Why China is not about to invade Taiwan
The risk of China invading Taiwan has been widely reported. It is not as it seems.
Culture
It wouldn’t happen in Kirkbymoorside
After a lunch of dumplings and turnip cake, we pick up some kelp stock and bat-ear mushrooms for dinner. Aye. T’aint Kirkby
Geek world heaven
If like us you are a bit geeky sometimes, Taiwan is a great place to be. You can buy all the latest electronic toys as well as bigger gadgets, many of which are not sold elsewhere.
Redefining convenience
When we explained to a Taiwanese friend that small towns in the UK and Europe don’t have 7-11 convenience stores, she was shocked. “How do people eat?”, she asked.
Non – ce n’est pas un dish cloth
Arriving somewhere new, it’s normal to find many things that are unfamiliar. But some are totally incomprehensible. Dogs on scooters and dish driers, for example.
The sounds of Taiwan
After the church bells of Switzerland, the first sound we noticed in Taiwan was the pleasing and lyrical chime that announces the arrival of the garbage truck each evening.
Banishing a troublesome spirit
To mark the start of The Hungry Ghost Month, a tale about a visit to a temple to banish a troublesome ghost.
What (not) to wear in tropical weather
When I reached the client’s office all my dignity was gone. Dripping from head to bare-feet, the receptionist hurried forward saying ‘you can’t come in here!’
You won how much for doing what now?
It took us a long time to work out why shop assistants always looked at us like we were crazy.
What does gourmet mean?
Why would any society make high quality, delicious food for some people, and low quality, not-delicious food for others?
Microsoft can learn from Taiwan
In Hong Kong and Singapore we found paying tax was pretty much pain free. Austria was a bit more complicated. Switzerland was the worst. Taiwan was best of all.