If you plan to visit the Taroko National Park in the near future, you should check the road condition on the park's official website. The road next to the Nine Turn trail is closed due to the falling rocks. It was caused by the recently heavy rains and earthquakes. The road will take one day to clean up the rocks and will reopen again the next day. The video clip showed the rock falling down and blocking at the scene. It is quite scary. Just remember that your safety is your responsibility.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Update : 6/20 Typhoon Talim
Typhoon Talim unusually occurred in the South China Sea which is the birthplace of Plum Rain from May to June and its route is predicted to go through the Taiwan Strait without landfall in Taiwan or China. It seems understand the sensitive relationship between Taiwan and China. So it takes the midline of the Taiwan Strait to be its path which makes it the first typhoon to break the record of the normal occur and path pattern in the typhoon history.
The weather bureau predicts the onset of the typhoon will start this afternoon. But the most dangerous part is not the typhoon itself but the south westerly circulation which causes the torrential rain. It means that the typhoon has gone through Taiwan but the most critical situation would still remain in Taiwan.
There are some roads and places have been closed due to the typhoon like Taipei Gondola and schools. Taiwan High Speed Rail has changed its schedule. Check road and transportation condition before you go. You can call 1999 in Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung for any information.
The weather bureau predicts the onset of the typhoon will start this afternoon. But the most dangerous part is not the typhoon itself but the south westerly circulation which causes the torrential rain. It means that the typhoon has gone through Taiwan but the most critical situation would still remain in Taiwan.
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| This was announce at 12:15 pm. The square with the diagonal lines means the rainy area. http://www.cwb.gov.tw/V7/prevent/warning/B20.htm? |
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| Magong Seaport was covered by the water. Source : https://www.facebook.com/albee.chen.737 |
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Top left : British Top Right : American
Mid Left : Germany Mid Right: France
Bottom : Taiwan motorcyclists during floods
There were still some earthquakes which occurred on the 19 and 2o of June. The typhoon news is the most important news to catch people's attention now.
I won't set in front of my computer to watch the typhoon and flood situation for you for next couple of days. I wish everyone in Taiwan are safe.
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Monday, June 18, 2012
Earthquakes and Typhoons Strike(d) Taiwan!
Japan just had a 6.5 magnitude earthquake which happened a few hours ago. But there were more than 40 superfacial earthquakes that occured in the Hualien area on the east coast in the past 2-3 days. The director of the weather bureau warned local people to be prepared for the chance of a magnitude earthquake of 6 to 7 to strike Taiwan in the near future. ""東部地區最近地
震頻傳，並在三天內兩度出現六級震度，氣象局長辛在勤警告，東部地區
近五年都沒有「較大的地震」，是要注意可能有規模六．五到七．○強震
了。""
==> 6/18 update: I read about earthquakes news today and a lady who works at the weather bureau said these earthquakes were aftershocks. So people shouldn't worry too much about these aftershocks. However, travelers should still be careful about the unstable rocks which were caused by the earthquake's and rain in the mountain areas.
As I wrote this article in the States, there were 10 earthquakes that happened again in Hualien. Below is the earthquake information which occured on the 17 and 18th of June.
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| http://www.cwb.gov.tw/V7e/earthquake/ |
Another threat is two typhoons which are near Taiwan. Typhoon Talim is predicted to strike Taiwan and Typhoon Guchol will pass by Taiwan. But the effect of these two typhoons will bring torrential rain to Taiwan. So if you are in Taiwan, please be aware of the weather situation and avoid for outdoor activities in the mountain areas and be careful for the floods and landslides.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
An Unique Activity-- Shrimp Fishing釣蝦
Why is shrimp fishing so unique that it triggered me to write this article? Well, I believe most people think about shrimp fishing is taking a net to catch shrimp in rivers or oceans. But when we talk about shrimp fishing in Taiwan as a leisure activity, we mean we catch shrimp with a fishing rod and line in a manmade indoor pool.
As I know, shrimp fishing has been in Taiwan for more than 15 years. I have no clued about how it started or anything about this activity. But, definitely whoever started this idea was very cleaver for lots of people pay money to participate in this activity.
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| we met our friend' friends who had many years experiences in shrimp fishing. He was going to teach us how to catch shrimp. |
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
How do Taiwanese cope with this flooding situation?
People have posted a lot of flood pictures or messages all around Taiwan on their Facebook pages. Facebook now becomes a great information source for
updating the weather and flood conditions.
Below two pictures at the Liberty Square in Taipei (CKS Memorial Hall) are the most beautiful and peaceful scenery due to the severe rain storm.
I appreciate people who share their flood photos on their Facebook pages and hope people are safe in Taiwan. If you are in Taiwan or have to travel around the island, please be cautious about the weather situation.
對我引用各位的相片, 如有不妥,請告知, 也謝謝願意把你珍貴的相片分享給大家.
Below pictures are quoated from different Facebook pages.
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| Picture Source from FB: Ohma Ma How would you like your graduation ceremony like this? |
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| Picture Original Source from FB: 月沉創意無限 https://www.facebook.com/webreakup Top Left : American Submarine Top Right : French submarine Mid Left : Russian Submarine Mid Left : British Submarine Bottom: Taiwan  One of the Taipei city bus lines. |
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| Picture Source from FB: Xbox Life |
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| Picture Source from FB:侯娃娃 |
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| Picture Source from FB: Angela Ai-Chi Sun |
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| Picture Source from FB:
紀大偉 The National Chengchi University campus in Taipei |
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| Picture Source: Liberty News Place: Taoyuan International Airport |
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| Picture Source from FB: 馬社長 |
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| Picture Source from FB:卜曉楓 This picture has been shared almost 26,000 times on her Facebook page after posted during the storm in the New Taipei city. |
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| Picture Source from FB:黃凱群 |
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| Picture Source from FB:黃凱群 |
I appreciate people who share their flood photos on their Facebook pages and hope people are safe in Taiwan. If you are in Taiwan or have to travel around the island, please be cautious about the weather situation.
對我引用各位的相片, 如有不妥,請告知, 也謝謝願意把你珍貴的相片分享給大家.
Severe Weather Alert!!!
If you plan to travel to Taiwan during, please check out this message for American Institute of Taiwan.
From: AIT, American Citizen Services <amcit-ait-t@state.gov>
Date: Mon, Jun 11, 2012 at 8:36 PM
Subject: Extremely Heavy Rain Advisory
To: "AIT, American Citizen Services" <amcit-ait-t@state.gov>
The Taiwan Central Weather Bureau has issued an island-wide “Extremely Heavy Rain Advisory” with the central and southern regions of the island expected to be hardest hit. Heavy rains are expected to continue across Taiwan into the weekend. The Taipei City Government has announced closing of roads and businesses effective immediately. The strong possibility of flash flooding and landslides exist, especially in the mountainous central areas of the island. All American citizens in Taiwan are strongly advised to avoid unnecessary travel and to monitor local media outlets for the latest news and instructions.
U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the U.S. Department of State's, Bureau of Consular Affairs’ website www.travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and Country Specific Information can be found. AIT also encourages U.S. citizens to review to "A Safe Trip Abroad," found at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_ 1747.html, which includes valuable security information for those both living and traveling abroad. In addition to information on the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. and Canada, or outside the U.S. and Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.
AIT encourages all U.S. citizens living or traveling in Taiwan, to register through the State Department’s travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/ Registration is a voluntary way of telling us that you are in Taiwan so that in the event of an emergency, we can reach you. This could include a family emergency in which relatives in the United States request that AIT contact you.
The Consular Section of AIT’s Taipei and Kaohsiung Offices can be reached during regular business hours (M-F, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) by telephone at (02) 2162-2000 and (07) 238-7744; by fax at (02) 2162-2239 and (07) 238-5237; and by e-mail at amcit-ait-t@state.gov. After hours, in case of emergency, a duty officer can be reached by calling the AIT switchboard at (02) 2162-2000. The AIT Taipei office is located at No.7, Lane 134, Sec. 3, XinYi Rd., Da-an District, Taipei City 10659. The address for AIT Kaohsiung is: 5th Floor, No.2, ChungCheng 3rd Rd., Xin-Xing District, Kaohsiung City 80052.
You also can check out from this link to see more information or flood situation in Taiwan.
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