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TAIWAN FUN MAGAZINE, July 2005.

 

2005 I-lan International Children's Folklore & Folkgame Festival

--By Josie Wu Translated by Cara Steenstra Photos supplied by Lan Yang Educational Foundation, TRA Music and the Taipei County Goverment

Ten Go' 05 VIVA Children
During the first weekend of July, the world's first-ever festival with the theme of children's play--the I-lan International Children's Folklore and Folkgame Festival--will commence along the beautiful DongShan River, welcoming everyone to this dreamy world of childhood fun. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the festival, with activities lasting 44 days. Through the themes of "performance", "exhibition", "games" and "exchange", a wonderful summer of fun will take place at this year's festival.

There will be special performances by groups from over 20 different countries, including Bulgaria, Russia, Slovakia and Albania. These groups will provide dances, music and other folk performances. There will also be a carefully planned exhibition with interesting content. The most popular games area includes the thrilling "High Net", various mazes, an amazing flying saucer theater, a water maze, an upside-down water maze, the surprise tunnel, T-war, SPA bicycle, children's play castle and other game facilities, to provide something for everyone. Various toy makers and craftspeople from all over the world have been invited to come, show off their skills and demonstrate their crafts. There are also opportunities to learn from these craftspeople and make your own toys.

Organizer: I-lan County Government
Dates: July 2-August 14, 2005.
Hours: 8:30 am-8:30 pm
Venue: I-lan DonShan River's QinShui Park (I-lan County
WuJie Hsiang)
Tickets: NT$250, NT$350
How to get there: CKS International Airport--(airport freeway interchange)--Northbound Highway No.2--XinDian--(BeiYi Highway)--JiaoXi--I-Lan--LanYang Bridge--WuJie--turn left onto I-lan Route 25--turn left at Taiwan No.7C National Highway--QinShui Park
By Train: Take the northbound train to LuoDong station, then take a bus to QinShui Park
Official Website: www.2005.folkgame.org.tw
Information Hotline: (03) 936-3172

2005 FOMOZ FESTIVAL

Taiwan's biggest ticket-selling music festival, the FOMOZ Festival has been going strong for 11 years now and promises to be bigger than ever this year. This rock music event that takes place every July has been setting new records for the number of participants each year. Last year marked its 10th anniversary and, in just three short days, it attracted over 50,000 people, including Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian, making East Asian Rock music history. After 11 years of hard work, FOMOZ Festival has become an international rock music event, where musicians and fans from Hong Kong, Singapore, China and Malaysia flock to pay their respects.

This year, FOMOZ will take place at the hugely-popular sunny outdoor venue of Taipei's Children's Paradise (formerly YuanShan Zoo), taking up the entire grassy knoll. Confirmed performing international artists at this year's event include Grammy Award Winner and British Music Award nominee Lisa Loeb, British electronic music genius Moby, the hugely-popular Japanese high school band Kishidan, popular Japanese punk rock band The Vickers, Last Target, Kemuri and others. From Taiwan there will be Chthonic, Tizzy Bac, Back Quarter, Mojo, LTK, Freaky Dudez, Won Fu, Totem, XL, Ban Ji, Thirteen, 1976, the Hohak Band and other well-known bands.
Apart from different stages with the themes of "wind", "forest", "fire" and "electricity", there will also be many other interesting and fun areas to explore, such as the electronic music zone, the well-loved wrestling podium, a ferris wheel, merry-go-round, independent movie shows, and photography exhibition. Other individual stalls will feature tattoo artists, CDs and vinyl records, exotic ethnic foods, alternative clothing and accessories. All these are vital to the FOMOZ Festival's annual program.

Organizer: TRA Music, Independent Music Association
Dates: July 29, 30, 31, 2005.
Hours: 5 pm-11:30 pm Venue: Taipei City Children's Recreation Center (02) 2778-9774 (Children's Paradise, YuanShan Park entrance)
Tickets: NT$900 (single-day entry, only available during festival); NT$1,200 (three-day entry, available only by advance sales); NT$1,500 (three-day entry, available during festival)
Official Website: www.formoz.com

At last, the Ho-Hai-Yan Gung-liau Rock Festival is here again. Thinking about the sun, the sea, bikini-clad girls, beer and having fun with a group of friends lifts your mood like a hot-air balloon. Now in its sixth year, this rock festival has become the cornerstone of summer music festivals. Last year, the festival lasted for three days and attracted a record of 300,000 people. This time around, two extra days will be added so that more people can come and have fun. Apart from the main stage, the open stage will also have main shows daily. Soda Green, Chen Jian-Nien, the Hohak Band, Patricia He, Ladybug, Samingad and Am Band, Tolaku, Chairman, Back Quarter, Luan Tan and so on will rock on with everyone at the festival. There will also be the new addition of a film festival, adding movies to the list of programs and giving you even more to look forward to. This is one of the largest rock festivals in the Chinese-speaking world and, to quote the band 88 Guava Seeds, "If there is no passion in human life, how different are we from salted fish?" Whether or not you are a rock fanatic, come and experience the passion at this music festival.

Organizer: Taipei County Government
Dates: July 20-24, 2005.
Hours: 3 pm-11 pm
Venue: Fulong Beach (40, Fulong St., Fulong Village, Gong Liao Hsiang, Taipei County)
Transportation: We highly recommend the following modes of transportation to avoid the pain of traffic jams. Take the northbound train to Fulong Station; the beach is three minutes walk away from the station. Ju Guang Express, Fu Xing Express, and other trains running between Hsinchu and Fulong are other options. For the Taiwan Railway train timetable, please refer to http://www.railway.gov.tw/index.htm or call (02) 2499-1800.
Official Website: http://hohaiyan.com/2005.htm

Before you hit the music festival and before the entertainment begins, make some tome to take a look around the area and have some fun in the nearby ocean as well. Four different routes below have been suggested for your information. There are also many local delicacies to try along the way, but you can also experience them at the Taipei Chinese Culinary exhibition between August 4 and 7.
Route 1: Taipei --- Long Dong Bay walkway (check out the views of Bi-Tou Jiao, San-Diao Jiao and the magnificent Shi Ling Sha Rock) --- Yuan Wang Keng (Tian Yuan, Xi Shui, 10,000 wild ginger flowers) --- Fulong Travel Center --- Fulong Beach
Route 2: Taipei --- Nan Ya (experience the unique rock formations there) --- Bi Tou Jiao walkway and lighthouse (walk between the mountain and the sea, walk along Deng Yue Path) --- Long Dong Bay--- Fulong Visitor's Center --- Longmen Campsite (suspension bridge, river views) --- Yu Long Beach
Route 3: Taipei --- Long Dong Ocean Park South Entrance --- Yian Liao Beach (historical landmark of Japanese Military Occupation, garden afternoon tea) --- Fulong Visitor's Center--- Fulong Beach
Route 4: Taipei--- (take Taiwan Highway Route 9) --- Yilan Tou Cheng --- BeiGuan Hai Chao Park (enjoy the sea views) --- Lions Museum --- Da Li Visitors Center (experience the history of Chao Ling) --- San Diao Jiao walkway and lighthouse (experience at the easternmost point of Taiwan) --- Mao Au Fishing Village --- Fulong Visitor's Center --- Fulong Beach