That's a smart bird: Saw park visitors came to feed fish, waited right next to them until it spotted an acceptable...

That's a smart bird: Saw park visitors came to feed fish, waited right next to them until it spotted an acceptable lunch...

Christmas a la Taiwan

Christmas a la Taiwan

We do the same we did on other occasions, but this time we will wear Santa hats... Well, at least my students sang some real, more contemporary songs (Slade, Merry Christmas, and Paul McCartney, Wonderful Christmas time). The temperature was 27C max today...

Oh, merry Christmas if you celebrate it, otherwise just a pleasant day!

Distributing the prey

Distributing the prey

After the (second) Christmas lunch with its desserts is over, everyone grabs as much gingerbread as they can before heading home.

Looks like I got them well addicted when they were my students...

Into the great wide open"

Into the great wide open"

A short film starring Johnny Depp, Gabrielle Anwar and Faye Dunaway. Soundtrack by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

https://youtu.be/xqmFxgEGKH0
https://youtu.be/xqmFxgEGKH0

Damn.. dark.. but i like it.

Damn.. dark.. but i like it.
https://digg.com/video/literal-bohemian-rhapsody-crime

The Independent finally noticed something...

The Independent finally noticed something...
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/syria-aleppo-iraq-mosul-isis-middle-east-conflict-assad-war-everything-youve-read-could-be-wrong-a7451656.html

Let's eat something typical Swedish - pardon, Swdish today, something like.

Let's eat something typical Swedish - pardon, Swdish today, something like... Yes, curry! Enough of Indian meatballs, let's have some Swdish curry chicken leg!

Nikolaus

Nikolaus

For German children a kind of small Christmas took place in the morning today. 12/06 is "Nikolaus day". On the evening of 12/05 German children will suddenly show a deep interest in getting all their shoes cleaned, then put them clearly visible, like on parade.

If they were nice, Nikolaus will put something into their shoes when he comes at night. For people who don't have access to children's shoes at the right time there are these "Nikolaus boots" which can be filled and later given away, these are even available here in Taiwan. (But definitely not with Nikolaus in mind.)

The boot in the photo was meant for my daughter, but this year she is even less allowed than last year to take anything from me, so I'll keep it for next year and probably someone else.

A last photo before the distribution starts: 12 Stollen, 12kg gingerbread.

A last photo before the distribution starts: 12 Stollen, 12kg gingerbread.

I would have liked to make some other cookies too, but I couldn't think of any the kitchen and I were in the mood for, so this year may be a bit boring...

OK, the tree has been up for a week now.

OK, the tree has been up for a week now. After four casualties among the decorations during the first two days it seems the tigers lost interest. The lowest level of branches is also rather bare now, that too may have helped.

Let's see if the tree makes it to Christmas or if Garfield tries to climb...

Potato roses, second test run

Potato roses, second test run

The original instructions used bacon to hold the roses together. I don't have bacon, so I tried cheese to see how that works.

Well. It works well.

I think I mentioned before that beside the rolling stock not much has changed on the Alishan Forest Railway.

I think I mentioned before that beside the rolling stock not much has changed on the Alishan Forest Railway. It does for example still run on pretty much the same tracks. Literally.

If you look at modern railway tracks, you will often find that the rails are being held in place with sturdy springs, which are secured with equally sturdy screws and nuts. Not here.

On the left is a switch, the only reason you see screws holding the rails. On the right is the regular track, held in place with - nails. This is not a museum exhibit, this is the live track where the trains to and from the mountain run every day.

Exciting, isn't it?

This was the fishion of Fune '86.

This was the fishion of Fune '86.

Quite in contrast to her son, Batma had never developed a preference for anthracite.

Quite in contrast to her son, Batma had never developed a preference for anthracite.

For years I didn't dare to make Stollen, until two years ago I just tried and found it wasn't difficult at all.

For years I didn't dare to make Stollen, until two years ago I just tried and found it wasn't difficult at all. Christmas is getting closer...

The annual 8kg, this time baked in just one day.

The annual 8kg, this time baked in just one day.

Taking over the world is not easy these days, good henchmen are hard to find.

Taking over the world is not easy these days, good henchmen are hard to find. If you find yourself in need of loyal minions, you may need to consider cloning...

Things my daughter probably never gets to see: her birthday cake.

Things my daughter probably never gets to see: her birthday cake. (the one I made, her mother likely bought one) Three layers, separated by pudding creme, covered in chocolate, with four marzipan roses for four years.

I don't think I can make the roses any smaller than this. And I need to do more with chocolate, I seriously lack experience there.

Trying to make a pop-up birthday card.

Trying to make a pop-up birthday card. The template really helps a lot, but still I need some practice with this. It is definitely not as easy as the video suggested...

I tried something different, cookie roses, for my daughter.

I tried something different, cookie roses, for my daughter. The dough is a mix of regular cookie dough and marzipan, with food dye added.

Making the roses was not too difficult, I only had to adjust the dough composition. (more flour) The real problem comes with baking, because the petals are somewhat thin on the upside, while the bottom is one chunk of dough, I still need to work on that, probably use a lower temperature and more time.

But it was a fun experiment. Now let's see who will get to eat them...

When the steam locomotives on the Alishan Forest Railway (British models from the WWI era) had to retire, they were...

When the steam locomotives on the Alishan Forest Railway (British models from the WWI era) had to retire, they were replaced with German diesel locomotives. That happened in 1977.

These had 650hp, enough to pull a few wagons slowly up the mountain. I am not sure what is currently pulling the trains, I haven't been near a running train, but from far it looks like the same model is still in operation.

The original manufacturer is however not, Orenstein&Koppel gave up their business by the end of last century. So, where will the next locomotives come from?

OK, this is the first real typhoon I experience at this location.

OK, this is the first real typhoon I experience at this location. The previous two were duds (at least here), but this one "makes good" for those two. I really had to close and partially even lock all windows and doors, the surroundings do not sufficiently protect this time.

A few hours before the actual typhoon arrived, our power had already been knocked out - another first. Luckily Taipower has restored it an hour ago and the computer is still working. (Hmm, is there any wood I could knock on?)

My bike will probably get some more rust, even though I moved it into our equivalent for veranda/porch, the rain just gets pressed in. The antenna is dancing like mad, but is still up. The zoo is trying to stick to me wherever I go, they just feel safer nearby.

The Jiayi city and county government are now under heavy fire: They had been criticised by companies when they announced a "typhoon holiday" for the first typhoon and nothing happened. For the second, they took their time deciding, but then announced business as usual. This time they also wanted to play it "safe" and announced schools and businesses to operate until noon.

Well, power here was knocked out around 1030 (so much about "until noon") and I heard a lot of parents were not amused about the storm in which they got their children home from school. Not much happier were probably the people who left work around noon, trying not to get blown away on their scooters.

Luckily this area can not be flooded, because a few dozen meters away are rice paddies which are all two or three meters below our level, but I am very curious what this typhoon will still have up its sleeve...

http://cwb.gov.tw/V7/prevent/typhoon/Data/PTA_NEW/imgs/products/2016MEGI-092706_PTA_1_download.png
http://cwb.gov.tw/V7/prevent/typhoon/Data/PTA_NEW/imgs/products/2016MEGI-092706_PTA_1_download.png

This is a tiny locomotive that has been in service on the Mt.

This is a tiny locomotive that has been in service on the Mt. Ali railway here in Jiayi from 1926 (during the Japanese colonial era) to 1977. I don't want to imagine what it must have been like being squeezed into the tiny cabin (it took me a while to notice the door) with no A/C and no speed to get any wind (if they could open the windows back then).

The 120 horses under the hood were only enough to arrange wagons into trains, this one could not go up the mountain.

#railway #narrowgauge

What a beautiful de-sign...

What a beautiful de-sign...

Originally shared by Ryan A

Oh I love this headline.

Oh I love this headline... Remember this when you think you are not very good at choosing your friends, there are people far worse.

This reminds me of Goethe's Zauberlehrling (Sorcerer's Apprentice):
Die ich rief, die Geister,
Werd ich nun nicht los...

Spirits that I've cited,
My commands ignore...

Unfortunately, in contrast to Goethe's poem, there is no master who can come along and quickly fix the mess with a spell...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/09/16/american-commandos-forced-to-run-away-from-us-backed-syrian-rebe/

You want a massage? Get yourself a cat and be nice to your feline fellow.

You want a massage? Get yourself a cat and be nice to your feline fellow.

Finally managed to take an admittedly poor video of Gigi giving me a massage. This is a little difficult to record...

Does anyone know what kind of snake this is?

Does anyone know what kind of snake this is? I know Taiwan has a number of snakes, but this is the first time one came into the house. (This is Taiwan, not Australia.)

It is rather tiny and the tigers went after it immediately. They were so wild they grabbed the snake and carried it away when I noticed and wanted to take a photo.

I wonder why the fellow came into the house, I thought a wolf and two tigers would be deterrent enough...

Right.

Right.

Originally shared by Diane Attaway

Taipei as seen from Jiantan (northern part of the city), from the 101 on the left (doesn't look that tall from here)...

Taipei as seen from Jiantan (northern part of the city), from the 101 on the left (doesn't look that tall from here) to Mt. Yangmin on the right (has been moved into the cloud).

You don't see much of the river, but I am sitting on a flood protection dam, the counterpart being visible right opposite. Without these, there would be trouble during typhoons.

Time for some monkey business

Time for some monkey business

Qiangang Park, Taipei

More than 100 years ago this locomotive started running up and down Mt.

More than 100 years ago this locomotive started running up and down Mt. Ali, up to an elevation of 2260m, and did so until 1973.

Some more information about the line and its rolling stock:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alishan_Forest_Railway

So, I suppose you're not in a hurry, right?

So, I suppose you're not in a hurry, right?

The nice thing about a temple celebration is the decoration. The not-so-nice thing is the noise.

The nice thing about a temple celebration is the decoration. The not-so-nice thing is the noise.

Sigh...

#taiwan

Today's lunch was German for a change: fried potatoes, something that simply can't be found on this island.

Today's lunch was German for a change: fried potatoes, something that simply can't be found on this island.

After the rain

After the rain

The camera didn't sadly catch the light fog.

When you live on a tropical island, you won't see any cherry trees (except at significant heights).

When you live on a tropical island, you won't see any cherry trees (except at significant heights). But when you take your dog to the park, you may walk by some wild banana trees instead.

#taiwan

If you are not sure about Donald Trump's position on a certain issue, this video will eliminate any doubts you may...

If you are not sure about Donald Trump's position on a certain issue, this video will eliminate any doubts you may have had.
https://youtu.be/kSE-XoVKaXg

You need the right amount of air pollution for such a sunset.

You need the right amount of air pollution for such a sunset.

Another day gone

Another day gone

Solid advice, can't argue about these.

Solid advice, can't argue about these.
http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/household_tips.png

Me (according to my daughter), dyed sand on paper

Me (according to my daughter), dyed sand on paper

I think it is not difficult to guess that this shadow was thrown by bamboo.

I think it is not difficult to guess that this shadow was thrown by bamboo.

Extreme UV

Extreme UV

This is the first time I saw UV go up to 12. 10 and 11 are quite normal during summer here, but 12 is new.

So what now? Will they extend the scale?

#taiwan

I did not change any colours, I merely took the photo at ISO200 (or 100?), so it turned a little dark.

I did not change any colours, I merely took the photo at ISO200 (or 100?), so it turned a little dark. This was a cloudy evening, the photo was basically taken from the same spot as the previous sunset photo, but in the opposite direction - and at a different day. But yes, the sky looked like that.

Hilbersdorfer Museumseisenbahner​, das isses.

Just a sunset at the park

Just a sunset at the park

#taiwan

Our "Forest Park" here is indeed being kept "natural".

Our "Forest Park" here is indeed being kept "natural". Not too long ago this tree fell in a storm, right across the walkway. Workmen cut off a few branches so people could get through again and left the rest (still partially alive) where it was.

This is the park where we have fireflies about everywhere.

#taiwan

I'm selling in the rain

I'm selling in the rain,
Just selling in the rain...

#Taiwan