Dragon Boat Festival 2008

Catherine & I headed over to Dajia Riverside Park for the annual Dragon Boat Festival (端午节). We took the MRT to the Yuanshan station and headed to a part of the city that we have yet to explore. The bus situation was a bit questionable so we jumped in a taxi and NT$100 later, we arrived at the park.

It was overcast and toasty warm early in the day. The photos below are evidence of the gray tones. It took us several minutes to get to the area where the races were taking place, a big park!

On our way to the festivities, we both agreed that we don't check out enough cultural activities in Taiwan and vowed to work to change that.

We had a great time and I hope you enjoy these photos of our day.

Ready to brave the muggy day at the park.

The celebration from a distance.

This is the dragon display at the entrance.

My sweetie pie.

I, reluctantly, posed for several photos. She is so photogenic. I, on the other hand, think photos do little more than accentuate my not-so-encouraging hairline...lol.


Off to the races! The boats were pretty far from the shore so good shots were tough to get.

Watching the rowers and seeing how long a race lasts gave me an appreciation for the athleticism of the teams.


Most of the races were closely contested.

A victorious team returning to shore. The TV cameras were busily interviewing many of the participants.

A cool look at the intricacy of the boat design.

The female teams garnered a lot of excitement and attention from the media.

Not sure what belly dancing has to do with dragon boat racing, but they were nice to look at.


Another fun day with Catherine. It turned out to be a rain-soaked afternoon but we managed to see the sights regardless. Next year I plan on getting a better spot on the shoreline in order to capture the boats in action up close...stay tuned!

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Happy Lunar New Year! Today is the first day of the year according to the lunar calendar. It's the year of the rat; which means, according to legend, it should be a good year for material prosperity. I have taken a few shots of some of the small displays I have come across in the city in honor of the holiday.


It's the year of the rat, hence the cartoon rodent depicted on the pillar.

Manners Police in China

Pssst Taiwan, pay attention!

The 2008 Olympic games are going to be held in Beijing, China. The government has taken extraordinary steps in preparing the city for the flood of foreigners and press. One of the most curious steps they have taken is the release of a book of manners that has been widely distributed among the citizens. The topics include appropriate behavior at a sporting event, fitting behavior in public, and proper greetings to those of the opposite sex. The powers that be hope to stop the rude behavior in public that has saturated Chinese society. The government has dispatched hundreds of officers to help enforce the standards and have promised stiff penalties if citizens don't comply...

I am 100% behind this idea.

The Taiwanese leadership could take a cue from this move and start a campaign to stop such lovely acts as spitting, picking your nose, passing gas, and ignoring lines in public.

This is not a radical idea...just common sense. I see these acts on a daily basis and it's nauseating.

Obama in 2008! Barack the Vote!

The real deal. He officially announced his candidacy for the presidency today, thank god. What an interesting guy. He is very charismatic and has some great ideas/intentions.

One thing I especially like is his candor. His stances on the issues are crystal clear, which is a welcomed sight...for too many of those in D.C. leave you guessing. He unequivocally states the war in Iraq is a mistake and he hasn't wavered on that stance. He is on record as being opposed from the get-go. He opposes the death penalty, a brave stance in today's political climate. He would like to pick up where the Clinton White House left off so far as universal health care is concerned. Regardless of the cost, I think it's a necessary thing if we are going to sustain a population that is getting older at a rapid pace. There are many other stances he has that I support. I am sure I will be addressing them in the future.

Many have speculated that he can't win because he is a relative newcomer in D.C.. I disagree. I believe a young energetic outsider might be what we need to get the country back on track. The country is about as screwed up as I have seen it in my lifetime...

I really like the fact that he has already aired his dirty laundry in the 2 books that he has published. This means the mean-spirited attack dogs of the religious right won't be able to use these things in their fear mongering campaign. He makes no secret of the fact that he drank and did cocaine while in college. It's also well known that he is a smoker and poker player. These things only strengthen his appeal. He is a normal guy with a few skeletons in his closet and weaknesses just like you and me.

Let's get moving and elect this great guy!! The election is just 20 months away...lol.