Category：Offbeat

Yilan township local expertly catches fish from sewers

A diner in Luodong Township, Yilan thought he might’ve had too many drinks on Monday night when he stumbled upon a local man reeling in a fish from the sewers. Only it wasn’t his imagination. The man did actually catch a fish. Let’s hear more.

Voice of eyewitness
Dined at izakaya in Luodong
I find it really absurd that sewers can possibly be so clean. Usually, there are only rats and cockroaches. But we’re speaking of angling at those large sewers. That’s nothing to write home about. I also fish myself.

Member of public
Luodong Township resident
In the past when it rained often, the water levels get quite high. Water from the upstream would flow down via the Sports Park, and the fish would make their way here from there.

The angler had set up on Fuxing Road in the township. All he needed to do was to remove the drainage grate, grab a stool and wait for a fish on the hook. He looked like quite the expert of roadside angling. According to locals, the drains used to be part of the irrigation system, and the water passing through is still quite clean, so it’s quite common for them to fish there.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#fishing #leisure #hobby #yilan #taiwan

2026-06-16

Yilan school gifts grads pens with misprinted proverb

Another day, another creative graduation gift! Yuan Shan Junior High School in Yilan gifted its grads pens that say “The early worm gets the bird” — quite the difference from the usual phrase. The school explained that it was a misprint by the factory 13 years ago, but later became a massive hit. It eventually morphed into an inspirational phrase, meant to tell students that although their school is small, its students have grand ambitions.

This ordinary pencil case comes with an ordinary pen with an inspirational phrase. The early bird gets the... wait a minute. It says “The early worm gets the bird!” Is it a typo?

Member of public
I was confused for a moment, but then it made me smile. I think its pretty clever. It’s like a brain teaser, using a clever way to subvert your logic.

This is one of 100 pens given to graduates of Yilan’s Yuan Shan Junior High School as a gift this year. By subverting the classic proverb “The early bird gets the worm,” it’s generated a lot of discussion and proven popular among students.

Student
It subverts tradition.

Student
Maybe the school means to encourage us to break through our limits. To become another you and achieve things you normally wouldn’t be able to do.

But make no mistake: This isn’t a cynical phrase meaning the worm will get eaten by the bird. The school clarified that 13 years ago, they asked the manufacturer to make pens in both Chinese and English. The English turned out right, but the Chinese swapped the words for bird and worm. A student noticed and reported it to the school, but since it was funny and inspirational in its own way, they decided to make it a tradition.

Chu Yung-chih
Head of student affairs
We’re a small school, meaning we’re “early worms.” But even though we’re small, our students have grand ambitions. So to us, this misprinted phrase can serve as a source of great strength.

Yilan’s Yuan Shan Junior High only has 212 students across 10 classes, averaging out to fewer than five classes per grade. Although small like the worm in the phrase, they’ve found the limelight with this creative gift.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#graduationseason #grads #creative #earlybird #Yilan #students #misprint #proverb #funny

2026-06-16

Wild culinary mashups at Pingtung University turn heads

The cafeteria at National Pingtung University has shot to fame on and off campus for its unusual sweet and savory combinations. They not only offer milk hot pot noodles with boba or fresh slices of strawberry, but recently even introduced a chocolate soup, essentially adding noodles to classic drinks. They’ve even put their spin on pork cutlet curry by adding a strawberry or chocolate sauce on top. You can even get a pudding on top of minced pork rice.

This steaming bowl of noodles in a milk broth is almost ready to be served. All it needs is an extra scoop of... boba? Another bowl is getting a topping of fresh strawberry. These eccentric meals can be found in the student cafeteria at National Pingtung University.

Student
Trying the food
This is my first time eating such a weird bowl of noodles. When I first saw it, I was afraid, but now that I’ve tried it, I actually think they complement each other pretty well.

Student
Trying the food
If they also add tea, I think it would be even better. It would be like a cup of bubble tea.

Pairing salty soup noodles with sweet tapioca or strawberries is strange enough, but the chef wasn’t finished there. It’s not just curry they douse their pork cutlet in. They also put strawberry jam and fresh strawberries right on top of the fried meat. Despite how bizarre it sounds, it’s become a hit among students, and has even gotten attention off-campus.

Wang Hsin-lan
Cafeteria vendor
The school asked us to make some new products to give the students more choice, so we decided to collaborate with a drink shop.

Yang Po-yuan
NPTU deputy dean of student affairs
As long as all sanitary conditions comply with guidelines, we’re on board with the vendors serving a variety of creative offerings.

These sensational dishes have sparked conversation online, prompting the vendor to double down with even more creations. Just from looking at this dark broth, can you tell what it is? That’s right—it’s chocolate. The curry didn’t escape experimentation either. That one is served with a turtle-shaped chocolate.

Student
Likes the experimental food
I’ve tried the hash brown with pudding or strawberry. They’re actually pretty good. Not too much.

But wait, there’s more! You can also get minced pork with a fried cutlet over rice, drizzled with honey and topped off with pudding. If the sight itself is too much of a shock, just wait until you taste it! As the chef’s imagination runs wild, students are looking forward to whatever bizarre combination they dream up next.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#weirdfood #cafeteria #Pingtung #foodmashup #creativecooking #controversy #boba #bubbletea

2026-06-16

Diver retrieves phone from ocean, still working after day underwater

A diving business in Penghu recently retrieved a call from a distressed tourist who dropped their phone in the ocean. The instructor immediately put on his wetsuit and went out to find it, successfully retrieving it from the muddy ocean floor. But what’s most surprising is that even after being submerged for a day, it was still working like normal.

A fully equipped diver searches through the murky seabed. Before long, they find what they’re looking for.

An iPhone 15 lies right there in the mud at the bottom of the ocean. The diver lets out a gasp as he picks up the phone, then exclaims in surprise as the screen lights up like normal.

The phone’s owner was a tourist who came to Penghu’s Caiyuan Harbor to fish. When they went out to sea a few days ago, they accidentally dropped their phone into the water. But they didn’t give up hope, and contacted a local diving business for help. The instructor figured it wouldn’t be difficult to find, as the ocean isn’t very deep in that area. But to his surprise, the visibility was so bad he could barely see his own hand.

Yen Chi-tien
Diving instructor
The depth was about 5 meters and visibility was around 0.2 meters. I looked for nearly 10 minutes. It was nearby, but still took 10 minutes of searching.

He did eventually find the phone. Considering it had been submerged for over a day, it was lucky he found it in the first place. Even luckier still, it was completely undamaged.

Member of public
I think it’s crazy, but also pretty amazing. It was down there a whole day and still works.

Chen Ko-chieh
Phone repairman
If it’s still turning on when you pick it up, don’t mess with it. If you can turn it off, turn it off first. Then take it apart to see if there’s any water remaining inside.

The iPhone 15 has an IP68 water resistance rating, meaning it can last for up to 30 minutes in water up to 6 meters deep. But surviving an entire day on the muddy ocean floor is another matter entirely, amazing even the professionals.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#iPhone #scubadiving #Penghu #lostphone #lostandfound #durable

2026-06-15

Train in Hualien got delayed after trainmaster got bitten by centipede

A train in Hualien was delayed on Sunday evening for the unlikeliest reason: a centipede bite. A 20cm-long Chinese red-headed centipede bit the ankle of the 32-year-old trainmaster surnamed Hsu, which immediately caused swelling and great pain. The Tze-chiang Express No. 241 got delayed for 13 minutes as a result of this incident, which the stationmaster said was a first. Let’s hear more.

Tsai Shang-cheng
Hualien County Fire Department
When we arrived on the scene, the patient told us that he was bitten by a 20cm-long centipede. The patient was conscious. We assisted in getting him to Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital. He’s doing well at the moment.

Lu Tai-yu
Taiwan Railway Hualien Stationmaster
This is the first time something like this has ever happened. Centipedes are quite active in summer. We’ll have the sanitation contractor more thoroughly clean and disinfect our facilities.

The trainmaster has been ejected from the hospital and is recovering at home. Although train delays are not unheard of, the cause being a centipede bite was a first for Hualien Train Station. After the incident, the station has ordered a more thoroughly cleaning of facilities to prevent another painful centipede bite to staff members.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#taiwan #traintravel #centipede #worms #hualien

2026-06-15

Tainan pool cordons off half of pool due to understaffing

Summer is here, and pools are open. But one pool in Tainan is only half-open, due to a shortage of lifeguards. The public swimming pool in Shanhua District has opened its doors, but the deep-water section in the actual pool is off-limits, forcing swimmers to turn back halfway through their laps. Buoys and ropes have cut the pool in half, and even the spa area with warm water is not operational. The head of the district says it’s a real pity, as the pool’s excellent facilities are sitting idle.

Member of public
Not happy about measures
It’s not satisfying to have to turn back halfway through.

Chen Chun-yu
Lifeguard
We only have two lifeguards, so we can only let people use one half of the pool, just 25m.

Tan Nai-cheng
Shanhua District head
The bathing facilities are excellent. There are massage pools and spa beds. You’d be hard pressed to find a better spa pool anywhere else in Tainan. But as a public facility, hires follow government employment regulations, which do not allow certified lifeguards working here to take on side jobs. You have more flexibility in the private sector. So it’s quite a sacrifice to work here.

When fully operational, swimmers can enjoy 50m of uninterrupted swimming on eight lanes. At 1,400 square meters, the pool requires four nationally-certified lifeguards on duty, but has only been able to hire two. Officials say that qualified lifeguards are drawn away by higher-paying jobs in the tech sector, and requirements to renew lifeguard certifications regularly have discouraged professionals from remaining in the field. Local authorities are continuing their recruitment efforts in hopes of hiring enough staff and fully opening the facilities.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#pool #summer #tainan #heat #swim #ridiculous

2026-06-12

China uni lecture hall conflict goes viral: ‘I’m from the ROC’

A classroom confrontation at a university in China is drawing widespread attention online. The situation started when student as reprimanded by his teacher for wearing headphones in class. After a heated back-and-forth, the student ultimately declared he was from the ROC, drawing gasps of surprise from his classmates and driving his teacher off the edge. The instructor threatened disciplinary action and ordered the student out of class, while recording a video of the lecture hall repeating the student’s words.

- You aren’t allowed to use earphones in my class. Is that unreasonable?
- Yeah, because the stuff you teach is useless.

The teacher ordered the student to take off his earphones, but he talked back, saying the class was pointless. His classmates can barely contain their giggles.

- Our education system’s biggest failure is raising people who look Chinese and live off China turn against China.
- Miss, I’m from the ROC.
- Oooh!

He said he was from the ROC, creating a stir in the lecture hall. This only further incensed the teacher, who pulled out her phone to gather evidence. The student claimed to not have said anything, but the teacher, undeterred, ordered the rest of the class to repeat his words.

- What did he say just now. I’m from…
- The ROC.
- Good. Noted.

The standoff occurred during an ideological and political education class at Yunnan Minzu University. The teacher threatened to revoke his right to sit his final exams or retake the class, and told him to collect his things and get out. Videos of the battle of words have gone viral on social media. Some commenters lauded the student’s bravery, while others were confused as to why it wasn’t OK to mention the ROC. Others pointed out that the teacher looked even more afraid than him. Another commenter joked the student had used up his one chance to exercise his freedom of speech. But others were less cheery, wondering if he would get disappeared and whether he would be alright.

Expert
Commenting on incident
Every classroom has a surveillance camera to monitor what the teacher is saying and what the students are saying. I see the teacher’s actions as an attempt at self protection. She wants to make sure that the student’s rebellious behavior and subversive words don’t set back her job.

Mentioning the ROC can be a touchy topic in China, and the video goes to show just how sensitive the topic is, even in university.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#university #taiwan #china #crossstrait #roc #prc #student

2026-06-11

Changhua bus roof leaking during rainy spell

Meanwhile heavy rains battered Central Taiwan, so much so that passengers on a bus in Changhua needed to use an umbrella. The waterproofing seal around the emergency hatch on the roof was apparently worn out from sun damage, resulting in leakage. The bus company said the vehicle in question is now under maintenance and repairs, while other buses with higher risk of leakage had also been recalled for a checkup to stay in service during the rainy season.

Sure, it’s raining heavily outside. But what are passengers doing with umbrellas open inside the bus? That’s right, the roof is leaking.

A passenger at the back posted this video clip online, in which three open umbrellas can be clearly seen.

Member of public
Commenting on video clip
Of course it’s a little ridiculous. It’s not well maintained. They need to improve. It’s passengers’ rights.

Member of public
Commenting on video clip
It was raining heavily. The vehicle is probably quite old as well.

The bus with a leaking roof is operated by Yuan Lin Bus Company…

… and the leakage came from this emergency roof hatch.

The weather stripping had become damaged with prolonged sun exposure. The bus company insists that it conducts regular checks on waterproofing. However, the past few days have seen prolonged showers owing to a stationary weather front and seasonal southeasterly winds. The rainfall has simply been too heavy, leading to the leakage. The company has recalled the vehicle from the fleet to replace the rubber seal.

Chen Te-yao
Yuan Lin Bus Company
We’ve arranged for the vehicle to go to the authorized dealer and have the weather stripping replaced and reinforced, so that the leakage problem can be thoroughly fixed.

The bus company also says that they’ve rounded up vehicles that may have a higher risk of leakage. These buses will not be deployed over the rainy season unless necessary, to ensure that a similar incident won’t happen again.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#publictransport #bus #funny #umbrella #rainyday #cozy

2026-06-10

Gecko staying in incense burner becomes star of temple ritual

If you live in Taiwan, you’ve probably encountered a gecko at home at some point, but have you ever seen one chilling inside an incense burner? Worshippers at a temple in Donggang were surprised to see that last weekend. A gecko found a temporary home for itself inside the censer for two days. It held tight and steady to the big incense stick in the middle, only taking a break to let temple priests change the spent stick to a new one. Geckos are thought to bring good luck in Taiwan, and its presence at the temple has been interpreted as a good omen.

The temple is bustling with worshippers attending a religious ceremony. But one participant caught special attention: a gecko holding on perfectly still to an incense stick inside the burner. The reptile was there for a whole two days, surprising visitors. A priest says he’s never seen anything like it.

Lee Ming-cheng
Priest
It’s the first time I saw this, and at a celebration! The gecko was perched there during the rituals. When we changed the incense sticks, it took a rest and climbed back up on the fresh ones.

The temple in question is the Seven Dragon Temple in Donggang, which held an enshrinement ceremony last weekend. Worshippers quickly found the gecko grabbing on to the incense stick in the censer outside. When the stick was burned up, the reptile took a break at the bottom, but as soon as a new stick was placed, it climbed back up and clung on as before. Could it also be trying to reach the gods?

Mr. Chen
Priest
Generally, our religion says that all living beings have a spirit, each with their own spirituality. It came to this auspicious place and communicated with our goddess. It stayed and followed her.

Lee Ming-cheng
Priest
It’s like a guardian, like a good luck charm. When it appears in our homes, it’s protecting our homes. So if it’s on the incense, it’s guarding the ember.

Geckos are thought as lucky animals that protect the places they visit, and some say they ensure good fortune for those who let them stay.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#gecko #cute #goodluck #goodfortune #protection #animals #lizard

2026-06-09

Teacher dressed as priest holds ‘funeral’ for graduating seniors

It’s graduation season, and teachers are trying to come up with ever more creative ways to send off their students. One science teacher at Tsoying Senior High School in Kaohsiung dressed up as a Taoist priest to stage a mock funeral, offering “brains” and test papers to bless the graduates with intelligence and perfect scores. The students were duly impressed, saying he should get the MVP award.

A Taoist priest stands front and center, his expression solemn as he begins leading a funeral.

- We are gathered here today to send our third-years at Tsoying High off to the West... to college in the West.

The priest remains perfectly stoic as his fellow teachers in lab coats crack up. What comes next was even more dramatic.

-We offer a brain, in the hopes that everyone will grow a large brain.
-We offer a Newton’s cradle, in the hopes that everyone will become the next Sir Issac Newton.
-We offer a test paper, in the hopes that everyone will get perfect scores.

This ceremony was actually a special graduation message for the seniors of Kaoshiung’s Tsoying Senior High from the natural sciences faculty.

Back at the school, the teachers said that everything they used was improvised. The priest robes were made from a cheap plastic raincoat, and the headwear was also homemade.

-How long did it take you to make?
-Five minutes.
-That fast?

Hsu Ching-sung
Science teacher
It can be rough being a teacher, so I’m studying a few other skillsets. My colleagues suggested dressing up like a Taoist priest.

Student
Finds it funny
It was ridiculous, but I guess people who study science tend to be young at heart.

For this year’s graduation ceremony, other teachers also unleashed their creativity to varying degrees of comedic effect. Even the principal acted like an online influencer, giving his “followers” a tour of the campus.

Lin Pai-hung
Principal
The teachers here are all very down-to-earth and more than willing to work with the students to make engaging and entertaining videos.

By breaking away from rigid tradition, the faculty at Tsoying Senior High is making sure that their seniors are heading off to college with some unforgettable memories.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#graduation #graduationseason #Kaohsiung #Taoism #mockfuneral #youngatheart #students

2026-06-08