July 2008 - Global View Newsletter
A LOOKING GLASS INTO THE TAIWANESE CULTURE
Take a business trip to Taiwan as an American guest, and youxll most likely experience only the surface. Business escorts wanting to impress visitors usually choose high-end Westernized restaurants, and perhaps a tour of some of the major landmarks. If youxve never been to Taiwan or have only experienced the surface and have business opportunities there in the future, ask your hosts to show you the deeper culture of every-day Taiwanese life.
The food in the U.S. is generally based on convenience and uses choice cuts of meat. On the other hand, Taiwanese dinners are prepared with the freshest ingredients from the daily market where just about anything goes (and we mean anything!).
The photo on the left is taken from a traditional market. This is an example showing pigs feet and other cuts of pork.
The meal on the right is prepared for 9 adults and 3 kids. Clockwise from the right, the meal consists of broccoli and tofu, roasted duck, chicken and bell peppers, the remaining part of the roasted duck stir-fried with fresh basil, fried sweet tofu, catch of the day fish, simmered pork, fresh shrimp, and fish ball soup.
On special occasions, families will go out to their favorite restaurants that serve delectable dishes not seen in most of the U.S. After dinner, a snack or dessert from the local shop or vendor on the street is sure to follow.
The hotpot below actually has coals underneath the pot with a pipe going through the center for ventilation. The diners boil fresh lamb, beef, pork, chicken, mushrooms, and a variety of tofu and vegetables in broth made from pickled Chinese cabbage.
On the right, this shaved ice dessert is a perfect ending to a hot summer night. While it can be made with fresh mangos, guava, honeydew melon, cantaloupe, or other fruit with a drizzling of sweet and condensed milk on top, this one has been made with a Taiwanese favorite: sweet red beans and condensed milk.
If itxs not too late, you may want to go and see some of the sites of the city. After all, the nightlife in Taiwan usually doesn't start to slow down until 11:00 PM
In Kaohsiung, the City Lights Park is lit up every night of the year and has free live entertainment from local bands, to traditional music and dance.
It's a great place to go and enjoy the evening. If you would rather go shopping and mix in some fun, try going to the Dream Mall, the biggest department store in Taiwan if not all Asia. This mammoth mall has a mini theme park with a Ferris wheel on the roof and is a popular hangout for kids and adults alike. From the top of the Ferris wheel you can look out over the city and to the ocean.
Although the major cities in Taiwan seem like modern, bustling cities, in truth itxs a clever combination of both ancient and modern life. Taoist and Buddhist temples are nestled into various corners of cities and provide a pleasant surprise for visitors.
A thriving suburban area and the harbor can be seen from the top of the Ferris wheel. If you look closely a Buddhist temple can be seen among a group of trees on the left side of the picture. The Taoist temple on the right is actually ten minutes away from the Dream Mall. This structure is built in the middle of a lake and has a bridge that extends to it from the entrance.
So, if you get the chance to see Taiwan through a looking glass, chances are, you'll find a culture full of amazing food, fun modern ammenities, old traditional relics and warm friendly people.
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