Chungshan North Road - 1968

My favorite place to book visitors in the mid 1960s, The Green Garden Hotel.

Not a fancy 4 star facility, but the staff and clean rooms made it one of the best.

Out the front door and down the alley to your heart's content.

Looking north from the hotel, Minquan West Road is just down the street.

More views toward the HSA Compounds and the Grand Hotel, lost in the trees.

Also looking northward on Chungshan North Road.

Does anyone recognize this intersection?
My guess, Chungshan N. Road and Nanking Road.

Most of us passed the Green Garden Hotel daily during our time in Taipei.

The streets and alleyways remain, but just about every building has been replaced.

Thursday's Dinner Menu at Club 63

Click on the Menu for a full-size readable copy.

Peter Ciccgrello had Dinner at Club 63 on Thursday, 10 May 1962 and kept the menu.

I would have ordered the Schnitzel Holstein for 95 cents. I'm hungry just envisioning the plate arriving at my table, the aroma of the schnitzel and gravy is overwhelming!

And your order sir? We're featuring a 12 ounce Sirloin

A side note: Just how much money were we making in 1962? I had forgotten. And to think we were living such a life on so little salary.......

Click here for the 1962 Pay Chart.

Taiwan honors members of US Armed Forces

The Ministry of National Defense presented roughly 600 medals to members of the United States Armed Forces Dec 14, in recognition of the help and support given to Taiwan in the aftermath of Typhoon Morakot.

Approximately 10 representatives from the U.S. Armed Forces attended the ceremony, as did William A. Stanton, Director of the American Institute in Taiwan.

"We would like to offer you our great thanks for your magnanimous assistance, given as if to a brother." said Kao Hua-chu, Minister of National Defense.

The full story can be found here:

Story source: China Times

Story courtesy of: Taiwan Today

Blog editor's Note: We should station at least 20,000 U.S. military advisors in Taiwan on a permanent basis to handle "any" future situations on a moments notice.

Mr. Kao spoke correctly, we are your brothers sir, we will be there for you in the future.

Do I hear a second to my motion to return US Forces to Taiwan on a permanent basis?

The Shoeshine Man at Taichung Station

Taichung Station, September 2009. Not much has changed since our days in Taichung.

While visiting Taiwan last September Gene Hirte and I decided to visit Hsinchu to see what remained of the MAAG facilities we have so often discussed on this blog and in our Taipei Air Station web site.

We arrived at the Taichung Station early in the morning. Gene went to the ticket window to purchase round trip tickets to Hsinchu while I strolled around the station to see if I recognized anything from the past.

The station had a few changes, but overall, it was still the same building from our days in Taichung.

One thing stood out as I gazed about, something I never expected to see, a shoe shine man was siting in his chair reading the newspaper. I walked over and begin to examine the bulletin board of articles he had posted announcing his longevity at Taichung Station (60 years.) As I was reading, Gene arrived with our Hsinchu tickets, our train was arriving shortly. I left without taking photos.

When we returned to Taichung that afternoon, I had completely forgot about Mr. Huang's stand.

A few days ago Gene went back to the station and took a few photographs.

Mr. Huang's longivity at his position is something to be honored.

I wonder how he survives in this day of tennis shoes and slippers.

I imagine someone who reads this blog will remember having sat in Mr.Huang's chair to have your shoes cleaned and polished while awaiting arrival of your train.

Please read the English words on the plaque below.

The next time you're catching a train from Taichung, consider arriving a bit early, let Mr Huang take care of your shoes. It would be an honor to sit in his chair and he probably needs the business.

Mr. Huang in his shoe shine area of Taichung Station, November 2009

Click on the plaque photo above and it will open in a larger readable format.