Taiwan Fest Vancouver 2010

Every year the Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Society would hold an event called, TaiwanFest in Vancouver and Toronto. This year, the date is September 4th to 6th at the Plaza of Nations and September 4th to 8th at the Vancouver Public Library. As for Toronto, it would be August 27 to 29 at the Harbourfront Centre.

This event is created for other people to understand the beautiful culture of Taiwan, although there will be an entrance fee but it would be something very memorable. Last year's entrance fee was $12 admission at door (FREE for children 12 and under and seniors 65+) but I am not sure if they will change the price this year. This event started during the year 1990 and it has always be held every single year. Last year's theme was "a new journey", it was inspired by the concept of marriage as marriage is cross-cultural, and the journey for any new union will always bring fond memories of the past and excitement for the future. The festival also invites many different singers from Taiwan for a small concert of some sort. Last year, they invited Van Fan (范逸臣) for a concert at the festival. A couple of years ago, I remember there was a building where they put Barbie & Me exhibition, the story about how the world's most popular doll changed the lives of many in a little town in Taiwan.

2009 TELUS TAIWANfest Vancouver

OMG! 新秀歌唱大賽溫哥華選拔賽 -王子、小傑尋找最「棒」Are you ready

OMG!! Although this post isn't about Taiwan but two of the members of a very famous Taiwanese boy group, Lollipop (棒棒堂),  王子 (Prince), 小傑 (Xiao Jay) are coming to VANCOUVER! I am a very very huge fan of theirs, therefore I am over excited! =]

What are bubble tea made of?

Many of you may wonder as you drink bubble tea. What is this made of out? Well, let's talk about the history before the ingredients. 

Bubble was invented in Taiwan in the 1980s, it was first spread to nearby East Asian countries, migrated to Canada before spreading to Chinatowns throughout the United States, and then to various trendy college towns along the West Coast.

The drink is a sweet flavored tea, mostly with tea base mixed with a fruit flavor or  milk. It usually contain small tapioca balls or pearls called "boba". Pearls made of jelly are also available in many places. Their name came from the marble-sized tapioca balls or "pearls" that are present and sit at the bottom of the cup. These chewy balls, although having little flavor, are sucked up through large wide straws and are consumed along with the drink.

I personally think that many people knows what kind of drink this is because of the multicultural in Canada but many of them does not know where it was invented and what the "pearls" are. I believe this is one of the best drink that was invented by Taiwan because it is known world-wide! I am very proud of that~ =]  So next time when you drink bubble tea, remember it was invented in Taiwan!! =)

王力宏 - 一見你就笑 (世博臺北館)

This is the theme song for Taipei Pavilion~ By 王力宏

Jolin Tsai (蔡依林) - 台灣心跳聲 (Heartbeat Of Taiwan) [Shanghai 2010 World Expo]

This is the theme song of Taiwan Pavilion. Sang by a very famous artist,  Jolin Tsai (蔡依林).

Lyrics:

Heartbeat of Taiwan
台灣的心跳聲

那長春藤攀上 生鏽的消防栓
That ivy climbing on to the rusty fire hydrant
像蝴蝶離不開 有花香的地方
Like a butterfly that cannot leave a place with the smell of flowers
寧靜的小巷 一杯永和豆漿
Quiet alleyway, with a cup of Yung Ho soy milk
我在細細品嘗 恬淡的家鄉
I am tasting slowly my tranquil hometown
霓虹燈點亮 關於夜市的想像
Neon bulb lights up imagination about the night market
孩子們捉迷藏 在找愛吃的糖
Children playing hide-and-seek and finding their favorite sweets
昏黃的夕陽 龍山寺的老牆
Pale yellow sunset shines on the old walls of Lung Shan Temple
我虔誠點著香 手拿一柱希望
I devoutly light an incense that represents a pillar of hope in my hands
少一點傷痕 多一點的掌聲
A little less scar, a little more applause
少一點戰爭 多一點的單純
A little less warfare, a little more innocence
認真用棒球魂 揮汗去體會青春
Determine with the spirit of baseball and shed sweat to feel the youth
用心聽著 那台灣的心跳聲
Listen with all your heart to the Heartbeat of Taiwan

嘉南平原等著收割
Waiting for harvest on the Chianan Plain
一整遍幸福的顏色
All over with the color of bliss
屏東黑鮪魚直接等於快樂
Pingdong bluefin tuna speaks pure pleasure
一路蜿蜒的是淡水河
Living with the sweeping Danshui River
那陡峭的是太魯閣
and in where Taroko Gorge is the steepest
一派樂天的性格
We have cheerful characters
美濃紙傘怎麼折
How do you fold a paper umbrella of Meinung
三義木雕怎麼刻
How do you curve out a piece of Sanyi wood sculpture
這塊土地上有很多很多的選擇
There are many many choices on this land
仔細看著八家將的妝獨特
Look carefully at the unique makeup of the Eight Generals
我說親愛親愛的
I say dear my dear
我們故事說到這
our storytelling pauses here

少一點仇恨 多一點的我們
A little less hatred, a little more of us
少一點寒冷 多一點的溫存
A little less indifference, a little more consideration
用狂草寫雲門
Use cursive to write Cloud Gate
用蜂炮築一座城
Use Yanshui firecrackers to build a city
媽祖永恆 世世代代的虔誠
Eternal Mazu, supported by generations of faithfulness
天燈冉冉上升
Sky lanterns raising slowly
可以許下願望 就 別等
If you can make a wish, then, dont wait
by: AltOmTaiwan on Youtube

This year's World Expo is being held in Shanghai with many different countries.

What is World Expo?

The World Expo is a large-scale, global, non-commercial Expo. The main reason of the Expo is to exchange of ideas and development of the world economy, culture, science and technology, to allow countries to  display their achievements and improve international relationships. There are many different countries that are participating in this event, for example Canada, United States, France, of course China and many many more. Taiwan is one of the countries that are participating.

The Taiwan Pavilion is a transparent cube housing a giant ball in its center that looks like a big lantern that is usually light every year for wishing and good luck. Taiwan will invite people view its beautiful mountains and lakes at its pavilion. The pavilion shows the island's scenery, its kind-hearted people and culture with the theme "Mountain, Water, Heart and Lantern."

If you ever get a chance, remember to go check Taiwan Pavilion out! =]

Secret (不能說的秘密)

This is a little section of the movie where the couples are playing piano.

Secret (不能說的秘密) is a movie directed by a musician Jay Chou (周杰倫) who also stars in and co-wrote the movie. The film has won several awards, including The 2007 44th Golden Horse Award, Best Visual Effects, The Outstanding Taiwanese Film of the Year, and Best Original Film Song.

The Plot:

      Ye Xianglun, a music student majoring in piano, transfers to Tamkang Secondary School. On the first day of school, he met a girl, Xiaoyu, who was playing piano in the old school building. When Xianglun told Xiaoyu of the demolition of the piano building on graduation day, she teaches him the song that he heard on the first day of school. However, when a mis-passed note leads to Xianglun's accidental kissing of another girl, Xiaoyu disappears for five months, only to return on graduation day and mysteriously disappear again. Xianglun discovered that Xiaoyu was actually a student from the class of 1979. His father tells Xianglun that he once taught her. She had fallen in love with Xianglun, but the only barrier is that, in the present, the first person she sees on each trip is the only person that can see her. During her absence, her story spread and everyone believed that she was crazy. After finally learning of Xiaoyu's story, Xianglun realizes that the piece that she taught him was "Secret", which had the power to take the pianist forward or backward in time depending on the tempo at which it is played. Just before the piano room is completely destroyed, Xianglun travels back to 1979.

Here's another very exciting video of the movie, where they are using piano to battle.

So You Think You Can Dance Taiwan Version

Have you ever watched So You Think You Can Dance on TV before? Well, you can continue in Taiwan by watching the Taiwanese Version. 舞林大道

It includes many different dance crews, Black Angle Crew (黑角), Dance Flow, Maniac, Freaky Klownz and many many more. The show allows different dance crews to show the world their dance skills and their love for dancing. Also, they have combined Dancing With the Stars into the show. Where they invite different stars onto their show and perform a dance with the dance crew. Some of the stars that was invited are Gui Gui (鬼鬼), Elmo, 彤彤, HuDie/Butterfly (蝴蝶姐姐), Choc 7 (模范七棒), and many more.

This is a youtube video of one of the best dance performance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_V7CV0xUALk

The Night Life of Taiwan

Once you have been around Taiwan for awhile, you would soon realize the night life of Taiwanese people. During the summer, the days are always hot and uncomfortable. This is why the people chose to spend their days inside and their nights out where the weather isn't so hot. Because of this reason, there are many night markets that doesn't close until one in the midnight.

One of a famous night market is Shilin Night Market (士林夜市) where there are places to shop and places to eat. It is usually crowded with people, cars and motorcycles(scooters). One of the scene you might see in Taiwan is a parking lot FILLED with motorcycles(scooters). This is not a surprising scene. People in Taiwan believe riding on motorcycles(scooters) are more efficient and less polluting than driving a car.

Also, there are many stores, resturants and theaters that are still open for those "night owls" in Taiwan. There are also karaokes that would keep these young "night owls" entertained.

太魯閣國家公園 (Taroko National Park)

If you are traveling around Taiwan, if you don't go to The Taroko National Park than it means you have never been to Taiwan. The Taroko National  Park is one out of seven national parks in Taiwan. It spans the counties of Hualien (花蓮), Taichung (台中), and Nantou (南投) on the island of Taiwan. Sights include:

• Tunnel of Nine Turns (九曲洞 Jiuqü Dong)
• Eternal Spring Shrine (長春祠 Changchun)
• Swallow Grotto(燕子口)
• Jinheng Park (靳珩公園)
• The Bridge of the Kind Mother (慈母橋)
• Tiansiang (天祥)
• Jhueilu Precipice (錐麓斷崖)
• Lioufang Bridge (流芳橋): 1,666 meters above the riverbed
• Hill of Yu the Great (大禹嶺)
• Buluowan (布洛灣)

龜山島 (Gueishan Island、Steep Island)

龜山島 (Gueishan Island) is shaped like a turtle which it is named a "Turtle Mountain Island".It is located in the north east of Taiwan.  The island is the top of an andesite stratovolcano which rises from the seafloor. It is the only active volcano in Taiwan. The local population, consisting mainly of fishermen, was relocated in 1977 due to the hardships associated with living on the island. Between 1977 and 2000 the island became the site of a military base, and currently it is managed as a tourist destination and natural conservation area. Before going to the island you could join a dolphin crew which will take you to a dolphin seeing adventure!

Helpful Website

This is a really helpful website that would list out different attractions and festivals in Taiwan therefore you would be able to have some knowledge about Taiwan. =]

http://eng.taiwan.net.tw/pda/

(also, if you would like to read it in Chinese just change the language. There's even Japanese!)

Channel [V]

Have you ever turn on the TV in Taiwan and doesn't know what to watch? Will I have a suggestion for you~ Change to channel 81 and you will find Channel [V]. It's a channel filled with the most popular music around the world, for example the famous singers/bands in the America, Korea, China and Taiwan. Also, Channel [V] provides many different show like 音樂飆榜 (Ying yue biao bang), 美少女時代 (mei shao nu shi dai), 流行 In House (liu xing in house), 我愛黑澀棒棒堂 (wo ai hei se bang bang tang) and many more. Each show have a different host, 劉容嘉 (Candice Liu Rong Jia) and 路嘉怡(Lu Jia Yi) are the hostesses for 流行 In House (liu xing in house). 黑人(Blackie) is the host for 我愛黑澀棒棒堂 (wo ai hei se bang bang tang) and 美少女時代 (mei shao nu shi dai). 

There are past shows like 模范棒棒堂(Mou Fan Bang Bang Tang) which created a group of 6 young male singers called 棒棒堂 (Lollipop) and another group of 7 male singers called 超克7 (Choc 7). Both groups are very popular and successful.

Oyster Omelet and Bubble Tea

Have you ever been to Taiwan? Or wanting to make a trip there? Than you came to the right place! The first thing you NEED to do in Taiwan is go to a night market. You will never know what you will find there. One of the food you will find almost all over Taiwan night market is o-a-tsian (oyster omelet). When you order this, you will also need a cup of bubble tea to go with it! If you want to know the price of this, you will not believe it, the total would be aroundNT100 which is around 3 dollars Canadian! The two best drink/food in Taiwan is right in front of you!! = )