Quick Christmas Eve & Day

 Chiayi Does It Up

The whole country really puts on, or plugs in, Christmas starting about the week before Thanksgiving.  No need to wait till black Friday here.  It actually has been quite touching at times checking out all the ways holiday is turned on.  Of course this is not a holiday of this culture, no kidding, hum.  People are pretty jovial about the whole foreign experience and willing to wish you well.  People are interested but still working on what they think and understand about the whole thing.  For the ardent holiday addict, there are many places to get the fuller feel, as numerous churches have holiday masses and music.  So, much of the glitz is just that, glitz.  It all goes up... and things get sold.  Some cool school competitions happen with big events, and large groups of kids performing.  Which is very cool, no pics just happened to catch a glimpse one night coming home from work.  The event was right in front of the building below.  The one above, yes, is the police station. 

They deck it out here.  Lights galore and kind of a welcome place to languish.  The front of the country/city government center.

Since Chiayi county is the heart of agriculture in Taiwan, it's not much of a surprise to see veggies and fruit part of the light display.

Santa and Merry Christmas

Even put lights on the palm trees, I was impressed.  But that is not all.  Chiayi is the home of the international marching band competition.  It is a week long, multi-event celebration of all levels of the marching band.  Most of the visiting bands come from various parts of Asia but there was a group from Germany.  Even watched the drummer drink a beer while marching down the street.  This is not an adult level, drum corps, type event.  All the bands are from high schools or younger levels.  This next shot is off the main circle in town with all the usual big ad boards converted-within a week of the event-to display solely for the marching band shindig. 

The event starts on Christmas day, why not no one else has plans and it is a national holiday which no one really celebrates.  So why not have a parade filled with music?  It turned out to be a grand time!

We have our own Eiffel Tower.  Oh, and for those trying to guess, 19 C is 66 degrees Fahrenheit... at night!

So here is my Christmas Eve.  Only have one class so it's off to the mountains for a hike. My buddy Jean joined me for a 70 degree Dec. 24th.  A fantastic scooter ride with just jeans and a short sleeve shirt.

This is where I wandered.  No snow, no threat of snow, no possibility of snow.  Definitely no snow shoveling in the future.  Nice.

The river bed we followed.

Rain forest with requisite small water fall-just a small one.

We joined a large crowd of people to cheer on the big parade of marching bands coursing through the city for our personal Christmas day.  It was absolutely grand!  So many actual tubas, it was childhood hilarious!  More shots to come of this!

So next comes the big feast of the day.  After standing on a corner for a moment, it was Thai food.  We ordered from the menu by recognizing a very few Chinese characters-fish, veg, beef, shrimp, chicken, pork-and throwing ourselves on the mercy of partial chance.  It worked out great!  Green Thai curry, pumpkin, pineapple and shrimp wontons, squid and shrimp ceviche, garlic and black bean sauce green beans and more fab stuff.

It's everywhere.

Potentially the most dangerous tree in all Taiwan...  Even with the fire extinguisher.  This is a gas station just to be clear.

Why, I could only find out it was for a political rally.  I stumbled across this one night.  Dude second from right rambles-I believe-about the high speed rail-depicted in the frame right behind them.

Yes, it exists.

 

Christmas English party at the school.

Gotta make displays.  Making Christmas...

What is the snowman saying about the USA...  oh, it's just a figurine that fell over.

Just outside the new school I work at.

Right next to the stadium where the marching bands were competing.  I want the push-button for my house.  This place worked on repairing these things.  Eventually....