Behind the national flag

National flag is not only an identity , but a decoration of a rice noodle shop . 1949 is the turning point for history development for both strait , and also the beginning of the separation of two countries . 

There is a big community from southwestern china coming over to Taiwan with Chiang Kai Shek .   Though returning to china finally becomes an impossible dream , many of them live as a resident and it is one of the most amazing and vibrant cultural scene of Taiwan . 

The array of Burmese-and-Vietnamese-like food is something still well-preserved and a hint to reveal why this little township has a unique history than others . The blend of sweet , spicy and salty taste make it looks so mouthwatering and irresistible street food to try . 

Food has played a crucial role in integrating these communities into Taiwanese society: Migrants may lose their language, their customs, and even their religion, but rarely will they lose their food.

Hand-made Incense Stick

Incense has played an important role in Chinese daily life for centuries . It is also used to measure time and medicine as the raw ingredient is mainly from natural herb . 

However , the cost of manpower and ingredient had increased dramatically since 1990, and most producers in Taiwan chose to give up traditional way and imported incense from china , using lower quality ingredient and mass production way to manufacture incense . 

There are very few craftsman insisting following the tradition and it is a sincere respect to the sacred God . Though it is more time and cost consuming , I still believe there is a market demanding for a higher quality product. Craftsmanship is not just a way of making but a spirit needed to preserved .

Influx of foreign students to Taiwan

Taiwan is ranked one of the lowest birth rate country of the world , while aging population is an inevitable trend . There are over 160 universities in Taiwan , and maybe one of the highest density of university of the world , and many of them face a shortage of students in recent years . 

So there are more job-oriented departments open to attract more students , and more overseas students recruitment efforts by local schools .

A declining enrollment pushes schools to focus on students from mainland china , and the number of students rose by 16,537 in 2015  to reach 110,182 according to MOE's statistics . Among all the foreign students , there is a great surge in china , and it accounts for 42% of the source of students . The sources of foreign students were mainly Malaysia, China, Hong Kong, Macau and Vietnam, in that order.

Though foreign students only accounts for 8.27% of the schools , the percentage will undoubtedly clime in the coming year .

Yehliu Geo Park

Vlad is a keen photographer and every clicks is a beautiful reminder for their 16-day Taiwan trip. Well-known for its diverse rock formation , there are thousands of visitors flooding to the geological wonder , Yehliu .

The long-queued Queen's head is always the superstar , and others also catch attention of visitors . We stroll around and enjoy photography with a comfortable breeze and beautiful ocean . It is definitely a nice place to visit .

Taipei City Tour_Babara and Ron

The tour started from a cozy and cool morning as the crazy cold front just left one day ago. The weather was unexpectedly nice and sun bathing was just right in time . Ron and Babara came from Vancouver Island , and they were both descendent of French and Norwegian separately , and today ( 26 Jan ) was their 10th day of Taiwan trip . By taking public transport , they had been to Kenting , Kaohsiung , Tainan , Taichung , Hualien and Taipei . It was fun to listen to their cultural experiences and also share my perspective of Taiwan . 

Taipei's charm runs deep , I brought them to experience the old and new of the dazzling city , and highlights some unknown gems that usual guide book overlooks . There is so much more to the capital than its endless shopping malls. From museum to traditional market , from dim sum restaurant to Chinese New Year street , we discovered different side to this complex and ever-changing city . 

And I also owe a gratitude to their willingness to share some Canadian cultures and their knowledge about the world . Tour guide is building a two way bridge with travelers, and it makes every tour so unique that I don't want to miss one of them .

Beautiful Hotel and Ugly Environment

When opening the curtain of the hotel , the view from the above disclose the lack of aesthetics  of Taiwan. These is a great contrast between the inter space and outer environment , especially in this premium hotel . The future of tourism in Taiwan relays on the investment of aesthetics  education or it will only be a destination for food and the so called "Taiwanese hospitality ."

Guihou Fishing Port New Taipei City

For those who want to enjoy fresh seafood, Guihou fishing port is a hidden gem that you should not miss. Here, you could see many different seasonal and local fish in the fishing market everyday.  Crab is the most well-know local specialty and lots of tourists stream in during the autumn time. Gourmet likes to come here and order any seafood and the food stall could cook for you. Apart from seafood, fishing tackle, fish floss and other groceries offer visitors other choices for shopping. Next time, when you are going to Yehliu, remember to tuck into the small fishing village, and the seafood wont disappoint you.