island (+/- 50% of continental Portugal) but it sure can take you high!

Saturday, March 13, 2004

Taiwan - The Jade Mountain... mais perto do ceu!



Take a walk on the wild side!

Hoje somos todos espanhois...


...porque sentimos a mesma dor que os nossos irmaos.
Em homenagem aos que partiram para sempre e em homenagem aos que irao partir um dia, vamos continuar a nossa comunhao emocional e acabar de vez com as tensoes do passado...
ja chega de nacionalismo absurdos, podemos ter orgulho de sermos quem somos sem ter a necessidade de carregar seculos de conotacoes negativas e ja sem sentido algum...
Quando a dor se for atenuando, a amizade dos portugueses pelos espanhois devera se ir fortificando...
Embora por uma causa triste... nao deixem passar este 'curativo' em vao....

O luto continua, fica a marca para sempre... rir tambem e' uma forma de prestar homenagem...

e' raro rir sozinho quando leio alguma anedota... mas esta nao resisti mesmo....
esta e' dedicada a todos os bloguistas que andam ca fora a lutar pela vida e aos que andam la dentro em combate pesado....
de certo que, nesta aldeia global, todos nos tivemos alguma situacao em que se fala/escreva, bem 'a sua maneira...
um portugues a aprender chines tambem e' um pouco assim:

Um Inglês, morando há pouquíssimo tempo em Portugal e dominando mal o Português, faz a sua lista de compras e vai ao supermercado, para tentar abastecer a sua dispensa. Escreve ao seu modo e, com o carrinho à frente, vai lembrando do que precisa:
- Pay she
- Mac car on
- My one easy
- All face
- Car need boy (may kilo)
- Spa get
- Her Villas
- Key jow (parm zoon)
- Cow view floor
- Pier men tom
- Better hab
- Lee moon
- Bear in gel
- Three go
E, no final, ainda bateu na testa, dizendo, em bom Português: Food Ace !
Is key see me do too much. Put a keep are you!

Friday, March 12, 2004

SOS Vida retira referências a Taiwan - Movimento pediu desculpas formais à representação em Portugal

portugal diario (09-03-2004 23:22 ):
"O movimento SOS Vida pediu esta terça-feira desculpas formais à representação de Taiwan em Portugal e decidiu retirar as referências a Taiwan dos panfletos anti-aborto, segundo as quais se podem comprar naquela ilha bebés para churrasco.
Em declarações à Lusa, o padre Jerónimo Gomes, representante da SOS Vida, disse ter apresentado "desculpas formais ao representante da República da China (Taiwan), senhor Huang Lien-Sheng, pelo incómodo involuntário causado pela imagem e frase referente a Taiwan", cuja "(in)autenticidade" a associação ignorava.
O movimento SOS Vida comprometeu-se que "a partir das 18:00 de dia 09, isso será retirado do folheto", intitulado "Amor Precisa-se", afirmou o padre, acrescentando que foi apresentado ao representante de Taiwan o livro de onde a associação extraiu "tal conteúdo".


Sr padre Jerónimo Gomes,
E' de boas praticas de etica e profissionais, validar informacao antes de a publicar, em particular se se trata de algo ofensivo...
No minimo classifico o seu acto de negligencia malina... (nao so atribuir falsas informacoes a fotos irreais, como tambem as distribuir a criancas).
Quase que me parece um acto diabolico, sr.padre!


Dear Taiwanese friends,
This unfortunate episode not only offended the people of Taiwan but it also caused general choc and concern among the parents and educators of the children who indivertibly received a copy of the referred pamphlet.
The offensive source apologized to the Taiwan representation in Lisbon and the issued was clarified in the main Portuguese newspapers.
As Portuguese, I apologize for this insane, irresponsible and isolated case.
The referred association and its (i)responsible person, does in no means represent Portugal or the Portuguese.

Nada, mesmo nada, justifica provocar uma unica so morte!

Partilho a dor e o luto com os meus irmaos espanhois...

bush e bin laden, uma unica forma de pensar e de agir

O povo espanhol podera agradecer ao pseudo lider dos EUA, o sofrimento que agora sente...
O bush utiliza exactamente as mesmas estrategias do Alcaeda:
"En el nombre de Dios, Clemente y Misericordioso,
Cuando te castigan, tienes que castigar del mismo modo a quienes
te castigaron.
Mátalos allí donde los encuentres; expúlsalos como ellos te expulsaron; la sedición es más grave que el asesinato.
A los que cometen agresiones contra ti, debes hacerles lo mismo."


extracto da carta supostamente enviada por Alcaeda para o jornal El Pais

quando e' que ambos param os seus jogos de poder?????!!!
Please american people, help the world in dec.2004!!!

11 March 2004...I don't understand...why... why Mr. JOSÉ MARÍA AZNAR?

I feel hopeless, sad and unfortunately almost not surprised. It feels like we sensed that something really bad was going to happen one day, we just didn't know when and with time we just hope that that day would never come.... but it did, 11 March 2004...

When the people of Spain together with almost the rest of the world were desperately begging "No to War", the arrogance of certain politicians ignored the people's voice and acted like their enemy did, acted as if they were God!
Remember those days Mr. JOSÉ MARÍA AZNAR?
Today Mr. JOSÉ MARÍA AZNAR says (extract from Aznar's letter published in El Pais):
"Somos una gran nación, somos una gran nación cuya soberanía reside en todos los españoles. Quien decide es el pueblo español. Nunca permitiremos, no vamos a permitir nunca, que una minoría de fanáticos nos imponga nuestras decisiones sobre nuestro futuro nacional."

Today, Mr.JOSÉ MARÍA AZNAR you are contradicting your own past and sad behavior, today you finally want to listen to your people... today Mr.JOSÉ MARÍA AZNAR, today you must feel so regretful and embarrassed but today, Mr.JOSÉ MARÍA AZNAR, it is just a little to late...

Wednesday, March 10, 2004

TAIWAN INDIGNADA COM FOLHETOS ANTI-ABORTO

O correio da manha publicou na sua edicao on-line de hoje uma noticia com o titulo referido acima, onde se lia que a organizacao SOS Vida publicou folhetos com um oriental (expressao de conotacao racista) a comer um feto e acrescentava que se poderiam comprar bebés mortos a 50/70 dólares para churrasco...
Tanta ignorancia e publicada!!!!!!
Estes panfletos demonstram a fraca credibilidade do publicador, dando forca ao movimento adversario, a favor da IVG!
Os responsaveis do movimento SOS Vida nao o sao!
Deveriam se certificar da veracidade do que publicam antes o fazer, nao e' com mentiras (ofensivas) que convencem alguem!!!!
A associacao SOS vida deve um pedido de desculpa a Taiwan!

A Portuguese anti-abortion association "SOS Vida", published pamphlets showing a Chinese man eating a BBQ baby. This association maliciously used the photo, as it was a piece of art part of an artist's exhibition. The pamphlets also stated that dead babies could be purchased in Taiwanese hospitals for consumption, at a price of 50 to 70 dollars.
All this has been denied by the "Centro Económico e Cultural de Taipé" (Taiwanese representation in Lisbon) and apologies were demanded from the publisher!
This was just a stupidity; the result of ignorance and it does not represent what the Portuguese people think about Formosa.

BIG BROTHERS and the Extreme Tracking

Recently I installed the 'big brother tool' - Extreme tracking, into this cyber space.
The reason of the need for a tracking could give sufficient material for a psychology PhD thesis, but I it is not my intention to touch this now...
The real reason I approached this issue was that, when I looked at the "geo tracking" function, it shows that somewhere in China, there is a province called Taiwan, as it literally states: Taiwan, Province of China.
If Taiwan is a province of China, why can't I fly from Taipei to Beijing?
If Taiwan is a province of China, why my friend from Beijing, cannot visit me?
Why can't the big brothers, from both sides, deal with the issue and solve it once and for all, so that the Extreme Tracking and many other official organizations cease to be provocative for some and politically correct for others?

viagens de portugal

tudo comecou com as horas normais do Boss (nao sei linkar boss, too bad pois merecias bem ):


normal e' o que se pensa que todos os outros pensam por nao se ter capacidade de pensar por si mesmo...


Normal e'a ilusao obvia;
Normal e' o subjectivo objectivo;
Normal e' tudo o que nao nos faz pensar;
Normal e' superficial, facil e nao doi;
Normal e' tudo o que nao perturba a mente;
Normal e' ter-se a mente bloqueada pelo "do not disturb", sem se saber!


Quando se chega 'a Republica dos Normais pela 1a vez, podera pensar-se que ha' muita anormalidade no que se ve/ouve/sente... No minimo sente-se que tudo e' estranho... tudo, nao e' normal...
Mas nao, com o tempo, consegue-se ver quem na verdade era o anormal...
Bem me parecia que estava rodeado de normais, aqui na Republica da China, pois tratam os anormais de uma forma agradavelmente humana!!!
Sao mesmo uns normais!

Monday, March 08, 2004

monday... stupid test day

Which Imfamous criminal are you?

marquis
You are the Marquis Da Sade. Even stripped of
exaggerations, Your real life was as dramatic
and as tragic as a cautionary tale. Born to an
ancient and noble house, you were married
(against your wishes) to a middle-class heiress
for money, caused scandals with prostitutes and
with your sister-in-law, thus enraging your
mother-in-law, who had you imprisoned under a
lettre de cachet for 14 years until the
Revolution freed you. Amphibian, protean,
charming, you became a Revolutionary,
miraculously escaping the guillotine during the
Terror, only to be arrested later for
publishing your erotic novels. You spent your
final 12 years in the insane asylum at
Charenton, where you caused another scandal by
directing plays using inmates and professional
actors. You died there in 1814, virtually in
the arms of your teenage mistress.
You are a revolutionary deviant. I applaud you.


Which Imfamous criminal are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Which Peanuts Character are You?

Woodstock
You are Woodstock!


Which Peanuts Character are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

What is Your Heart REALLY Made of?

gold heart
Heart of Gold


What is Your Heart REALLY Made of?
brought to you by Quizilla

Thursday, March 04, 2004

Kona's popularity with coffee drinkers

Article published in Taipei Times, 04 March 2004
(A joke is here underpinned but you will only get it if you know Portuguese):

Hawaii's Kona coffee thrives in a declining market
TOP-CLASS CUP: Coffee consumption is declining in the US, but connoisseurs of the brew are willing to pay a premium for the limited supplies of Kona coffee

REUTERS , HONOLULU
In a coffee world inundated with frothy cappuccinos and creamy lattes, more java junkies are turning to the rare and expensive Hawaiian coffee known as Kona.
US demand for the brew, grown only on a narrow 32km stretch of land on the Big Island of Hawaii, has surged since the late 1990s.
Giant coffee retailer Starbucks Corp will begin carrying the beans in its 4,176 company-owned North American stores in April after a seven-year absence; the Seattle company had been unable in recent years to arrange for sufficient supplies.
"We get long-time customers that'll say `When are you going to bring back that Kona coffee?'" said spokesman Chris Gimbl. "The name Kona itself has a certain recognition" among coffee drinkers, he added.
Kona's popularity with coffee drinkers and retailers alike has not waned despite an overall drop in US coffee consumption.
According to the National Coffee Association, about 108.3 million Americans turned to coffee for their daily caffeine fix last year, sipping an average of 3 cups a day -- down from 109.4 million regular drinkers downing 3.5 cups daily in 1999.
But don't tell savvy Kona growers the coffee market is declining.
"Our coffee is sold out each year before the next crop comes in," said Christine Sheppard, vice president of the Kona Coffee Council. "Nobody is wrong if they don't like Kona coffee; but once you do, nothing else quite satisfies the same way."
Kona plantings during the last decade have surged 175 percent as demand has increased. After harvesting 1,336 hectares this year, Kona farmers are expected to boost plantings by more than 10 percent annually during the next several years, according to industry officials.
Kona, which many devotees say has a rich flavor enriched by a mild roast, is one of the world's best-known and higher priced coffees, along with Jamaican Blue Mountain.
"A big part of the mystique is there is only so much of it," said Jim Wayman, chief executive of the Hawaii Coffee Co, which buys and roasts about 17 percent of the total Kona crop each year.
According to the US Agriculture Department, the 2002/2003 Kona harvest totalled 1.5 million kilograms, only 0.2 percent of the world's entire coffee crop.
Kona coffee is grown along Big Island's west coast, mostly by 650 family farmers who each have between three and eight acres of land. Some roasters offer key growers cash bonuses and even fertilizer to keep them from taking their coveted product to competitors.
"You deal with these people sort of like family," Wayman said.
The coffee's full taste is cultured by warm temperatures, an even distribution of rain during the year and porous volcanic soil that filters the moisture.
Bright-red Kona cherries, which often house two coffee beans each, are hand-picked about six times a year between October and early February, allowing riper beans with better flavour to be harvested at their peak.
But with richer flavor also comes a richer price.
A pound of Kona coffee purchased from a US retailer can command more than US$35 -- compared with US$10 to US$12 for a good Colombian or Mexican coffee.
To make Kona coffee more affordable, Hawaii Coffee and other roasters also offer "Kona blends" that contain only 10 percent Kona coffee and are about 70 percent less expensive than their pure Konas.
Starbucks, which purchased a substantial "premium lot" of Kona that it will distribute in pre-packaged bags, will sell a half pound for US$19.95. The coffee chain will look at the Kona crop next season to determine whether it will continue to sell the gourmet beans at its stores.

I love you in japanese

Japanese tend to speak indirectly or use an expression suited to the occasion, rather than to come right out and say "I love you."
For example, when they propose, they might say "Issho ni kuro shite kuremasen ka" which literally translated means "Won't you please share the difficulties of life with me?"

Wednesday, March 03, 2004

and another one... sex in the city?


Which Sex and the City Player Are You? Find out @ She's Crafty

You're upbeat, insightful, effervescent and imaginative.

Sometimes a little too imaginative... You're all about the subtext, about what's going on between the lines. You very rarely take anything at face-value.

You also have a tendancy to be a little neurotic and self-absorbed, and fall for people who are either (for the most part) emotionally unattainable or completely wrong for you.

That's okay, though, everyone loves you anyway. You're very well-liked. You always have a shoulder for your friends to cry on or an ear for them to gossip in. High-profile and fun, you're the life of the party.

Carrie quotes:
"You can't make friends with a squirrel. Squirrels are just rats with cuter outfits."

"I'm thinking balls are to men, what purses are to women. It's just a little bag but we'd feel naked in public without it."

"The only thing I've ever successfully made in the kitchen is a mess. And several small fires."

Another Test: Which country are you?



I am Spain!

You like rain on the plain, as well as interesting architecture and
a diverse number of races and religions.  You like to explore a lot, but sailing,
especially in large groups, never really seems to work out for you.  Beware of pirates
and dictators bearing bombs.  And for heavens' sake, stop running around bulls!
 It's just not safe!

Take
the Country Quiz at the href="http://bluepyramid.org">Blue Pyramid

Saturday, February 28, 2004

Taiwan, 228

It was August 6th, 1945, the US drop of the atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki was the beginning of the end of the Japanese empire.
Soon after the Japanese surrender and withdraw from the occupied China. Chiang Kai-Shek, the chairman of the Nationalists (KMT) send troops from China to Taiwan, to liberate the island from 50 years of Japanese occupation and rule.
This liberation turned out to be a new occupation and Taiwan became ruled by the Nationalists.
The liberators were initially welcome as they got rid of the Japanese, however they soon took over all the political and social power, leaving the Taiwanese in the same situation as when the Japanese were ruling.
The situation deteriorated even more and the Taiwanese people were starting to feel revolt.
On February 28, 1947 the people of Taiwan came out to the streets and took justice on their hands.
As a result additional troops were sent from China, to re-establish order. Things did calm down a lot but just because an enormous amount of people (10 to 20000) were arrested, beaten and shot. Among those people were the elite and educated class.
That day was just a confirmation that the only thing changed from the Japanese occupation of the occupier. The Taiwanese developed servant, obedient and compliant attitude in facing the new rulers

“They took a slavish character in order to ensure their personal safety, never daring to resist their rulers. On the other hand, the people both feared and were disillusioned by politics. Such paranoia and indifference towards politics suited the one-party totalitarism of the new occupiers. Taipei Times 28.02.04”

Two years after this incident, in the Main Land China, the Nationalists (KMT) were defeated by the Communists and seek refuge in Taiwan, conveniently ruled by the KMT.
This refuge was suppose to be temporary as the KMT, claimed to represent China and would eventually go back to take over the Main Land from the Communist.
Taiwan was designated by the Republic of China, while the main land China was designated by Mao Tze Tsung, The People’s Republic of China.
Taiwan was officially recognized by UN to represent the whole China until early 1970’s.
The KMT never got re-organized nor had the international support to go back to china and take over the country, from the communist.
The communist always claimed that Taiwan was another province of china to were the defeated army ran away to.
The politicians of both sides, pretty much seek the same: to rule both sides as one country.

Today, the situation remains unsolved, the lack of communication and diplomatic talks are contributing for a raise in the cross straight tensions.

Today, 28 February 2004, the Taiwanese are holding hands, in about one hour they will make history again. At 2:28 pm, local time, more than 1 million people are expected to hold hands in a nearly 600 km chain from the north to south.
Today they are holding hands to protest against the 446 missiles that China has pointed at the island.
Today the Taiwanese, are protesting against the enemy of their enemy back in 28.02.47…
One may say, "the enemy of the enemy!...it does not make much sense" and it is arguable... but whatever one's opinion and side, at least they are free to express their thoughts again!

Spring in southern Taiwan (Formosa Island)

Last night something extraordinary must have happened in the southern tip of this island.
It’s Saturday and I have to work, I should feel shitty about it but hey… it’s not the case.
I looked outside and the sky is blue, unusual in Tainan city at this time of the day. as its always hazy in the morning. Today I could see the sea, 7 km from my window.
I went down to catch the lift to the office and didn’t sleep on the way, as I usually do. I start looking out the window as the car was moving and realized that so much has changed since yesterday. All of the sudden Tainan is covered with flowers, all kinds of pink, scarlet red, orange, purple and yellow. The naked trees have blown up into this flowery explosion. It almost looks like, overnite, an artist had done a great job... Tainan looks like an oil painting.
Amazing how it could have happened in a single night, the power of nature is amazing. Spring came over night and it looked like nature was planning this so well that it didn’t miss a single detail. The show was well prepared and here it was being proudly exhibited.
As the van drove out of the city, the bands of birds dancing waltzes on the air, over the sugar cane fields, validated my thoughts, they were the announcers!
The sun, a red ball of fire trespassing over the palm tree leaves, completed the perfect post card.
Spring is definitely here!
I suppose that my ancestors must have arrived in Taiwan on a day like today and that is why they called "Ilha Formosa"*!


*Ilha means Island in portuguese
Formosa means beautiful in classic portuguese

Thursday, February 26, 2004

AVISO

"Tudo o que semeardes, colhereis"
lê-se na Bíblia, em Gálatas, VI, 7

Tuesday, February 24, 2004

Volta ao Mundo

Quando for grande, quero dar a volta ao mundo.
Foi sempre um desejo meu, desde pequeno. Conhecer terras, gentes, costumes e sei lá mais o quê.
O que é certo é que por enquanto ainda conheço pouco.
Ouço dizer por vezes que a nossa terra não é onde nascemos, mas onde nos sentimos bem. E já vi alguém que dizia isto, "pousar" não sei em quantos lugares diferentes e voltar à terra onde nasceu. Ironias do destino? Qual destino, qual quê!
Será que nos acomodamos demais quando envelhecemos? Será que desistimos assim de ânimo leve dos nossos sonhos?
Talvez.
Será que mesmo acomodados, somos felizes? Talvez dependa da definição de "felicidade" que cada um de nós tem.
Facto é que quem não conhece, não sente falta. Ninguém me diga o contrário.
Sou inconformado por natureza. "Estou bem onde não estou, porque só quero ir onde eu não vou." É bem verdade. Por isto e por vezes, chamam-me louco.
Mas quem é quem, hoje e sempre, para chamar alguém de louco? Porque bases e padrões se rege alguém para chamar louco a outro alguém? Pelas bases e padrões impostos pela sociedade?
E somente por uma pessoa não se regular pelas ideias impostas pela sociedade que o rodeia, é louco? Estranha forma de deixar viver. "Não... Não vou por aí."
E falta sempre qualquer coisa. Nunca se está bem. Ou melhor, está-se bem, mas podia-se estar bem melhor. Há qualquer coisa que não se tem, que não se viu, que não se sentiu.
No fundo, há um mundo por descobrir.
Há gente que não nasceu para estar parada. Que não se prende a uma terra, a um lugar, a uma casa, um carro.

Há gente que não se prende ao materialismo da vida.
Conheço gente que nasceu para crescer, trabalhar, comprar uma casa, um carro, ter um, dois, três ou mais filhos e depois de tudo isto, calçar um par de chinelos e ver televisão, recostado no sofá que até é de pele de não sei quê e custou três ordenados e é do maior conforto possível e não critico ninguém por isso.
Mas conheço gente a quem isso não lhes diz absolutamente nada.
"Um dia, vais sentir necessidade de parar, de arranjar um canto onde possas descansar."
Não digo que não. E quando esse dia chegar logo se vê. Logo se arranja.
Onde é a nossa terra? Onde é o nosso lugar? Onde é o meu lugar? E o teu, já o encontraste?
Se calhar estás no meu lugar e nem eu nem tu sabemos.
E estás inconformado. Porque esse lugar não é o teu. E estou inconformado. Porque não estou onde deveria estar.
E se calhar o meu lugar é aqui, mas não é agora.
Será que acabas por encontrar esse teu lugar? Será que acabo por parar, e assentar, e deixar de me revoltar, e deixar-me ficar?
Por agora e se assim te apetece, corre mundo, vê, ouve, vive e volta cá para contares o que viste, o que aprendeste, mesmo que não te apeteça depois cá ficar.
Vai valer mais do que ficar parado e inconformado.
Um dia, tu vais morrer, eu vou morrer.
Podemos até não deixar nada, nem casa, nem carro, nem aquelas acções tão bem cotadas na bolsa, nem o sofá confortável e ergonómico, nem a televisão com ecran plano e som stereo, nem o Hi-Fi com 500 Watts e sistema Surround Sound, nada. Mas vimos, ouvimos e aprendemos muito. E isso será sempre nosso. E isso, vamos nós levar connosco.
Mesmo que nessa altura não nos sirva de nada. Mesmo que nessa altura nos sirva tanto como as horas por outros passadas no sofá, a olhar para a tal televisão, a ouvir o tal CD preferido no tal Hi-Fi topo de gama. Mesmo assim.
Vais ver que te sentes melhor contigo próprio.
Vais ver que valeu a pena.
Vai lá, não hesites.
No fim, vais ver, vamos ver que fizemos bem.
Vamos embora.

Helder Blayer "Opramim" - Açores, Ponta Delgada
1997

Friendship in life

Many people walk in and out of your life. But only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.
To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart.
Anger is only one letter short of danger. If someone betrays you once, it is his fault; If he betrays you twice, it is your fault.
Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people.
He, who loses money, loses much; He, who loses a friend, loses much more; He, who loses faith, loses all.
Beautiful young people are accidents of nature.
Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself.
Friends, you and me ..... You brought another friend. And then there were 3 .... We started our group ... Our circle of friends .... There is no beginning or end ....
Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is mystery.
Today is a gift.

by unknown source sent by Mikka in Hensinkia, Finland - feb.2004