Morakot Relief

EDIT: Michael Turton and Forumosa have information on donating locally.

We had it easy up here in Nankan, but down South there was terrible devastation: The death count is in the hundreds, and thousands of people are trapped in rural areas without supplies. Hundreds of people have lost their homes.

If you're moved to do so, this is what I've found about giving:

The Tapei Economic and Cultural Office (Taiwan's equivalent of an embassy) in Los Angeles has set up a fund:

1.For checks

Please make check payable to: TECOLA 88

Send check to:TECOLA 88 3731 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 700,Los Angeles, CA 90010

2.For wiring

Receiving Bank: Mega International Commercial Bank, Los Angeles Branch
ABA No.: 122040922
Address: 445 S. Figueroa St., Suite 1900,Los Angeles, CA 90071
Swift Code: ICBCUS6L
Beneficiary Account No.: 1004564
Beneficiary Account Name: TECOLA88

World Vision is also raising funds.

I'm still scratching around trying to figure out where to donate locally here in Taiwan. So if you read my blog and you live here - let me know!!

Morakot Watch Pt. 2

We woke up this morning to drizzly and patches of blue sky, not exactly storm-of-the-century weather here in Nankan. However, some areas of Taiwan got up to 2 meters of water and several people died. So we weren't about to embark on any major Saturday adventures either.

Instead we drove to the mall to watch Bruno. There were a few really funny jokes, but I thought for the most part it was gross-out and lame. Then I came home and watched the entire season of MTV's 16 and pregnant. Shameless, I know.

I have got to get out tomorrow.

Morakot Watch

James made spaghetti for dinner and we opened a bottle of Yellow Tail cabernet. Then we plugged his laptop into our new TV (thanks, James' parents!!) and rocked out to Spoon and The National. I found if you sing loud enough you can't hear the wind scream.

It's getting on around 11 p.m. now. We're watching Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, which is miserably self-referential and boring. But I'm happy we haven't lost power, or yet at least.

I keep checking the news, but I'm not sure whether Morakot has landed yet or not. Some news sites are saying it could last into tomorrow. So stay safe everybody.

Typhoon Season

sideways rain > umbrella

I had a lunch date at a friend's house today. I lingered over cardamom tea in her living room watching the rain over the Xindian river until it became obvious it wasn't going to let up. Despite my umbrella, the space between the top of my head and my nose was all that was still dry when I made it to the subway station. Then the bus was stop and go on the ride home. It took so long I'd passed from dripping to lightly damp before we got back to Nankan - only to get drenched again walking to the apartment.

Typhoon Morakot may hit us tomorrow. We'll find out tonight. I wouldn't mind a day of holing up and watching movies. On the other hand, tomorrow is pay day... le'sigh.

Edit: Typhoon. No work tomorrow!