Category：Offbeat

Tamarind fruit is being secretly stolen from a Kaohsiung park

Tamarind fruit, originally native to tropical Africa, has a uniquely bold sweet and sour flavor. It was introduced to Taiwan in the Japanese colonial era and is a key ingredient in Southeast Asian cuisine; essential for popular dishes such as Thai green papaya salad. But appreciating this exotic fruit does not mean you should steal them from the Weiwuying Metropolitan Park. Let’s find more about these shady tamarind thieves.

Add fresh dried shrimp, peanuts, tomatoes and other ingredients and stir. Then add a spoonful of special-blend tamarind sauce and top with plump shrimp. Serve with refreshing and delicious green papaya shreds.

There’s also this specialty drink, made with tamarind and a touch of lemon, which is refreshing, helping to cut through greasiness, and cools you down in the summer.

Wang Ken-li
Thai restaurant owner
It’s mostly used in shredded green papaya dishes, as well as in drinks and some dipping sauces; it has a sweet and sour taste.

Tamarind fruit has a wide range of uses. It was introduced to Taiwan during the Japanese colonial era as an experimental tree species for street trees and economic crops. However, recently it was found that tamarind trees in Kaohsiung have taken a beating

The tamarind trees in Weiwuying Metropolitan Park in Kaohsiung have branches that are bent and look like they are about to break. Some people have seen people shaking the trees at night so that they can pick up tamarind fruits from the ground.

Member of the public
Doesn’t approve of theft
Shaking the trees is just wrong—they’re public property. Plus, it’s not like you’re even getting much out of it.

Member of the public
Doesn’t approve of theft
It’s quite unsettling, because there are a lot of children here.

Chen Pei-hsin
FTV reporter
Its fruit is said to be used to make tea, or even for resale, so it’s possible that this is why people are destroying the trees.

Such behavior not only damages trees but also violates regulations.

Chen Chin-hung
Kaohsiung Public Works Bureau
Those who refuse to comply after being stopped will be fined between NT$1,000 and NT$6,000, and in addition they will be required to compensate the value of the trees.

Tamarind fruit is popular and actually not expensive, but it is not only inappropriate to shake the trees in the park and pick up the fruit without permission – it’s also illegal.

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

#Thaicuisine #Taiwanparks #pettytheft #tamarind #Kaohsiungparks

2026-07-10

Animals sheltering in car engine compartments are a traffic hazard

A driver in Taichung was startled by two small animals dropping out of the car in front of him in succession. On closer inspection, he realized they were kittens, and they were on a busy road. Car repair experts say that it’s not uncommon for cats to hide in car engine compartments, especially in winter, where it’s warm and there’s shelter from the rain. They suggest tapping on the hood a few times before driving to check for any small animals. Failing to do so risks injuring the animal or causing a rear-end collision if they dart into traffic later. Let’s find out more.

A driver screams because a kitten darted out onto the road and he nearly ran over it.

How did a kitten suddenly appear on the road? It seemed to have fallen out of the sedan in front of it, and just as the driver was wondering what was going on, another thing happened.

Another kitten fell out of the sedan and rolled to the ground, seemingly injured and panicked, and then fleeing in terror. Within a mere 300m, two kittens dropped out of the car in succession. The driver of the following car believed that the kittens might have been hiding in the engine compartment, and the vibrations caused by starting the vehicle led to their fall.

Member of the public
Reacting to incident
If a creature suddenly dropped out, I would probably slam on the brakes immediately; anyone would be terrified.

Member of the public
Reacting to incident
If you have time, you’ll check your rearview mirror. But it’s actually quite difficult if you’re driving fast.

If the car brakes too late, it could run over the cat; sudden braking could also result in a rear-end collision. An auto repair specialist says it’s not uncommon for cats to hide in engine compartments.

Lin I-hsun
Repair shop operator
The openings are all quite large, making it easy to crawl through from underneath. They’re warm in winter, and if it rains, they provide shelter from the wind and rain. Before starting the engine, I’d suggest honking the horn slightly or tapping the hood to scare them away.

Police officers often help cats that have been hiding in the engine compartments escape when they are on duty. Before driving next time, drivers can tap the hood to startle any small animals that may be there and ensure safety.

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

#roadsafety #petmanagement #Taichung #cutecats #kitties

2026-07-10

Hsinchu road signs leave English readers puzzled

A driver in Hsinchu recently noticed some unusual road signage while driving around the city. In one instance, two signs for the same road had the same Chinese, but totally different English translations. Some are literal, while others use transliteration. Someone else discovered that a graphic on one sign was actually upside down. What’s even worse—it’s been that way for three years.

Vehicles on this busy thoroughfare pass a vertical green sign clearly saying the name of the street in Chinese and English: Puding Road. The sign above the road next to the traffic light also says Puding in Chinese, but the English translation for some reason starts with an N. It’s the same road, but has two different names.

People were puzzled by the difference, although it seems like the correct name might have peeled off. But this isn’t the only problematic sign in the city.

This sign indicates the way toward Zhuzhong Railway Station, but do you see what the problem is? The train icon is upside down, making it look like a monorail. The icon should look like this, with the rails on the ground. What’s more ridiculous is that this sign has been up for three years.

Lin Chun-yuan
Hsinchu Transportation Department deputy director
For the sign with an incorrect English translation, the city will ask the contractor to correct it as soon as possible.

Huang Chi
Hsinchu Transportation Department technician
As for the signboard, we will fix the issue by the end of July.

City officials promised to complete improvements by the end of the month. After all, road signs aren’t just for locals. Foreign tourists could be led astray by a confusing sign.

Aside from translation errors, people also discovered an instance in which two road signs showed different English spellings. Both refer to Zhubei City, but the bottom one reads “Zhugbed Shi” in English. Turns out that it’s the Hakka pronunciation, installed only at major intersections as part of an initiative by the Hakka Affairs Council.

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

#roadsigns #Englishtranslation #translationfail #Hsinchu #Hakka #driving

2026-07-07

Deflated Chiikawa hot air balloon amuses visitors at Taitung event

The Taiwan International Balloon Festival kicked off last Saturday in Taitung. The star of the event this year is Chiikawa, the titular protagonist of an anime series. A visitor to the festival was amused by the scene at the end of the day when the Chiikawa balloon was being put away.

According to the Taitung County Government, all balloons at the event are deflated and packed away at the end of the day to prevent them from wearing out. In the anime series, Chiikawa and its friends are stuck working mundane jobs for survival, which resonated with young people in East Asia. As for the real world, visitors got to see how Chiikawa is tired at the end of the shift like everyone else.

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

#chiikawa #officeworkers #ihatemyjob #ilovemyjob #hustle

2026-07-06

Elderly man in New Taipei has hoarded rooftop pile of trash

The animated film “Castle in the Sky” is a beloved Studio Ghibli classic that many reminisce over, but New Taipei’s Xinzhuang District over the years has become home to something local residents would rather forget: a trash heap in the sky. An elderly man claims the almighty above told him to start collecting all these old goods on his roof several stories up in order to research nuclear energy, but local residents have their own concerns, like bad odors, cockroaches, mice, and, most dangerous of all, falling trash.

It’s scorching hot, and these workers with the Environmental Protection Department are dealing with the stifling heat as well as the stifling scents in this trash. All this junk has been piling up for years in what’s essentially a trash heap in the sky. This hoarder residence in New Taipei’s Xinzhuang District is a public health and safety disaster just waiting to happen.

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon may be a myth, but this trash heap hanging over Xinzhuang is an unwanted reality that, for years, residents have put up with. The combination of old complaints about its bad odors, cockroaches, and mice along with new concerns about looming typhoons potentially leading to people getting hit by trash dropping down from above was the impetus for the District Office and Environmental Protection Department to start cleaning up the mess.

Local resident
Ecstatic
For the local residents, it’s something everyone’s excited about; it’s like a weight has been lifted off your chest. Typhoon Bavi is coming, and if something ends up falling down and hitting someone, well, then the government will be liable. Seeing the government using their authority like this is something that we’re extremely excited to see.

This astonishing heap of trash is believed to be about 50 ping, which is why the authorities have estimated that they’ll need up to 14 working days to clean up the entire mess. As for the elderly hoarder, his master plan for the trash was studying nuclear energy.

Mr. Gao
Owner of trash heap
I’ve done it all for nuclear power. These people just don’t get it; it was God who told me to do this. You people have all the authority, so you clean it up. What can I do about it? There’s nothing I can do. Starting last night at 3 a.m., I went to burn incense and talk with God. I told him there’s nothing I can do. When the authorities come, there’s nothing I can do.

The cost of cleaning up this mountain of trash will be about NT$2 million, which will need to be entirely paid for by the elderly resident. If he isn’t willing to foot the bill because he doesn’t have the money, then his home may be foreclosed.

Tsai Ming-hsiang
Borough chief in Xinzhuang District
We need to plan ahead, in case a future typhoon does hit Taiwan directly, because we’ll need to extend the removal process if two weeks isn’t enough to clean it all up.

In the short term, the removal process may take around half a month, but in the long term light can finally be seen at the end of the tunnel, as this potential trash heap crisis will finally be taken away from the eyes and minds of local residents.

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

#hoarder #NewTaipei #Xinzhuang #trashy

2026-07-06

Man in sandals spotted jogging along median shoulder of highway

This sight may be hard to believe at first, but it’s all been caught on candid camera. Over in Taichung’s Daya District, it seems as if a man running along National Freeway No. 1 has turned the highway into his own marathon training course. Highway police looked into the incident; there were no accidents at that time, so the man couldn’t have been on a quest to get help.

Member of public
Amazed
When it comes to pedestrian safety, like if he’s running in the median like that, then it’d really suck for him if he gets hit.

Member of public
Shocked
Is he running on the highway? That’s so ridiculous. Is he exercising?

Lu Jui-feng
National Highway Police Bureau
If an investigation finds the runner has violated Article 33, Paragraph 4 of the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, then a ticket with a fine between NT$3,000 and NT$6,000 will be issued to the pedestrian.

A little after 5 pm on July 5, on Freeway No. 1 between 171.6 kilometers and 171.4 kilometers, a man wearing sandals was seen jogging not on the outside shoulder but instead in the middle of the highway, on what’s called the median shoulder. The highway police hadn’t received a call from the public, yet, regardless of his reason, the man’s actions are nonetheless a punishable violation.

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

#highway #dangerous #traffic #roadtraffic #publicsafety

2026-07-06

Taichung shop sells NT$160 seafood porridge with barely any seafood

A Taipei resident traveling in Taichung was left disappointed after buying a NT$160 seafood porridge at ASEAN Square. They expected plenty of seafood, but found only two small shrimp and a few pieces of squid. Feeling the portion was insufficient, he called the police and posted online to warn people. The store said maybe the chef put in less seafood that day and refunded the disgruntled customer.

A customer sifts through a NT$160 bowl of seafood porridge, disappointed to find only a few pieces of squid. Feeling ripped off, he returned the meal and called the police.

-It’s really too ridiculous!
-You can record it first.
-Yeah, I’ve already recorded it.

The police helped to settle the dispute, making sure the customer got his money back.

-160
- Did you refund him?
- Okay, we can do that.
- Do it while we’re here.
- NT$160.

Still fuming, even after he got his money back, the customer posted online to warn others, saying he bought a seafood porridge while traveling in Taichung and asking whether he was scammed. How is it NT$160 with just two little shrimp and a few pieces of squid? He asked the store, which said the seafood porridge has always been like that.

Voice of Mr. Tseng
Customer
The seafood had clearly been chopped up and frozen. I think it was absolutely awful. I showed the police after they came, and even they started laughing.

The store in question was at ASEAN Square close to Taichung Station. Is NT$160 too much for a porridge with so little in it? Let’s see what the locals think.

I think it’s a ripoff. Considering Taichung prices, it should be NT$70.

It’s expensive for this area.

The menu lists the seafood porridge for NT$150 rather than NT$160, but the store said the menu hadn’t been updated. But why is there so little seafood?

- How many shrimp do you put in?
- About five, but maybe the chef put in less that day. We refunded him, but he still called the police.

Mr. Tseng
Customer
She didn’t want to give me back my money at first, but once she knew I called the police, she said they would give me a refund.

The picture of the porridge on the wall shows four big shrimp and plenty of seafood. Compared with what was served, it’s no wonder the customer was angry.

Voice of Chen Yen-hung
Consumer protection official
The photo on the wall is an advertisement. As the business manager, you must ensure that there is no discrepancy between the advertisement and the actual product.

False advertising may violate the Fair Trade Act. In a situation like this, people can gather evidence and file a complaint online, with help from consumer protection authorities.

I bought a seafood porridge while traveling in Taichung. Was I scammed?? How is it NT$160 with just two little shrimp and a few pieces of squid?? I asked the store, and they said the seafood porridge has always been like that.

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

#seafood #porridge #restaurant #Taichung #expensive #scam #ripoff #falseadvertising

2026-07-02

New Pingtung sign warns drivers to watch for tortoises

A road sign warning people to watch for tortoises has been set up for the first time in Taiwan, in Pingtung’s Chaozhou Township. Numerous tortoises have been killed by passing vehicles in the area, so the county government installed signs to encourage drivers to exercise more caution and protect these slow-moving reptiles.

A tortoise slowly moves along the road, walking across concrete, through puddles, and even getting right next to a car tire. Here in Pingtung’s Chaozhou Township, tortoises are often seen roaming the streets.

Member of public
There are lots! We set them all free. There are tortoises walking around, and some have been crushed to death.

Member of public
We have lots of tortoises around here. Sometimes I pick them up off the road and move them to the side.

These slow-moving reptiles are vulnerable to getting hit by cars, so the local government designed a road sign to warn drivers to watch out for them. It pictures a black-and-white tortoise inside a red triangle, with the words “watch for tortoises” beneath.

Member of public
It’s really cute. I’ve never seen this sign before. It’s really creative. I’ll watch out for them.

Huang Yu-cheng
Pingtung County official
After discussing with multiple departments, they all agreed that wild animals frequently appear along this section of road and that a warning sign was needed.

Wang Chien-yuan
Chaozhou Township official
We put up a sign to watch for tortoises, but it’s meant to warn people about small animals in general, like frogs, toads, tortoises, or even snakes.

This is Taiwan’s first “watch for tortoises” sign. The roads in this area are straight and wide, so vehicles tend to drive fast. Hopefully, this sign will remind them to slow down and watch for animals. More warning signs like this are appearing throughout the country. In the neighboring county of Kenting, there are signs to watch for deer. With appropriate signage in place, drivers can help look out for wild animals.

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

# tortoises #roadkill #Pingtung #roadsign #watchfortortoises #tortoisecrossing #deercrossing #conservation #environment #car #vehicle

2026-06-30

Hippo statue at Chimei Museum somehow submerged in lake

With the rain finally subsiding, people making their way out to Tainan’s Chimei Museum were treated to a strange sight: a hippo floating in a lake.

A museum official stated the hippo was actually a lakeside statue that, because of last week’s rains, ended up in the lake. The statue’s 40-meter journey was made possible by rising lake water levels, which allowed the inanimate object to float over the elevated walkway. The museum is currently featuring the special exhibition Pharaoh: King of Egypt, and the floating hippo made many think of the movie “Night at the Museum,” in which an Egyptian artifact causes the exhibits to come alive at night. So, despite all the rain, the hippo’s “magical” movement has been a bright spot after a gloomy week.

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

#ChimeiMuseum #Tainan #hippo #NightattheMuseum #pharoah

2026-06-29

Ducks stop traffic at Taichung shopping district

Ducks are on the loose! During rush hour, a group of Call ducks descended on the busy Fengjia Shopping District in Taichung. Passing motorists were startled by the marauders, hitting the breaks to let them pass safely. Some kind drivers even stepped out to usher them to safety.

Four rotund white ducks waddle along the road during the morning rush hour. The leader is seemingly oblivious to where it’s going as the others follow blindly behind. They take up two entire lanes, unbothered, even as vehicles swerve around them honking. Some stop to help them get to safety.

Resident
It’s really dangerous. We don’t know if they were released by someone or the city put them here.

But this isn’t some small rural street, it’s Hanxiang Road in central Taichung’s Fengjia Shopping District. Why are there ducks here? Our reporter later found them at the nearby Wenxiu Park, a mere 50 meters away. They hadn’t gone far, gathered by the side of a pond and are completely unaware they had almost gotten run over just moments before! They appear to be Call ducks, which are frequently kept as pets. Nearby residents said they often see these four hanging around, suggesting they could have been released by someone.

Resident
There were originally five, but only four now. They’re always at that pond.

The Taichung Animal Protection Office said it hasn’t received any official requests to capture or relocate them, and there are no farms located nearby. It vowed to clarify whether they’re pets, as after all, even though they’re cute when waddling by, release them can be dangerous and punishable by a NT$15,000 fine.

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

#ducks #cute #Taichung #animalprotection #trafficsafety #driving #cuteanimals

2026-06-29