I admit it. This picture was taken a few years ago, but I think I still look vaguely like that. Depends on the day (and the time of day). And today, just before I uploaded this picture, an Indonesian English student told me how much she liked my nose. I heard that a lot in Indonesia. Apparently, a large nose like mine is a good …
Read the full story »I’ve had a brochure for the Jing-Mei Human Rights Memorial and Cultural Park in my knapsack for a long time. I just never had the opportunity to go check it out until recently. Despite its size, the park wasn’t the easiest place in the world to find. There is a handy little map in the brochure, but that didn’t help much.
The jumping off point for …
Zhao Jiping is one of the best-known composers in China. Among his work are the film scores for several famous movies, such as Raise the Red Lantern and Farewell My Concubine. He’s known for his ability to combine traditional Chinese instruments and music with conventional western orchestral styles. On Saturday night, the Taipei City Chinese Orchestra performed some of his most famous pieces in a …
Quite a few weeks ago, I treated myself to a ticket for a performance at the National Theater here in Taipei. I stuck the ticket to my refrigerator with a magnet and then sort of forgot about it. I knew I had the ticket and I had plans to go, but I didn’t remember much about what had jumped out at me about the performance. …
A new MRT line opened up recently in Taipei. According to the brochure from Taipei Metro that I picked up, it is called the Xinzhuang Line. It’s orange in color on the MRT maps and currently has 13 stops. It starts at Zhongxiao Station on the blue line and ends at Fu Jen University. According to the map, it will be extended to at least …
The streak of rainy weather is continuing in Taipei, so I figured it was a good time to drop in on a couple of museums. MOCA, the Museum of Contemporary Art, is right around the corner from where I live, so I headed there first.
I really like MOCA. The exhibits are always interesting and the art is spread out over two floors in a series …
The man at center stage was wearing a very colorful and elaborate costume. He stood there for a moment and then slowly raised one leg and pointed his foot at the audience like it was a kind of weapon. On his foot was a shoe with a three- or four-inch-thick white wooden platform. He grabbed his foot with one hand, twisted it to the side …
Not much of interest happened this past week. I passed some time reading two Sherlock Holmes novels. I read A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of the Four. As far as I know, A Study in Scarlet was the first story that Arthur Conan Doyle wrote about Sherlock Holmes. I found it interesting partially because I could contrast it with the first episode of …
It’s a cliche, but it’s hard to believe that it is already January of 2012. I seem to have lost all track of time – years and months and even days. I was handed my pay slip by my company the other day, and I had no idea what it was. I didn’t even know it was pay day. I had this idea it was …