Hooters Taipei... Oxymoron?

The food sucks but the girls are friendly and who the hell goes there for the food anyway?

I tell you one thing that you shouldn't miss is their hula hoop show which is worth the poor dining experience. The girls all work together and use several hula hoops at a time around the waist and even the neck. They even pass hula hoops to each other at the same time.

They're really good at it with those slim, fit, trim, bodies... uh... I mean their highly professional technique. If the hooters were any bigger, they might have a harder time doing the show!

I've got some pics lying around somewhere. I'll see if I can post some soon!

Taiwan Attractions on Google Earth

Man, who takes the time to make this stuff?
Here's a great link to download Taiwan placemarks for Google Earth:
http://www.taiwanease.com/theknowledge/images/7/7c/Making_Taiwan_easy.kmz

Courtesy of Taiwanease magazine!

Adopted Boy and Sell Out Boy

Not only a real adoptee (and upset by media reports of it) but also a "Son of Taiwan", Chien Ming Wang, pitcher for the Yankees is all the rage here in Taiwan.

First, about the adoption. The media found out that he is actually the son of his aunt and uncle and that he had been given to his parents. Not really a big deal in the Chinese world where the burden of kids are sometimes shared amongst relatives in this fashion. He's still considered blood, after all. An outside adoption might have been more of a shocker since Chinese usually frown on this.

Besides, his real adopted parents now are the Taiwanese who have put him up on the altar for the whole world to adore.

Not much of a spectacular performer, Wang has now lent his acting skills to selling just about anything in the Taiwanese universe from McDonalds to computers to financial services. Jesus! Sell out city! Well, enjoy your few years of fame while you can Wang. The here today, gone tomorrow trend is the norm for celebrities in Taiwan. We'll be wondering what ever happened to you a few years from now.

Walking on the Monument

I wonder how many of these people (or their parents) walking on the CKS monument across the cordon were true Greens.

As part of the so-called rectification campaign, the DPP has proposed changing the nature of this structure and the grounds surrounding it (including demolishing the walls around the park) and renaming it Taiwan Democracy Hall.

Could it be that these people were jumping the gun in showing their democracy? Or were they just be Taiwanese, that is, breaking the rules because they could...

I just hope the art on the structure survives the onslaught of future walkers.

When Darkie becomes Darlie (for obvious reasons)

Say hello to pearly white teeth "Black Man Tooth Paste". Very commonly seen here in Taiwan, this toothpaste is somewhat of a throwback along the lines of Aunt Jemima syrup.

Bought by Colgate in 1985, "Colgate's arch-rival Procter & Gamble learned about the sale and immediately went to work to use it to their advantage. Both companies were releasing a tartar-control formula that year, and P&G was happy to have the opportunity to portray its rival as racist. It hired a public relations firm to surreptitiously slip information to activists and newspapers about Colgate's disreputable Asian brand."

In response to the outrage in the English speaking world, Colgate "announced that it was changing the name to Darlie and making the man on the package an abstraction of indeterminent race."

Ironically, what went unnoticed was that the Chinese name remained the same, "" '黑人牙膏' (in English, "Black Man Toothpaste"), has not changed; a Chinese-language advertising campaign reassured customers that "Black Man Toothpaste is still Black Man Toothpaste"."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darlie


Not to be outdone another local brand has popped up with the label 'Whiteman Toothpaste' (I kid you not!). Perhaps some of you might be inspired to come up with a brand of toothpaste of your own: Mountain People Toothpaste? Sunburned Man Toothpaste? Intoxicated Man Toothpaste? Lily-White Girl Toothpaste? .... Come on! Chip in!

The Grand View makes for a difficult view

This line is actually a long painting. Due to proportion problems it flattens out to this on the Web.

I just wanted to tell you that time is running out to see the Grand View exhibit and the Ju Ware on view at the newly renovated Palace Museum.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/12/28/news/taipei.php

Unfortunately some of the paintings are in very dimly lit rooms. Also, you'll have to fight large crowds visiting the museum lately. So basically it might be as annoying as having to view this awkward piece of art.

Girl Typology

Do Taiwanese ladies fall into the same categories as Japanese ladies?

Here is a cartoon/diagram from TIME showing some general categories of women in Japan. What struck me was the similarities between them and ladies here.

Do you agree?

Challenging Taiwanese Birds

"Even the biggest of birds can fit in our pants" reads the Pants King store banner.

Let's put it to the test.

Borat Poster in MRT

Yeah! Ba-le-te is here!

Nice touch with the statuette. But will it be enough to get Taiwanese into the theaters to see it?

(Strange: It says it opens 3/23. I guess that's the right opening day.)

Tokidoki captures the essence of Asians

All the Asian cuteness, all the Asian chic but 100% Italian. That's Tokidoki, an anime type of art now seen at Le Sportsac all over Asia.







It's actually kind of nifty stuff. Ok, ok I'm not going soft on you all...

Lantern Festival is here

Two locations in Taipei:
a) lantern displays around CKS Memorial Hall
b) lantern tunnel on RenAi Rd. near the SYS Memorial and City Hall


http://english.taipei.gov.tw/TCG/index.jsp?categid=36&recordid=9597

Lantern Festival 2007

Street Entertainment

Here was a freaky looking fella performing in Xi Men Ding.

I've noticed that street entertainers are really starting to happen here with musicians and sometimes even a little drama.

Around Warner Village (or whatever it's called now) you can see entertainers along the lines of what you can see in Barcelona, Spain on La Rambla.

ARCHIVES: Brushes with Fame

I have to say that I've had a lot of chances to meet close up with celebrities in Taiwan. Here are a few pictures from the archives.

The top one is me with Yang Nai Wen, a gorgeous singer with a mature sense of music (for the Taiwan scene). Wu Bai once described her as the only singer that seriously threatened his bands status.
This is me shooting hoops with Jackie Wu and Liu Er Jin in Xi Men Ding. It's funny because I'm not that great at basketball. However, I did manage to shoot one basket after his entourage grabbed me and thrust me into the spotlight. I got a red enveloppe with a $1000 bill in it for my trouble.

Sent to me by a student...

...and very typical of English mistakes in Taiwan.

Variety is the Spice of Life

And thank God for variety in the world!

Where is Miss Taiwan? Oh well, Miss China will have to do...

(the original link is here: http://www.mateodeacosta.com/miss1.jpg . Check out Miss Kazakhstan on the left http://www.modelgraphy.com/us/show_photo.php?2208.13940 . Suck on that Borat!)

Borat Finally Makes It to Town

Borat has finally made it to Taiwan and Asia in general. Taiwan will open March 31. The big question is, will Asians get the humor?

http://www.varietyasiaonline.com/content/view/680/

I wrote a piece earlier about Borat which is a good backgrounder about lost in translation cases as well as explaining why it takes so long for these films to get to the island:

http://islaformosa.blogspot.com/2006/12/santa-is-coming-to-town-but-borat.html

Can anyone take a picture of the Chinese version Borat poster and send it to me? I'm gonna go out and see if I can find it today...

Speaking of Aluba...

This is Aluba 阿魯巴 and it gives a good idea of what the cartoon in the Wikipedia means...

And there seems to be a load more videos of this on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=aluba&search=Search

In defence of Wikipedia

Wikipedia is under a lot of flak these days for being less than accurate and less than forthcoming with some of its employees.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2007/02/27/2003350261

I say cut it some slack. In the scheme of things, it's pretty new. On top of it, it updates quite quickly. All it needs is a little time!

This blog owes a great deal to Wikipedia! I remember the feeling when I found out that Aluba is called Happy Corner in English. I couldn't find anything anywhere about it. And there it was in Wiki!

http://islaformosa.blogspot.com/2006/12/hazing-aluba-style.html

I think these kinds of inaccuracies are inevitable in any kind of information. They need to be worked out and debated. What we really need to have, however, is somewhere to start if we are going to make any sense of anything. Wikipedia is that starting point!

Without something to put some order into everything we are lost. Even stereotypes, although erroneous, are an attempt to put some kind of order to things.

For now, I have this to say. The Wikipedia remains my #1 source. If you wish to challenge my musings based on it, then so be it. I'm big enough to admit when I'm wrong! So, bring it on and I'll consider your different points of view!

Credit Card Slaves and the Strawberry Generation

How appropriate this card is considering the country is going to hell due to the credit card companies and the wave of credit card slaves they have created.

Well, I think the blame needs to be spread around. Partly to the credit card companies for being so greedy, partly to the banks who are so eager to earn money from the credit card companies, partly to the government for not seeing this coming or doing anything about it promptly and partly to schools and parents for not educating their kids (the Strawberry Generation) about using credit responsibly.

Their is a great article in Taiwanease called "Maxed Out Youth". Hopefully this fine magazine will have their website up soon (I've been told the first week of April).

http://www.taiwanease.com/
(UNDER CONSTRUCTION)

This is what I presume it will be like...
http://www.taiwanease.com/theknowledge/index.php?title=Main_Page

RANDOM PICTURE

I really like this pic too since it is eye-catching and combines the old and new in such a bizarre way.

Some kids learn about firefighting techniques as the local temple gods watch over them.

More Ostrich Fun

Just saw this pic which is obviously in Taiwan and very funny.

Wrote something earlier about ostriches in ZhuWei:

http://islaformosa.blogspot.com/2006/07/interview-with-zhuwei-ostrich-man.html

Happy Chinese New Year Everyone!

Welcome to the Year of the Pig!
Please don't try this at home (or in the park)!

Get your Shark Fin! NT$xxxxx a kilo!

Catch all the highlights of DiHua Street around Chinese New Year!

Chinese New Year 2007 DiHua Street

Taipei Game Show 2007

Catch all the highlights here:

Taipei Game Show 2007

Obsession with poles

Although this may strike you as bizarre, women are actually studying stripping for exercise.

http://www.asian-sirens.com/blog/comments.p
hp?id=1229_0_1_0_C

I, for one, have noticed that the Taiwanese are fascinated by pole dancing. I was once in the subway and noticed a crowd of people around one of the doorways. When I got close, I noticed that a mom was encouraging her little boy to perform on that pole in front of the door much to the delight of the other passengers.

Also, I have seen teenage girls practicing their moves on the jungle gyms late at night in a public park near where I live. Totally caught on my night vision video cam!

Finally, a friend of mine who went to Australia for his honeymoon reported that some gyms there offer pole dancing as the latest and greatest since body combat. If it picks up, expect the pole dancing craze to hit here in Taiwan within the next year. It would be a welcome change from all the lame yoga we have now!

A Whisky by any other Name

I really don't know what possesses me to research this stuff. I guess I'm just naturally curious. I was watching tv and I saw this cheesy ad for 'Prime Blue' whisky.

I did a Google search and came up with some interesting info about the whisky market in Taiwan, particularly 'Matisse'.

Here's the link:
http://www.maltmadness.com/mm14a.html#14-14

Here are some of the highlights:

"Many people said that Taiwan is the 'Liquor Paradise'.
That is not only because there is no custom tax for whisky, but also because there are so many choices of liquor in this small island country."

Every year "every Taiwanese drinks 0.5L whisky, 0.1L Brandy, 0.5L wine and 0.25L import Beer," a very large number indeed.

"For many western whisky lovers, Matisse is a mysterious name, probably only very few people notice it from Magazine or IWSC some time ago. Matisse was created by some Taiwanese three years ago, the whole purpose was to create an Taiwanese' taste whisky."

"It is believed the liquor shop has 100% margin on Matisse while only 10% margin on normal blend whisky like Johnnie Walker and Chivas."

There are some other interesting comments about how Matisse may be made OEM by a Scottish distiller. Also, there is some insight into the gift giving value of a bottle of whisky in Taiwan. So, check out the article.

If you are interested in Prime Blue there is the start of something here in the wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Blue_Pure_Malt_Scotch_Whisky
Says it "can also be found in select outlets in the UK". Hmmm, going up the world!

Next time you're in the market for a whisky, don't be suprised when you see the freaky Taiwan brands in the store!

Mongolian Doctor = Quack

I thought this was a funny little article about Mongolians studying to be doctors in Taiwan.

The thing is that the Mandarin word for 'quack' is the characters for 'Mongolian doctor'.

The term MengGu DaiFu (Mongolian Doctor) probably refers to quackery because Chinese would have considered outside medicine quite barbaric, thus giving it a bad name.

I wonder if anyone informed (or should have informed) the Mongolians of the slight against their people.


http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2007/02/06/2003347871

Strawberry Picking in Miaoli

The other week I had a chance to go to Miaoli to see the strawberry situation there.

With the great weather we've been having this year it was great fun! My nieces especially enjoyed calling to a pair of fair sized turkeys in a nearby field.

Here's an interesting thing that I learned. Apparently Taiwanese don't use scarecrows as much as we do. I did see one mannequin scarecrow but it was unconvincing. What I did find though were volleyball like nets with real live birds or bird corpses in them. Locals apparently can buy these birds live and put them in the nets to scare the others.

Farm life, a cruel end to many an animal's life. Gobble, gobble!