Visit to Cambodia! Cambodian Traditional Dances

During a visit to Cambodia (the temples of Angkor in Siem Reap), we had dinner at a restaurant-theater, where they performed traditional Cambodian dances. Each dance was kind of like a story, the first perhaps having to do with a royal couple, the second to do with harvest season, the third with butterfly images, and the fourth a partner dance between a beautiful female and a monster/creature. It was interesting to compare Cambodian dance to Taiwanese - needless to say, very different (much of Cambodian culture - eg. clothing, dance, language - has roots in India).


Dance involving Royal Couple (Part 1)



Dance involving Royal Couple (Part 2)



Harvest Dance - Male and Female Group



Butterfly Dance (Part 1)



Butterfly Dance (Part 2)



Partner Dance - Female and Monster

Aborigine Dances in Hualien, Taiwan

During a visit to Hualien on the Eastern coast of Taiwan, I had the chance to attend an aborigine dance performance. Taiwan's aborigines are well-known for their ability to dance and sing, and these dancers certainly exhibited their physical talent quite well. The tribe that predominantly lives in Hualien is called the A-Mei tribe, which is also the largest aborigine tribe.

Male Group Dance



Harvest Dance - Female Solo



Harvest Dance - Female Group



Group Dance with Sticks



Group Dance with Sticks - Ending

五月天 - "垃圾車" Taiwanese Song

Mayday is a Taiwanese pop group that sings songs both in Mandarin as well as Taiwanese. (They performed during this past New Year's celebration at the Taipei 101 building!) This song, called "Trashcar," is sung in Taiwanese and has two versions: a "friends" version as well as a "lovers" version. Both versions actually have the same lyrics until the last stanza of the song. The background music is the same. Below is the "friends" version of this song.

垃圾車 曲：阿信 詞：阿信 編：五月天

雖然你脾氣壞

對待朋友又差

凸槌又更愛牽拖
佳在你遇到我

不愛計較的我

算你壞人有好命

我走路你坐車

你吃飯我洗碗

你被欺負我拚命
若為了爽到你

可以艱苦到我

因為 咱緣分不可散

有你 我才未孤單

有你的陪伴

我才有靠山
你若不爽

我是你的垃圾車

每天 聽你的心聲

有你 我才未孤單

有你的陪伴

我才有靠山
你若歡喜

我是你的垃圾車

每天 聽你唱歌

感情若想要滿

杯底就要呼乾

這杯就愛飲呼乾
這杯你飲呼乾

這杯我飲呼乾　

咱這箱攏飲呼乾

攏飲呼乾

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English translation:

“Trashcar” by Mayday

(Also, this song is sung in Taiwanese, not Mandarin!)

Even though you have a bad temper

And you treat your friends badly

And you often make stupid mistakes and blame other people for them

But you still happened to come across me

Modest me

You really are quite fortunate

I walk when you get a ride

You eat and then I wash the dishes

You get bullied and I risk my life fighting for you

If it’s in order to make you happy,

It’s ok if you burden me

Because our fate cannot be scattered

With you

I am not lonely

With your company

I have protection

If you are not happy

I am your trashcar

Every day

Listening to the sound of your heart

With you

I am not lonely

With your company

I have protection

If you are not happy

I am your trashcar

Every day

Listening to you sing

If our relationship is real

Then bottoms up

This glass has to be drunk empty

You drink this one

And I’ll drink this one

Let’s drink these all dry

Drink these all dry

Mayday's "Trashcar" music video

Confucius Celebration Videos and Pictures

Before the opening ceremony




















Scene #5 - Ceremonial Attendants Take Their Positions



Bayi dancers on stage




















Musical performers





















Scene #11 - Burying the Sacrificial Remnants




Scene #16 - Initial Principal Presentation



Scene #25 - Blessings from the President