Taoyuan Nights

Michael Turton visits Taoyuan…

Mu — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 15:30:02 +0000

Michael Turton recently visited Ming Chuan University’s Taoyuan campus, to give a special lecture about his views on Internet Journalism and Social Activism. Scott Sommers was there too, to join in the fun.

Thanks Michael!

Michael, Scott, Graeme (thanks to Eva Wai).

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Taiwan launches new ’stealth tank’?

Mu — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 18:12:05 +0000

I believe this vehicle to be the preliminary field test of a new, twin-barrel, single-turret ’stealth tank’ designed to merge almost invisibly with civilian traffic in Taiwan.

The alternative explanation is simply too stupid to be true.

And yet people wonder why I travel by bus rather than scooter.

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Curses! Taiwan wins, again.

Mu — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 16:54:44 +0000

Scene: Mu walking down street on hot day.

Mu: (thinks) Ah! A tea shop. I’ll get myself a nice cup of tea.
Mu: Hey there. Can I have a cup of lemon green tea please?
Guy: Sorry?
Mu: Qing, yi ge li mon lu cha.
Guy: Oh, ok, lemon green tea.
…
Guy: You want some sugar?
Mu: A little bit, thanks.
…
Guy: You want a bag?
Mu: Err, no, it’s OK, I’ve got this bag here.
Guy: Ok, $20.
Mu: (hands over $20)
Guy: Oh, I forgot - do you want a house?
Mu: Err… sorry?
Guy: Do you want to buy a house?
Mu: Err… you mean a house, like a place to live?
Guy: Yeah.
Mu: Err… no thanks.
Guy: Oh, ok.

God, how I wish I’d had the presence of mind to say “No, just the tea will do, cheers”. But Taiwan always takes you by surprise, coming at you from some crazy angle, orthogonal to reality, that you can never possibly anticipate.

I look forward to the day when I can take this kind of thing in my stride… but it seems unlikely to happen. Even today, after a game of badminton, someone introduced themselves as follows:

“Thanks for the game.”
“Hey, you too. It was a good game.”
“I am called person.”
“Err… you mean, you are a Taiwanese person?”
“No, my name is person. P-E-R-S-O-N.”
“Err…good to meet you, person. That’s certainly a very unique name you have there.”

I guess this is part of why I love it here. It’s like living inside a giant magic 8-ball.

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Taoyuan Photos: Sunset.

Mu — Tue, 22 May 2007 11:14:04 +0000

Sunset over Taoyuan.

Pastel mountains.

Taoyuan, the dark city.

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The Wobbly Sign Man of Guishan and Housing Bubbles.

Mu — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 18:52:36 +0000

One of the quirks of Taiwanese life is that people are very often prepared to do unusual jobs to pay their bills. Consider the Wobbly Sign Man. He stands on a corner in Guishan at busy times of the week, and wobbles an arrow above a sign, to try and get people to look at a new housing development. Very few people see his face, if he does his job correctly, because you’re too busy looking at a strange black and white arrow oscillating like a Spaniard on his wedding night.

I hope he’s paid well.

What on earth could possess a man to undertake such employment? The money behind the housing boom in Taiwan. Personally, I hope this guy is getting a decent hourly wage, because he is doing his job really well. You’d think he’d take a break every now and then, but no, he’s tireless - as long as he stands there, the arrow shall wobble - come hell or high water.

(more…)

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