TRUE POLYNESIAN ATOLL ....... on the equator
fathom on 30.09.07 @ 08:27 AM AEST [on the equator">link]
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Sunday, September 30th fathom on 30.09.07 @ 08:27 AM AEST [on the equator">link] Monday, September 24th KAPINGAMARANGI ....... seaplane from Guam
 It was a thrill flying in this seaplane to one of the most beautiful and remote, inhabited islands in the Pacific Ocean. Last year news footage from Florida showed a wing breaking off a similar Grummond Albatross Hu-16 aircraft, while in flight. No survivors. fathom on 24.09.07 @ 08:12 AM AEST [seaplane from Guam">link] Sunday, September 23rd KAPINGAMARANGI ATOLL ....... August 1969
 Modern DNA tests show a connection between aboriginal people of Taiwan and true polynesians who migrated throughout the Pacific Ocean beginning maybe 600 years ago. The author of Kon Tiki (Thor Heyerdahl......) proposed the polynesians originated in South America then migrated throughout the Pacific. This new information has them travelling to South America, and originating from Taiwan and the Philipines, which is to the south of Taiwan. This week I received an email from Bill Logan of Florida who, as a young sailor in the USN aboard a submarine, called at Kapingamarangi in 1947. There is little doubt that anyone who has visited this tiny atoll 1.5 degrees above the equator, a part of the Federated States of Micronesia, will have a lasting memory of the atoll. For myself and three team members who went there in August 1969 it became the best adventure of our lives. It also cemented a friendship that last's until this day between the four of us. Team leader, Barry a retired marine biologist grows wine grapes in Western Australia. Second in Command Ken, runs marathon races in Hawaii and dives with a metal detector to find hundreds of gold wedding rings and watches in the surf. Richard is a retired marine biologist in Massachusetts, and a former correspondent for fathom magazine in Australia. and finally yours truely. I must do more with the beautiful pictures and 16mm movie footage we obtained on that amazing expedition. fathom on 23.09.07 @ 11:13 AM AEST [August 1969">link] Friday, September 21st TAIPEI VIP's .... Minister of Foreign Affairs, (center)
 Lechin Ting originated from Taipei, Taiwan, she is a former primary school teacher, today loves to share the stories of Taiwan's recent history to everybody who enjoys to listen or care about Taiwan, as Lechin sincerely does. An interpreter at Taipei 228 Museum since 1997, (the museum is a reminder of the brutal post WWII era - when a dictator and soldier arrived after fleeing from China to proclaim martial law for 38 years and even forbidding locals to speak their own language. Far worse things than that occured). Lechin is also an interpreter at The Presidential Office Building of Taiwan (since 2000), and a licensed tour guide since 2005. We met when I first toured the Presidential Office Building during a daily guided tour available to the public. fathom on 21.09.07 @ 05:47 AM AEST [ Minister of Foreign Affairs, (center)">link] Monday, September 17th TAI-WAN FOR UN ........ huge rally at southern city
 It was the largest crowd I've ever been near. Maybe 500,000 people from all over Taiwan. An almost carnival atmosphere as locals demonstrated their desire for their island to be admitted to the United Nations - something Australian's take for granted. Live music in a huge open-air event followed. Our bus was in for another four-hour ride back to Taipei so many passed up this event, although there was an option available to stay overnight if requested. It was an amazing day. Other rally's in New York, Los Angeles and another Taiwan city. The latitude of KaohSiung City is slightly north of Rockhampton's in central Queensland. A hot day standing in the midday sun, to say the least. fathom on 17.09.07 @ 07:41 AM AEST [link] Saturday, September 15th OCEAN BLUE ....... Taipei Restaurant
 Live blacktip bull sharks, about a dozen, including one whitetip reef shark. None for sale just decoration at the up-market establishment where an imported beer costs four times more than in 7/11 corner store. (No bottle shops in Taiwan. Alcohol is sold from supermarket shelves or corner stores, and of course restaurants). On an opposite wall a large LCD screen shows underwater images ex IMAX. fathom on 15.09.07 @ 04:50 AM AEST [Taipei Restaurant">link] Wednesday, September 12th ORIENTED ...... Taipei, 30 August 2007
 The function was near ZhongHsiao East Road, a trendy district a bit like Double Bay meets Paddington and ten times busier. Ocean Blue was the restaurant-bar selected by organizers of the monthly 7pm to 9pm members only meet. Downstairs was a glass aquarium tank with eight young black tip whaler sharks swimming furiously. (Mistake - I didn't have the usual camera)! Oriented arrange these (last Thursday of every month) happy hours at venues around the Pacific. Asia, North America, Sydney. A different venue each month. This was the first time I've attended a function in Taiwan. It's terrific for visitors. About 20% of patrons were westerners from North America living and working in Taiwan. No Australians. A girl from New Zealand looked llike a local Taiwanese. What a surprise to hear her accent. She works for a fashion magazine. Anyone planning to be at Beijing, HongKong, Tokyo, Taipei, San Francisco etc on the last Thursday of any month might enjoy having this information. fathom on 12.09.07 @ 02:41 AM AEST [Taipei, 30 August 2007">link] Friday, September 7th MY MARINE FILM FOR TAIWAN?
 It's just a remote thought - not yet a plan. Who knows. Taiwan is in need of marine education. fathom on 07.09.07 @ 03:44 PM AEST [link] TAIWAN BID TO JOIN UNITED NATIONS .... congress
 The World Congress was held at Taipei's Grand Hotel. Plus two magnificent luncheons. Many Taiwanese returned home, from Los Angeles especially to attend and participate. A rally is scheduled for next weekend in the southern city of Kaohsiung. fathom on 07.09.07 @ 03:28 PM AEST [congress ">link]
 During colonial times this was the Japanese Viceroy's residence. Gold paint on ceiling. It was the venue for a dinner Friday night attended by President Chen with about 300 guests supporting the United Nations entry bid. fathom on 07.09.07 @ 03:25 PM AEST [link]
 President Chen delivering his Taiwan to join UN speech in the Taiwanese Hoklo language. During 38 years of earlier martial law, the original Taiwanese language was strictly forbidden. Chinese Mandarin could only be spoken and taught in schools. The people were not happy but had to live with it. In those times anyone who complained would vanish never to be heard of again. fathom on 07.09.07 @ 03:14 PM AEST [link] PRESIDENT CHEN SUI-BIAN ....... about to speak
 Taiwan plans to apply for membership to the United Nations using the name preferred by the entire world, which is of course Taiwan. The USA drafted the Taiwan Relations Act (1979) with the name Taiwan not Republic of China Relations Act). Membership to the World Health Organization would be of benefit to not only Taiwan also the world for several reasons too lengthy and beyond my limited scope to detail here. The common call for Taiwan to keep the status quo in the Taiwan Strait should also apply to the other side with an ever increasing number of missiles. In Australia few people know much of the situation, culture and lifestyle of Taiwan. This is a pity and something that I trust will change in time. Many Taiwanese live in Australia, especially at Brisbane. I'd be one of the first Australian's I know of that would consider a move to Taiwan, if only as a regular visitor. Meanwhile we had an earthquake of 6.6 of the Richter scale at 2AM (registering about 4 in the city). It woke me up. A smaller after-shock followed. More is likely to follow this week. Three USA congressmen inserted remarks in the official Congressional Record on Thursday backing UN membership and criticizing Ban for his rejection of two applications from Taiwan for General Assembly action on its entry bid. Colorado Representative Tom Tancredo argued against US President George W. Bush's position opposing Taiwan's UN entry. Ticking off Taiwan's democratic attributes, he said: "One would think that Taiwan's efforts to engage the international community would be welcomed and applauded by most everybody." Taking issue with fellow Republican Bush, Tancredo faulted the US "one China" policy as "irrational and outdated." "President Bush should live up to the promise he made in his inaugural address, `when you stand for your liberty, we will stand with you,' and support Taiwan's bid to join the UN," he said. "Taiwan is by all measures a sovereign and independent nation and I hope the United States and other free nations of the world will finally muster the courage to stand up and say so." Representative G.K. Butterfield of North Carolina complained that Taiwan's "23 million people have been deprived of their fundamental human rights," by not being in the UN. "It is now time to remedy this situation," Butterfield said. He said that to reject Taiwan's membership based on Resolution 2758 is a "flawed" argument because "it fails to recognize the fact that Taiwan is a sovereign government with its own national flag, Constitution, armed forces and is recognized by more than 20 independent nations." "Even more importantly, the people of Taiwan have authorized their leader, President Chen Shui-bian, to express to the world the desire of Taiwan to belong to this important world body," he said. Meanwhile, more than 20 major Taiwanese-American and allied groups on Thursday sent a letter to Ban that urged him to forward Taiwan's application to the Security Council and General Assembly, which, the letter said, are the only UN organs under UN rules authorized to review and decide on UN membership applications. "To exclude Taiwan on the basis of Resolution 2758 is dishonest and unconscionable," the letter said. "The sovereignty of Taiwan is not an issue [in the resolution] ... Resolution 2758 does not substantiate the spurious claim that Taiwan is part of China," the letter said, noting that "freely and democratically elected" Chen has "clearly stated that Taiwan is a sovereign and independent country. His application for UN membership, on behalf of the people of Taiwan, should be accepted, discussed and approved." fathom on 07.09.07 @ 02:17 PM AEST [ about to speak">link] Wednesday, September 5th TAIWAN Vs ROCK MUSIC .... Cult of famous former people
 The dictator had (gave himself) the rank of 5-star General. Pictured with LBJ and General Douglas MacArthur. The CKS memorial hall (since renamed Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall) has many showcases containing awards from other countries. Australia once gave a silver cigarette case-box (no longer on display) - whereas other countries presented medals and ribbons far beyond the merit of Elvis' gold records collection. Elvis had more friends and was a far nicer person, obviously. Long live Gracelands. fathom on 05.09.07 @ 01:45 AM AEST [Cult of famous former people">link] ELVIS Vs. C.K.S. .......... No giant statue
 The huge bronze statue in the former CKS memorial hall, has recently been closed to public viewing. Majority viewers are Japanese tourists visiting Taiwan - a former colony of Japan for 50 years until 1947. Picture on right, a press conference in China might be insignificant to Australian's today except the partially hidden figure wearing glasses, behind CKS (center), is the Australian journalist and personal adviser W H Donald - (a friend of Mei-ling Soong). Mr Donald might have become a hero in Chinese history except the National Army he was promoting via press release spin overseas, eventually, after his death, pissed-off to Taiwan before losing or winning the battle completely. Some have written it was a trick departure, CKS could have won and the world would be different today. The fleeing force of Chinese military arriving in Taiwan resulted in the white terror aka martial law that ran 38 years and cost thousands of local lives, forfeiture of property and a miserable life for most Taiwanese. fathom on 05.09.07 @ 01:35 AM AEST [No giant statue">link] Tuesday, September 4th CHINESE WEDDING PORTRAIT
 fathom on 04.09.07 @ 11:22 AM AEST [link] POSTCARD FROM TAIPEI ........ Elvis would be jealous
 I'm drinking Taiwanese beer in hotel room at present. Very good and half-price of Australian variety. At 6:30 I'll have chicken and rice downstairs with the receptionist - the only hotel staff member who speaks a slight bit of English She has taught me to say "chicken, vegetables and rice" in Chinese. My first sentence after six months (total) here. No hurry to talk Chinese – sign language works fine – in most cases, with some mental telepathy. I can also say cat, dog, duck, pig, chicken, lunatic, beautiful, and thank you. Very limited Chinese vocabulary to say the least. I bought my first suit and tie in many years today. The brand says Made in Italy. It's a dark colour. I’ll need it to attend a function on Friday-Saturday at the Grand Hotel. The Taiwan President will be there. A conference with English speakers. It's an all-day thing with a dinner at the end. Saturday is a half-day event. Next week I attend a rally at the southern end of the island, also associated with the Taiwan entry bid to re-join United Nations. A neighbor country is forever blocking such attempts, and encouraging others to do so. It's not fair for this young country. Locals point out that USA took over 70 years to become internationally recognized after their civil war. Here there was no war, just a brutal dictator who Elvis would be jealous of. The dictator liked Cadillac cars as did Elvis, except these were needed to be made bullet proof. Today a wax dummy of the former dictator sits at an office desk- on the far wall plays an endless video on TV – old newsreels of his hey day in power. The locals are doing their best to forget the memory of this tyrant who was propped up with a billion bucks per year from the world’s most powerful country (a lot of money in those times) – the era when communism was the biggest threat - since replaced by terrorism. The dictator may have conned them into believing that one day he would rule China. There was also the beautiful Chinese-born wife, educated in the US who spoke fluent English with a southern USA accent. One of three daughters of the then richest man in the world. Madam was a big hit to say the least with leading USA publishers (Time Magazine) and politicians. Eventually, after dictator-husband died, she left Taiwan with a chartered jumbo jet full of undeclared and mysterious luggage – never properly accounted for. May-ling Soong (aka Mei-ling Soong) died in New York aged 106, (yes 106) four years ago. fathom on 04.09.07 @ 10:57 AM AEST [Elvis would be jealous">link] Sunday, September 2nd TAIPEI MAIN STATION ....... Middle of the city
 There is a new bullet train to the south of the island. Something like 250km in 30 minutes. The underground rail (MRT) runs rings around Sydney's rail service - who should be asking Taipei how to fix our rail system. Electronic tickets and a train every three to five minutes. Everything seems made of stainless steel and is spotless. No food allowed and the system closes between midnight and six am. Suppose my hotel is situated where Centrelink is in Sydney. (Pitt and Market Streets). Usually I venture on foot no further than Haymarket, Circular Quay, Darling Harbour and the Museum. The Taipei Zoo is probably the same distance as the Sydney Zoo, except you get there by train. Entry costs about AUS$3 would be popular with families here. And it's good. The Taipei equivalent of Manly is Dansui - it's about where Hornsby would be and a cross between side-show type amusements and food a la Royal Easter Show and the Cooks River at Tempe. (That's on the river side of Dansui. The city street is more like Chinatown meets Bondi Beach shops yet in a Paddington 5-ways style with twists and turning of streets). (So I'm at Centrepoint - but it looks more like the Haymarket-end of Pitt Street, around the People's Palace). Last night I was taken to this beaut night market of endless foods cooking - half outdoors - the rest in tiny shops with roller doors that only open at night. It was so close to my hotel yet in an area I'd missed. The equivalent of Museum Station in relation to Centrepoint. This gives an idea of how compact Taipei living is. It seems they cram four times more stuff into the same space we'd use in Australia. A garage workshop nearby is so tiny but efficient. Another analogy would be to take all the Australian capital cities, people, buildings, the lot and jam it all into a place like Adelaide - or maybe Hobart. (Seeing Taiwan is half the size of Tasmania). With a small country and wealth, imagine how spectacular the freeways can be. Back to the night market last night. Darwin has a very good one on Thursday nights. (The one here is every night). Darwin permits food stalls - it's the only place I've seen that does so on a large scale. The Coolangatta (Queensland) beach market is a joke - no food selling allowed, apart from fruit. Pottery and stuff. This night market here, near the centre of town is terrific - one of a dozen. More on these later..... fathom on 02.09.07 @ 03:08 PM AEST [Middle of the city">link] SQUID-ON-A-STICK ....... barbequed street food
 For about AUS$3.80 it's a worthwhile snack. The squid is chopped, bagged and eaten with a stick. The quality varies according to the vendor and the seasoning brushed on during the roasting. This was at Dansui - a riverside amusement area similar to maybe Manly (in Sydney) or St Kilda beachfront (in Melbourne), yet with more color and fun than at home. fathom on 02.09.07 @ 11:07 AM AEST [barbequed street food">link] SCUBA SPEAR-O ........ A dive in the dark
 Scuba tank and Italian-made speargun, hopping off the rocks amongst anglers in the near darkness, the ocean like a sheet of glass. This is last Friday on the north shore of Taiwan. In the distance a whole suburb or town comes alight with street lights just turned on. Built on the side of a mountain near the harbor city of Keelung. In a nearby restaurant I dined on a seafood dish, a grilled yellowtail - except this species was about four times larger than the small yellowtail we have on the New South Wales coast. Taiwan had martial law for 38 years - a world record. During this time the coastline was virtually out-of-bounds to everyone. A license required to go swimming would you believe. Forget a lover's stroll near the beach at night, it was being patrolled by armed soldiers. Consequently scuba diving and surfing just didn't happen. Today, Taiwan is democratic and it's all a very different and changing for the better story. Scuba is set to take off. If combined with a learn to speak English course the sky is the limit. Anyone under 30 years of age can get a work permit easily here, providing you don't come from China. fathom on 02.09.07 @ 10:57 AM AEST [A dive in the dark">link] |
