Chinese Ghost Month

Here's to a Safe Chinese Ghost Month for Us All!!!🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

 

For More Info Click Here:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_Festival

Chinese Ghost Month 2013

Today Also marks  the 1st day of this year's  Chinese Ghost Month

- so just in case, be extra careful and stay safe.

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Hungry Ghost Festival – 中元节

The Hungry Ghost Festival, also called simply as Ghost Festival (Chinese 中元节 – zhongyuanjie) is one of the many traditional Chinese festivals celebrated by the Chinese communities in many countries. The festival usually falls on the 15th night of the seventh lunar month. In Chinese custom, the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar is regarded as the Ghost Month and the 15th day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar is often called as Ghost Day.

It is said that during this time, ghosts and spirits come out from the lower realm and linger in our world. The Hungry Ghost Festival is the opposite of the Qingming Festival and Chung Yeung Festival, wherein living descendants visit their deceased ancestors, on Ghost Day however, it is the opposite: the deceased visit the living.

When is Hungry Ghost Festival 2013?

Hungry ghost festival 2013 / 中元节 2013 dates
In 2013, Ghost Month 2013 falls on Wednesday, 7 August 2013 to Wednesday, 4 September 2013. The 2013 hungry ghost festival / Ghost Day 2013 falls on Tuesday, 20 August 2013.

Folk Arts Exhibition

Today, (Tuesday Feb. 26th), is one of those trying days for me... Dealing with getting my iPhone fixed.. Running around all over.. And in the Heat of the Midday Sun, too! But that's another story..: 

This is about the Folk Arts Exhibition I happen upon at Taipei SongShan Airport... Stopped by here from my walk - to take a break from the heat of the sun - of course since I have many a walking errands, the sun decided to come out after 3 days of Rain and Gloom...  also as I need to charge my phone batteries....  with SongShan Airpot close by - it was the Perfect Choice for a stopover Break:  Pretty, Bright, Cool and plenty of places to sit and charge - since outlets here are plentiful and are for the use of the people.

 

Anyway, knowing that there is always something f... or a cool exhibition going on, I decided to take a bit of a walk around when my battery was full... Am Glad I did as they are having "The Beauty of Folk Arts: Artifacts Exhibition" on display...  this time around focusing on TRADITIONAL PUPPETS!!!   Just my cup of tea....  :)  These  Puppets are dressed in colorful, traditional costumes - and each DIORAMA is a retelling of an Ancient Chinese Legend - with a Personal Fave of mine, the Legend of the White Snake included...  ...  and a few GODS got the spotlight, too!

Not sure how long the exhibition will be up....  so if you happen to be in the neighborhood - go check them out - you will not be disappointed!  and when there, be sure to see the Departure Schedule Table - you might just be able to catch one of the fun EVA AIR Hello Kitty planes take flight from the 3rd Floor Observation Deck!

Ghost Month 2012

Today marks the start of this year's Ghost Month Festival, also known as Hungry Ghost Month...

This Festival lasts from August 17th thru September 15th.

Be Safe One and All!

You can read more about it here:
http://publicholiday.org/calendar/hungry-ghost-festival/

Not Your Mama's Lanterns!!!

The Annual lantern Festival is upon us once more.....   always right after the Chinese NY festivities....  all over Taiwan, each and every town have their own arrays/varieties of Lanterns on display for this festival....  ornate, handmade, beautiful, colorful and gigantic ones to marvel at....   Each and every year, it so happens that the festival is also quite a wet one , as the rainy season ensues during the month of February...

But this does not stop revelers into coming out for a succession of nites and enjoy the festivities....   gorgeous lanterns to view, as well as, the Happy faces on all the attendees....  RAIN and all.....  Myself Included!!!

First nite of Lantern watching was done at the SunYetSan Memorial Hall area.... annually, it has been done here and the exhibit is quite large....   just as last year, I went on my own - not minding the rain and enjoying all of it....  even got to take in a pretty cool exhibition (FOR FREE!) about Life in Taiwan over the Decades....  Here's a few photos but you can see more by Clicking Here:

Lantern Festival 2012 : #1

The Following nite... with the weather a whole lot better, i took the bus to the Taipei City Hall area as they were having their own Lantern Exhibition...  not quite as big as the one in the Sun Yet San - but it was none-the-less IMPRESSIVE and FUN....  plus quite a variety of lantern designs on diplay....  DRAGONS included, of course!!!

Click Here for Complete Photos:

Lantern Festival 2012 : #2

THE SORCERER AND THE WHITE SNAKE

The Sorcerer and the White Snake is another retelling of an old popular Chinese film - updated, infused with so much CGI that thrills and sadly, overwhelms the poignant love stories....  just as it did the retelling of A Chinese Ghost Story - shown a few months earlier....

This visual delight of a movie is a Chinese tale about the romance between a human, herbalist XuXian (Raymond Lam), and a demon in the form of a white snake which can take human form (Eva Huang). Between them comes a crusading monk and sorcerer Fa Hai (Jet Li) whose mission it is to fight demons, and of course, to his sensibilities, this liaison is not acceptable.

Overwhelming the love story are the elaborate fight sequences, amazing to watch but it did get tiring after a while as one would like to see more of the main characters' emotional story. And as an added bonus, familiar faces decorates the film throughout: Miriam Yeoung, Vivian Hsu & Charlene Tsoi as the Green Snake.   Nonetheless, it is an entertaining film under the direction of famous action choreographer turned director, Tony Ching.

I totally recommend this film - the younger generations would not be disappointed by the colorful & amazing graphics and the older ones will be touched, even just a bit, by this modern take...  

but of course, for me, the one I saw many years back, White Snake/Green Snake, is still a better film - after all, who can forget and resists the charms of both Maggie Cheung & Joey Wong as the snake sisters..... and the super Hottie Hunk, Wu Shing Kuo as the Sorcerer Monk...  and as a TREAT for you all - here's the trailer for the Original with Maggie Cheung and Joey Wong...

Happy Mid Autumn Festival!!!

I had forgotten that today is a Holiday... no work, no post office, no banks... and even the Gym and the Library is closed... I should be HAPPY for the extra day off but the rain just started falling... so it will be a WET MONDAY as predicted... boo hoo....

OH WELL... will still make the most of the extra day off.... Happy Moon Festival All!

On a side note: I really cannot believe how the months have been going by soooooo fast.... we are now in the last 4 months of the year... the "BER" months... in just a little bit, it will be DECEMBER... XMas one again.... too fast, too soon.... AM NOT READY..... and as if adding SALT to the WOUND - just a couple of days ago the Taiwan Times ran this photo - XMas Retail has already commenced in Manila... YOWZA!!!

GHOULS ALERT!

Chinese Ghost Month or Chinese Ghost Festival, which started on the 31st of July is particularly heightened today, the 15th day of the 7th month in the Lunar Calendar... today is called Ghost Day... and for extra scare, tonite promises to be a full moon....

In Taiwan, it is believed that ghosts haunt the entire island of Taiwan during the seventh lunar month. The first day of the celebration is inaugurated by the opening of the gate of a temple which symbolizes the gates of hell. All the lamps on the main altar are lit during the twelfth day of the festival. On the thirteenth day, a procession of lanterns is held. A parade is held for releasing water lanterns is done during the fourteenth day of the festival. During the duration, incense and various foods are being offered and spirit paper money is burnt in order to please the wandering spirits. It is also believed that the addresses of houses being visited by the spirits should not be named.

So, today, I best be extra careful... no running by Dajia River... and will pretty much stay indoors... can never be too careful.... :)

Qing Ming Festival

The last two days, week really, are big TEMPLE going days.... Yesterday marks the combined celebration of Women's Day & Children's Day... so even with the non-stop rain - people everywhere flocked to the Temples.... Us included!!! Today marks the day of Qing Ming Festival, also commonly known as Tomb Sweeping Day. Qingming,meaning clear and bright, is the day for mourning the dead . It falls in early April every year. It corresponds with the onset of warmer weather, the start of spring plowing, and of family outings. In ancient China, Qingming was by no means the only time when sacrifices were made to ancestors. In fact such ceremonies were held very frequently, about every two weeks, in addition to other important holidays and festivals. The formalities of these ceremonies were in general very elaborate and expensive in terms of time and money.

It is said that, in an effort to reduce this expense, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty declared in 732 AD that respects would be fomally paid at the tombs of ancestors only on the day of Qingming.This is the custom that continues to date. People will visit their ancestors' graves. They will tidy up, remove weeds and sweep away leaves. This is why Qingming is also known as the Grave Sweeping Day. Beijing's subway is particularly crowded around Qingming as people flock to Babaoshan, Beijing's most famous cemetery and crematorium, to pay respects to their departed loved ones.Qingming is not just a day of remembrance, it is also a day to celebrate the coming of spring, often by going out for a picnic. With the coming of spring, nature wakes up, dressing the world in green. All is new, clean and fresh. People do flock to the cemeteries, as well as, Temples to honour, remember and give respect to their dearly departed ones.... This year, I only got as far as the Temples.... Nighttime visit at the Boan Temple....

Happy Moon Festival All!!!

It is that time of the year again in Taiwan - Moon Festival!!! Both a Fave time and a Frustrating time....

Favorite because it is the time of the year where for a week before till a week after, Moon Cakes are abound..... not just in shops but definitely my home.... everyone knows how much I love to eat them - all flavors, that everyday I get some.... which brings us to why it is a frustrating time, as well.... as I cannot refuse (it would be impolite! :) ) So am compelled to eat them, as I also cannot resist which mean I have to run longer miles , swim even more laps, and double the sit ups.... OR ELSE!!!! (These moon cakes possibly have the most calories any desserts can ever have.... LOL..).

Happy Moon Festival to all those celebrating!!!
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The Moon Festival is one of the most significant festivals / holidays of the Chinese communities around the world besides the Lunar New Year (Chinese New Year) and the Dragon Boat Festival. Originally named the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Moon Festival is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month in observance of the bountiful autumn harvest.

Significance of the Moon Cake during the Moon Festival

On the 15th day of the lunar month, the moon forms a round shape that symbolizes family reunion. Upon this occasion, the legends of the festival are often told to the children. The custom of eating moon cakes tells a story of the downfall of the Yuan dynasty. The time was the Yuan dynasty (AD 1280-1368), established by the invading Mongolians from the north who subjugated the Han Chinese.

Leaders from the preceding Sung dynasty were furious about submitting to foreign rules, a secret rebellion plan was coordinated to overthrow the Mongolians. Drawing close to the Moon Festival, the rebellion plans and outlines of attacks successfully passed out to all coordinators secretly via the messages and outlines stuffed in each moon cake. On the night of the Moon Festival, the rebels successfully attacked and overthrew the Yuan government which followed the rise of the Ming dynasty.

The What, Where & When of the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival

WHAT: The boat races during the Dragon Boat Festival are traditional customs to attempts to rescue the patriotic poet Chu Yuan. Chu Yuan drowned on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month in 277 B.C. Chinese citizens now throw bamboo leaves filled with cooked rice into the water. Therefore the fish could eat the rice rather than the hero poet. This later on turned into the custom of eating tzungtzu (rouzhong or sticky rice) and rice dumplings.The Best & Worst Part of Chinese Dragon Boat Festival: The season for the YUMMY STICKY RICE.... I always end up eating way too much.... waaaah!!!

The celebration's is a time for protection from evil and disease for the rest of the year. It is done so by different practices such as hanging healthy herbs on the front door, drinking nutritious concoctions, and displaying portraits of evil's nemesis, Chung Kuei. If one manages to stand an egg on it's end at exactly 12:00 noon, the following year will be a lucky one.

The Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated by boat races in the shape of dragons. Competing teams row their boats forward to a drumbeat racing to reach the finish end first.


WHEN: The Dragon Boat Festival is a lunar holiday, occurring on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month (that is today this year -- June 16th, 2010)

WHERE: The Chinese Dragon Boat Festival is a significant holiday celebrated in China, and all over the world where there are people of Chinese origins.

Happy Chinese Dragon Boat Festival

Happy Mid Autumn Festival Day

For this Moon Festival Day, may your day be filled with lotsa' MOON CAKES, BBQ, Family & Friends!!!

Good thing I ahve been having all the moo cakes I could wish for, as today will be another day of helping Lyn & Shaun move into their new home -- in the rain!!!!

missing it again!!!

The end of the week marks another Dragon Boat Festival celebration in Taiwan.... and once again am missing all the actions and festivities, for today am flying out to Manila to check up on my MOM and her not-so-good health... am actually at the airport now, awaiting my flight to Manila...

Am really SAD about this as it seems am forever missing this Holiday which is a FUN one... with lots of festivities happening by the RIVER, where we run... DRAGON BOAT ROWING contests... music, food, and lots of revelers...

My only consolation this year is that I happen upon some practice run while biking by the river yesterday morning, SUNDAY... so am able to watch some practice runs & even snap a few shots.....

Happy Lantern Festival, 2009

Hope that those of you who do Celebrate this Festival - got to have a lot of fun!!! This was our quiet celebration...
Susie enjoys the Lantern Festival with a papaer lantern, welcoming the year of the Ox, from Mitsukoshi Department Store.

Hong Bao Na Lai!!!

Literal translation for this Chinese saying is: "RED ENVELOPE GIVE TO ME"!!! As most of you know, RED ENVELOPES means $$$ - these are given at various Chinese Occasions, most especially, during the Chinese New Year! Mostly given to the young ones, unmarried relatives and good friends, and to parents by the off springs who are already in the working field. Since i do not fit in any of these categories and add the fact that am a "waiguoren" (foreigner) - I really do not get them... Wu Papa gives me one each year - possibly not wanting for me to feel left out... but I do give it back, with added $$$, of course -- don't want to lose face...HAHAHAHA... NOTE: The money in the hong bao is intended only to give some joy to the young recipient and is an expression of good fortune represented by the red paper. It is considered rude for the recipients to open their hong baos in front of the givers.

I love the IDEA for these red envelopes - they signify the transmission of Good Fortune and Good Wishes, but what I love most about this tradition are the various "hong baos" that circulates during this time... cute ones... sophisticated ones... advert ones... etc... I have accumulated a few of these over the years... and I love each and everyone of them... Sometimes, they do come in GOLD, too!

a Family Mart we will go...

The collecting frenzy continues....If your reside in Taiwan, head on to your local Family Mart, as they have started their PREMIUM Program once again.... this program runs through Chinese New Year... this is one I wait for each year, as it is always with a Chinese Theme.... This year Chinese New Year Premium program consists of Assorted Animals, considered Lucky by the Chinese -- right now there are 6 different styles but am told an additional two will be introduced come January... Just right up my alley... They all carry a Golden Coin so they all signify FORTUNE....
As always, those of you who does not collect them and frequents family Mart -- Pls Do Send Me Your Stickers.... Much Appreciated... Thanks In Advance!!!

Yilan Outing

Saturday, the 18th of Oct. we decided to take a trip to City Of Yilan - just to look around...check out the different scenic spots, and of course some of the town's delicacies.... normally it would have taken an hour and a half or two hour drive from Taipei... With the newly constructed and opened tunnel through the mountains - it is not under an hour.... we had a late start so of course, the first stop was to hunt down some local delicacies... a bit of a late lunch / early dinner.... and that WE DID!!!
After satisfying our tummies, we drove on to satisfy our eyes... we decided to drive a bit more to the town of Jiaosi and hike up the mountains to view the famous Waterfalls - Wufongci (5 Peak-Flag)Falls It is the oldest and most famous scenic attraction in Jiaosi... and got it's name from the 5 peaks that line the background of the waterfall which look like a flag from afar.... Within the Peak is the St. Mary's Church and Villa Located at the top of Wufongci Scenic Area, St. Mary's Villa is considered by Catholic pilgrims as a sacred place. Legend has it that, Mother Mary once appeared to 5 climbers in the St. Mary's Pavilion here helping them to safely descend the mountain. In order to remember and pay gratitude to Mother Mary, an outside Grotto with a statue of her was erected on the side of the pavilion.
After the hike and with the sun having set already, we drove down to the town center, which is running amok with Hot Springs, after Hot Springs... this MUST be the Hot Springs capital of Taiwan...The Jiaosi Hot Springs won their fame early on during the Qing Dynasty when they were known as the "Tangwei Hot Springs", and were selected by Wu, Jhu-Fan, the Qing Dynasty Kavalan Magistrate, as one of the "8 most scenic spots in Yilan". On this crowded weekend, we were LUCKY enough to have been able to at least, soak our tired feet to some really soothing Hot Springs... Across the street from where we soaked our feet, Fried Tofu and Bing Tahui was calling us... the laoban (owner) was soooo kind, and must have taken a liking to us, we were treated to a lot of freebies... I seem to think that he wanted us to sit there as long as we can in order to attract more people to sit and dine.. and it worked as more and more people came... the laoban also took his time to chat up with us... told us some town history and told us of the many places to check out, and best hot springs to go to... notes for when we return, and he is so sure we will....

Heading on to the nite market for some more delicacies before heading back to Taipei, we came across a bakery super crowded with people -- we of course, had to pop in and check out all the commotions... and we were treated to some really nice Cold Tea and slices of different muffins and sweets... all courtesy of the shop... SUPER NICE and GENEROUS shop.... all in all, the township of Jiaosi, we have concluded, is a very KIND and GENEROUS town....

Double 10

Double Ten Day (traditional Chinese: 雙十節; pinyin: Shuang Shi Jie) is also known as the Chinese National Celebration Day. It celebrates the start of the Wuchang Uprising of October 10, 1911, that led to the collapse of the Qing Dynasty.

Needless tpo say it is a National Holiday In Taiwan... and different events (Political Rallies, Concerts, Family Outings) are happening all over the Island... The official celebration starts with raising of the flag of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in front of the Presidential Building, followed by public singing of the National Anthem. It is then followed by celebrations in front of the Presidential Building, including a military parade (the military parade was not held from 1992 to 2006, to ease cross strait tensions). Later in the day, the President of Taiwan addresses the country and fireworks displays are held throughout the major cities of the island.

This Holiday is also celebrated by Overseas Chinese all over the world.
The Streets of Taipei are lined with the country's flags all month long in observance of this Holiday!

Red Cliff : Movie Review

I finally was able to see this movie, Red Cliff. I missed it when it first came out in Taiwan due to my travel schedule -- so am glad I was able to catch it when it hit the 2nd tier cinemas.... I could not pass up the chance as it is one movie that must really be seen in a BIIIIG SCREEN!!!

in the Grand Tradition of historical epic Chinese movies of late, this has got to be the grandest of them all... Rumoured to have had a budget of 80Million US$, it make sit the most Expensive Chinese produced movie in history... and seeing it in its glorious splendour - in the big screen - makes you realize why it costed so. The sets, the battle scenes, the CGIs, & the historical costumes are all top notch, over shadowing even, most of the Internationally known cast. And believe me, they are some of the HOTTEST and most POPULAR ASIAN stars of late. Takeshi Kenishiro (half Japanese/half Taiwanese Super Idol for many years now - WARLORDS, Chinking Express, etc..), Tony Leung (Happy Together, In The Mood, And Ang Lee's recent, Lust Caution), Zhao Wei (Shaolin Soccer, So Close), Chang Chen (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), & Chi Ling (Taiwan's Top Model in her movie debut -- I heard she is going Hollywood already!) - to name a few...
In my opinion the end result is worth every penny spent on its production. It is of note to say that the movie is directed by world renowned director, John Woo (Face Off)

Based on the historical novel, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the movie tells the story of the legendary Battle of Red Cliff from 208 A.D. that led directly to the end of the Han Dynasty. The movie btw is Part 1 of 2... the second one to come out Jan of 2009.

Happy Moon Festival!!!

Just like Christmas and Thanksgiving in the West, the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival is one of the most important traditional events for the Chinese. The Chinese Moon Festival falls on the 15th of the 8th month in the Lunar calendar.

Here in Taiwan... it is almost a week long Holiday... everyone goes back home to their families.... rest, hang out, get-together... Barbecuing is pretty common on such nites, as well as, fireworks. So you know what I will be busy doing tonite....

HAPPY MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL to you all!!!

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The Moon Festival is full of legendary stories. Legend says that Chang Er flew to the moon, where she has lived ever since. You might see her dancing on the moon during the Moon Festival. The Moon Festival is also an occasion for family reunions. When the full moon rises, families get together to watch the full moon, eat moon cakes, and sing moon poems. With the full moon, the legend, the family and the poems, you can't help thinking that this is really a perfect world. That is why the Chinese are so fond of the Moon Festival.

The Moon Festival is also a romantic one. A perfect night for the festival is if it is a quiet night without a silk of cloud and with a little mild breeze from the sea. Lovers spend such a romantic night together tasting the delicious moon cake with some wine while watching the full moon. Even for a couple who can't be together, they can still enjoy the night by watching the moon at the same time so it seems that they are together at that hour. A great number of poetry has been devoted to this romantic festival. Hope the Moon Festival will bring you happiness.

You can read more about it here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-Autumn_Festival

The moon cake is the food for the Moon Festival. The Chinese eat the moon cake at night with the full moon in the sky. This has got to be the BEST part of the FESTIVAL for me.... all week long people starts giving each other moon cakes... For the most part, my flatmates are sick of it all... so I end up with them...hehehehehe....

This year, September 14th is the actual day of celebration....