Tainan’s Temples

In spite of some architectural handicaps like the one posted here yesterday, Tainan is still renown for its temples.
In my neighborhood, right besides the little Japanese house and opposite to the kitsch creation, both posted yesterday, there is a very nice little temple – the reason the house remains abandoned:


It’s not luck the fact that I have a temple right at my door step, in fact you can see temples literally all over Tainan and they come in all shapes and forms.
I leave just a few examples of the much more you can find in Tainan, all within a few hundred meters radius from where i live:

Evolução Arquitectonta

Almost everything has its times and eventually gets replaced by improved versions! Although I am an apologist for progress and development, I find it essential to maintain as much as possible the past alive. It helps the new generations understand where they came from and who they are.
But unfortunately this does not happen all the time.
The recovery of old patrimony and the natural evolution of modern architecture are sometimes destroyed and replaced by an ignorant need of exhibitionism of undefined kitsch.
This tends to happen more often in developing countries, immediately after emerging from a black period in their history, characterized by oppression at many levels.
When economies start to grow, sometimes money comes faster and easier than education and as to mark these days of economical prosperity, urban landscapes get marked forever – the nouveau rich est arrive’ confused, tasteless, and kitsch as ever.

Walking around Tainan city, we come across with a range of different house styles, some that truly marked a part of Taiwan’s history and from which we can still learn a lot today:

A bungalow made out of 100% natural materials, palm trees and bamboo – The typical aboriginal’s housing during many centuries in this island.


A town house built during the Japanese occupation (first half of the 20th century).
Today is abandoned right in the heart of the city (my front neighbor). I often ask my friends why they don’t take the opportunity and transform it in a residence or a nice lounge restaurant. The answer is first its old and people here prefer the new and then second it’s next to a temple where typically there are many ghosts.


And finally a house (my neighbor next door) built during the latest Tawian economic boom (late 20th century), whose architect (if I can call that person such name) was tripping big time on his 10 days-10 countries trip to Europe!


If I had the opportunity to influence progress here, I would not allow such kind of cultural terrorism in this beautiful ancient town and would restore the old charming houses even if we had to share them with the ghosts next door. After all, they are very friendly and share with us their beautiful temples!

Os deuses deviam estar loucos...

...ontem na cidade de Tainan. Parecia que todos os dragoes e personagens da mitologia chinesa tinham marcado encontro aqui nesta velha cidade. Por toda a parte, junto aos templos, assistia-se ao farnesim das dancas dos dragoes ao som dos tambores e musica que fazia lembrar opera chinesa. A cidade foi transformada num autentico palco de mitologia chinesa, coberta de uma neblina com cheiro a polvora proveniente dos efeitos pirotecnicos que rebentavam por todos os cantos, enchendo os ceus de floreados eufemeros.

"Dragon Lion's Legs", resting in between dances - Confusius Temple - Tainan - 21 Nov. 04

And at the end, nature will override man...

East section of the old town’s wall at "National Cheng Kung University's campus.

time and nature erases vestiges - Tainan - November 2004


and at the end, nature will override man... - Tainan - November 2004

Be the best...

Walking around in the "National Cheng Kung University's" campus, I came across with this setting, that at a first glance looked to me as if it was an altar:


Looking closer and I realized it was only a way to tell young people that they can be the best by following the instructions:

It underpins that you are the best when you are militarily superior.
I wonder where they got this idea from!!!

Make love not war!

Still my favorite tree...

“Banyan Tree” at the "National Cheng Kung University" - Tainan City - 21/11/04

How about if god was all of us?

There innumerous religions and believes, innumerous images and concepts of what god is.
Some adore it, some fear it, some kill for it and some couldn’t give a damn for it.
How about if god was one of us? Some kind of energy distributed evenly among each human being. That could well explain why often we hear that god is everywhere, that he created everything, he can hear and see everthing, that nothing in nature is created but everything is transformed.
This energy became matter and the matter evolved into what we are today and its evolution path is infinite. If we get out of our silly selfish boxes and realize this, we might have a great furure, if not, we might tear apart this great energy that we all form.
Looking back on how man kind has been dealing with the concept of god for the past 5 millenniums, I find it quite silly to follow blindly a man’s point of view, knowing that no one man is perfect and that his visions and interpretations of reality are 3 or 4 thousands years old.
By being blind and not questioning ourselves, humanity removed from itself some freedom for evolution. Humanity framed itself in paradigms with little space for a healthy evolution of the interpretation of reason of its existence.
We wasted millenniums in fighting and killing in the name of a man’s view of what god was for him. If this man said that god was all of us and only if we all contribute to the well being of those surrounding us, then god will be happy and we will be at peace today – the energy will be greatly positive. But instead this man said that only some are the chosen ones and he said that we have to fight the enemy and that it is why we are not at peace today – the energy is greatly negative.
Let us just suppose for a moment that this concept is a fact, then it is obvious that when we bring negative inputs to humanity, god (all of us) is not happy and when we bring positive inputs, god (all of us) is obviously happy.
The day that humanity will be able to live in peace, acceptance and respect, god (all of us) will be happy.
In the name of god (all of us), if you are fighting in the name of god, just remember that god might be all of us, including those you fight and if you do so you are killing part of your god.

PS.
Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrive hier soir!
I have to admit that I do not have this kind of reflections very often, but last night after a few glasses of Beaujolais Nouveau, my mind was illuminated by these thoughts! Was it the wine? If yes, my dear friends, this year the Beaujolais Nouveau is a special one!
‘A votre sante’!
Have a great weekend and be good to god, i mean to all of us!

illustrations adapted from here.

My Life's journey

It’s time to make a little balance of what this busy life journey has been to me:


Precisely two years ago I was landing in Taipei, about to start a new chapter of my life.
Professional circumstances brought me to Formosa Island, the same island that as a child, I would freeze amazed listening to my grandfather’s stories about the great Portuguese navigators. Maybe it was the way he describe it, maybe it was the name itself, Formosa remained in my mind as a fantastic island from a wonder world.
Back to 18 November 2002, although I always feel excited when visiting a country for the first time, I was feeling unhappy because I was leaving back the place that I considered home for the past eight years.
Leaving a place and moving to a new one is always very emotionally demanding, no matter how many times we repeat it in our life.
Since I was a child, I’ve been exposed to this:
First you have a regular life in a place, you discover your own comfortable zones and you enjoy it. One day, for some reason you have to leave and then you realize how much that place and people meant to you. You leave and when you arrive to the new place you hate it because you cannot find what and whom you just left behind. Then with time you start getting into your new routine, you start discovering your new comfortable zone and you enjoy it until one day, for some reason you have to leave and the process will restart all over again.
The more you do it the less traumatizing it is, and eventually, Planet Earth will be what you consider “home sweet home”.
People often ask me, with all this moving around, what do I consider myself to be?
If we were machines and if we could quantify the percentage of us in terms of influences of the places where we lived and allowed ourselves to be acultured by, then I would answer roughly that I was something like this:


But because, its not only the country where you live that makes you what you are, it is also who do you meet and deal with, the countries that you visit and all the other billions of factors that make you what you are: a unique human being.
So if I had to represent what I am, I could not think of a unique nationality that could represent me, perhaps this will be more representative: a blend of those billion factors that some how made me what I am:

Fleeing by Night - The Movie * * * * * *

It’s the 30's in Nanjing - China, the golden years for the wealthy Chinese bourgeois class.
Wei Ing Er, the daughter of a rich family exchanges correspondence with Shao Dung, the son of banker who is overseas studying in America.
She had a passion for Chinese Opera, he had a passion for music.
With time, this exchange of letters narrowed the distance between them and they become closely bonded.
When a Chinese Opera group arrived in town, Wei Ing Er’s father invites them to stay over in his immense house.
Wei Ing Er admires and follows closely the rehearsals and notices the amazing powerful performance and voice of the main actor - Lin Chung - an orphan raised by the opera company’s director.
Eventually Shao Dung returns to China with the intention to marry Wei Ing Er.
One night Wei Ing Er invites Shao Dung to the Opera, the night that marked their lives forever.

I just leave with you a glance of some moments of beauty and magic:
The voice of an opera singer freezes the body of a spectator, their love emerges with music and the power of the singer’s voice. The spectator in a fraction of seconds is aware of what’s happening and it can be seen in his glowing eyes.

A match lights two cigarettes and ignites a voice on a stage composed by the ruins of China’s Great Wall.

A loves B and B loves C.
A loves C and C loves B
A respects and accepts the fact that B loves C.
C tries to love B but B is afraid and runs away.
B tries to love A but A says its not possible to pretend to love.
B tries to go after C but its too late.
At the end….

I won’t tell you more, this movie is worth it to be seen, and there are no words to transmit the intensity of drama and beauty, of love and sorrow.

Review by David Ehrenstein, New Times:
"In the heart breaking tradition of Farewell to My Concubine, Fleeing By Night is a lush period piece that follows the love triangle of three men against the backdrop of the Chinese opera and wonderfully conveys a universal tale of unrequited love. Written and directed by a producer of both The Wedding Banquet and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, this film was an official selection of the San Francisco Lesbian and Gay Film Festival and the Los Angeles Lesbian and Gay Film Festival.
One of the most striking films to come out of Asia in recent years, this Chinese epic has everything: romance, history, spectacle and sheer go-for-broke melodrama. Yet, as directed by LI- Kong Hsu and Chi Yin from a screenplay by Hui-Ling Wang and Ming-Xia Wang, Fleeing By Night makes its greatest impression though subtlety. Set primarily in the 1930's, it tells of the unrequited passion of a theater owner's daughter and the cellist who would have been her fiancé for a mesmerizing Chinese opera star who is kept by a wealthy, controlling, yet oddly sympathetic lover."
Movie Type: Drama, Romance,
Director: Li-Kong Hsu and Chi Yin
Cast: Rene Liu as Wei Ying Er
Lei Huang as Hsu Shaodong
Chao-te Yin as Lin Chung
Country: China
Release Date: 2000

The Doors of Tainan

I noticed that the old doors of Tainan are often decorated with red bands containing Chinese characters. These are usually welcome messages for the good and at the same time they keep the bad away!
Red is the lucky color for the Chinese but not lucky enough to survive time.
Gradually red vanishes into pink and pink dissolves into white, but the message and the believes remain intact.
Alive cultural believes that still give a distinct look to the town!

The Doors of Tainan - 2004

True Colors

Following Drocas's suggestion posted at renas e veados, I checked my color and alike Drocas, I also liked the sound of it:

Check you birthday color here and see if you agree with its description!

Chinese Serenity II

Remember the picture I posted the other day showing a mother and daughter looking at something with very a serene expression?
This is what they were looking at:

A park surrounding one of Tainan’s temple - 2004

A walk in the new neighborhood

I am enjoying living and tripping in a part of this ancient city where many generations have passed by and left their marks.
My neighborhood is composed of small labyrinth alleys that remind me of Algiers old kasbah, except here the mosques are replaced with temples. Temples of all sizes and shapes but with a common feature: the burning essence that brings to the scenario a true mystic feeling.
The old structures remained perhaps just to tell us that the past existed.

This little old house remains still in a corner of an alley, it seems abandoned and unnoticeable to the busy passbyers who rush to grab their lost time.
This little house probably has witnessed so many stories, now lost in that lost time.
But if you stop, stay still, listen and look carefully, this little house is able to tell you those stories and bring back some of that lost time!

A room with a view

Finally installed in the new home and very pleased to have a balcony in my room with a great view. From this balcony, you can see many temples from all ages, shapes and believes. It’s quite a spiritual landscape!

I was enjoing the view when I caught sight of an icon that always makes me wonder why on hell a fanatic fascist choose logo so similar to the one of the Buddhist, to symbolize so different his cause!
At a first glance one might think that there is a revival of such a hate doctrine, when in fact it is in fact the symbol of a peaceful philosophy of life - Buddhism.
I try hard to shift my mind away from what might look and focus on what it really is.
After all I should be happy to have such friendly and spiritual neighborhood!

The view from my room – Tainan – Nov.2004

Welcome to my new home!

The planned move
Besides the accidental blog move to this new look, I also moved to new apartment (not so accidentally) right in the heart of the old city of Tainan.
Last Saturday night was party time at the new place. It was my friend Zeak’s birthday and the house warming party was transformed in a birthday party.


Happy Birthday Zeak!

Unplanned move

I was just trying on a new look when, by mistake I clicked on the wrong option.
Et voila’, without being prepared I kicked myself out of the previous template and moved into this one. It sounds like when I move home!
So as a result, I lost all my friend’s comments and links and it will take me a while to recover all of you.
If by any chances you pass by here, please leave the link to your blog again.
Thanks and sorry, this is what might happen when you play at work!

Chinese Serenity

Walking in a park in Tainan City, the serenity of this scene reminded me of these paintings that I've been posting here.

Mother and daughter - Tainan City, Taiwan - 2004

Chinese Beauty III

unknown author
Waiting forever, knowing and accepting it.

Chinese Beauty II

unknown author
Waiting... I am still waiting to discover the artist!

Chinese Beauty I

A friend in China, send me a collection of oil paintings, which I find particularly beautiful. I will be sharing them with you during the next few days.
I am trying to find out the name of the author and will disclose it if successful.
Meanwhile enjoy the serene beauty.

unknow author
Contemplating by the lake with aromatic lotus in a poetic atmosphere of bamboo shadow and shifting moon. One will be startled at the scenery with such exceptional charm.

Ok, but not in the family (for the time being)!

The second Taiwan Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride Parade put a spotlight on homosexual issues.

Organizers estimated around 3,000 people turned up to have their voices heard, their presence felt, and -- because it was a parade -- to fill the streets with music, dancing and bacchanalian revelry.

The fact that the parade-goers did not encounter much societal disapprobation, save the Christian saviors and the occasional annoyed motorist, might cast Taiwan as a gay-friendly Shangri La.

Last year, 1,000 people participated and the larger-scale event this year may indeed bode well for the Pride Parade's future in Taiwan, yet one attendee took a more jaded and perhaps more realistic view of Taiwan's state of affairs. "Society doesn't have a problem with gay people in the public sphere, but when gays enter the home, when a gay is in their family, that's where they draw the line."

True enough, unlike similar manifestations in New York, San Francisco, or Sydney, one did not catch a glimpse of parents out to support their gay children. But reaching that level of acceptance might be a long-term project, or at least an aspiration for the next Taiwan Pride Parade.

by Alonzo Emery
CONTRIBUTING REPORTER - Tapei Times

read more here.

Taiwan Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride Parade (台灣同志大遊行)

When: Saturday, from 1pm to 5pm
Where: Assemble at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
For more details: See a map of the Pride Parade route and information on how to donate to the parade and Taiwan Tongzhi Hotline at: http://1106.bdsm.com.tw/ (Chinese and English)

read more here.

Tainan - Um passeio histórico e místico

Hoje o Taipei Times publicou uma merecida reportagem 'a minha terrinha (dos ultimos 2 anos), Tainan - a velha capital da Formosa.

photo by Gavin Phipps - Taipei Times

The former capital city of the country has plenty of historical monuments to take a look and some good food to savor

A walking tour of a major metropolis might not seem to be the most convenient, enjoyable or safest way to sightsee while touring Taiwan. But life moves slowly in Tainan and exploring the historic city on foot is fun, especially for those with a whim for history or ancient and colorful Chinese architecture.

The nation's first official capital from between 1663 and 1885, Tainan is one of the few places in the country where history has been spared the wrecking ball and much of its long and colorful past can still be seen today. Walking is the most convenient way of seeing the 200 temples and countless Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644) and Qing Dynasty (1644 to 1911) structures that help make up Taiwan's history.

Read more here.

Pequim ataca Bush

A China quebra o voto de silencio relativamente aos candidatos 'as eleicoes norte-americanas, expressando pontos de vista comuns a uma grande parte da populacao mundial.
Oxala' que o povo Americano tambem tenham comprendido a dimensao do problema!


China criticized US President George W. Bush's war on Iraq yesterday, accusing an "arrogant" US of trying to "rule the world" and blaming the US-led invasion for sparking an increase in terrorist attacks.

In a rare commentary by former vice-premier and former longtime foreign minister Qian Qichen (錢其琛), China broke its practice of not commenting on US presidential candidates and chastised Bush for his foreign policies.

"The philosophy of the `Bush Doctrine' is in essence force," Qian said in the government-run English-language China Daily.

"It advocates the United States should rule over the whole world with overwhelming force -- military force in particular," he said.

While supporting Bush's anti-terrorism efforts, China opposed the war in Iraq and sees the US administration's policies as an example of superpower hegemonism, which Beijing frequently rails against.

"The current US predicament in Iraq serves as another example that when a country's superiority psychology inflates beyond its real capability, a lot of trouble can be caused," Qian said.

"But the troubles and disasters the United States has met do not stem from threats by others, but from its own cocksureness and arrogance," he said.

Far from winning peace for itself and the Arab world, Washington has "opened a Pandora's box," intensifying ethnic and religious conflicts, he argued.

"The Iraq war was an optional war, not a necessary one, and the pre-emptive principle should be removed from the dictionary of the US national security, former US secretary of state Madeleine Albright also said," Qian wrote.

Mounting hostile sentiments in the Muslim world toward the US have already helped al-Qaeda recruit more followers and suicide martyrs, Qian said.

"The Iraq War has also destroyed the hard-won global anti-terror coalition," he said. "Instead of dropping, the number of terrorist activities throughout the world is now on the increase."
by AFP, BEIJING
published in Taipei Times

Tough Mondays

Even eating a meal with chopsticks can be an exhausting task on a Monday morning!

Taiwan should improve their English level

It is quite often seen a bit everywhere in Taiwan, a poor standard of the English language.
Although great efforts are visible among the young generations, we come across with innumerous careless mistakes, affecting the government (official reports), businesses, etc, etc.
This would not be a problem if Taiwan would only interact with it self, but we are in the 21st century and in a dynamic economy like Taiwan, an interaction with the world is unavoidable.
Another serious example is when the local post offices have street names lists with wrong spellings. When they receive a letter with the right spelling in English and as the majority of the post office employees can't speak English, they rely on their list to verify the correspondent Chinese name. Because their list does not contain the official English spelling, the letter is either returned to the sender as "Non-existing address" or is delivered in a wrong place.
I've been personally affected by this problem several times and had to take a photo of my street's plate name to bring to the post office, for them to understand the actual problem.

Check out an example of shop that has the intention to advertise their product: Instead of writing "Fruit Ice-cream", they write "Special Ice & Fruit Food". This is an example of a direct translation, which sometimes does not make any sense (not to mention the spelling error).


Another example published today in the Taipei Times (the main Taiwanese News Paper in English), they meant Kelly doesn't eat much of that crap:

phto: AP
At 53kg, something tells us Kelly Chen doesn't each much McDonald's.

PS. Nothing to do with the subject of this post, but I do not want to make any publicity to such company so here are the facts published in Taipei Times:

"Hong Kong singer/actress Kelly Chen (陳慧琳) was put in a tight spot last week when reporters began pressing her about her role as a spokeswoman for McDonald's with the documentary Supersize Me, which is set to be released in the city. Chen, who clocks in at 53kg, offered the stock response from the McDonald's camp that the fast food restaurant now offers low-calorie options, like salads, and that it's a great family locale. No one pointed out, though, that with salad dressing added, the salads are just as calorie-rich as a Big Mac."

Have a great Halloween weekend and avoid fast food!

Happy Halloween

You can drink, you can fly, but at diferent times!
Happy Halloween

Democracia Imatura

O comportamento infantil de certos politicos deixa-nos a pensar se serao pessoas com capacidade de nos representar e de certa forma influenciar as nossas vidas.
Aqui na Asia e’ frequente em certas culturas e regimes democraticos, os membros do paralamento acabarem as sessoes ‘a porrada.
E’ do conhecimento publico este tipo de cenas tanto no parlamento de Taiwan como no da Coreia do Sul.
Ontem, aqui em Taiwan discutia-se no parlamento, a compra de armas aos USA. O partido da oposicao, KMT, bloqueou a compra com o voto negativo e afirma que ficou ofendido com a declaracao de Colin Powell (Secretario de Estado Americano) em Pequim: “Taiwan nao e’ uma nacao soberana.”
Apesar de compartilhar os sentimentos do partdo da oposicao, o partido do actual governo, DPP, insiste na compra de armamento aos USA.
Resultado, nao chegaram a um acordo e acabaram a sessao ‘a batatada, ou melhor ‘a arrozada (ja que as armas que utilizaram para se atacarem mutuamenete foi nada mais nada menos que as lancheiras de arroz.
Coisas de democracias imaturas!


photo: Lin Cheng-Kuan, Taipei Times
DPP Legislator Chen Chong-yi yesterday throws a copy of the proposed arms procurement plan at opposition lawmakers as the legislature failed to pass the budget again due to the opposition's boycott.

Pan-blues block arms deal citing Powell's comments
The statute governing the arms deal with the US failed to pass the Procedure Committee yesterday as the pan-blue camp claimed they objected to the statute in response to US Secretary of State Colin Powell's statement that "Taiwan is not a sovereign state," and the meeting ended in confusion as the lawmakers from the two camps threw their lunch boxes and other items at each other to vent their frustration.
The pan-blue camp lawmakers boycotted the statute yesterday, saying that if Powell does not recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state, then Taiwan should refrain from buying weapons from the US.
By Debby Wu – Taipei Times reporter
Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004

Grab life now, it’s not going to last for ever!

Although the English is not quite OK, the message of this sentence is very powerful.
I think they meant something like this:

The excitement in your life depends on how you pursue your dreams!

A felicidade na tua vida depende da forma como tu tentas realizar os teus sonhos!

Veneza em Taipei

At least four die as storm hits Taiwan
LOCAL DEVASTATION: Heavy rains, flooding and severe winds left their mark on the country as Typhoon Nock-Ten brushed trough Taiwan.
At least four people died after Typhoon Nock-Ten pounded northern Taiwan with heavy rains and strong winds yesterday.


photo: Tang Sheng-Yang, Taipei Times
Aisan 3rd Road in Keelung suffers the worst flooding since the devastating Typhoon Nari in 2001. Extensive flooding resulting from Typhoon Nock-Ten leaves the usually bustling street deserted.

Mother natures attacks fiercly this year: so far 10 typhoons and 97 earthquakes in Taiwan!

The amazing power of martial arts

A group of young Shaolin monks perform in Wuhan, China.
photo: AFP

Taiwan Martial Arts Festival
at The Taipei Youth Activity Center (青少年育樂中心 Y17), 17 Renai Rd., Sec. 2, Taipei (北市仁愛路二段17號).
The center is open from 10am to 9pm, except for Oct. 31, when it will close at 6pm.

New technologies in ancient rituals

photo: AP
A devotee of the Shrine of Jui Tui has his tongue pierced with a power drill as he walks in a procession for a vegetarian celebration yesterday in downtown Phuket, Thailand. Ritual vegetarianism in Phuket traces it roots back to the early 1800s. The festival begins on the first evening of the ninth lunar month and lasts for nine days. Participants in the festival perform acts of body piercing as a means of shifting evil spirits from individuals onto themselves, in addition to not eating meat.

The road to home

Green Tea* Pickers return home after a hard workday at the tea plantations on Ali Shan Mountain’s slopes.


* - Green Tea is considered one of the most healthy beverages by the World Health Organization.
Checkout more on green tea here.


“In 2001, the World Health Organization determined that men and women of Japan enjoyed the longest "Healthy Life Expectancy" in the world. Scientists have long associated this longevity with, in part, the Japanese people's regular consumption (often over 10 cups a day) of tea. Researchers at the Saitama Cancer Center Research Institute reported in 2000 that people who drank more than ten cups a day of tea experienced significantly better heart and immune system health than those who drank under three cups a day. Green tea is known to contain the highest concentration of health-promoting antioxidants.”

“Green Tea Increases Energy Expenditure in Weight Loss StudyResearchers found that daily administration of green tea extract was more effective than caffeine in stimulating thermogenesis (generation of heat). Green Tea containing 50mg caffeine and 90mg epigallocatechin galllate (a catechin) taken 3 times daily was shown to increase daily energy expenditure by 4.5% compared with the placebo, according to the study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.”