Window on George

Red is the official lucky colour for Chinese New Year. Don't blink. You only see these items once a year. These RADISHES are painted to make them stand out more. Salvias on Bagua mountain. The Mandarin.  Most loved symbol of all. You haven't lived until you've tasted Taiwan's strawberries! They melt in the mouth. This is not for Valentine's Day.   It's Chinese New Year! Sweet tomatoes stuffed with preserved prunes. Every front door has to display lucky couplets. 8 is a poes lucky number. I ate my street chicken and deep fried yams with basil  here.  That's the taste of my Taiwan. Night market friends with lucky hair. Last minute rush to buy lucky flowers. New Year's eve. Every single fruit is decorated by hand.   Taiwan's pineapples are sweet and mild, not acidic at all. Strawberries with a choice of 3 toppings. I went for the Hershey'

The Family Car Taiwan style  You park IN THE DOOR. Jackets are worn back-to-front.  Keeps the winter wind and summer sun out. Gigi lent me the Deluxe 5 door hatch back family car with storage front basket with elastic cover hook under dashboard for handbag or food under-seat cover for raincoat and petrol tank rear box for hats, toilet paper, etc. Floor space for laundry basket (see pink example above) or toddler. And a wind shield. Thanks, Gigi!

My Changhua My Taiwan Location: opposite the old Eemaowuu Japanese supermarket which is now called Capitaine's. And Daiso on the 2nd floor is now  the Bamboo Cafe. The day AFTER the coldest Chinese New Year in many moons, it was a sunny day in Changhua.   The dedicated staff of emmmmaawu were out in full force, building snowmen. with ice. There's a grand piano in the foyer which features a ghost player. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=pUKLRhpjw4k#! When it was still called Eeeemiauhoo, customers were greeted by a line of bowing geishas. Despite the changes, it remains one of the best supermarkets in Taiwan.

Back from Taiwan, armed with loads of pics and stories. See you soon!

I arrived in Taiwan in the year 2000.   It was the year of the Dragon. The past 11 years of my life have been... well I can't really find apt words. Absolutely Amazing Awesome Beautiful Brilliant Chinese. You know the alphabet.  You can complete the list. There are 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac. I have lived through all of them, and been exposed to all the elements from water to metal. 7 years in Taiwan and 4 years in Hong Kong. I always wanted to see the Dragon Dance in Hong Kong during Chinese New Year. This is my year! The Christmas trees go down and the next day the CNY decorations are up. The music in the stores change from Christmas carols to Gong xi, gong xi,  gong xi ni! Year Chinese New Year Day Zodiac Color Animal Sign First Day of Animal Year   1900     January, 31 1900   1900 White Metal Rat Year February 4, 1900   1901     February, 19 1901   1901 White Metal Cow Year February 4, 1901   1902     February,  8 1902   1902 Black Water Tiger Year February 5,