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A publication of the Community Services Center Centered on TAIPEI Beautiful 2017 Vol. 17|10 AUG 2017/7/25 5:08:36 PM

Aug cover.indd 2 2017/7/25 5:08:39 PM CONTENTS August 2017 volume 17 issue 10

CSC culture From the Editors 5Rediscovering Dihua Street 10 Kiddies Korner 6The Art Of : A Ladies’ Experience 14 Recognizing The Community Services Center’s Volunteers (2006 – 2008)/ Center August Gallery/ Morning Book Club: August & September 7 photography Events about Town 8 Peter Urbach 17 Typhoon and Earthquake Tips 9 CSC Business Classified 30 home & garden Dr. Leaf’s Miscellaneous Tips for Indoor Gardening 18 Publisher Community Services Center, Taipei Editor Suzan Babcock Co-editor Richard Saunders Advertising Manager Naomi Kaly around taipei Magazine Email [email protected] Wandering around Taipei: Beating the Summer Heat 20 Tel 02-2836-8134 Fax 02-2835-2530 Community Services outlook Center Editorial Panel Siew Kang, Fred Voigtmann Am I A Control Freak? 22 Printed by Farn Mei Printing Co., Ltd. Elder Day Care Centers in Taiwan 24 1F, No. 102, Hou Kang Street, Shilin District, Taipei Tel: 02-2882-6748 Fax: 02-2882-6749 food & drinks E-mail: [email protected] DPT 25 Centered on Taipei is a publication of the Community Services Center, 25, Lane 290, Zhongshan N. Rd., Sec. 6, Tianmu, Taipei, Taiwan Tel: 02-2836-8134 fashion & beauty fax: 02-2835-2530 Wardrobe Tips For Stain Removal 26 e-mail: [email protected] Correspondence may be sent to the editor at coteditor@ communitycenter.org.tw. Freelance writers, photographers and travel illustrators are welcome to contact the editor to discuss editorial and graphic assignments. Your talent will find a home with us! Lanyu (Orchid Island) 28

Copyright 2017. All rights reserved. Material in this publication may not be reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner.

COT is printed on FSC certified 100% post-consumer recycled fiber. The paper is certified in accordance with the rules of the Forest Stewardship Council which promotes environmentally responsible, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the world's forests. https://ic.fsc.org/

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Aug 17_p3-end.indd 3 2017/7/25 11:27:33 PM TIGER TOTS PRESCHOOL

Crown’s service offerings include: Everyone needs s )NTERNATIONAL$OMESTIC3HIPMENTS s 4RANSIT0ROTECTION to know why... s 0ET#AR4RANSFERS s )MMIGRATION,EGALIZATION We’ll help your whole family s (OME3EARCH s 3CHOOL3EARCH prepare for the big adventure. s 3ETTLING IN3ERVICES

• Child-centered American Curriculum • Pre-Two-Year-Old Tigger’s Playgroup 4EL  Š.Q=HEłA@"TLANEAJ?A@1A=?DANO • Half/Full-day option for 2’s & 3’s TAIPEI CROWNRELOCOM Š"JC=CEJC,QP@KKN-H=U0L=?AO • 2/3/5 days a week option for 2’s • Low Student/Teacher Ratios • Full-day Pre-K & Kindergarten Š&JPANJ=PEKJ=H KIIQJEPU"JRENKJIAJP • Mandarin Playgroups for all ages • Fun Afternoon Classes for Young Children • Grade School Language & Literacy Go knowing Located in & adjacent to the Taipei American School Campus WWWCROWNRELOCOMTAIWAN 4A†@HKRAPKEJPNK@Q?AUKQPKKQN@ERANOA=J@ incredibly special community of learners! -HA=OA?=HHPK=NN=JCA=REOEP=PEKJ CR ad Euroview AprMay.indd 1 22/3/2016 3:40:25 PM Taipei Youth Program Association 16-*=EJ,Bł?AġSSSPUL=KNCPS

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Aug 17_p3-end.indd 4 2017/7/25 11:27:34 PM Cover image: Taiping Mountain From Please send email submissions, comments, and feedback to by Wayen Lin [email protected]. the For more information, please go to our website at Editors www.communitycenter.org.tw We would like to extend an enthusiastic ‘Welcome to COT TEAM Taiwan’ greeting to all the 2017 Summer Universiade Games athletes, their families, coaches, support staff, guests and visitors to what promises to be a sensational 2017 Universiade experience. In its 29th year, the Universiade is smaller in scope only to the Olympic Games. This year’s games will bring nearly 10,000 participating athletes from 150 countries to Suzan Babcock Richard Saunders Naomi Kaly KC Editor Co-editor Advertising Manager Graphic Designer Taipei. Over seventy venues have been newly constructed coteditor@ [email protected] naomi@communitycenter. graphicdesigntaipei. or renovated for use during the Games, including the Linkou communitycenter.org.tw org.tw weebly.com Athlete’s Village. To keep up with what’s going on from August 18th to 30th, go to: https://www.2017.taipei/home. For the medical hotline call: 1922, or call the Department of Health Epidemic Prevention Hotline: 2375-3782. Since the games will be held during Taiwan’s typhoon season, check out weather

Zee Dlamini Nomita Kavra Gupta Sydney Ko updates at: www.weatherunderground.com or www.cby.gov. Editorial intern Editorial intern Editorial intern tw. For local English up-to-date broadcasts tune your radio to ICRT 100.7 FM. This month’s issue of Centered on Taipei is full of ‘Beautiful Taiwan’ events, activities and places to go, especially in Taipei. Read about Rediscovering Dihua Street through the eyes WRITING AND PHOTOGRAPHY CONTRIBUTORS of a millennial, as she wanders along one of Taipei’s most Sue Babcock Sydney Ko historic streets. Join the ladies from the Welcome to Taipei Dr. Hui-Shiang Chao Dr. Leaf International Club (WTIC) as they spend a tranquil afternoon Alison Davis Dr. Ting-Yi Lin Zee Dlamini Wayen Lin learning about the art of tea from Master Lin, Ku-Fang, a tea Kit Farley Joseph Reilly master at the Taipei Zhongshan Hall, Tea House. Have an Katie Gill Richard Saunders Nomita Kavra Gupta Carol Sun unexpected stain and can’t get to a reliable dry cleaner? Check Joan H. HungryinTaipei Rosemary Susa out Zee’s Fashion and Beauty page on Wardrobe Tips for Stain Julie Hu Grace Ting Removal from fabrics. Dr. Leaf is back with tips on household Rika Ishida Peter Urbach Olivia Jen WTIC plants for Taipei living. And finally, follow Richard Saunders' advice to visit Lanyu (Orchid Island), a magical outpost of Pick COT up at: Uptown: Taiwan for a memorable travel experience. Community Services Center, No. 25, Lane 290, Sec. 6, If you are in the Tianmu area, please be sure to stop by the Zhongshan North Rd. Sprout – No. 33, Sec. 7, Zhongshan North Rd. Center. We would love to have an opportunity to sit and have George Pai’s Beauty – No. 14, Tienmu East Rd. a nice chat over a cup of tea, coffee or cool water. Downtown: Grandma Nitti’s Kitchen – 8, Lane 93, Shida Rd. Ooh Cha Cha – 207, Sec.2, Nanchang Rd. NakedFood – 22-1, Lane 160, Sec.1, Xingsheng South Rd. Samyama (Art) Co., Ltd. – 2F, No. 1, Lane 119, Sec.1, Daan Rd. Sue and Richard

Accountant Monica Cheng Activities Coordinator Rosemary Susa Assistant Activities Coordinator Undine Urbach Community Services Center C o f f e e M o r n i n g s C o o r d i n a t o r John Imbrogulio Cross-cultural Trainer Anne Jacquet The Community Services Center (CSC) is a non-profit foundation. CSC provides Communications Raleigh Holmes outreach and early intervention through counseling, cross-cultural education and Events Coordinator Shan Lee life skills programs to meet the needs of the international community in Taipei. Mandarin Chinese Teacher Gloria Gwo CSC offers the opportunity to learn, volunteer, teach and meet others. Check out Lee Ming Yeh our website www.communitycenter.org.tw and drop by The Center to chat with us Systems Manager about our programs. You can also email us at [email protected]. Volunteers Miyuki Boice, Daniel Chan, John Imbrogulio, Ann Lu Fiona Mackelworth, Leslie McFarlane, John McQuade Director Adam McMillan Gloria Peng, Emmy Shih

Office Manager Grace Ting Benefactors Bai Win Antiques European Chamber of Commerce Counselors I-wen Chan, Katherine Chang, Hui-Shiang Chao, Grand Hyatt Taipei Jung Chin, Chiao-Feng Chung, Cerita Hsu, Carol Lee, Miranda Lin, Emilie Ma, Kuang-Shan Wan Premier Sponsors Concordia Consulting ICRT Counseling Admin. Joanne Chua San Fu Global

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Aug 17_p3-end.indd 5 2017/7/25 11:27:36 PM CSC

Fun Activities for Kiddies

Here are a few places to visit with your busy-bee kids to keep them buzzing!!

Text: Nomita Kavra Gupta

WHAT WHY WHEN AND WHERE

2017 Taipei Water The Taipei water park aims to raise awareness Address: Taipei Water Park Festival about the importance of health, ecosystems, arts 1 Siyuan Street and humanities through water-friendly facilities MRT: Gongguan and activities. Timeline: Until August 31st During the festival, the park’s facilities are open to http://engwaterpark.water.taipei/ the public while indigenous song, dance and other https://www.travel.taipei/en/ performances are held for their entertainment. event-calendar/details/9105

Taiwan International Experience a feast for the senses at this annual Address: Luye Plateau, 7, Balloon Festival festival held in Taitung County, as big, beautiful Lane 392, Longma Road, Luye and colorful hot air balloons float through the air Township, Taitung County (In front above a beautiful valley. of Lungku ) The Taiwan International Balloon Festival took Timeline: Until August 6th off in 2011, and in 2012 it challenged the world Phone: (089) 324-902 record in terms of duration and scale. http://www.eventaiwan.tw/ The festival includes flying shows, moored balloon cal_en/cal_20022 rides, a “night glow” music concert, balloon http://tour.taitung.gov.tw/en-us/ wedding celebrations, and a summer camp. Tourist/Experience/HotAirBalloon https://www.facebook.com/ balloontaiwan/

Yilan International The Yilan County Government is organizing Address: Dongshan River Water Children’s Folklore & this event to provide children with a unique Park, 2, Qinhe Road, Section 2, Folk games Festival opportunity to befriend cultures from around the Wujie Township, Yilan County world. This is one of the representative events of Timeline: Until August 31st UNESCO’s International Council of Organizations of Phone: (03) 932-2440 Folklore Festivals and Folk Arts (CIOFF). http://www.yicfff.tw/ In contrast with other festivals that focus on a http://eventaiwan.tw/cal_en/ single form of art, it combines multiple forms, cal_20063 including performances, exhibitions and games. https://www.facebook.com/YICFFF

Address: 3F, 99, Civic Boulevard, 2017 Taipei Children's Art Each year from July to August, Taipei City Section 5, Songshan District Festival (TCAF) Government unveils the Taipei Children’s Arts Festival (TCAF), hosting a diverse range of art Timeline: Until August 6th activities across the city for the whole family. Phone: (02) 2528-9580 #191-199 The theme of the 2017 TCAF is "Beyond Email: [email protected] Boundaries." website: The festival features an average of fifty free-entry https://eng.taipeicaf.org/ theatrical works, arts exhibitions, and workshops, https://www.travel.taipei/en/ and attracts an average of 200,000 participants event-calendar/details/9426 each year. http://english.culture.gov.taipei/c t.asp?xItem=1118542&ctNode=30 767&mp=119002

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Aug 17_p3-end.indd 6 2017/7/25 11:27:37 PM CSC Recognizing the Community Services Center’s Volunteers (2006 – 2008)

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the many dedicated volunteers that have supported the Community Services Center over the years. The list is quite long and we hope to continue with our acknowledgements of their service to the Center in future issues.

Renate Alison (2006, 2007) Susan Karjian (2006, 2007) Anne Marie Pot (2008) Alison Bai (2006, 2007, 2008) Jane Leschnik (2006, 2007, 2008) Sharon Raju (2006, 2007, 2008) Jodi Boyd (2006) Judy Liao (2007, 2008) Kathleen Rice (2007, 2008) Celiane Camargo Borges (2008) Helene Marwood (2006, 2007,2008) Laureen Rivet (2006, 2007, 2008) Janell Colon (2008) Joyce McCabe (2007) Carol Schramer (2007, 2008) Shana Crook (2007) Robyn McDougall (2006, 2007, 2008) Desta Selassie (2008) Mary David (2006) Deb Meyers (2007, 2008) Nicola Thackeray (2006) Susan DeSimone (2007, 2008) Junko Mochizuko (2006, 2007) Terri Tiland (2008) Ping Guan Ulrich (2006) Scott Moses (2008) Mette Trock-Jansen (2006) Violet Guiler (2007, 2008) Bunny Pacheco (2006, 2007, 2008) Rachel Van Haeff (2007, 2008) Cherie Huang (2008) Gillian Payne (2007) Elizabeth Weinstein (2006, 2007, 2008) Sharon Jagger (2008) Gloria Peng (2006, 2007, 2008) Sandy Wills (2006) Diane Johnson (2006, 2007) Susan Popple (2006) Lillian Yiin (2007, 2008)

A percentage of all proceeds of items sold at the Gallery will go AUGUST GALLERY to the Center. Please remember that by displaying your items or shopping at the Gallery, you will be helping the Center to continue to provide valuable services to the international community.

Meko 100% pure coconut water Taiwan sizzles in summer. If you are a newcomer to Taipei, adjusting to the heat of summer will be a challenge. Quenching your thirst is important, and coconut water is one natural choice. Meko is 100% pure coconut water. It has no added sugars, flavors, additives or preservatives, and is packed full of essential electrolytes and antioxidants. Each can of Meko contains pieces of top-quality coconut from Thailand.

Ink and Watercolor Paintings by Kristi Thornbury Kristi Thornbury feels a close connection to nature and tries to illustrate this through how a particular place or time resonates within her memory. Taiwan provides her with endless inspiration, as can be seen through her paintings.

Kristi is the founder of Yili Arts Studio (opened in 2014), where she holds classes as she fulfills her dream to create beauty through art and her passion for teaching. She can be contacted at www.yiliarts.com

A Beautiful Scarf Collection This collection has scarves that are perfect for any occasion. In fact, “A scarf has to be the most beautiful thing ever invented to wear! It’s winding, a continuity, an infinity” (Sonia Rykiel). Come visit the Center to find a perfect scarf for yourself or to give as a gift for someone special.

August and Do you have a skill or talent that you would September 2017 like to share? Or have you found some great Morning Book Club places around Taipei that you would like to Selection take others to see? Alexander Hamilton by Ron THE Then why not consider teaching a course Chernow or leading a tour for the Center? If For meeting dates, times CENTER you are interested, or would like more & location, contact: information, please contact Rosemary at ce@ [email protected] NEEDS YOU! communitycenter.org.tw.

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Aug 17_p3-end.indd 7 2017/7/25 11:27:39 PM CSC events about town The Taipei 2017 29th Summer Guided Taipei Tours warehouses have been turned August 13 (2:30 pm) Universiade into exhibition spaces and Venue: Metropolitan Hall shops for local artists and Duration 135 minutes, with no designers. intermission (in German with MRT: Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall Mandarin subtitles) station, exit 5 Coordinated with the Goethe Tel: (02) 2765 1388 Institute Taipei www.songshanculturalpark.org http://www.eng.taipeifestival. August 19 – 30 Tourmeaway offers free walking com Taiwan is excited about the tours in Taipei. They offer a Huashan 1914 Creative Park upcoming Taipei Summer variety of packages; the Old Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation Universiade. In accordance with Town Tour, Taipei Chill Out, will issue a special discount FISU regulations, the Mother Hunger Game, and Drinks and one-day pass for parents with Flame Lighting Ceremony Fun: Night Out in Taipei Tour. children until August 31st. This for the 2017 Taipei Summer Historic stops include Longshan promotion is to encourage Universiade was held on June Temple, the Bopiliao Historical families to spend quality time 20th in Turin, the first city to Block, the Presidential Office, A renovated wine factory, together during the summer host the Universiade in 1959. 228 Memorial Park, and Four and one of the oldest, best months by taking the Taipei With the lighting of the relay Four South Village. TripAdvisor preserved structures in Taipei, Metro. torch, the countdown began reviews give them a high rating has been turned into a space The special summer vacation for this year’s sporting events. for tourists that want a break for young designers, classes, pass allows one adult over 18 Taipei Mayor Wen-Je Ko from the usual type of tourist theater productions and more. and one child under the age of explained that more than six fare. Hours: 9:30 am to 9 pm 12 to use the same day pass for years has gone into preparation Check them out at: http://www. Tel: (02) 2358 1914 unlimited Taipei Metro rides on for the games. There will be tourmeaway.com Address: 1, Bade Road, Section the same day that the pass is 22 sport categories and 33 1, Zhongzheng District purchased. competition venues; Taipei is Keelung Guided Walks Website: huashan1914.com Contact any Taipei Metro ready for the 10,000 athletes There’s a new tour group in MRT: Zhongshan Xinsheng Information Desk to purchase and delegation members. town, called “Keelungforawalk”. station, exit 1 this special card for only For further information about Born and raised in Keelung, NT$150. the sporting events, venues and this team of enthusiastic young Taipei Arts Festival 2017 24-hour hotline: (02) 218-12345 schedules, go to: people is offering a fresh Theme: City and its Future Taipei Metro Website: english. https://www.taipei2017.com. approach to local tourism. Dates: August 7 – September 17 metro.taipei.com tw/home Among the things they are For tickets: https:// trying to do is to create person- THEATER Taipei vegan restaurants tickets.2017.taipei/ticket/ to-person opportunities for Deutsches Theater Berlin, It’s a Vegan Affair – www. area/17_TPE_OPN/2315 (For tour guests and local citizens to Germany: Warten auf Godot veganaffair.tw – a map of English, see top of page) exchange different viewpoints Dates: August 11 -12 (7:30 pm), popular vegan restaurants as they learn about each Maokong Gondola other’s culture. Keelung has a diverse cross- THE TAIWAN POW CAMPS MEMORIAL SOCIETY’S cultural history, which includes 10TH FEPOW EVENING EVENT lingering influences from the Ketalagan aboriginal tribe, Date: Saturday evening, August 12 and a brief Spanish and Dutch Venue: SPOT Theatre presence. Sample delicious area 18, Zhongshan North Road, Section 2 specialties and visit beautiful Time: The doors of the theatre will open at 6 pm. The Located at the southern edge temples. If you come during a program will begin promptly at 6:30 pm of Taipei city, the Maokong festival, you’ll be immediately Admission: Free – space is limited to seventy people. Gondola is a must for first- made to feel welcome by the Reservations are needed. time visitors to Taipei. There warmth of Keelung hospitality. RSVP to: [email protected] no later than are four stations: Taipei Zoo, Call: (0968) 60 7676 Wednesday, August 9. Taipei South Zoo, Zhinan Email: keelungforawalk@gmail. Temple and Maokong, where com Description: This will be a full evening honoring POWs a wide variety of high quality Web: https://keelung-for-a- associated with Taiwan. There will be a display of tea houses await the curious. walk.com POW and military artifacts from the Society’s museum Please note that the gondola collection, a short memorial service to remember the service may be suspended due LOCAL ARTISTS AND POWs, and then a showing of the film, A War Story. This to thunderstorms. DESIGNERS is a moving documentary drama highlighting the life of a MRT: Taipei Zoo, exit 2 The Songshan Cultural Canadian POW doctor, Major Ben Wheeler, and his time For more information check Creative Park at the infamous Kinkaseki POW Camp. Following a brief out: https://guideoftaipei.com/ Address: 133, Guangfu South intermission, a short film will be shown for the first time visit/maokong Road, Xinyi District in Taiwan, Kinkaseki Then and Now. Please note that there These former tobacco factory are no Chinese subtitles for this film.

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Aug 17_p3-end.indd 8 2017/7/25 11:27:40 PM CSC Help the Homeless Project Typhoon and

Are you traveling this Summer? Make sure to Earthquake Tips bring your unused hotel shampoo, conditioner, soap, etc. back to Taipei to donate to the Help the Homeless Project. This project collects hotel size toiletries and distributes them to Taipei’s homeless. There is a collection box at The Center but if you are unable to come in please see below for 3 other delivery options: 1) Meet up Ximen MRT station – to arrange email: [email protected] 2) Ship by post – should not cost more than he typhoon season in Taiwan runs from April through October. NT$70 if its below 5kg Emergency supplies you should have on hand include: candles, Address : Doreen Leong, 2F-3 No.11, matches, flashlights, batteries, portable radio (for English Changsha St Sec Sec 2, Wanhua District, Taipei news updates turn to ICRT 100.7 FM), fresh drinking water, 108. Tel : 0920 802 730. 台北市108萬華區長 Timportant papers and documents in a packed bag ready to go, and 沙街2段11號2F之3 clean clothes. If you are taking medicine, make sure that you have 3) Ship by 7-11 convenience store – will cost enough to last you through an unexpected emergency. Pet carriers NT$60. should be within easy reach for transporting pets. Using iBon machine, send to store code : Earthquakes have no season and can occur at any time. If an 992130 earthquake strikes and there is a table to get under, do so and hold Address : 185 Hanzhong Street, Taipei city onto the table legs. This will help to protect you from flying objects and Tel : 0920 802 730 (To : 龍淑嫻) broken glass. When exiting a building, take the stairs, NOT the elevator.

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Aug 17_p3-end.indd 9 2017/7/25 11:27:42 PM culture

Rediscovering Dihua Street

Text : Sydney Ko Images: Rika Ishida

s a new summer journalism Established in the 1850s, Dihua think about was devouring a bowl of intern at the Taipei Street is one of the oldest streets in homemade soup from the Community Services Center Taiwan. Even today, it has managed to famous Jiaxing. Not even a cone of ice and a full-time student during capture the essence of what life must cream could have had the same effect Athe year at the Hsinchu International have been like when Taiwan was still on satisfying my craving. School, I was totally unprepared for known as Formosa. Located in Taipei’s the Taipei I thought I once knew. In the Datong District, this street was a center A Taiwanese classic past, Taipei was always about funky for trade in commercial products such I have to explain why I love this soup new Italian restaurants, skyscrapers, as fabric, medicinal herbs, Taiwanese so much. Fish ball soup has always and crowds of people. tea and items for the home. been a staple and favorite dish with my However, when I got my first So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise family. At least once a week, it shows assignment to explore one of the that Dihua Street is also home to up on our dining table. Without fail, older areas of Taipei, I was somewhat some of the greatest traditional everyone in the family helps themselves hesitant, because Dihua Street has Taiwanese food on the planet, like fish and devours the whole pot within never really appealed to me. Maybe ball soup. Thinking back on that day minutes. Perhaps it was this sense of this is because I am a millennial. So and considering that the scorching familiarity that washed over me and in the end, I decided to adjust my sun felt like it was a thousand degrees prompted me to finish my bowl of hot attitude and go with the flow for this Celsius, I must have had a slight case of fish ball soup on that hot summer day assignment. Going with the flow meant sunstroke to even think about eating with such speed and gusto. going to Dihua Street. hot food. But in reality, all I could As funny as this soup’s name may

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Aug 17_p3-end.indd 10 2017/7/25 11:27:43 PM Rediscovering Dihua Street

was given to this building during the myself that what I was seeing looked Japanese colonial period. I also learned like something straight out of a vibrant that this fabric market remained a Salvador Dali painting. Much to my trading center for fabrics even during added surprise, I found that all the the 1950s. However, due to the current fabrics on display had cartoon prints on economy here in Taiwan and other them. outside competition, the market is no The Two Sisters store was the very longer as prosperous as it once was. first fabric shop to sell cartoon prints Even so, it is still known as the place to in Taiwan. The shop staff are also able go for many young artists and designers. to teach buyers, right in the shop, how Inside this rather run-down, shabby- to make bags and small pouches out of looking building are fabrics ranging from silk to muslin, leather to denim, TWO SISTERS FABRIC STORE complex prints to plain colors. This 21 Dihua Street, section 1 market is a treasure island for talented (Shuanglian MRT) handicraft people, especially for women (迪化街一段21號) and children. I immediately became enamored by everything that was in BAO’AN TEMPLE front of me. At first, it seemed like 17, Lane 49, Bao'an Street (Yuanshan sound, believe it or not, it dates all Matisse had spilled his artwork into the MRT) the way back to the Qin dynasty. It all interior of this building. Even now, as I (保安街49巷17號) started when Shi Huangdi demanded sit here typing, it is hard to describe the that fish be served to him at every full blast of color that met me when I LIN LIU-HSIN PUPPET MUSEUM meal. He also ordered that there first entered the Yongle Fabric Market. 79, Xining North Road (Shuanglian were to be no bones in any of the As I continued walking through the MRT) 西寧北路 號 fish served to him. This seemingly Fabric Market building, I stumbled ( 21 ) outrageous demand later led to the upon another separate fabric store JIAXING FISH BALL SOUP SHOP invention of what is now known as fish called “Two Sisters” (二嫂的店). Inside 21, Lane 210, Yanping North Road balls. Through time, they were further this shop, neatly stacked from floor to (Daqiaotou/Shuanglian MRT) modified and used in a variety of ways, ceiling, were bolts of the most colorful (延平北路210巷21號) one being in soup. This is how this fabrics I had ever seen. I thought to delicious soup came to be.

The Fabric Market After finishing my bowl of fish ball soup, I decided to look for the Yongle Fabric Market. It was really not my first choice, but I decided to check it out because TripAdvisor highly recommended it. As I entered the building, I was suddenly hit by a wave of nostalgia. All around me were bright, colorful fabrics, which reminded me of earlier trips to Dihua Street, when my mom and I would go to buy fabric for me and my brother’s Halloween costumes, when we were little. I learned that the name “Yongle”

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Aug 17_p3-end.indd 11 2017/7/25 11:27:46 PM Culture

the intricately patterned fabric. What’s the Nadou Theatre. significant step towards preserving more is that all the fabrics are imported In the exhibition and workshop Taiwan’s temple culture. However, from Japan. section are exhibits about the history what caught my attention was that heGreatGetaway of puppets and how different countries this temple, which is surrounded Taiwanese Puppets have their own puppet forms and by food stalls and vendors, received Although I could easily bluff people variations. I was blown away by the the prestigious UNESCO Asia-Pacific T and say that I had a sudden urge to get beautifully displayed marionettes and Heritage Award for its dedication to the educated about the origin and history the incredibly well-structured puppet revival of temple rites and festivities. of puppets, it was actually TripAdvisor performance stages. Next to the When I received this assignment for and the recommendations of more exhibition and workshop area is the Centered on Taipei, it never occurred experienced travelers that motivated Nadou Theatre. It had an interesting list to me that this old street would hold me to go and see the Puppet Museum. of small-scale puppet, music, dance and my attention for an entire day. So much Puppets in Taiwan have been a form theater performances for the public to has changed over the last decade, from of entertainment for a long time, as can attend. when my mother would drag me to be seen by the popular puppet shows Dihua Street, much to my 7-year old on Taiwanese television. Puppets can A Historic Landmark indignation. It may not be a hangout be used to communicate ideas about Once my visit to the Puppet Museum spot or playground that children enjoy, real-life situations. As a matter of fact, came to an end, I started walking but it sure is a place of fascination for puppet art is said to be 3,000 years old. towards the nearby Bao’an Temple. me, now that I am older. With such deep roots, it’s no wonder There are over 15,000 temples in that puppet shows remain a popular Taiwan, so why my sudden interest to Taiwanese cultural tradition. go visit this particular one? The Bao’an The Puppet Museum was established Temple isn’t just any temple. It’s a Sydney Ko is an avid in the year 2000, by Dr. Paul C.F Lin historic landmark, founded in the 1800s coffee drinker and an and Dr. Robin Ruizendaal. Their main by immigrants from Province. aspiring writer with purpose was to preserve this important Several years ago Taipei City an insatiable hunger aspect of Taiwanese culture and Government recognized its historic for hard truths. She wishes to travel the traditional Asian puppet culture. There importance and approved a lengthy world one day, but before that happens, are two parts to the museum, the renovation, which lasted from 1995 she will patiently sip her mocha and puppet exhibition and workshop, and to 2002. This renovation signified a read the nearest book she finds.

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Aug 17_p3-end.indd 12 2017/7/25 11:27:47 PM T he Great Getaway

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Aug 17_p3-end.indd 13 2017/7/25 11:27:48 PM Culture The Art Of Tea: A Ladies’ Tea Ceremony Experience

Text (collaboration): Olivia Jen, Alison Davis, Carol Sun, Sue Babcock images: Welcome to Taipei International Club (WTIC), Olivia Jen and Carol Sun

he art of making tea is an ancient one. In Taiwan and , years of study and practice are required to earn theT title of ‘Tea Master’. Therefore, to be in the presence of a professional tea master during a tea ceremony, is not Taipei Lecture Hall, a Zen master and Mrs. Julie T. Chien, the founder of only an honor, but an experience of a musician. Mrs. Lin oversees the running Welcome to Taipei International lifetime. of the Tea House, whose tranquil Club (WTIC) and the three cultural Last fall, on a warm sunny afternoon, ambience instantly instills a sense of Exploration Group Co-chairwomen, a group of women from the Welcome calm in those that enter. Olivia Jen, Alison Davis and Carol Sun, to Taipei International Club (WTIC), as they entered the Tea House. This gathered at the Taipei Zhongshan A warm welcome gracious welcome greatly enhanced Hall to meet Mr. Lin Ku-Fang and his Friendly greetings of welcome the afternoon’s enjoyable and rich tea lovely wife. Mr. Lin is the Dean of the were given to each of the ladies by ceremony experience.

14 august 2017 www.communitycenter.org.tw

Aug 17_p3-end.indd 14 2017/7/25 11:27:50 PM culture

Learning about Taiwan’s tea and Taiwan has the well-deserved international reputation for producing and exporting high-quality , black and . Its geography, the harvest season and how the tea is and transparency to the tea. sunny climate, rainfall and high processed. mountain ranges are ideal for The fragrance of tea cultivating tea trees that produce first- Quality tea Since green tea has not been not class yields. Taiwan is also recognized as Master Lin, with the Mandarin/ fermented, it will have a light, lingering, a major tea culture society. English translation support of refreshing grassy taste to it. Tea in Taiwan is harvested Carol Sun, introduced eight of is fully fermented, with a sweet honey throughout the year with three distinct exceptional quality: West Lake Long-Jin aroma. Oolong tea is half-fermented seasons; summer (June through Tea, Bao Zhong Tea, High Mountain and has a slight floral aroma. The August), fall/winter (late October to Oolong Tea, Dong-Ding Oolong Tea, best oolong tea is grown in the high March) and spring (March through Muzha Tien-guan-yin Tea, Oriental mountain areas at elevations above May). Each season’s tea has its own Beauty Tea, Taiwan Tea #18, and 1,000 meters. distinctive fragrance and taste because Yunnan Pu’er Tea. Master Lin also of its different climate. Taiwan teas stressed that fine tea leaves, when The art of tea brewing are classified according to their region, brewed, will give a special bright shine The tea masters at the Tea House

TEA AND WATER TEMPERATURE

WEST LAKE WEN-SHAN HIGH MOUNTAIN OOLONG TEA DONG-DING OOLONG TEA (non-fermented green tea) (lightly fermented green tea) (lightly fermented oolong tea) (semi-fermented oolong tea)

85 – 90 oC 85 – 90 oC 85 – 90 oC 100 oC

MUZHA TIENGUANYIN TEA ORIENTAL BEAUTY TEA TAIWAN TEA #18 YUNNAN PU’ER TEA (heavily fermented oolong tea) (heavily fermented oolong tea) (fully fermented black tea) (post fermented dark tea)

100 oC 100 oC 100 oC 100 oC

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Aug 17_p3-end.indd 15 2017/7/25 11:27:52 PM culture

A lovely afternoon for WTIC ladies

recommended the following steps for Add fifteen seconds to the original brewing a pot of tea. time for subsequent pots. It First, rinse all the tea cups with is important to never let the tea leaves boiling-hot water, which will elevate the soak in the hot water for long periods temperature of the tea cups so that the of time. Boiling water can be poured tea will taste more fragrant. onto the tea leaves for up to six times, Second, use a dry wooden spoon or until the taste begins to fade. with a sharp tip to assist in removing Fifth, use the wooden tea spoon to dry tea leaves from their container remove the fully expanded tea leaves and place them into a tea funnel. The from the pot. Place them and any left- amount of dry leaves needed is about 1 over tea water into a large bowl, to /4 to 1/3 of the size of the tea pot. be discarded later. Use new tea leaves Third, pour boiling hot water into the and boiling water for a fresh pot of and cover with the lid. Wait for delicious tea. Guests can also enjoy cups of fine thirty to sixty seconds before pouring tea while learning the art of flower this water into an empty jug. Distribute The Tea House – an oasis arrangement, calligraphy and other the brewed tea from this jug. The Tea House offers a tranquil topics related to the tea arts and tea Fourth, additional pots of tea can space and ambience to unwind from culture. It is a lovely oasis in downtown be made from the original tea leaves. the hustle and bustle of our daily lives. Taipei.

16 august 2017 www.communitycenter.org.tw

Aug 17_p3-end.indd 16 2017/7/25 11:27:55 PM A Taiwan Photo Gallery

This month, we are pleased to present Peter Urbach.

Tea Plantation in Taiwan by Peter Urbach

www.communitycenter.org.tw AUGUST 2017 17

Aug 17_p3-end.indd 17 2017/7/25 11:27:56 PM Home & garden Dr. Leaf’s Miscellaneous Tips for Indoor Gardening

Text: Dr. Leaf images: Web

n summer, Taipei is hot, hotter, or Clean air plants for indoor Bar-B-Q sizzling, with a humidity spaces that makes people feel like non-stop We need clean air in our homes, sweat machines. Trust me, gardening work environments, dining venues, outdoorsI at this time of year is not for hospitals, museums, places of the faint-hearted. So, with this in mind, worship - the list goes on and on. Four Dr. Leaf’s choice for the August issue suggested categories of plants are of Centered on Taipei is some tips for ideal for growing indoors: herbaceous indoor gardeners. foliage plants, herbaceous flowering There is nothing more refreshing than plants, trailing plants and woody to walk into someone’s living space plants. and immediately feel a sense of peace, High humidity doesn’t seem to affect tranquillity and freshness. Let’s face varieties of the begonia, the Peperomia it, plants are the lungs of our earth. caperata, the Fittonia vershaffettii and They produce oxygen. Without Mother the bird's nest fern, which is why they Nature and her environmental gifts, our are popular choices with designers and life span would be shorter. city dwellers alike.

18 august 2017 www.communitycenter.org.tw

Aug 17_p3-end.indd 18 2017/7/25 11:27:57 PM Begonia varieties There are 1,500 varieties of begonia plants. They are lovely, and bloom throughout the entire year. However, I am going to be upfront about them for it is important to understand that they are toxic to children and pets (especially to cats and dogs). The leaves of the begonia are asymmetrical, they have thick succulent stems, and their flowers bloom in clusters. Place them near a shady but white veins and fuzzy stems. Fittonia warm window sill, hang them in an vershaffettii (the nerve or mosaic attractive basket or place a single pot plant) loves high humidity: the higher near your computer workstation. the better. It's a perfect house guest Begonias need a steady dose of for it requires minimum maintenance indirect sunlight, and the top of the soil and has several varieties from which should be 50% dry before watering. Too to choose, all of which are durable and much water is an invitation for mildew, attractive. mold and root damage. Normally, Since the Fittonia is a creeper it does begonias are pest free. Terracotta best in large, shallow containers or Peppermint scares off or clay pots are best, because they hanging baskets, growing in peat-based pesky plant intruders encourage rapid water evaporation, soil. However, watering this plant which is good for maintaining rich, well- requires more attention than most. You Here’s an organic foliar spray aerated soil conditions. want your plant to live in a moist soil; recipe for pests such as ants or however too much water will cause mites that love plant leaves and a yellowing of leaves and may attract your home. Put ten drops of gnat fungus or mealy bugs, which love peppermint essential oil and 750 soft, limp leaves. ml clean water in a spray bottle. Before you spray, it is always good Bird's Nest Fern to do a "patch test." Observe I have been saving this plant for last. the few leaves that have been Overall, it does more for improving spray - tested to see if there is the quality of the air indoors than any any discoloration, or if the plant other plant. Second, it’s hard to kill. seems distressed. Be sure to place Before I realized that it does best in a newspaper or cloth under the indirect sunlight, I had it outdoors in full plants, because essential oils can Peperomia caperata sunlight. It still managed to survive. stain painted surfaces, flooring and This undemanding plant, with its dark This plant received its common name furniture. green leaves and reddish-purple stems, of bird's nest fern due to its shape Spray the infected leaves once belongs to the pepper family. The when fully grown. It requires good- a week before sundown, when Peperomia caperata’s tolerance of high quality potting soil, a large container it is cooler, and the aroma and humidity, its need for indirect sunlight and a watering routine that leaves the stickiness from the peppermint will and only a little water, makes it a good soil moist, but not soggy. Quite by deter new pests from having a free plant to place in the kitchen, bathroom accident, I discovered that my bird's leaf meal. or living room, where it will thrive. nest ferns love being misted every so For ants, dab a few cotton balls It likes a light soil mixture, having often, in addition to being watered. with a little peppermint essential looseness around its roots and growing It seems to improve the evaporation oil and place them around in inside a quickly-draining pot. Its process, thus creating the humidity that the corners of bookshelves, succulent-like leaves will store water, so they require to thrive. the bathroom, living room or the soil should not be wet, although it anywhere that ant armies like to should not be allowed to become too march. dry either. A good rule of thumb is to water carefully, only when the top is dry. A note of caution: it's best to keep it away from children and pets. Dr. Leaf is an avid environmentalist Fittonia vershaffettii living in the heart of downtown Taipei, This plant loves to travel. This and whose rooftop garden is the envy of creeping perennial has oval green many neighbors. leaves with intricate red, pink, silver or

www.communitycenter.org.tw AUGUST 2017 19

Aug 17_p3-end.indd 19 2017/7/25 11:28:00 PM around taipei

Wandering around Taipei: Beating the Summer Heat

Text: Kit farley images: web

ummer is a perfect time to be near water. For those brave souls who venture outdoors in the blistering August heat, you deserve a cool reward for your efforts. Situated all over Taipei are lovely ponds, Swhere you can feed fish, sit quietly among ancient banyan trees watching artists paint flowering lotus, or take delight in watching children splash buckets of cool water over themselves, at a local water park. Here are some spots to get you started.

The Lotus Pond The Lotus Pond and the gardens behind the National Museum of History are a quiet urban oasis. Located at 49 Nanhai Road, this serene pond is surrounded by lush green flora and banyan trees. Lotus leaves and flowers float gracefully above the surface of the pond, only to be occasionally disturbed by one of the pond’s resident ducks. To visit the Lotus Pond, take the MRT to Xiaonanmen Station, and leave by exit 3. A quick three-minute stroll will bring you to the Museum and walkway to the Lotus Pond.

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Gardens Not too far away from the Lotus Pond is the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Gardens, also known as the Zhongzheng Memorial Park. Use exit 5 of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall MRT stop to get there. If you go early in the morning, you'll see people practicing martial arts, doing folk dancing and (if it isn’t a rainy day) an elderly gentleman playing a wide selection of music on his saxophone. Take a leisurely stroll across one of the park’s two moon bridges, stopping halfway to watch the many fish swimming below. Purchase a small packet of fish food from any of the vending machines at the entrances to the gardens, and have fun watching the fish as they jostle with each other to get a nibble or two.

20 august 2017 www.communitycenter.org.tw

Aug 17_p3-end.indd 20 2017/7/25 11:28:02 PM The Da-an Forest Park The Da-an Forest Park is by far the largest park in downtown Taipei, and is easy to reach, as it has its own MRT station. Take the red line to Da-an Park station and leave by exits 2, 3, 4 or 5. The park was created in 1994, after the demolition of a long-standing squatter’s village. Situated on 64 acres of prime municipal real estate, the park has two lovely ponds. It's not uncommon to see egrets standing near the water’s edge, or geese flying gracefully overhead. The pathways are well-kept, bordered on either side by palm trees, bamboo groves, well-groomed shrubs and seasonal flowers.

Taipei Water Park To help beat the Taipei summer, this is the place to go for relief. It's an easy walk from Gongguan MRT Station, exit 4 to Shiyuan Street and the entrance to the park. Signs in English make it easy to find. For children, this is a Heading outside of Taipei for a healthy soak water playground wonderland equipped with water slides, This may sound a little weird, but taking a summertime shallow pools and other fun entertainment. For adults, sulfur hot spring soak can help your body to relax and feel swimming and lounging areas are popular, especially when refreshed. Locals enjoy going to Lengshuikeng, which is the temperatures crank up. Swimming suits and caps are less well-known among the foreign community. Bathing required. The park is open 9 am to 5 pm, Tuesday to Sunday, suits are not required. Visitors are separated by gender into and tickets are sold until 4 pm. two separate huts. Pre-washing is required, so bring your own soap, washcloth and towel with you. From Jiantan MRT Station take the S15 minibus directly to Lengshuikeng. Kit Farley is currently traveling on assignment between Hours: 6 am to 9 pm, closed the last Monday of each Taiwan and Hong Kong. month. Admission free.

www.communitycenter.org.tw AUGUST 2017 21

Aug 17_p3-end.indd 21 2017/7/25 11:28:04 PM outlook Am I A Control Freak?

Text: Dr. Hui-Shiang Chao image: web

ften we hear others However, some adults whose needs for their entire energy and time feeding describe their partners, safety are not met in their childhood their need for control, although they friends, or parents as might look for a greater amount of are not in any danger or facing any life- control freaks. Maybe control in their life. threatening out-of-control situations. evenO you have been labeled as being People who had been traumatized or The control freak needs to focus on one. What does this mean? Is being abused might crave a sense of control certain situations, behaviors, routines, controlling a bad thing? Aren’t we as their primary need. For example, people, or relationships to give them supposed to be able to manage and people who grew up and suffered from reassurance, thus meeting their need control our lives? Definitely we are; an unstable financial environment for control and mental comfort. Once however, too much control can cause might base their sense of safety on they gain their sense of control and problems in our lives, damaged money; thus they control their finances ease their mind by making sure things, relationships, or serious health issues. more than others. People who were people, or relationships are the way Therefore, we need to understand the abused emotionally or physically as they expect them to be, then their signs that indicate over-controlling children might look for partners who internal tension levels decrease for the behaviors and how to get help for them. are non-aggressive or submissive. time being. Moreover, they might even back People who need to always be in Our need for control away from entering into an intimate control have little tolerance for change Have you ever driven on an icy road relationship because of their fear of or ambiguity. They are unable to be and your car went out of control? losing control. flexible. They prefer stable, predictable Meanwhile, every vehicle around you In the movie Pay it Forward, the life structures or experiences. Cross- is trying hard to avoid being hit by your main character, Eugene (played by cultural experiences may be very car. Everybody felt overwhelmed and Kevin Spacey), is a teacher who sticks uncomfortable or even threatening to tried their best to regain some control. to his strict routine in order to feel in them, because they are not familiar We hate losing control, or even control of his single life. He is a control with the rules and different social feeling out of control, because we freak. This is because of being abused structures in different cultures. experience strong emotions such as and hurt by his alcoholic father early If in a cross-cultural marriage, they anxiety, panic, being overwhelmed, or in life. When he met Arlene (played by may constantly feel out of control. They freaking out. That’s why we need rules, Helen Hunt) Eugene needed to gather find that there are too many new and schedules, and some daily routines to up all his courage in order to break out different cultural norms and values keep our lives, not only in order, but of his daily life of solitude, so that he for them to handle with ease. They also predictable. In this way we gain a could have a relationship with her. For find these hard to accept, especially certain degree of control of our lives. Eugene, or those who need to be overly when scheduled plans or appointments Feeling in control is a basic need controlling, intimate relationships change suddenly. in human life. People need different can mean losing their stability in life They not only expect loved ones to degrees of control according to their and running the risk of being hurt or accept their way of thinking, but they psychological maturity. Generally abandoned. also push themselves to meet their speaking, younger children need more own high rigid standards. They easily control than adults for a sense of Looking at out-of-control jeopardize their physical and mental security. Once their safety needs are behaviors health, due to rigidity. met in childhood, they usually become Feeling out of control is somehow Very often, we hear about “terror more flexible and able to adapt to different from actually losing control. lovers” on the news. They are another more change when they are older. Some people unconsciously spend form of over-controlling people. These

22 august 2017 www.communitycenter.org.tw

Aug 17_p3-end.indd 22 2017/7/25 11:28:05 PM individuals need to have excessive they are trapped from experiencing a following. control over their partners, including healthy life. First, observe and write down in a the way they dress, spend money, Those that are unable to meet their notebook those things that cause you schedule their time, and even use ways own control needs might compensate stress and a need to be in control. to intimidate them about who their by turning to other addictive behaviors Second, find a specific memory friends and family members can be. such as eating, cleaning or drinking. which might relate to these areas. For Individuals who have the need to be Because their need for control is so example, those that have been robbed in excessive control will usually begin a excessive, these alternative behaviors may show a greater need for having relationship by showing great amounts can endanger their health, career, security in their home. of attention and love. Eventually, their relationships and possibly even end in Third, examine how you felt partners begin to feel suffocated and death. about the experience. If you still feel find themselves having no freedom at vulnerable, create ways or strategies to all within the relationship. The process How to treat over- make yourself feel less vulnerable and of breaking up can be very difficult or controlling tendencies more at peace. Find a trusted counselor even dangerous. Observe how you react when things to work with you. It always helps to Some over-controlling partners do not go your way. What do you do have someone by your side. may threaten or even carry out life- when people do not respond the way threatening acts towards their partner you would like them to? How do you and to themselves. feel when your body, emotions, or mind don’t work the way you expect? Being over-controlling does Do you get annoyed? How do you destroy lives face the unexpected? Can you accept Over-controlling behaviors only offer that people make mistakes and that Dr. Hui-Shiang Chao temporary relief from outside pressures accidents can and do happen? Can you received her Ph.D. in and give a false sense of control. They accept that we do not have to control Counselor Education do not solve any problems. These everything, everyone or even ourselves and Supervision behaviors exhaust energy resources to have a happy and peaceful life? If in 2005. Her professional areas of and place control freaks and their loved you have a sense that you may need expertise include individual, marital and ones inside an invisible "jail," where to work on your control issues, try the family counseling.

Newcomer Orientation

Join the Center’s Newcomer Orientation Workshop for a THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 fast-paced and fun introduction to living in Taiwan. This half-day workshop is full of helpful hints, stories and useful information. Topics covered include: practical daily life tips; typhoon, earthquake and disaster awareness; health and medical information; and, understanding the local culture. If you would like to stay afterwards to chat with Center sta , lunch will be available at an additional cost of NT$300.

9:00am - 12:30pm $800 NT (optional lunch add $300 NT) Registration required ST

www.communitycenter.org.tw

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Aug 17_p3-end.indd 23 2017/7/25 11:28:05 PM outlook

Elder Day Care Centers in Taiwan

Text: Dr. Ting-Yi Lin image: web

ince 1993, Taiwan has been the elder is suffering from dementia. Low salaries for caregivers classified as an “a g i n g While these centers have helped In addition to low day-care salaries, s o c i et y” in accordance some families like Chang Chung-han’s, there are other issues day care centers with the United Nation’s the government’s goodwill is not always face such as unskilled workers, high Sdefinition; 7% of the total population readily accepted. For example, the turnover, job disinterest, and low is over 64 years of age. Demographers Ta-Tung Health Promotion Paradise professional image. It’s important are predicting that by 2018, Taiwan’s Center is able to accept thirty seniors. to improve the quality of elder care aging population will be the second However, only 17 are currently being service, to develop useful skill sets and fastest-growing in the world, second cared for there. to assist in communication between the only to Japan. elder patient and the hospital. To do so Chang Chung-han’s family was lucky. Societal will save valuable time and money. He was able to attend one of the Social stigma is a factor. If a family thirteen senior community day care sends a parent who does not show A need for community support centers commissioned by the Taipei City physical disabilities to a center, Growing old in a community in which Government. These centers were set up gossip and rumors from conservative you are familiar is important. With to serve the growing aging population, neighbors or relatives may spread, the rise of the elder day care center, particularly elderly people suffering saying that the family are abandoning elders, especially those suffering from from neurodegenerative diseases. their elder, or shrinking from their filial dementia, will be well taken care of in Each morning, Chang wakes up duty. These people are unaware of the a center, and their families will have around 6 am, gets on a bus and arrives benefits of a senior day care center greater peace of mind. Elder day care at a local assembly hall for a flag-raising because they are holding tightly onto centers provide a dual advantage for ceremony. His "school’s" program has stereotype thinking. the elder, who can stay with their family a variety of programs aimed to help at night and be socially active during the elderly regain their confidence. Expenses the day. Yet challenges remain. Now Activities include music therapy, Many people worry about the cost these challenges are out in the public ball games, study-groups, handicraft of elder day care. The maximum charge view, questions are being raised and lessons, cooking demonstrations, for government-run senior centers hopefully, answers will be forthcoming. karaoke and even mahjong. for people that have been admitted to a center is about NT$16,000 per Family challenges month. This includes all costs for Many individuals within a family are Monday to Friday care, from 7 am to Dr. Ting-Yi Lin – is working, and often have no choice but 6 pm, regardless of the elder’s health a full-time faculty to leave their elderly parents at home condition. All services, including lunch, member at the alone. If a family member is able to are free for low-income families. Special National Taiwan remain at home as a caregiver, looking arrangements can be made for minimal University of Science and Technology after their elder relation can have a care, if a family cannot afford the entire serious toll on family life, and disturb monthly fee. Private daycare centers the routine of the family, particularly if are normally more expensive.

24 august 2017 www.communitycenter.org.tw

Aug 17_p3-end.indd 24 2017/7/25 11:28:07 PM food & drink

COFFEE DPT Text: Joan H, Hungryintaipei images: hungryintaipei

Joan created Hungry in Taipei in 2005 when she moved to Taiwan from California and couldn't find The menu is very simple, and perfect much information online about for an afternoon snack after browsing restaurants in English. She has since an exhibition at Huashan, or shopping blogged about over six hundred Taipei for gadgets at Syntrend across the restaurants, found places to fulfill street. There's espresso, Americano, her Mexican, cupcake, BBQ and pho latte, cappuccino, cold-brew coffee or cravings, and explored Taipei's night tea for drinks and there are cookies, markets, shaved ice, dumplings and sandwiches and ice cream for food. fine-dining scene. Hungry in Taipei has I cannot tell you how long I have been mentioned by BuzzFeed, CNN been waiting for a cookie like THIS Travel, NY Post, Lonely Planet Taiwan, in Taipei. The dairy fresh soft-serve Taipei Times, Bizarre Foods and the and cold brew coffee were also really Culinary Institute of America. http:// nyone who has lived in good, and I usually dislike black coffee! hungryintaipei.blogspot.tw/ Taiwan for awhile knows that Thank you @coffeedpt and @tiffleezzz finding a good chocolate chip for the treats, and for baking up these cookie here is actually not cookies in Taipei. I enjoyed every bite! Aeasy. Most tastebuds here like crispy, At NT$120 it might be one of the not chewy cookies, and they are thin most expensive cookies you've ever like wafers, or crunchy. tried. But it’s probably also one of the This is not. biggest. And in Taipei, a good chocolate This one is a massive, cheat-day chip cookie is a rarity. So it's a small worthy soft -baked cookie rivaling price to pay if the craving hits. Out what I had in New York City. The guilty of all the cookie shops I've tried over pleasure is rounded out with farm-fresh the years in Taipei (Anyone remember milky vanilla and valrhona swirled soft- i-baked or We Love Cookies?), this is serve. one of the most satisfying, with the To find the tiny Coffee Dpt, you first chewy, soft-baked center and plenty of have to head towards the middle of chocolate chips. Huashan 1914 Creative Park, near the parking lot. On my visit, I spotted a COFFEE DPT DPT in the distance, but when I found Huashan 1914 Creative Park the store, it was filled with clothes; no 7B, 1 Bade Road cookies in sight. I stepped back out (八德路一段1號 中七B館) and around the corner, and finally saw Tel: (02) 2341-6520 the small shop, basically a window to Hours: 12 noon - 8 pm order and a few tables and seats, also MRT: Zhongxiao Xinsheng station, exit 1 outdoors. website: On Facebook (Coffee DPT)

www.communitycenter.org.tw AUGUST 2017 25

Aug 17_p3-end.indd 25 2017/7/25 11:28:08 PM fashion & beauty

Wardrobe Tips for Stain Removal

Text: Zee Dlamini images: web

ardrobe stains are a regular nuisance, and can be caused by common daily activities that involve anything from grease, oil and sweat to makeup, ink, or food. Different stains, however, are removed in different ways. WStubborn stains are usually the ones that lead to retiring your precious garments, but the good news is that most stains can be dealt with by simple over-the-counter products, or other household products that you may already have.

Stain removers Food or grease stains can be swiftly dealt with using some good old dishwashing liquid in warm water. I’m a big chocolate lover, and dishwashing liquid has been a life-saver when removing chocolate stains from my clothes. It’s just like washing your clothes with Surf, except you are using a soap designed for kitchen utensils. Simply add a little dishwashing liquid to a bowl of warm water, and gently rub the fabric. Please keep in mind though, that before using dishwashing liquid (or any of the other stain removal methods described here) you must check the fabric care instructions on the garment. Taipei has a big wine-drinking culture, and there is nothing more frustrating than dealing with wine spills. My go-to wine spill stain remover is carbonated water (club soda). Pour the club soda onto the stain, while blotting with a paper towel, and soak in soda until the stain disappears. Boiling water also works well for this type of removal if the fabric is suitable. Pour the water through the fabric until the stain disappears. Cornflour is our household favorite for removing tough oil stains; if you don't have it, talcum powder is a good substitute. Sprinkle the cornflour onto the stain, and leave it overnight. In the morning brush the cornflour off, and if the stain is still there, try the dishwashing liquid method above, using hot water.

26 august 2017 www.communitycenter.org.tw

Aug 17_p3-end.indd 26 2017/7/25 11:28:09 PM As a makeup addict, I have had my fair share of annoying makeup stains. For lipstick and liquid foundation stains, I have found that witch hazel is excellent. Pour a little witch hazel onto a paper towel, and rub it onto the fabric gently. Then follow with a mild laundry detergent. Mascara and eyeliner will come off easily in dishwashing liquid and warm water. Mildew stains on clothing are very common in Taipei. Since mildew can be harmful to your health, you may want to remove it outside, to avoid spreading the spores around your home any further. The standard cleaner and most effective mildew stain removal is chlorine bleach (it kills the mildew spores and also disinfects your clothing), but before applying bleach, as usual check the fabric cleaning label, to confirm that it's safe to use it. Allow the fabric to soak in water with a little bleach for thirty minutes. For really tough mildew stains, launder the fabric with laundry detergent and a little bleach in the hottest water allowed for the fabric.

Other household remedies There are other traditional, tried-and-tested kitchen materials that you can use for removing stains, such as white vinegar, lemons and baking soda. Lemons are the oldest whitening agent, and can be used to get rid of stains from white clothing. Socks, linens and dinner napkins can be easily cleaned over the stove using boiled lemon water. Lemon juice can be used to remove sweat stains from white clothing too by just spraying it on the affected area, then washing your clothes as usual. To make lemon-infused water for cleaning, fill a pot with water and a few slices of fresh lemon, and bring to a boil. Turn off heat, add linens, and let them soak for up to an hour; finally launder as usual. For extra brightening, spread them out in the sunlight to dry. Baking soda is another old favorite for stain removal in old and new clothes; it not only cleans, but can be a fabric softener as well. It also absorbs odors and helps to break down grease. Mix baking soda into a paste (four tablespoons of baking soda and an equal amount of water), apply to stains, and wash. For new clothes, pre-soak them in 1/4 cup baking soda to one gallon water. White vinegar is naturally acidic, and is a great agent for cutting through grease and whitening fabrics. It softens water, and whitens fabrics when added to the rinse. Add white vinegar to the water during the first rinse, Zee Dlamini is a digital PR then rinse again in fresh water. The amount of white vinegar you use strategist turned fashion stylist/ depends on the size of your load: add anywhere from 1/8 cup to 1/2 cup. fashion blogger, in addition to So, to keep all your clothes stain free, always have dishwashing liquid, being a full-time mommy with club soda, white vinegar, corn powder, laundry detergent, and a few store- a zest for life and a lover of all bought stain removers in your laundry room! things good.

www.communitycenter.org.tw AUGUST 2017 27

Aug 17_p3-end.indd 27 2017/7/25 11:28:11 PM travel

RICHARD SAUNDERS EXPLORES TAIWAN'S LESS-TRODDEN PATHS

Lanyu (Orchid Island) Text & Images: Richard Saunders

anyu (Orchid Island) is an getting tickets for this route is extremely absolutely magical outpost tricky, so book a couple of months in of Taiwan. It’s quite unlike advance if possible. anywhere else in the country; H owever you arrive, the first Lfar more rugged and pristine even impression of Lanyu is spectacular. It’s than Green Island, its nearest (and far a rugged volcanic island, but also an more commonly-visited) neighbor, and amazingly lush one, and looks and feels although things are changing here, and quite unlike anywhere else in the ROC. visitor numbers increasing, so far Lanyu Members of the Dawu tribe make remains amazingly undeveloped, in up the vast majority of the population, comparison with Green island, Penghu although Taiwanese settlers have been or Kinmen. arriving in increasing numbers over the To get to Lanyu, you first have to get last few years, setting up homestays all yourself to either Taitung or Kenting; around the island to supplement the boats from each of these places cross couple of rather dour hotels that were the ocean to Lanyu in about three once the only places to stay here. hours. Unfortunately it’s a notoriously Lanyu is a fantastic place to explore, rough crossing, and many people are whether on the back of a bike, on foot, sick on the way. The alternative - a quick or with mask and snorkel. The scenery flight from Taitung - is a breeze, but around the island is simply superb.

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Aug 17_p3-end.indd 28 2017/7/25 11:28:12 PM Bizarre coral or volcanic formations of those steamed bread buns found in such as the Jade Girl Rock and the 7-Eleven. Twin Lions are familiar from tourist Although there are a few small brochures, but the whole island is a beaches, Lanyu’s shoreline offers showcase of bizarrely eroded rocks, (much) more to divers than swimmers such as the huge natural sea stack and sunbathers, but the island’s known as the Old Man, the weird wonderful coastal cold springs, contortions of the Dragon’s Head, and bubbling out of the coral and forming (my favorite) the stunning Mantou deep pools, are a fantastic place to cool Rock, which looks like a rough, pointed off on a hot afternoon, and completely pinnacle from the north, but when undeveloped, unlike the amazing seen from the south turns into a coastal hot spring on Green Island, shapely, symmetrical dome rising out which these days has become a spoilt of the blue sea, looking just like one tourist trap.

Lanyu’s natural heritage enchants, but what truly makes the island unique and memorable is its aboriginal culture. More on this, however, in a future installment! By the way, now is best time of year to explore Lanyu and Taiwan’s other beautiful offshore islands, all of which are described in detail in my book, The Islands of Taiwan, available at the Community Services Center.

Richard Saunders is a trained classical musician and writer who has lived in Taipei since 1993. He has written several books (available at the Center and in bookshops around Taipei), including Yangmingshan: the Guide (a complete guide to the National Park on Taipei’s doorstep), Taipei Escapes I and 2, which together detail sixty day trips and hikes within easy reach of Taipei city, and The Islands of Taiwan, a guide to Taiwan’s offshore islands. His latest book, Taiwan 101: Essential Hikes, Sights and Experiences around Ilha Formosa, is out now.

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Taiwan 101: Essential Sights, Hikes and Experiences on Ilha Formosa

by Richard Saunders

Taiwan 101 presents Taiwan’s finest attractions to anyone who wishes to get to know this island of kaleidoscopic charms, complete with transport information and GPS coordinates of nearly 800 fascinating places.

30 august 2017 www.communitycenter.org.tw

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