Oysters from Penghu

Steph visited Penghu a few weeks ago and was so impressived with the oysters there, ordered 3 kilos for our moon cake festival bbq.

That's a lot of oysters for two people! I firsted tried bbq oysters in Tainan and fell in love them. I found them much more tasty than when eaten raw. They have a pleasing smoky flavour that means I can a lot more then their raw cousins.

I was really surprised that they only cost 300 NT$, including post. Steph's friend said that the ones she took were still alive when she got home - can't beat that for freshness.

Calling all night market fans!

I've recently rediscovered my love of night markets. A year from the capital and I had forgotten the bright lights, the strange food and the endless activities of the 'night city' (direct translation of night market)

Last week I went to Raohe night market twice. I love the carnival atmosphere, the business and the exotic fluorescent colours. I especially like the activities that you just don't see in the West (well in London, anyway).

Face threading, which from what I've read is the removal of facial hair by a thread. Women used to have this treatment just before getting married but now both women and men get this treatment done. If you know more about this or have experienced this treatment, I would love to hear from you.

I also had my future predicted by a bird. My girlfriend said that it was nonsense and a waste of money, saying 'the owners train the birds by feeding them each time they pick a card. The bird doesn't know your future and it's just stupid'.

I chosed to ignore my girlfriend's advice as I fancied the idea of having my future told by a bird and I also wanted a new experience. Perhaps, I should've listened to my girlfriend as the bird predicted/advised that I should be an employee and never work for myself.

I want to write more about night markets. If you love or hate them, I would love to hear from you. Especially what it is about these places that provoke such views.

These pictures are from Raohe market but if you know other interesting night markets in Taipei, then please leave a comment.

Huashan Cultural and Creative Industry Centre

What's in a reflection
Originally uploaded by orange tuesday

Bored of modern blocky Taipei? Want to go somewhere with some history, some character and with open parkland? Then Huashan is the place to go.

Located on Bade and Zhongxiao road intersection, this former winery is easy to get to and usually has plenty going on. With attractive and semi-derelict buildings, this place attracts lovers, artsy types and the odd photography club.

They also have many events going on. Last weekend there was a box camera event and an exhibition on a company that has brough foreign acts to Taiwan's theatre. I have attended DIY events, which were fun.

There does seem to be some controversay over the site though, as the government has fiddled with you runs the site. Also, it used to be called the Huashan Cultural Centre. Still, the box camera event was fun and free.

I'm sure that the centre used to have an English website but I can't find it. http://www.huashan1914.com/Templates/Model1/index.jsp

Box cameras at Huashan cultural centre

Huashan cultural centre
Originally uploaded by orange tuesday

Last Sunday, whilst wandering around Huashan, we came across a 'box camera' event.

You could take a box camera, take a photo and then bring it back to be developed.
The cameras were made out of strong cardboard and had different sized aperatures (holes) that let in different amounts of light. The first camera I took, needed a 9 second exposure in bright sunlight. The result is above and I'm very pleased with the result.
The strange thing, was that the more I understood how the camera worked, the worse my pictures got.

End of ghost month

End of ghost month
Originally uploaded by orange tuesday

Last Thursday, was the end of ghost month and many places over Taipei held ceremonies. Here's a link about Ghost month - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_Festival

The day started early at my local temple. I heard them from my bed at around 6:30, chanting, banging things and generally keeping me awake. Later, when I went down to see what was happening, I was invited to have some food, some local sweet dishes. There were many people there. Some were involved in preparing food for what must have been a feast and others busily sorting out the logistics, arrival of vans, seating arrangements and constantly inviting passers by to join in.

The priest and four assistants where chanting at an attar. It was very relaxing as the chanting was accompanying by some music. The attar was covered in offerings, everything from fresh fruit, to alcohol, ghost money and fireworks. They chanted for the time I was there, 45 minutes.

So the doors of the three realms are closed now (heaven, hell and earth?) but according to my girlfriend, the world is still of ghosts. Here, they have a very different perception of ghosts. I'll have to do some more investigating on this.

Art Taipei

Billed as the best art expo in the Far East, Art Taipei 2008 delivered on beauty, intrigue and new ideas. It's laissez faire approach to photography was also a surprised. I was able to photograph most of the exhibits with no hassle. Only a few of the exhibits were off limits to photographers.

I spent most of my time photographing the exhibits but I did stop a few times to talk to artists or gallery representatives.

Vincent, of Non Gallery (English name? but here's the link http://www.loranger.com.tw/), explained their artist's idea was to replace meat with human 'meat' and to provoke discussion on the treatment of animals. The butcher's stand and the baby platter worked well and people were indeed curious, if slightly disturbed by the images.

Ian Findlay-Brown of Asian Art News and World Sculpture News, thought business was slow despite the crowds. Though the paintings were not at Art Taipei, his assistant was excited by an exhibit of Laotian painting in Singapore.

Chang En Tzu stitch work series on Snow White presented what could be a modern day contradiction towards sex. Where woman/girls try to achieve an ideal image only to be unsure and unhappy of the reaction it provokes in the opposite sex. Unfortunately, my Britishness, (my inability to talk frankly about sex) didn't reveal any insights from the artist about the meaning of her works. Visit her blog http://changen-tzu.blogspot.com/

Other works of note, (sorry, I didn't record the names of the artists) included a man, who attached blood capsules over his body, which he exploded by remote control. His work included a video and photographs. Another crowd drawer was carvings of a boy and girl out of wood. Despite being slight in depth, these carvings had an extraordinary 3D effect and looked very life like. There were quite a few works that created movement and life likeness through 3D trickery.

Another crowd favourite (at least in numbers) was the use of pornagraphic models that had their heads replaced by famous people. One photograph, had the Venezuelian president, Chavez, dogging Condoleeza Rice, whilst the Iranian president sat and smiled. Other stars of this series included Bush, Osama Bin Laden, Princess Diana and the Queen, Hilary Clinton and the cast of Harry Potter.