6/14/2014

Tainan: Anping Tree House 安平樹屋

On a recent trip to Tainan, we revisted the magical Anping Tree House (安平樹屋).  The children had learned about the banyan tree in their "生活 (social studies)" class, so they knew more than me about how the tree grows and spreads over other trees or, in this case, buildings.

This building actually has a history of its own.  It used to be a warehouse for Tait & Co, which was one of the top five British trading companies in the area during the Japanese Occupation. Grownups can read about the history of the company and visit the building next door. Children can learn a little about this, or just enjoy the mystery of the trees growing inside and outside the building.



 At the back of the building, there is a fish pond. Fish food is NT10 per tube.  You can feed the carp and turtles.  There is also a walkway along the estaury that can be accessed from the back gate.




The gift shop, ice-cream stand, and coffee shop add to the tourist-feel of this historic site.

Opening Hours: 8:30am to 5:30pm
Entrance:  50/Adult, 25/Discount Ticket
Free entrance for Tainan citizens with I.D.
台灣台南市安平區安北路194號
No. 194, Anbei Road, Anping District, Tainan City


Age Recommendation: All ages.

6/13/2014

Trip To Tainan - Holocaust Museum

A few weeks ago, we went to Tainan, because my son was performing in the musical Zeelandia there.  We managed to visit a few places over the space of three days.  I'll share them with you on the blog as I get to them.

I'm starting with the interesting one that is not really related to children.  On our drive out of Tainan, I spotted a church that is also Taiwan's only Holocaust Museum. 

It is also reputed to be the world's smallest Holocaust museum.



I think it's probably the only one to be situated opposite a 7-11.


You can read about Messianic Judaism here.

We were lucky to run into the congregation and find out a little about the church and museum, even though we could not get in at such short notice. I hope we can get a chance to visit and learn more about this church and the history they want to share. 

They have a good number of English speakers in the congregation.

Location: Close to BaoAn station, Tainan County, Taiwan
22° 55' 45.8904" N, 120° 13' 51.5964" E
 
 
 預約及參觀方法:
‧10人以上團體:參觀時間為每週二 ~ 週六。 個人或少數:參觀時間為週六。(請提前一周預約) Groups of 10 or more can visit Tues-Sat.  Less than 10, please come Saturday. Everyone needs to book one week in advance.

‧酌收清潔費:大人(國小以上) 100元。 小孩(國小以下)50元。 Adults NT100, children NT50

預約之後,將會有專門導覽人員以及授課,由於本館空間有限,故透過解說,可更加的了解本館的意義及精隨。A dedicated guide will give you a tour and explain everything to you.

預約電話:(06) 266-1802
E-mail : logos4ac@yahoo.com.tw

*For information on religions in Taiwan and internationally, I highly recommend The Museum of World Religions.
 

MOCA - Museum Of Contemporary Art, Including Children's Exploration Room and Art Classes

My children had a random Tuesday off school recently, which of course meant the Hsieh family headed to a museum.  My kids are in love with Taiwan's museums, hence the 60-plus posts I have on this blog covering them.

We decided to go downtown and visit MOCA, the Museum of Contemporary Art. On Chang-An West Road, just west of Chung-Shan North Road, the museum is central and easy to access.  The front courtyard is long, making it an ideal spot for 3-D art and sculptures.  Right now, they have a toy theme going on.  My kids were fascinated by the semi-deflated airplane.




There are tables available at one end of the courtyard, and a coffee shop at the other.  We chose to get some 7-11 take-out and sit under the trees.  We then headed into the museum.  Entrance is free for children attending schools in Taiwan.  If your school has ID, it is best to take it.  I had to answer a quiz about schooling in Taipei to get the free entry.  It's NT50 for adults.  There are lockers for your bags, that require a NT10 deposit that you get back when you open the locker at the end of the visit.

The foyer has a rest area and information desk.  You can rent earphones, or download the soundtrack from a kiosk directly to your device.  We did neither.  They did tell me that this summer's exhibits should have kid-friendly audio available, which would be wonderful.

The current exhibit, Korean K-POP, runs until June 15th.  It is a fantastic exhibit that my children found interesting and a little disturbing.  There is one part on the third floor that the volunteers will suggest your steer your children away from.  My children were disturbed but compelled by the sculptures.  I would suggest skipping that floor if your children are sensitive.  The rest of the work stimulated their curiosity, and I regretted not getting the tour or audio tour, because I think it would have helped them understand the works better.

My children decided to try some shots fitting with the theme of the artwork.
 




The discovery on this trip was the children's art room.  Entry is free. It's for children 12 years of age and under. They must be accompanied by an adult.  There are three sessions throughout the day.  You can check out up-to-date information here.  You can go directly to the U12小玩藝教室 directly, without having to pay to see the other exhibits.

The room is updated every time the exhibit in the museum changes, and follows the overall theme of the exhibit.  Here, my children are doing screen-printing using animal stencils.



They then built castles with the blocks, and rode their Rody's into the structures, re-enacting the Armageddon-like moving model and video upstairs.


These pictures are made with fabric stuck onto magnets, that you move around a giant magnetic blackboard.  This is my "Ducks" work. (When you spend three hours in a museum with your children, you find things to entertain yourself.)


 Kyle's "Fisherman".

 Hannah's "Zebra".


There are also sensory toys, books, and musical instruments freely available for children to experiment with.

Back in the foyer, the children discovered some free models you can cut out and put together. You then create your own piece for the "K-POP" exhibit.



From 3pm until 10pm, this awesome toy is operational.  Space Invader game!  You sit inside the robot-tank and shoot aliens on the giant screen a distance away from you.  There is a step inside so children can reach the controls and look out the window. It's free to use.





The museum is offering some pretty good art classes and camps over summer.  Information is on their website.  

We'll definitely go back to see the next exhibit.  The art room is great for children from very small to about 10 years old.  Suitability of the art exhibits will depend on what your children like and what the themes are.
  • MOCA - Museum of Contemporary Art
  •  台北市大同區103長安西路39號
  • NO.39 Chang-An West Road Taipei, Taiwan 10
  • TEL +886 2-2552-3721
  • Parking in underground park. Entrance just East of the museum entrance.
  • Coffee shop attached to Museum
  • Closed Mondays.
Full information, including details about family days, free school tours, and more, available on their website:  http://www.mocataipei.org.tw/

5/19/2014

[May 24-June 8, 2014] English-language Musical about Taiwan's History: Zeelandia - Return to Formosa

I'm not sure I've ever seen a musical about the history of Taiwan, all in English, at least before this one.  I've been lucky enough to see the show's development over recent weeks, and I am really excited about seeing the live performances.  I absolutely love the songs. The story is also told very well, with lots of sub-plot to keep the audience engaged.

There is a little bit of innuendo during one scene, but it is a necessary part of the story. I didn't have a problem with my seven and nine year old children seeing the scene, but if you are particularly conservative, I would recommend the show for children aged ten and up.  It is also quite a long one, at about 2 1/2 hours.  There is lots of song, dance, and humor to keep children occupied, and my seven-year-old keeps asking when we can go to rehearsal again, even after four nights of watching the show. 


 

Summary of story:

Taiwan's original English musical, Zeelandia - Return to Formosa. A story of a young lieutenant of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) returning to Zeelandia in search of his roots and home. It brings the audience back to 17th century Formosa, when Fort Anping was then called "Fort Zeelandia". It is a tale of forbidden love, tragedy, redemption, and reconciliation.

More detail:
My son and his Siyaran father, rehearsing.

It's the 17th century, an age of great exploration.
A young Dutch officer on a journey in search of his father.

In an era of naval supremacy, the search for home begins thousands of miles across the ocean.
Zealandia – Return to Formosa, is the first ever attempt to present 17th Century Tainan in the form of a Broadway musical. This is a collaboration between Jeffery Dunn, the seasoned New York director of West Side Story along with the authors of this heart warming original story, and actors from Taiwan and abroad. The story begins with the search for self recognition. With impassioned conflicts and gentle love, you will feel the embrace of home again. Zeelandia – Return to Formosa narrates the return to the core spirit of the people. Enjoy a wonderful feast for the senses.
Based on a Libretto by Norman Szabo & Music by Derek Lin
NTCH Ticketing System in Chinese here.  You can still get NTD600 tickets in  Tainan. The lower-priced seats in Taipei are all sold out already!

5/24- 25 Tainan
6/06- 08 Taipei


2014/05/24 (六)19:30 臺南文化中心演藝廳 Saturday May 24, 7:30pm Tainan
2014/05/25 (日)19:30 臺南文化中心演藝廳 Sunday May 25, 7:30pm Tainan 2014/06/06 (五)19:30 台北市社教館城市舞台 Friday, June 6, 7:30pm, Taipei 2014/06/07 (六)14:30 台北市社教館城市舞台 Saturday, June 7, 2:30pm, Taipei 2014/06/07 (六)19:30 台北市社教館城市舞台 Saturday, June 7, 7:30pm, Taipei 2014/06/08 (日)14:30 台北市社教館城市舞台 Sunday, June 8, 2:30pm, Taipei

Tainan Address: Tainan Municipal Cultural Center, Address: No.332, Sec. 3, Jhonghua E. Rd., East District, Tainan City 701, Taiwan (R.O.C.) TEL:06-2692864 FAX:06-2897913 (Map to location here.)

Taipei Address: Taipei Cultural Center, Address: No.25, Sec. 3, Bade Rd., Songshan Dist., Taipei City 10554, TEL:(02)2577-5931 FAX:(02)2577-9310 (Map to location: http://english.tmseh.taipei.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=107740&CtNode=9135&mp=119052

4/13/2014

Book Review: The Phenomenals:A tangle of traitors


My son (9), loves to read.  He would like to share some of his recent favorites with parents who are choosing books. Here is his first book review on my blog.  I am pleased to see him using the computer for constructive activities, such as typing this all by himself.


The Phenomenals:A tangle of traitors




by F.E. Higgins

reviewed by kyle

A metal-handed cutpurse and expert picklock go to a strange town, and meets three other people. They become the Phenomenals, and try to save a town from lurids - a kind of living dead that wants to be freed from a tar pit-because an evil person freed one of them. Also, this is a series, and I can't wait to read the next book, A gaggle of ghouls.


Book Review on Binky Blog: Calm and Compassionate Children

First of all a big shout out to Leonie, who has been working hard on the Grateful Project, the Grateful Salons, and now the uplifting collaborative blog Binky.

Leonie is looking for people to share their thoughts on books that promote gratitude in adults and children.  I was excited to share my review of the book Calm and Compassionate Children - A Handbook.

So, jump on over to Binky and be part of the happiness.

4/10/2014

[April 27, 2014, 1:30pm] R4 Presents Treasure Island - A Live Radio Play for the Family (Shilin)

Here is the official description of this lively presentation happening at the "In memory of Lee ko-yung" Library in Shilin. (Address information at the bottom of this post.)  This show is a delightful version suitable for children, and is guaranteed to get them inspired by live performances and readings.  
This is a free showing.  Seats are limited to just over 100.  The theater is lovely.  Food and drink is not permitted inside the theater. The show is just around an hour long.

Press Release
RED ROOM RADIO REDUX will present a staged radio-theater-style production of TREASURE ISLAND, the Robert Louis Stevenson classic story of pirates and buried treasure, for two performances on Sunday April 27 at 1:30 PM at the new branch of the Taipei Public Library near Shilin Summer Residence.
Treasure Island is the tale of young Jim Hawkins, who sets sail as a cabin boy on the Hispaniola, on a voyage in search of treasure hidden on a faraway island. In the course of his adventures, he comes across a motley assortment of devious seaman, including the infamous buccaneer Long John Silver.
The R4 performance of Treasure Island will be in English, in an adaptation that draws extensively on the original language of the story. It will be presented as a radio-style staged reading in which the actors use voice, characterization and gesture, as well as live sound effects and music, to recreate the story in the minds of the audience. R4 is dedicated to this unique style of performance, a type of “theater of the imagination,” as a means for sharing great works of literature and to promote a culture of live storytelling and creative listening. R4’s repertoire includes: Macbeth, The War of the Worlds, Dracula and A Christmas Carol. In addition to live performances, the group has produced and broadcast voice dramas in partnership with ICRT-FM100.
This production of Treasure Island will appeal to adults as well as children aged 8 and up.
Red Room Radio Redux is affiliated with Stage Time & Wine @ the Red Room. The group is sponsored by the Ripplemaker Foundation. For more about “spoken word” events sponsored by the Red Room, go to www.redroomtaipei.com.



紅坊廣播劇場會帶來舞台電台戲劇風格的演出金銀島,是羅伯特·路易斯·史蒂文森經典海盜藏寶故事,星期日演出時段,4/27, PM1:30。
金銀島是一個青年賀詹姆(Jim Hawkins)的故事,從伊斯帕尼奧拉島揚帆啟程,在航程中找尋隱藏在遙遠島嶼的寶藏。在冒險的過程中,他遇到一群狡猾奸詐混雜的航海人,包含了最有名的海盜,單腳西渥弗(Long John Silver)。
紅坊廣播劇場會用英文演出金銀島,從原語的方式帶出延伸的效果。會用電台的效果來呈現每一位角色的說 詞,個性特色和手勢比劃,搭配著現場聲音效果以及配樂,重新帶出原始故事的感覺給觀眾們。紅坊廣播劇場要將這樣獨特的表演方式,一種戲劇的想像的方式獻給 觀眾,透過分享偉大文學巨作和表達文化特色的現場說故事效果。先前表演過馬克白、世界大戰和聖誕頌歌。會有額外的現場表演,會將聲音的劇情和電台 ICRT 一同播出。
金銀島演出適合大人到 8 歲以上小孩。會有個簡單的詩詞作為開場,來自路易斯·卡羅爾的愛麗絲夢遊仙境。會將音樂和聲音強化,來優化重述史蒂文森的知名故事。
紅坊廣播劇場是一個附屬於 Stage Time & Wine 活動,紅房社群 Red Room 的演出群組,贊助單位有漣漪人基金會。妳可以在 Red Room 的網站找尋 "Spoken word"。網址是:http://www.redroomtaipei.com.tw

Here is the sypnosis of the story. You can also find some dramatisations on You Tube.
TREASURE ISLAND by Robert Louis Stevenson

adapted for radio drama by Ignatz Ratzkywazky

for Red Room Radio Redux

Background:
Treasure Island, by Scottish novelist Robert Louis Stevenson, is the 18th century tale of young Jim Hawkins, who sets sail as a cabin boy on the Hispaniola, on a voyage in search of treasure hidden on a faraway island. In the course of his harrowing adventures, he comes across a motley assortment of devious seaman: Bill Bones, Black Dog, Old Blind Pew, Ben Gunn and that most notorious pirate of all, the one-legged Long John Silver, with the ever-present chattering parrot on his shoulder. Along the way, Jim uncovers the crew’s plot of mutiny, comes face to face with their greedy and bloodthirsty tricks, and helps to rescue the ship as well as the stash of buried gold.
The story is told by Jim as an adult, looking back on his youthful, daring adventure. We begin by finding young Jim at home with his mother at the Admiral Benbow Inn, where the boy meets his first shadowy buccaneer, Bill Bones, and unknowingly comes into possession of an old treasure map…a map that everyone is after...
金銀島,由蘇格蘭小說家羅伯特·路易斯·史蒂文森著。背景自十八世紀青年賀詹姆(Jim Hawkins)從伊斯帕尼奧拉島揚帆啟程,在航程中找尋隱藏在遙遠島嶼的寶藏。在冒險過程中,他遇到一群狡猾奸詐的航海人,包含許多惡名昭彰的海盜,其中最有名的海盜:單腳西渥弗(Long John Silver),和站在他肩膀上的活潑鸚鵡。沿路上,賀詹姆揭發了叛變的船員們,親眼目睹他們的貪婪以及各種詭計,最後拯救了航海船以及找出埋藏深處的黃金寶藏。
本故事是賀詹姆成年後回顧他的青年冒險故事。從最一開始年輕的詹姆和他的母親在本葆海軍上將酒店家裡,這位小男孩認識了第一位神出鬼沒的海盜--骨頭比爾,並在無意中得到了一張古老藏寶圖…這張寶藏圖無數人正虎視眈眈著...
About the Production
紅房新廣播劇團將以英文原汁原味呈現經典故事---金銀島。由電台廣播舞台方式演出每個角色的語氣及獨特個性還有詼諧生動的手勢,並透過現場音效及配樂帶給觀眾們身歷其境之感。
紅房新廣播劇團
身 為 “深度聆聽” 的紅坊社群一份子,紅房新廣播劇團的使命是藉由述說文字,透過極簡讀者聽眾和廣播現場方式,帶給廣大聽眾們更精采的文學體驗。身為地球村的一份子,紅坊新 廣播劇團和東方朋友們擁有這樣特別機會,分享最美好的西方文化傳統,重新燃起偉大故事和詩詞的火種,探索世上文學的共同使命。
About Red Room Community
紅房新廣播劇團是紅房大社群的一份子,亦為 Stage Time & Wine @ the Red Room 之贊助者。
紅房社群是一個延展性的社群,探索和發展聽眾和表演者的無限邊界。紅房為非營利組織,我們旨在藉由文化學習及聆聽彼此的方式,以更瞭解我們的生活周遭以及更深度地自我探索。
About the Sponsor
漣漪人基金會的使命是藉由支持援助『創業、社會議題、文化和環境發展』等計劃,協助人們邁向夢想之路。透過漣漪力量改變生活。
Library Address:
No.15, Zhongzheng Rd. Shilin.
Carparking available under the library.
11143臺北市中正路15號〔福林公園內,正門請走福林路進出本館〕
Photos of library here.
The library is almost brand new.  Books have all been purchased within the last three years.  There is a large DVD and English book selection.