an hours drive to the south to lukang- the
older city where the mainlander chinese came to live back in the 1700’s pushing
the native taiwanese into the forests (perhaps a history closer to the united
states than i knew earlier). the city was once a harbour and now is a cluster
of older houses and streets among a city of apartment buildings, industrial
sheds. the older temples are still alive – some exquisite like the longshan
temple. a part of the older town is touristy shops and memorabilia. in the
evening we lit lanterns and were about to leave when the parade joined us near
the parking lot with ladies and their fans, a group of boys dressed as
warriors, a stage with the ceo of acer computers and some general dancing.
the taichung festival the next day was a
much larger, more commercialized affair. the evening began with a trip to one
of the oldest temples in taichung where a taiwanese opera was being performed
on the square in front. the big even was though in this enormous garden
festooned with lanterns vying for a prize- so many snakes. in the middle of the
garden is a huge auditorium where the city had organised performers from around
the region with japanese drums, taiwanese rappers and hong kong comedians.
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