The Rich Tapestry of Taiwan’s Place Names, Part 1
April 20th, 2019
Tour guides in Taiwan must be well-prepared to answer all kinds of intriguing questions, including “Why does this place have that particular name?” Many Taiwanese place names hold captivating stories of their origins. Some are very straightforward. Taipei, meaning ‘North Taiwan,’ and Tainan, translating to ‘South Taiwan,’ are geographical references. Roughly halfway between the current […]
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How to Read a Taiwanese Temple, Part 3: Conventions and Offerings
April 7th, 2019
A little knowledge about the the habits and taboos of Taiwanese popular religion will help you, as much as is possible during a short visit, to grasp the ineffable nature of the faith that influences more than 90% of the island’s people. And as a thoughtful traveller, it goes without saying that you’ll wish to […]
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How to read a Taiwanese Temple, Part 2: Icons and Incense
March 18th, 2019
In the ancestor shrines which many Taiwanese families maintain, those who’ve passed away are represented by names on elegant but austere tablets. In almost every folk temple, however, gods and goddesses take the form of colourfully-attired effigies. Some of these josses (a word derived from the Portuguese word for god, deus) are no larger than […]
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How to Read a Taiwanese Temple, Part 1: Roofs and Doors
February 19th, 2019
Even without counting the ancestor altars that are found in many homes, Taiwan has tens of thousands of places of worship. Some of these shrines are no bigger than a sentry box, while others are multi-level palaces. In a good number of the former, the ceiling is so low that those who step inside to […]
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Tainan: The City That Never Changes (But Keeps Getting Better)
November 8th, 2018
The ancient city of Tainan is very close to Life of Taiwan’s heart. Between them, the founding team has lived in Tainan for well over half a century. The great appeal of Tainan, the reason why visitors come back again and again, is that it never changes. The former capital’s most famous landmarks, such as […]
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New Taiwan Food Book: A Culinary History of Taipei
October 10th, 2018
This is a very personal entry. I’m delighted to announce that this week sees the publication of A Culinary History of Taipei: Beyond Pork and Ponlai by Rowman & Littlefield. This book, which I co-wrote with Katy Hui-wen Hung, is the first English-language book that attempts to answer the questions: What do the Taiwanese eat, […]
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Studio Millspace: Beguiled by Taiwan’s Architecture
September 21st, 2018
Studio Millspace, specialists in the field of architectural photography, was established by Lucas K. Doolan and Chia-Lin Sara Lee in Auckland, New Zealand in 2012. Since the 2016 the studio has been based in Taipei, where Sara was born and lived until the age of 14. “We aim to represent architecture projects in the most […]
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Taiwan After Dark
August 6th, 2018
The sun has set but you know you won’t be able to sleep for a good few hours. You’ve no interest in hitting a bar, and you went to a top-notch restaurant for dinner so there’s no point in going to a night market. Department stores don’t do a lot for you, so what are […]
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When Rain Forces You Indoors in South Taiwan
July 20th, 2018
Between late September and early May, visitors to the southern third of Taiwan can expect long spells of dry, sunny weather. During the dry season, inclement conditions are not only surprising, but also make it hard to appreciate the history of Anping in Tainan or the grandeur of the Buddha Memorial Centre at Foguangshan. Fortunately […]
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Dodging Raindrops in Central Taiwan
July 10th, 2018
Central Taiwan enjoys an equitable climate yet heavy rain is possible between late May and early September. The region’s major population centre is Taichung, a municipality that now stretches from the coast to the high mountains. The city is growing faster than any other major settlement in Taiwan and has benefitted from some major infrastructure […]
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Much More than the Great Outdoors! Rainy Day Attractions in North Taiwan
July 3rd, 2018
Like the weather in other parts of the world, Taiwan’s weather isn’t entirely predictable, and even if you’ve planned your trip with careful reference to climate data there’s a risk rain might be falling on the day you hope to venture into the mountains or out to the coast. This is more likely to […]
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Highlights of Indigenous Taiwan, Part 3
August 31st, 2017
For Part 3, we’re going to the far south of the island. Alishan is the best known indigenous township in Taiwan’s southern half, but certainly not the only tribal district worth visiting.
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