Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall, Taipei

I used to walk up to Guan-fu sourth road along Zhongxiao East Road as my walking routine when possible and physically capable.  These days, I have been trying to build up my strength and stamina even more by walking a bit longer a distance- bodily condition permitted--- and, walking all the way down to the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall.  En route, I'd be doing my work on DWM whenever a rest is taken. (Walking and working at large, I guess. lol)

The little increase in the distance I traversed, interestingly, brought me to some scenes in the neighborhood that I grew up in that I had never known. 8-X 8-O lol

In addition to the kite-flying, doggie-walking and all other outdoor activities imaginable... I found one of my favorite sights... water dance....


I love viewing the water dance from two main angle.... facing Taipei 101 or the front of the Memorial Hall.




The clips with Taipei 101 were taken on various days as indicated by the different colors of lights on Taipei 101 building in the background with one of the rainbow color representing each day of the week starting from Red for Monday. (I didn't know that myself until, one day, when sitting by the fountain waiting for the water dance to start, I heard this guy pointed it out to his pals. lol)



The first half of the above clip with the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall in the background aimed to capture the entire thing.  As a result, I had to sit pretty far away from the fountain give the limited capacity of my dear Canon A570is.  Funny enough, though it is sort of difficult to have a clear view of the water dance itself, the people walking around makes it looks almost like a shadow play (The unforeseen consequences, I guess.).  The second half of the clip was taken the day before the Golden Bell Award and the big bright structure in front of the memorial hall is actually the stage setup for the Golden Bell Award.

Something else I enjoy watching is the march of the military soldiers and the flag ceremonies, which takes place on a daily basis.  Following is a clip capturing the march of the military soldier and the flag lowering ceremony on Oct. 29th, 2012.



Since I am not much of a morning person and don't see myself waking up that early only to capture the clips to show you the Flag raising ceremony, I found a clip on youtube capturing the flag raising ceremony.



Pictures and clips taken between Oct. 21 to 29, 2012

Murano (莫拉諾) cafe

I have walked past the Murano (莫拉諾) cafe in the neighborhood a million and a time but have never been in there.  However, I have always been marveled by the beautiful stained glass decorations in side.  Finally got to go in when hanging out with this friend today.

Apparently, some of them beautiful stained glass are Tiffany grade!

My first experience with Golden Bell Award

During my ordinary daily walk the other day, I got to Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and saw people busy putting up some stage kinda thing.  So I heard from the passersby... it was the preparation work for the Golden Bell Awards.

When I walked down to the park again on Thursday, I saw the huge bright light and voice broadcasting... (thank God not broadcasting my thoughts.  8-O 8-X lol)  Walking closer, I realized that it was the rehearsal of the Award ceremony.

Knowing that the award was to take place on Friday, the day after, I made an effort to go back to the award site although I knew for sure that I wouldn't be able to catch them people doing the red carpet walk because my doctor's appointment was in Keelung after 7 PM.   It didn't matter though... I made it to the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall a bit past 8 and saw the live broadcasting of the award ceremony.

So it is.  Though I was invited not to do the catwalk on the red carpet, close enough an encounter... my first close-up experience with a major national award...  lol

At the same time, interesting to take video clips using my grandpa Canon A570S while the big boys were operating the "REAL CAMERA."  lol

Eagle at the Keelung Harbor Oct. 23, 2012

Sighted an eagle again at the Keelung Harbor.

Nice sight!






Ratology- Handicapped at Large: An eagle at the Keelung Harbor: Went back to Keelung today to have my physician uncle fixing my bronchitis.  En route, sighted was a flying eagle over the harbor again... ...

The temple at Keelung Miaokou 基隆廟口奠濟宮

I decided to go back to the temple at Keelung Miaokou the other day to take another look of the temple from the inside.  Sure, for someone with thought broadcasting symptom still, it's not really the best thing to do to visit religious venues such as temples alike.  Yet, I managed to keep my head in one piece while going in to the temple with all due respects so as to share the view with you- Taiwanese folk culture- with limited my grandpa Canon A570S.

True.  Traveling might be hard at times... in the body or in the head... but I am determined to see a bit more of the world each every day.




10/23/2012

Ratology- Handicapped at Large: The temple & Keelung Miaokou 奠濟宮/基隆廟口: Since I was in Keelung, I had to go to the Miaokou Night Market where one could find all types of nice eats and a whole lot of them are trad...

紅毛城 Museum of Fort San Domingo

Finally moved my sorry behind all the way up to 紅毛城 or Fort San Domingo, which is located in the New Taipei city, over looking Tamsui River and the distant Guanyin Mountain.

From 紅毛城之遊 The trip to Museum Fort San Domingo

The entrance at the street level, the "South Gate" is the only Chinese architecture remaining.

From 紅毛城之遊 The trip to Museum Fort San Domingo

The Museum of Fort San Domingo has two major buildings.  The 紅毛城 or Fort San Domingo was the main building Fort Antonio rebuilt by the Dutch at the ruin site of Fort San Domingo.  After the British took over, the fort was used as the office area while the Former British Consular Residence was built to house the officials.

From 紅毛城主堡 Fort San Domingo

From 紅毛城 英國領事館 Former British Consular Residence

The Chinese called Fort Antonio 紅毛城 because the Dutch has "red hair" and, the fort built by them red hair is thus termed the "Red Hair Fort." lol

Yet, it was not until the fort was handed over to the British did the building got painted read.  The Fort built by the Dutch was originally grayish white.

It was a long way getting up to see them buildings.  It was because the slope was long and steep.  If needed, one could request to be picked up or dropped off by a small cart.  Yet, the gentleman driving the golf cart looking vehicle was on lunch break when I arrived.  Thus, I decided to, slowly and steadily moved myself up them scary hill... Since the hill was so steep, I actually had to zig-zag my way up... sort of like what a beginning skier would do on a black diamond trail.  It might look mighty strange but it did make it easier for me to move my fat ass up da hill... with quite a few stops in between... of course.  lol

From 紅毛城之遊 The trip to Museum Fort San Domingo

From 紅毛城之遊 The trip to Museum Fort San Domingo

Please check the following photo albums for more pix of my trip to the Musum of Fort San Domingo/ Fort Antonio/ 紅毛城!


紅毛城主堡 Fort San Domingo
紅毛城 英國領事館 Former British Consular Residence

 Sure.  It ain't easy to travel at times.  Yet.  I made it up the hill and toured around... while still in one piece!

From 紅毛城 英國領事館 Former British Consular Residence

10/22/2012

An eagle at the Keelung Harbor

Went back to Keelung today to have my physician uncle fixing my bronchitis.  En route, sighted was a flying eagle over the harbor again...





Ratology- Handicapped at Large: Eagles at the Keelung Harbor: I have been to Keelung so many a time but never knew that there are eagles hanging out at the harbor... speaking of the lack of observationa...

Hidden sculptures of Financial Center (金融中心)

Every time I walked back home from the vicinity of the Taipei Rail station after the visit to my shrink, I would walk past this building, and, perhaps, take a smoking break in front of the building before moving further on, crossing the street.

Then, one time, this gentleman coming out of the building told me that there was a smoking area behind the building...  I walked down as per his direction and found sculptures installed in this hidden garden.

When I went back to see my shrink last time, I was determined to visit this garden again-- including spending some time staring at da rolling stone and running water.  How cleansing!

And, the haphazard nature of life's discoveries!

Taiwan's Gems - Wen Stone Exhibition (獨具慧「眼」─臺灣文石特展)

Attended a guided tour on Taiwan's Gems - Wen Stone Exhibition (獨具慧「眼」─臺灣文石特展) when I visit to 國立臺灣博物館 National Taiwan Museum the other day.   The special exhibition will go on till 2013/2/24.

The gemstone, Wen stone are found in basalts.  There are only three locations on this planet where these stones could be found- Sicily, Italy as well as Penghu and Sangxia in Taiwan.  The Taiwanese wen stone shows concentric circles while the Sicilian wen stone doesn't.

Love them mushrooms and snails here...

Not only was the tour informing, because I was such a good student, the teacher (tour guide) gave me an unpolished rock as a souvenir!

Unfortunately, I didn't take a picture of him because, I guess, I didn't feel like to put his picture online without his permission but forgot that pictures taken don't need to all go online... (Speaking of cognitive inflexibility.  8-O lol)  One thing I know for sure is that this nice gentleman and I have the same family name: Mr. 張 who love rocks!

2012北台灣媽祖文化節 基隆慶安宮

Went to my uncle's clinic by 慶安宮 in Keelong for my nose, throat, ear and bronchitis problems this afternoon.  After the appointment, I happened to catch the returning of the touring Mazu back to Qing-An Gong- the grand finali of the 2012 Northern Taiwan Mazu cultural festival- 2012北台灣媽祖文化節.






It surely was more than a pleasant surprise!

My favorite hourly entertainment: The music clock at Sogo Department Store

My favorite hourly entertainment taking place about 4 minutes to the hour.  The music clock at the Sogo Department store.  Nowadays... all dolls come out to play!  Hooray!

10/12/2012

Ratology- Handicapped at Large: The music clock at Sogo Department store: There is this nice fancy clock right above the east main entrance of Sogo Department store on Zhongxiao East road.  At around 4-5 minutes be...

國立臺灣博物館 National Taiwan Museum

Paid a visit to 國立臺灣博物館 National Taiwan Museum today and visited one of the historical building in Taipei.



The building was built by the Japanese authorities during the Japanese occupancy of Taiwan in memorial of 兒玉源太郎 (Kodama Gentaro) and 後藤新平 (Goto Shinpei).  So I was told the family symbols of the two families have been embedded in the decorative design of the building.  For instance, the family symbols of 兒玉源太郎 (Kodama Gentarō)  could be found on one side of the lamp while that of 後藤新平 (Gotō Shinpei) on the other.  The embedded family symbols could also be found in places such as in the stained glass of the vaulted roof ceiling.

However, so I found online somewhere, while it is agreed upon that the vine shape symbol is the family symbol of the 後藤 (Goto) family, people seemed to feel less sure about that for the 兒玉 (Kodama) family- though it would be the job of historians to get things clarified.

10/4/2012