The Curious Kilt 有趣裙

06/07/2022

A sad truth to Taiwan. The people are the kindest and friendliest you'll meet but the roads are on another level of craziness. Countless times I've seen scooters speeding along the pavement to beat traffic, vehicles jumping red lights cause they think they're going fast enough to make it only to get stuck in the middle of the road or crashing, changing lanes without indicating or looking, driving in torrential rain and nighttime with no headlights on, driving with 4 people (babies too) and backpacks on one small scooter.

Taiwanese people should be just as angry about these roads considering how many people are killed each year. Part of the solution lies in the government of course. The system needs to be improved in many ways; harsher penalties and stricter driving tests being two of them.

Also, if the roads were designed better there'd be fewer cars on the road. Considering how many lanes of traffic you often see it's a surprise there aren't more bus-only lanes and decent bicycle lanes. As of now, most bike lanes are broken pavements, scooter parking, or blocked with trees, convertors, cars, trucks, rubbish, drains, just to name a few.

I'm thinking of making videos like this to document the roads here. It'd be both to let people see Taiwan but also highlight the issues in the hopes it gets enough attention for someone to do something about it.

The attitude is "Everyone looks out for me so I don't need to pay attention while I drive"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Z_hwIwWJgI

Don't travel or settle here before measures are taken to improve road safety!It is a dangerous place!在交通問題沒解決之前，別來旅遊、更別來定居！台灣很危險！其實我做這部影片，除了給少數正常可教化的台灣人看，最最主...

13/10/2021

Go up above the old 5-storey buildings and you'll see many are are empty and flat, if they're not occupied by the home-made hut (頂樓加蓋) that is. Aki and I went to the top-floor of her old workplace and found a woman living in one with a decent-sized vegetable patch.

I'm surprised more of these rooftop spaces haven't been turned into funky hipster cafes but I guess the lack of elevator access would put most people off (and a whole host of health and safety issues). Still, developing gardens and vegetable patches would put them to good use.

Curiously, I once met a police officer during a language exchange and asked him about these rooftop huts (I'm honestly not sure on the correct English translation) and he said they're all illegal but were mostly built in the 50's and 60s, at a time when regulations weren't so strict as Chiang Kai Shek was busy figuring out how to take back China. Also, since the Generalissimo assumed they would retake China he didn't see the effort in developing substantial housing only to move back and leave it behind.

While they're all illegal, there's nothing the police can do about them except make sure they're not being built in new buildings. There's swings and roundabouts to living in one, which I do.

What's great about my place is its cheap, spacious, has big windows, nobody else on my floor, and access to the rooftop. The downsides are its poor quality (it gets loud and shaky when there's a typhoon), it gets hot in summer, freezing in winter (there's gaps in the window flushing), lack of kitchen (common problem in most Taiwanese flats tbh), and walking up 5 flights of stairs can get really tiring (especially when you realise you forgot something right after leaving).

Oh, but the roof is made of tin so rainy days are just spot on. You can see photos of my flat on my Flickr profile, link below (the interior pics are from when I moved in 4-years ago, it looks VERY different now).

https://flic.kr/s/aHsmWUCqP2

17/01/2020

Watched this one with Aki a few weeks back. A tragic story set in Shanghai in the 1920's. Gives you some good insights into China and Shanghai and just well-off the Japanese were. Beautifully made.

17/01/2020

It is with great sadness we lose one of the greatest contributors to literature and movies, Christopher Tolkien. While his father wrote the Lord of the Rings and other Middle Earth lore, it was his son who complied most of it into the great books we have today. We wouldn't have such great movies like LOTR if it wasn't for him.

It is with great sadness that we can confirm that Tolkien's son and literary executor Christopher Tolkien has died aged 95. Christopher was born in Leeds, United Kingdom, on 21 November 1924. After a childhood…

15/01/2020

Shanghai cuts official communication with Prague over its recent partnership agreement with Taipei on January 13th. Prague also terminated its sister-city agreement with Beijing in October 2019.

Prague has been a bit of thorn for China too as Prague do not recognise China's "One Country, Two Systems" policy in regards to Taiwan. As a result, Shanghai has cut official communication with the capital of the Czech Republic.

Thank you, Prague for supporting democracy over communist dictatorships.

https://news.expats.cz/czech-tourism/prague-and-taipei-make-it-official-as-mayors-sign-partnership-agreement-between-their-cities/

Prague Mayor Zdeněk Hřib and Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je officially signed the Prague-Taipei partnership agreement today

15/01/2020

Taiwan does need not an independence referendum because it ALREADY is independent. We've seen what the Taiwanese and Hong Kong people think of China so perhaps China might do the sensible thing and listen.

Bullying tactics don't work on countries you have no control over.

After election win, president says in interview that island is successful democracy with decent economy and deserves respect.

01/12/2019

Geed yen, some Scots slang for ya.

Sound = great

"I heard you went to Japan the other day. How was it?"
"Aye, it was pretty sound."

30/11/2019

"Trains are loaded with people's hopes and regrets," said 68-year-old Wang Fuchun. ”I feel really lucky to have been able to take photos on trains."

Some beautiful and touching photos taken on trains in remote China taken by Wang Fuchun. It's sometimes easy to get caught up in the dreary news but people are still people. They have their own experiences and you can see these in Wang's photos.

https://www.amusingplanet.com/2013/03/chinese-people-on-trains-by-wang-fuchun.html

30/11/2019

Taiwan is such a warm country that reaching 14 degrees makes the news. I still remember when it reached 30 degrees in Scotland and all schools and offices were closed and made headline news haha

I'll stick with the warmer weather though :D

Monday Dec. 2 and Tuesday Dec. 3 will see low minimum.Following a balmy and sunny weekend, minimum temperatures are likely to crash as deep as 14 degrees Celsius in Northern Taiwan after Sunday night, according to the latest forecasts.

29/11/2019

Sharing this for any friends who feel self-conscious about eating or doing other things alone. Enjoy yourself folks! The best person in your life is yourself.

In her blockbuster TED Talk, Susan Cain has a call to action: Take introverts seriously, and understand what they can do in the right environment. Ben Lillie called her up for an extended conversat…

29/11/2019

The Hong Kong Polytech University holdout comes to an end.

23/11/2019

"As he could not speak Chinese, Hori reportedly explained in broken English how he had launched a mining venture which went wrong, and stayed in Taiwan doing odd jobs afterward."

Not quite the usual Japanese tourist. I wonder if there's other examples of this.

NIA is preparing to send 82-year-old Hori back to Japan.The National Immigration Agency is preparing to send a man home to Japan who overstayed his visa by 36 years while living in the Hualien County countryside.

21/11/2019

I know the stereotype of the Italians affinity with pasta can be overdone sometimes but this is classic 😁 Great job, Italy! You can always eat the pasta afterwards too 😂

Anyone who has never had a genuine Italian pasta meal should try and remedy that asap! Pasta comes in all shapes and sizes and one in particular, bucatini pasta, with its tubular shape, is making eco-friendly waves as an alternative to plastic straws. A picture posted on reddit by user u/GranFabio,

21/11/2019

Thanks to Aki, I just found that the Taiwan puppets have a YouTube channel. It's like Dragonball with puppets!

All the episodes are spoken in Taiwanese Hokkien so they're perfect for anyone learning the language. The language is more historical, dramatic, and religious. Still, learning culture is a intertwined with learning languages so it's great to immerse yourself anyway you can.

https://youtu.be/a4nQsEk4w3s

霹靂謎城 第17集 龍VS天 驚天三掌決 不分界上，兵馬分立，旌旗飄揚，聲勢震天地。長生殿主彝燦天、不老城主識能龍，三掌決勝負。第一掌，氣憾寰宇，鬼神驚動，強烈震波，周圍兵士掃出百丈之外。 ↓最新的劇集相關搶先看...

20/11/2019

A great video by The Economist to summarise the protests, possible outcomes, and what it means to China.

20/11/2019

"They would beat the bony parts, like my ankles... or any vulnerable part."

Former UK Consulate Worker, Simon Cheng, claims he was tortured and beaten in China.

20/11/2019

One important part of language learning is to make it a part of your everyday life and to learn in different environments. Meaning you can learn in ways other than sitting down to read a book.

For example, I've been doing yoga for nearly 8 years now and I've recently been using this app Down Dog App where you can change the language and hear the guide in 10 different languages!!

Unfortunately, they only have simplified Chinese not traditional but I can practice listening. I can learn words related to breathing, body parts, movement, balance and so on.

Learning languages doesn't have to be limited to books. Find what you enjoy and learn that way. If you like cooking find a cooking tutorial in French. If you like art, find an art reviewer in Italian.

Have fun everyone!

19/11/2019

**Posting the rally details in text. Check the reddit link here too to get links to events**

https://www.reddit.com/r/HongKong/comments/cwdb6i/another_big_global_rally_coming_up_lets_hold/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x

Another big global rally coming up. Let's hold hands, form a human chain and
News


LAST UPDATED : Nov 17 bit.ly/StandwithHongKongRally

Event details are subject to change. Like and follow their social media page for the latest updates. Can't find your city below ? Invite your family, friends and neighbors to start your own rally/event. Feel free to message me to add your event

How else can you help the Hong Kong protest from abroad l Promotional Materials (Telegram) l How to Make a Placard

AUSTRALIA, Adelaide Australia-Hong Kong Link l Adelaide - Stand with Hong Kong

Sunday 17 November 2:30PM - 4:30PM Rundle Mall Stand with Hong Kong, End Police Brutality

AUSTRALIA, Brisbane Brisbane International Student Solidarity with Hong Kong

AUSTRALIA, Canberra Canberra Hong Kong Concern l Australia-Hong Kong Link

AUSTRALIA, Melbourne Victoria Hong Kong Tertiary Student Association l Australia-Hong Kong Link

Saturday 23 November 6:30PM - 9:00PM State Library of Victoria SOS HK Melbourne silent sit in demonstration

AUSTRALIA, Perth Perth-Hongkong Students’ AntiELAB Concern Group

AUSTRALIA, Sydney NSW HongKongers l Australia-Hong Kong Link

Thursday 28 November 6:15PM Dendy Opera Quays China's Artful Dissident (Film Screening)

AUSTRIA, Vienna Stand with Hong Kong Vienna

Thursday 21 November 6:00PM Wiener Staatsoper, Opernring 2 We are One - Fix Zam

BELGIUM, Brussels Stand With Hong Kong - Belgium

BRAZIL, Rio de Janeiro Vitor

BRAZIL, São Paulo

CANADA, Edmonton Friends of Hong Kong- Edmonton

CANADA, Calgary UCalgary Hong Kong Concern l Friends of Hong Kong Calgary

CANADA, Halifax Halifax United for Democracy: Global Solidarity with Hong Kong l Halifax-Hong Kong Link

CANADA, Montreal Freehkmtl: Action Free Hong Kong Montreal

CANADA, Ottawa Ottawans Stand With HK Ottaviens en solidarité avec HK

CANADA, Regina Saskatchewan stands with Hong Kong

CANADA, St Johns Memorial University Hong Kong Students' Association

CANADA, Toronto Torontonians Stand with Hong Kong l Canada-Hong Kong Link l Ryerson Uni

CANADA, Waterloo Waterluvians Stand With Hong Kong

CANADA, Winnipeg Winnipeg Hong Kong Concern

CANADA, Vancouver vssdm l vaammne l Vancouver Christians l VanSaveHK l VHKPoActs l UBC HK

CANADA, Victoria Victoria BC Hong Kongers

CZECH REPUBLIC, Prague Czech Hong Kong Solidarity l Czech Fighters for Liberty

DENMARK, Copenhagen Støt Hong Kong Support Hong Kong

Friday 22 November 8:30AM - 11:00AM The Parliament Christiansborg Hong Kong Today, Me Tomorrow

ESTONIA, Tallinn

FRANCE, Paris En Solidarité avec Hongkong

*Tuesday 3 December - Saturday 7 December Time Varies DOC, 26 rue du Dr Potain Eau et Cendres pour une (R)Évolution Créatrice (Exhibition)

FINLAND, Helsinki Finland Supporting Hong Kong

GERMANY, Berlin GermanySWHK l Umbrella Movement in Berlin

Tuesday 19 November 7:30PM - 10:30PM Acker Stadt Palast, Ackerstraße 169 Fck the Fckerz #3 . Open discussion

GERMANY, Cologne HongKonger in Cologne

GERMANY, Frankfurt Frankfurt stands with Hong Kong l Kwai Lam l Li Wai Chun

GERMANY, Hamburg The Hong Kong Hamburgers

GERMANY, MUNICH Munich : Stand with Hong Kong

Tuesday 19 November 7:00PM - 9:00PM Rationaltheater Hesseloherstraße 18 Schüsse, Feuer, Eskalation: Hongkong-Proteste

HONG KONG, Hong Kong

Click for events (Constantly Updated)

IRELAND, Dublin Democracy for HK in Ireland

ITALY, Milan Stand with Hong Kong Italy

JAPAN, Osaka 利他利他有興会～ritarita project～

JAPAN, Tokyo Stand with Hong Kong at JPN l Suzuko Hirano

MALAYSIA, Kuala Lumpur LHL

NETHERLANDS Netherlands for Hong Kong

NEW ZEALAND, Auckland We are Hong Konger

NEW ZEALAND, Christchurch Yellow Power NZ

NEW ZEALAND, Wellington We are Hong Konger

NORWAY, Oslo Stand with Hong Kong - Norway l Stand With HONG KONG - Bergen, Norway

POLAND, Warsaw PL4HK - Supporting Hong Kong from Poland

SINGAPORE t.me/SGHKalliance

SOUTH KOREA, Seoul Asians Companions Against Brutality l Cindy

SWEDEN, Stockholm Sverige för Hongkong l V Maroli l Örjan Winkvist

Sunday 24 November 2:00PM - 5:00PM Odenplan Sweden Stands with Hong Kong

SWITZERLAND, Geneva Switzerland Stands with Hong Kong

Saturday 23 November 3:00PM - 6:00PM Near the “Broken Chairs” in front of the UN Palace of Nations Geneva Stands with Hong Kong

TAIWAN, Kaohsiung 高雄香港學生逃犯條例關注組 l 亂世中的基督平信徒

TAIWAN, Tainan 台南香港關注組

TAIWAN, Taipei 香港邊城青年 l 濟南教會 Chè-lâm Presbyterian Church in Taiwan

Wednesday 20 November - Friday 22 November 7:00PM - 9:00PM 未滿18上街頭︰烽煙之下的香港兒少人權現況系列演講

UKRAINE, Kiev Free Hong Kong Center

UNITED KINGDOM (UK), Brighton HK Connect UK

UNITED KINGDOM (UK), Birmingham Stand with Hong Kong Birmingham

Saturday 23 November 2:00PM Mailbox Birmingham, Royal Mail St Stand with Hong Kong, Fight for Freedom March

UNITED KINGDOM (UK), Bristol HK Connect UK

UNITED KINGDOM (UK), Cambridge Cambridge Stands With Hong Kong

UNITED KINGDOM (UK) Durham Durham Stands With HK l Durham University Hong Kong PASS

UNITED KINGDOM (UK), Edinburgh Hong Kong Needs Us-Scottish People in Solidarity with Hong Kong

UNITED KINGDOM (UK), Exeter Exeter Hong Kong Advocates for Freedom

Friday 6 December All day University of Exeter Black Shirt Day

UNITED KINGDOM (UK), Glasgow Hong Kong Needs Us-Scottish People in Solidarity with Hong Kong

UNITED KINGDOM (UK), Leeds Leeds Stands With Hong Kong

UNITED KINGDOM (UK), Liverpool HK Connect UK

UNITED KINGDOM (UK), London Fight for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong l D4HK l Support HK from London

Monday 18 November 6:00PM Park Square, Regent Park Station (Gather) to Chinese Embassy Emergency Rally for Hong Kong

* Friday 22 November - Wednesday 27 November 11:00AM - 7:00PM Goldsmiths University of London Students' Union Dixon Rd, SE14 6NW New Cross Liberate Hong Kong, the revolution of our times (Exhibition)

Saturday 23 November 1:00PM - 3:00PM 10 Downing St London Stands with Hong Kong Rally

Monday 2 December 6:00PM - 7:00PM The Henry Jackson Society Millbank Tower, 21-24 Millbank China, Taiwan, Hong Kong: Sharp Power and its Discontents (Speaker: Dr Andreas Fulda)

Friday 6 December 9:00AM - 6:30PM Octagon, Queen's Building, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road Media and Hong Kong Protest (Art Exhibition, Performance and Panel Discussion)

UNITED KINGDOM (UK), Manchester Manchester supports Hong Kong

Saturday 23 November 12:30PM - 4:00PM All Saints Park (Gather) Manchester Stands with Hong Kong March

Saturday 30 November 9:30AM - 3:00PM Chinese Consulate Manchester, Denison House Uni Nottingham Amnesty: Hong Kong Protest!

UNITED KINGDOM (UK), Newcastle Newcastle Stands with Hong Kong

Wednesday 20 November 6:30PM -8:30PM Barbara Strang Teaching Centre, Queen Victoria Rd, Newcastle University Home Kong - Our Summer 2019

Thursday 21 November 4:00PM - 5:30PM Experimenal Studio, Baltic 39, 31-39 High Bridge Be Water: How Hong Kong Protest Art Swims Against the Tide of Totalitarianism

(Speaker: Dr Wessie Ling, Northumbria University)

Saturday 23 November 1:00PM - 4:00PM Haymarket Newcastle Stands with Hong Kong Rally

UNITED KINGDOM (UK), Nottingham Nottingham stands with Hong Kong

UNITED KINGDOM (UK), Oxford Oxford Stands with Hong Kong

UNITED KINGDOM (UK), Reading Pepe in Reading

UNITED KINGDOM (UK), Sheffield Sheffield stands with Hong Kong

UNITED KINGDOM (UK), York York Stands with HK

UNITED STATES, Ann Arbor Hong Kong Human Rights Concern group at the University of Michigan

UNITED STATES, Austin TX4HK - Texans Supporting Hong Kong

UNITED STATES, Berkeley Hong Kong Affairs Association of Berkeley

UNITED STATES, Boston Frances Hui l Boston Stand with Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act

UNITED STATES, Chicago Global Solidarity with Hong Kong - Chicago

Monday 18 November 7:00PM - 8:20PM Regenstein Library Room 122, University of Chicago What does the Future Hold for HK?

Saturday 23 November 3:00PM Chinese Consulate100 W Erie St Chicago Protest at Chinese Consulate for Hong Kong Rights

UNITED STATES, Davis UC Davis Students Solidarity with Hong Kong 聲援香港爭取民主普選

UNITED STATES, Denver Denver Supports Hong Kong (trying to start one, need volunteers)

UNITED STATES, Houston Hong Kong Dossier

Saturday 23 November 3:00PM Houston Chinese Consulate 3417 Montrose Blvd Houston Protest at Chinese Consulate for Hong Kong Rights

UNITED STATES , Los Angeles Hong Kong Forum, Los Angeles l UCLA Stands with Hong Kong

Saturday 23 November 1:00PM 443 Shatto Place Los Angeles Protest at Chinese Consulate for Hong Kong Rights

Saturday 23 November 2:00PM 628 West College St Hong Kong Now What?!! 尊子 Zunzi's Art Exhibition in L.A [2]

Sunday 24 November 2:00PM 628 West College St Hong Kong Now What?!! 尊子 Zunzi's Art Exhibition in L.A [3]

UNITED STATES, Madison (Wisconsin)

Wednesday 20 November 12:00PM - 1:00PM Research Centers at UW Law School, 975 Bascom Mall, University of Madison China Tomorrow : Democracy or Dictatorship ?

UNITED STATED, Minneapolis Liberty for Hong Kong - MN

UNITED STATES, Princeton, New Jersey

Friday 22 November 4:30PM - 6:00PM Room A71, Louis A. Simpson International Building, Princeton University Voices from the Movement: Unpacking the Hong Kong Protests

UNITED STATES, New York City NY4HK

Monday 18 November 5:30PM -7:00PM D'agostino Hall 110 W 3rd St Rally for Hong Kong

Saturday 23 November 3:00PM 520 12th Ave New York Protest at Chinese Consulate for Hong Kong Rights

UNITED STATES, Salt Lake City Erin

UNITED STATES, San Diego Jen l Stand with Hong Kong - UCSD

UNITED STATES, San Francisco N. Calif Hong Kong Club l Stanford HKSA

Monday 18 November 12:00PM - 1:30PM Chinese Consulate San Francisco, 1450 Laguna St War Against Tyranny

Thursday 21 November 11:30AM - 12:30PM Forum 4, De Anza College What's Happening in Hong Kong ?

Thursday 21 November 1:30PM - 3:00PM Forum 4, De Anza College What's Happening in Hong Kong ? [2]

Saturday 23 November 3:00PM Chinese Consulate San Francisco 1450 Laguna St San Francisco Protest at Chinese Consulate for Hong Kong Rights

UNITED STATES, Seattle SEArious For HKG

UNITED STATES, Washington, District of Columbia DC4HK l Hong Kong Democracy Council l Students4Democracy

Saturday 23 November 3:00PM Embassy of the People's Republic of China: Visa Section 2201 Wisconsin Avenue Protest at Chinese Embassy In DC for Hong Kong Rights

[.](https://i.imgur.com/6i9gV7k.jpg)*LAST UPDATED : Nov 17* [bit.ly/StandwithHongKongRally](https://bit.ly/StandwithHongKongRally) Event details...

19/11/2019

Wanting to help Hong Kong and show your support? Then head to one of these many rallies around the world; UK, France, Brazil, Taiwan, USA, Canada. Show the f**k up to show your government that this is something they need to care about and take action.

Hong Kong is turning into the CCPs playtoy and another massacre will happen if the rest of the world are complacent. All you need to do is head out and show your support. Take your friends, find Hong Kongers in your community and go with them. Ask them questions to find out what is going on.

There may be some Pro-Chinese supporters but don't let them deter you. Don't fight them. Don't shout at them. Continue to show your support for Hong Kong.

We always say "Never again", "How could our ancestors let this happen?" in regards to past tragedies. Well now is your chance to put those words into action.

https://www.reddit.com/r/HongKong/comments/cwdb6i/another_big_global_rally_coming_up_lets_hold/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x

[.](https://i.imgur.com/6i9gV7k.jpg)*LAST UPDATED : Nov 17* [bit.ly/StandwithHongKongRally](https://bit.ly/StandwithHongKongRally) Event details...

18/11/2019

Today I was in Kaohsiung, the City of Sunshine. Even though it's mid-November it was at least 30°C and I got sunburned to f**k.

Kaohsiung is a port city and has been since it was established during the Qing Dynasty nearly 400 years ago. It's passed hands many times and has been an important city to Taiwan.
I originally planned to visit the old port area and train station but on my way I found this old Japanese village. It was built for the workers of an Oil Refinery. Even found this creepy old bunker which took me 4 attempts to go in cause I was so feart.

This is the BIGGEST Japanese villages I've ever found in Taiwan. Despite it's age most houses are still standing and not completely destroyed. Most are abandoned yet I saw renovation going on some had residents living there.

I striked up a conversation with some elderly tennis players to ask about Taiwan's history including the Japanese colonisation and White Terror periods.
I've noticed it's hard to get a detailed response to these questions. Perhaps it's hard to talk about. There were 2 people who gave me detailed accounts of what happened but my Chinese isn't good yet to fully understand it all. Luckily I recorded it all so if I'm looking for someone to help me translate and transcribe the video.

Overall, life during the White Terror was exactly that. A terror. It's perhaps too much to write here so I'll make a blog post detailing what they told me. I'll also get the video up too.

I sometimes find it hard to ask certain questions cause I'm afraid that people may be offended or upset by the questions. The elderly in Taiwan have lived lives that most of us are lucky to have never experienced. Curfews, oppression, no freedom of speech, dictatorships, totalitarian governments, mass killings, cultural genocide just to name a few.

I'll keep learning Chinese and find more personal accounts during this period. While there are plenty of books that tell us what happened, I'm interested in hearing individual stories from real people. On top of that, I want to delve deeper into the Indigenous peoples of Taiwan, particularly the tribes Rukai and Paiwan.

15/11/2019

"Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven has promised to stand firm in the face of threats from China over a prize for the imprisoned dissident writer Gui Minhai... Before his arrest, Gui was a prolific writer and publisher of books critical of the Chinese government, operating through the Hong-Kong based publisher Causeway Bay Books."

Sweden standing strong and following it's principles of free speech. The Chinese ambassador of Sweden is threatening Sweden will face serious consequences if they give Gui Minhai such an award.

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven has promised to stand firm in the face of threats from China over a prize for the imprisoned dissident writer Gui Minhai.

09/11/2019

Apparently Andrew Yang's surname should be pronounced more like "Young" than "Yang" and that there's no word that even sounds like "yang" in Chinese.

Can any Mandarin speakers help me out with this one cause I'm sure I hear "yang" all the time, as in "tae yang / 太陽"

Maybe a difference in Chinese and Taiwanese pronunciation? Let me know.

09/11/2019

Truly an incredibly made video about why you "shouldn't" visit Taiwan. Of all the great reasons, the people of this beautiful island still make it the best place to live.

If you're thinking about visiting, then don't hesitate to message me. I'll host you when you come to Taipei and I'll be as good a tour guide as I can be. Coming here will be one of the greatest decisions you'll ever make.

One advice: never set foot on Taiwanese soil. Please watch this video until the end to be sure to understand. Want to learn more about the gear and technique...

08/11/2019

How many people would you be able to speak with? I'd only be able to speak with 24: Chinese, English, and Japanese.

If you just want to learn a popular language then you can't go wrong with Chinese or Spanish.

Let's write a story together, one word at a time https://www.twitch.tv/sillylinguistics

07/11/2019

Yesterday, I got back from a wonderful trip down to Southern Taiwan at the invitation of Sagubi. Sagubi is a Taiwanese Indigenous person in the Pinayuanan tribe, often called the Paiwan tribe (排灣族). Together we visited Pingtung, Chaozhou, Wutai, and Kaohsiung.

During this time I got to meet many friendly and incredible Indigenous peoples from the Pinayuanan, Rukai, Amis, and Atayal tribes. If you think Minnan Taiwanese people are friendly then wait until you meet some Indigenous people. They couldn't have been more welcoming and I'm extremely grateful for everyone's hospitality.

Sagubi is extremely passionate about the preservation of her mother language and culture. She has several groups that are dedicated to this issue to prevent such a vibrant and beautiful culture from disappearing.

There are several Indigenous Museums and Culture Centres around the whole island. The one I visited in Pingtung even had language books teaching North, Central, Southern Pinayuanan and Eastern Rukai for free! Comes with an audio CD too.

One issue with trying to teach these languages right now is that most is only available in Mandarin Chinese so unless you know Mandarin then it's very hard to learn. Sagubi wants to change this my translating much of this content into English, updating the books to be more relevant, and making videos too.

She kindly invited me to attend her language class and met her fellow students. Seeing what they're going through struck a cord with me as I realised that these people are fighting an uphill battle. It made me think a lot of the Celtic languages of Britain and Ireland: Scots and Irish Gaelic, Manx, Welsh, and Cornish. All these languages were suppressed during periods of colonisation.

The Indigenous languages of Taiwan are suffering a similar fate but it's not too late for them. They are strong and proud people who fight staunchly for what they believe in. I know now this is something I must contribute to in some way. I'm not a native to this land so I know I have to be aware of how I act and talk about these matters. I can't speak on behalf of any of the Indigenous here.

I know that I am passionate for languages, and culture. I know the UK played it's part in the destruction of much of this around the world. While I can't change what they done, I know I can do my part to help prevent it from being lost any further.

I got plenty of videos while visiting down there. I will for sure have these uploaded before the end of the week.

07/11/2019

Terry and Melissa's birthday ping pong party with Winnie the Pooh cake.

Winnie the Pooh is banned in China. Can you guess why?

01/11/2019

An article about the Polyglot Conference 2019 written in Chinese (not by me).

Perhaps I could translate articles and upload them to my own website or something. I'm still not really sure where I'm going with this blog either. I know I want to share more about Asia, travelling, and languages.

Let me know what you think and what you'd like to see more of. I filmed a lot while in Japan but I have no idea how to get started with editing videos lol 😂

One step at a time guys 👍🐢

首次來到亞洲舉辦的「Polyglot Conference 國際語言大會」於日本福岡完美落幕，在本次展會中，有來自世界各地熱愛語言的專家學者和同好，多位精通多國語言好手互相切磋，分享語言學習心得，大會也提供多場精彩的語言相關主....