The local temple is a few houses down the street. You can spot it to the far left of the Shan Ding Lu banner at the top of the page. It is within earshot of the karaoke machine, baton dancing music , snake-oil sellers, fire-crackers and monthly gonging. To name the more noisy activities that take place there.
Our temple is fairly small by Taiwan standards. It services a few hundred households in the immediate area. But there is always some activity, day and night.
Now I am a great fan of firecrackers, firework and any chemical combination that goes pop. Despite growing up in a land where such things were severely restricted and before an Internet search for “How to make a bomb†was possible I still enjoyed a childhood of banging, burning and occasional bodily bruising.
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There is a real fear of mosquitoes here as almost everywhere in the world. And for good reason too, while Taiwan has been malaria free since the 60’s there is an ongoing problem with Dengue fever here in Southern Taiwan. My father-in-law is forever vigilant about having doors closed, window screens tight and the 5000 volt blue light zapper always on.
I often wondered why there were few mosquitoes around our house or even inside our house while if you walk into the bamboo hills not more than 100 yards across the field you are likely to be sucked dry.
And yesterday I discover why; The Dengue Fever Prevention and Control program.
