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.