Taiwan - Forgotten People
5/17/2022 | 26m 51sVideo has Closed Captions
Joseph travels to Green Island and Orchid Island, to participate in their customs.
Of the 14 aboriginal groups that exist on Taiwan, the Tao people live on Orchid Island while the Ami people inhabit Green Island. Joseph travels to Green Island to enjoy its natural pleasures such as one of the world’s only ocean hot baths. On Orchid Island, he has encounters with the Tao people sampling their foods, staying in traditional dwellings and participating in their rituals and customs.
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
Joseph Rosendo’s Travelscope is presented by your local public television station.
Distributed nationally by American Public Television
Taiwan - Forgotten People
5/17/2022 | 26m 51sVideo has Closed Captions
Of the 14 aboriginal groups that exist on Taiwan, the Tao people live on Orchid Island while the Ami people inhabit Green Island. Joseph travels to Green Island to enjoy its natural pleasures such as one of the world’s only ocean hot baths. On Orchid Island, he has encounters with the Tao people sampling their foods, staying in traditional dwellings and participating in their rituals and customs.
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch Joseph Rosendo’s Travelscope
Joseph Rosendo’s Travelscope is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
Buy Now
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>> WELCOME TO "TRAVELSCOPE" WITH JOSEPH ROSENDO, WHERE EACH WEEK, YOU JOIN US AS WE ACCEPT THE WORLD'S INVITATION TO VISIT.
>> WOO-HOO!
>> TODAY ON "TRAVELSCOPE," I JOURNEY TO GREEN AND ORCHID ISLANDS FOR ISLAND ADVENTURES AND CULTURAL ENCOUNTERS WITH TAIWAN'S ABORIGINAL PEOPLE.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY FRIENDS OF NCI] >> "TRAVELSCOPE" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES.
DK CITY, COUNTRY, AND DRIVING GUIDES FEATURE EVOCATIVE PHOTOS, 3-D MAPPING, AND ILLUSTRATIONS FOR KEY SITES AND TRAVEL ITINERARIES.
DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES-- THE GUIDES THAT SHOW YOU WHAT OTHERS ONLY TELL YOU.
AND ROSETTA STONE-- CHANGING THE WAY THE WORLD LEARNS LANGUAGES.
>> CITIES AND SKYSCRAPERS IS WHAT TAIWAN IS NOTED FOR, BUT IT ALSO HAS ITS NATURAL SIDE.
JOIN ME ON MY TAIWAN ISLAND ADVENTURE.
MY TAIWAN ISLAND ADVENTURE BEGINS AT FUGANG HARBOR NEAR THE TOWN OF TAITUNG, WHERE A DAILY FISH AUCTION IS HELD.
IT'S EARLY MORNING AT FUGANG HARBOR ON THE EASTERN COAST OF TAIWAN, THE FISHING BOATS ARE COMING IN WITH THE FISH FOR THE FISH AUCTION.
LATER THIS AFTERNOON, WE'RE GONNA BE TAKING A FERRY OVER TO GREEN ISLAND.
THE SIZE OF THE SEA WALL HERE WILL GIVE YOU AN INDICATION OF HOW ROUGH THE PACIFIC OCEAN CAN BE HERE.
SO THIS IS THE LOCAL FLEET.
>> THEY WENT OUT TO THE SEA AROUND AROUND 3:00 OR 4:00 IN THE MORNING, AND THEY COME BACK AT AROUND 7:00 OR 8:00.
AND THE AUCTION STARTS AT 8:39.
>> OK, GREAT.
AND THEN THE FISH FROM THE AUCTION, WILL THEY BE GOING TO RESTAURANTS AND MARKETS, OR WHERE ARE THEY GOING?
>> RESTAURANTS AND MARKETS.
[BOTH SPEAKING MANDARIN] IT'S YELLOW TUNA.
>> YELLOW TUNA.
>> HE SAY HE DIDN'T GET MUCH TODAY.
>> I COULD SEE THAT.
>> IT'S A ONE-MAN BAND.
>> IT'S A ONE-MAN BAND.
HE RUNS THAT WHOLE BOAT AND FISHES AT THE SAME TIME.
WOW.
WE BETTER GET OVER TO THE AUCTION NOW.
>> SURE.
>> LET'S GO.
>> LET'S GO.
>> HERE THEY ARE.
SO THIS IS A CO-OP OF ABOUT A HUNDRED DIFFERENT SHIPS... >> MM-HMM.
>> AND THEY BRING IT ALL TO HERE TO THE PORT, THEN THEIR FISHERMEN'S UNION DETERMINES WHAT THE PRICE OF FISH ARE THAT DAY, AND THEN THEY GET COMPENSATED THROUGH THE UNION.
LOOK AT ALL THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF FISH.
[PEOPLE SPEAKING MANDARIN] WE'VE GOT ONE OF THE BUYERS HERE.
MAXINE, WHAT IS HE BUYING FOR?
[SPEAKS MANDARIN] >> HE'S HERE TO BUY FOR HIS STAND.
>> FOR HERE?
A STAND HERE?
>> YEAH, HIS STORE IS HERE.
>> WHAT'S HE GONNA BUY?
>> HE'S BUYING TUNA TODAY.
>> BUYING TUNA TODAY.
YOU MAKE SUSHI?
>> OH, YES.
>> I COULD TELL THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO GET A FRESH FISH DINNER.
>> GOOD.
GOOD.
>> XIE XIE.
>> XIE XIE.
>> XIE XIE... >> TOM HAS COME ALL THE WAY FROM THE WESTERN SIDE OF TAIWAN HERE TO THE MARKET TO BUY FISH... >> YES.
>> ...TO TAKE BACK TO SELL.
>> YES.
>> 'CAUSE IT'S CHEAPER?
>> YES, HERE IS CHEAPER.
>> SELL HIGH.
>> YES, HIGH.
>> GOOD BUSINESSMAN.
GOOD BUSINESS, HUH?
WHAT'S HAPPENING?
THE AUCTION'S STARTING?
OH, LET'S GO.
THE AUCTION.
THE AUCTION.
COME ON.
I'LL GO WITH YOU.
THE DRAMA OF THE FISH AUCTION IS GENERATIONS OLD.
THE CO-OP REPRESENTATIVE BARGAINS HARD WITH THE BUYERS IN ORDER TO GET THE BEST PRICE FOR HIS FISHERMEN.
SOMETIMES THE HAGGLING GETS PHYSICAL.
SEAS ARE ROUGH, THE CATCH IS SMALL, AND PRICES ARE HIGHER THAN USUAL.
[SPEAKS MANDARIN] AHO MAKES THE HIGH BID, TOSSES OUT HIS STAMP, AND GIVES THE PURCHASE HIS SEAL OF APPROVAL.
AND WHILE AHO DOES NOT GET EVERYTHING HE WANTS, HE GETS WHAT HE NEEDS TO FILL TODAY'S MENU.
WE'LL GET THE ONE WITH THE NAME ON IT.
>> OK. >> IS THAT THE NAME OF HIS COMPANY?
>> YEAH, THAT'S HIS FAMILY NAME.
>> THAT'S HIS FAMILY NAME.
WHAT'S THE NAME?
[BOTH SPEAK MANDARIN] OK, WHAT HAVE WE GOT HERE?
>> THE WHOLE FISH, INCLUDING COOKING, WILL BE 350, WHICH IS ABOUT $10, $12.
>> SO WE'RE GONNA WATCH HIM CUT IT.
HE'S GONNA PREPARE IT FOR US, AND WE'LL DINE RIGHT HERE IN HIS SHOP.
>> WE'LL ENJOY RIGHT HERE.
>> FABULOUS.
OH, MY GOSH.
LOOK AT THAT.
>> THAT'S DELICIOUS.
XIE XIE.
>> WELL... >> WELL... >> WE HAVE OUR WASABI, WE HAVE OUR SOY SAUCE, AND WE HAVE OUR TUNA.
MMM.
>> THIS IS REALLY FRESH.
[INHALES] >> AH.
WASABI.
THAT'S WONDERFUL.
[SPEAKS MANDARIN] AND THAT'S WHERE THE HEAD AND TAIL WENT.
HEAD, THE TAIL, THE SKIN.
>> THIS IS FRESHLY MADE BY AHO'S MOTHER.
>> MAXINE, THIS IS THE FRESHEST FISH I'VE HAD IN A LONG, LONG TIME.
XIE XIE.
[SPEAKS MANDARIN] >> XIE XIE.
FROM FUGANG HARBOR, IT'S A BUMPY 50-MINUTE FERRY RIDE TO GREEN ISLAND OR LUDAO ISLAND.
IN THE PAST, GREEN ISLAND WAS HOME TO THE AMIS PEOPLE.
TODAY, MOST OF THE ISLAND ABORIGINALS HAVE LEFT, AND IT HAS BECOME A FAVORITE WEEKEND AND SUMMER ESCAPE TO A CALMER, MORE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT FOR MAINLAND TAIWANESE.
JUST 20 MILES FROM THE MAINLAND IS GREEN ISLAND, AND ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO SEE IT ON A NICE, CLEAR, SUNNY DAY IS VIA MOPED.
IT'S ONLY ABOUT 12 MILES TO GO ALL AROUND THE WHOLE ISLAND BY MOPED.
AFTER THE URBAN QUALITY OF TAIWAN ITSELF, BEING OUT HERE ON GREEN ISLAND, YOU GET THE IDEA OF WHERE IT GETS ITS NAME.
IT'S SO GREEN AND LUSH AND NATURAL.
IT'S JUST A LITTLE COOL AND DAMP TODAY.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IN A WAY, IT HAS ITS OWN BEAUTY.
WOW.
LOOK AT THIS SEA.
WHOO!
ITS BEACHES ARE ONE OF THE REASONS PEOPLE COME TO GREEN ISLAND, AND THIS ONE, DAIBAISHA, GREAT WHITE SAND, IS ONE OF THE BEST.
SHILANG-- THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST SNORKELING AND DIVING SPOTS ON THE ISLAND.
IT IS GREEN ISLAND, SO A LOT OF THE ACTIVITIES ARE WATER ACTIVITIES.
THERE'S DIVING AND SNORKELING, AND MR. CHEN'S GONNA TAKE ME OUT TO ONE OF THE LOCAL REEFS RIGHT HERE OFFSHORE.
IN THE SHALLOW, CLEAN, CLEAR, CALM, AND SURPRISINGLY WARM WATERS, SNORKELERS AND DIVERS CAN FIND MORE THAN 300 SPECIES OF FISH AS WELL AS A VARIETY OF CORAL REEFS.
GREEN ISLAND IS HOME TO THE LARGEST SINGLE CORAL GROWTH IN THE WORLD, AND MOST OF GREEN ISLAND'S UNDERSEA WONDERS ARE EASILY ACCESSIBLE FROM THE SHORE.
AH.
WHAT YOU HAVE HERE AT THE JHAORIH HOT SPRINGS, A SUNRISE HOT SPRINGS, IS A NATURAL PHENOMENA THAT MAN HAS MANAGED TO TAME SOMEWHAT.
ONE OF ONLY 3 NATURAL SALT-WATER HOT SPRINGS IN THE WORLD.
FOR THE OTHERS, YOU'D HAVE TO GO TO JAPAN AND SICILY, ITALY.
THE POOLS, THE 3 POOLS OUT ON THE EDGE OF THE PACIFIC, ARE A BIT EXCITING TODAY IN THIS STORMY DAY, AND THOSE HERE IN THE FACILITY ARE NOT QUITE AS EXCITING, BUT CERTAINLY, THEY'RE A BIT WARMER AND A LOT SAFER.
SUNRISE OR NOT, IT'S STILL A FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE.
FROM TAITUNG ON THE MAINLAND TO ORCHID ISLAND, ALSO CALLED LANYU, IT'S 25 MINUTES BY PLANE AND 2 HOURS AND 20 MINUTES BY FERRY.
ON THE ISLAND, THE TAO ABORIGINES HAVE CREATED A CULTURE FROM THE HARVEST OF THE FLYING FISH.
WHILE TAIWAN'S INDIGENOUS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN UNFAVORABLY IMPACTED ELSEWHERE, ON ORCHID ISLAND, THE TAO TRIBE HAS SURVIVED RELATIVELY UNTOUCHED.
I'M IN THE ORCHID ISLAND VILLAGE OF EVILINO (IVARINU), WHERE THERE ARE STILL EXAMPLES OF THE UNDERGROUND HOMES THAT THE TAO PEOPLE HAVE LIVED IN FOR CENTURIES.
THEY'RE REALLY SEEMINGLY BASIC BUT BRILLIANT CONSTRUCTIONS WHICH HAVE AFFORDED THEM SHELTER FROM THE MANY TYPHOONS THAT BLOW IN OFF OF THE PACIFIC.
A TYPICAL FAMILY COMPLEX WILL INCLUDE 3 STRUCTURES-- THE MAIN HOUSE, THE WORKING HOUSE, AND A SITTING PLATFORM.
THIS IS THE MAIN HOUSE.
TELL ME ABOUT THE MAIN HOUSE.
WHO WOULD LIVE IN IT, THE WHOLE FAMILY?
>> YES.
ACTUALLY, THIS IS THE WEALTHY FAMILY.
>> WEALTHY FAMILY?
HOW CAN YOU TELL?
>> BECAUSE YOU SEE A FOURTH DOOR.
THEIR STATUS IN THIS VILLAGE-- >> SO IT'S 4 DOORS?
WEALTHY FAMILY.
NOW TELL ME ABOUT THE TAO PEOPLE.
THEY HAVE BEEN ON THIS ISLAND FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS.
I UNDERSTAND OVER 800 YEARS.
>> ACCORDING TO OUR HISTORY, SOME OF THE FAMILY, ESPECIALLY THIS VILLAGE, IVARINU, IS ORIGINAL FROM BATAN ISLAND.
>> BATAN ISLAND IN PHILIPPINES.
>> YEAH.
NORTHERN PART OF THE PHILIPPINES.
BUT ANOTHER VILLAGE NEVER MENTIONED WE FROM BATAN ISLAND.
AND WE ARE BORN FROM BAMBOO AND STONE.
>> IT'S AMAZING TO ME THAT YOU'VE MANAGED TO KEEP YOUR CULTURE SO LONG AND SO ALIVE.
YOU HAVE SOME INTERESTING TRADITIONS, PARTICULARLY AROUND THE FLYING FISH AND YOUR HANDMADE BOATS.
>> YES.
RIGHT NOW IS OUR FLYING FISH SEASON, SO EVERY MAN HAS HIS MOST BUSY TIME IN THE WHOLE YEAR.
>> AND I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT RITUALS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FLYING FISH.
WHAT YOU CAN DO AND CAN'T DO, AND YOU CAN'T WEAR RED AND BLACK.
YOU CAN'T TALK NASTY TO EACH OTHER.
YOU DON'T FISH FOR LOBSTER.
>> YEAH, IT'S JUST LIKE OUR LAW WE PRACTICE IN THIS CULTURE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
PEOPLE HERE REALLY LIKE IT.
THIS OUR CULTURE.
>> AND THE FLYING FISH IS A VERY MUCH PART OF THAT.
>> IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
>> THE TAO CULTURE REVOLVES AROUND THE SEASON OF THE FLYING FISH.
CUSTOMS ABOUND.
ON A BACK-STRAP LOOM, A MOTHER WILL WEAVE HER SON'S TRIBAL LOINCLOTH.
THERE ARE ALSO CEREMONIES FOR THE SUMMONING, CATCHING, AND PREPARING OF THE FISH AND THE BLESSING OF THE BOATS.
THE HISTORIC BOATS ARE A SUBJECT FOR NATIVE ARTISTS.
AND ALTHOUGH VISITORS MAY TAKE HOME A SOUVENIR, THE FLYING FISH AND ITS RITUALS REMAINS A SACRED TRADITION.
SYAMAN LAMURAN, THESE ARE BOATS, THE TRADITIONAL HANDMADE PLANK BOATS THAT THEY USE FOR THE FLY FISHING.
>> YES.
FOR THE WHOLE YEAR, STARTING FROM FEBRUARY UNTIL JUNE, IT'S OUR FLYING FISH SEASON.
>> THESE BOATS, I NOTICE, HAVE VERY INTRICATE DESIGNS ON THEM.
WHAT DO THEY MEAN?
>> OK, THIS IS THE EYE OF THE BOAT.
CAN TAKE YOU TO YOUR DESTINATION.
>> HAS TO BE ABLE TO SEE WHERE HE'S GOING.
>> YES, AND THIS IS THE SPIRIT OF THE BOAT.
PERSON.
THIS TRIANGLE IS THE WAVE OF THE OCEAN.
THE WHITE COLOR IS ORIGINAL FROM SEASHELL.
>> THE SHELLS.
>> AND THE RED IS FROM THE SOIL.
>> FROM THE EARTH.
>> THE BLACK IS FROM WHEN WE COOK IN THE HOUSE... >> THE CHARCOAL.
>> THE CHARCOAL.
>> OH, OK.
SO YOU GET SOMETHING FROM THE HOME, SOMETHING FROM THE SEA, AND SOMETHING FROM THE LAND.
IT'S ALL PART OF THIS GREAT BOAT.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TAO AND THE FLYING FISH GOES BACK HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF YEARS.
ACCORDING TO LEGEND, IT WAS AT THIS SPOT IN THE VILLAGE OF IMOURUD THAT THE TAO PEOPLE FIRST ENCOUNTERED THE FLYING FISH.
THE FLYING FISH INSTRUCTED THE TAO PEOPLE ON THE PROPER WAY TO CATCH, PREPARE, SERVE, AND SHARE THEM WITH OTHERS.
EACH YEAR, THE VILLAGE OF IMOURUD IS GRANTED THE HONOR OF BEING THE FIRST VILLAGE ON THE ISLAND TO BEGIN THE FLYING FISH HARVEST.
ON ORCHID ISLAND, WHEN IT COMES TO FISHING FOR FLYING FISH, THERE IS A SEASON FOR EVERYTHING.
THERE IS THE TIME TO CALL THE FISH.
THERE IS A TIME TO FISH ONLY AT NIGHT, A TIME TO FISH DURING THE DAY, AND A TIME TO FISH WITH A NET.
THIS IS THE TIME WHEN WE CAN ONLY FISH AT NIGHT, AND SO WE'RE GOING FOR FLYING FISH OUT THERE.
>> LET'S GO.
>> LET'S GO.
>> LET'S GO.
>> THE FISH ARE VERY CLOSE TO THE SURFACE, SO THE FISHING IS BASICALLY SPOTTING THEM IN THE WATER, REACHING IN WITH THE NET, AND PULLING THEM IN.
IN THE OLD DAYS, THEY WENT OUT IN THE TRADITIONAL BARK CANOES AND REALLY JUST REACHED IN AND GRABBED THEM WITH THEIR HANDS.
HOW MANY OF THESE WILL THEY GET IN A NIGHT?
>> UH, DURING THE FEBRUARY, USUALLY IT'S 10 OR 20.
>> 10 OR 20 A NIGHT, BUT THEN THERE'S A BIG SEASON WHEN A LOT OF THEM COME IN.
>> YEAH.
>> WHEN IS THAT?
>> WOULD BE END OF THE APRIL OR BEGINNING OF THE MAY.
>> AND THEN HOW MANY WILL THEY GET THEN?
>> WOULD 600 TO 700.
>> A NIGHT?
>> YEAH, A NIGHT.
[SPEAKS MANDARIN] >> AMAZING.
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FISHING FOR FLYING FISH HERE ON ORCHID ISLAND FOREVER.
>> FOR... >> RIGHT?
FOREVER.
>> BECAUSE EVERY YEAR, THEY COME AND VISIT US.
IF NO FLYING FISH, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TAO CULTURE.
WE TRYING VERY HARD TO KEEP THIS CULTURE BECAUSE IN RECENT YEARS, MANY TAIWANESE FISHING BOAT.
THEY COMING TO CATCH THESE FLYING FISH.
THEY CATCH TOO MANY.
>> YES, THEY CATCH TOO MANY.
OF COURSE.
THAT'S ALWAYS A SAD THING.
THEY ALWAYS--THEY DEPOPULATE THE FISH, THEY KILL THE STOCKS, THEN NOBODY GETS ANY FISH, SO YOU MUST HAVE A RESPECT FOR THE FISH SO THAT IT CONTINUES TO COME BACK, 'CAUSE YOU COULD FISH IT ALL OUT, AND IT'D BE GONE, AND THAT WOULD BE THE END OF, NOT ONLY FISH, BUT AS YOU MENTIONED, THE TAOAN CULTURE.
>> MM-HMM.
>> WE'RE BACK FROM OUR FISHING TRIP.
WE HAVE OUR 10 FLYING FISH, AND WE'RE STARTING TO CLEAN THEM.
JUST TO GIVE YOU AN INDICATION OF SOME OF THE RITUALS AND THE TABOOS AND THE RULES AROUND THE FLYING FISH CEREMONY, HERE'S A COUPLE OF THEM.
THE FISH HAS TO BE CLEANED BEFORE SUNRISE IN A TOWN THAT HAS ALREADY GIVEN PERMISSION FOR THE FLYING FISH SEASON TO BEGIN.
ONCE THE FISH IS CLEANED AND COOKED, THE FIRST PEOPLE TO SHARE IT SHOULD BE THE MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY.
THE EYES OF THE FISH NORMALLY GO TO THE CHILDREN.
SO WE'RE GONNA CLEAN THE FISH, WE'RE IN THE RIGHT PLACE TO DO IT, BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA EAT IT, BECAUSE YOU STILL HAVE TO HANG THE FISH UP FOR A DAY FOR IT TO BE EDIBLE.
TRADITION PRESCRIBES THAT EACH VILLAGE HAS ITS OWN WAY OF CUTTING THE FISH AND PREPARING IT FOR DRYING.
THERE ARE PARTS OF THE FLYING FISH THAT ARE READY TO EAT, IF WE DARE.
HOW ABOUT THIS?
FISH SPERM.
[WOMAN LAUGHS] MMM.
[MAN SPEAKS MANDARIN] AH, YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAID-- JONATHAN SWIFT SAID, "'TWAS A BRAVE MAN THAT FIRST ATE AN OYSTER."
'TWAS A BRAVE MAN THAT FIRST ATE FISH SPERM, I TELL YOU THAT.
THAT'S GOOD.
NEVER CEASE TO BE SURPRISED.
NOT BY WHAT PEOPLE EAT OR WHAT THEY DO EVEN, BUT HOW MUCH THEY ARE ATTACHED TO THEIR TRADITIONS, THEIR HERITAGE, AND HOW MUCH JOY THEY GET, REALLY, WHEN THEY SHARE IT WITH YOU.
MOST ALL THE ACCOMMODATIONS ON ORCHID ISLAND ARE HOME-STAY ACCOMMODATIONS.
I'M IN A REALLY NICE SET-UP HERE.
THIS IS A MODERN TAKE ON THE TRADITIONAL WORKING HOUSE.
IT SLEEPS 8 PEOPLE IN A HOSTEL-TYPE SETTING.
HAS ALL THE COMFORTS OF HOME-- FULL BATHROOM, REFRIGERATOR, AIR CONDITIONING, AND HOT RUNNING WATER.
[CROWS] IT'S MORNING HERE ON ORCHID ISLAND, AND I'M WITH MY HOST'S FATHER.
HE'S MAKING--I THINK HE'S SOUNDING LIKE THE ROOSTER WE BEEN HEARING ALL MORNING.
WOKE US UP.
HIS NAME IS SYABEN NANA-UN.
IF YOU'RE A FATHER, YOU'RE CALLED A SHAMAN.
THIS IS-- SYABEN IS A GRANDFATHER, AND HE'S THE GRANDFATHER OF OUR HOST IN OUR WORKING HOUSE THAT'S BEEN CONVERTED INTO A HOSTEL.
REALLY WAS GREAT WAKING UP HERE WITH THE SOUNDS OF THE MORNING AND THE BIRDS, OF COURSE, AND THE ROOSTERS AND THE PIGS AND CHICKENS AND ALL SORTS OF THINGS GOING ON HERE.
SO THERE-- THE PEOPLE HERE ARE JUST REALLY, REALLY LOVELY AND SWEET.
THEY DON'T PARTICULARLY LIKE CAMERAS, SO BE SENSITIVE TO THAT.
BUT IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO HAVE A HUMAN INTERCHANGE WITH THE PEOPLE HERE, YOU CAN'T MEET A NICER, MORE WELCOMING CULTURE OR GROUP OF PEOPLE.
[SPEAKS MANDARIN] [JOSEPH SPEAKS MANDARIN] IT TAKES HARD WORK AND INGENUITY TO MAKE A VOLCANIC ISLAND DELIVER ITS GOODNESS, WHICH IS WHAT THE TAO PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DOING FOR CENTURIES.
SO THIS IS A TARO FIELD HERE.
>> THOSE ARE SWEET POTATO OVER THERE.
>> OH, SWEET POTATOES.
THOSE ARE 2 OF THE MAIN CROPS HERE ON THE ISLAND.
>> YES.
>> YES.
HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE FOR THE PLANTS ACTUALLY TO BE HARVESTED?
>> USUALLY GONNA TAKE 2 OR 3 YEARS.
>> SO HE'S FLOODING THE FIELD JUST LIKE YOU WOULD DO RICE.
>> WE BEEN DOING THIS FOR THOUSAND CENTURY YEARS.
>> AND STILL WORKING THE FIELDS BY HAND.
>> YES.
>> I FEEL GUILTY, US SITTING HERE.
I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD PICK UP A PICK AND START HELPING HIM OUT.
OOH.
IT'S A VOLCANIC ISLAND, SO YOU'RE GUARANTEED TO HAVE ROCKS.
NOW, THEY USE THEM TO BUILD WITH AS WELL TO MAKE THOSE GREAT WALLS THAT SEPARATE THE DIFFERENT UNDERGROUND HOMES FROM EACH OTHER AND TO KEEP THE GOATS AND PIGS OUT OF THEIR FIELDS.
SO IF YOU REALLY WANT TO SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LIVE ON AN ISLAND, THE BEST THING TO DO IS GET OUT AND WORK THE FIELDS BY HAND.
HOO.
BEING A TELEVISION HOST IS A LOT EASIER JOB, I CAN TELL YOU THAT.
TARO, SWEET POTATO, AND MILLET ARE THE AGRICULTURAL CROPS THEY GROW HERE ON ORCHID ISLAND.
AND THIS LADY IS IN THE PROCESS OF POUNDING OUT HER MILLET SO SHE CAN MAKE MILLET CAKE, WHICH IS ONE OF THEIR STAPLES, AND I'M GONNA TRY AND HELP HER.
CAN I HELP?
YES?
OK. NOW, LIKE THIS?
[LAUGHS] YES?
YES?
>> YEAH, OK. >> OK?
>> OK. >> THIS TAKES A WHILE.
NO GYM NEEDED HERE ON ORCHID ISLAND.
"JUST DON'T KNOCK ANY OUT," SHE SAID.
WHICH IS NOT THAT EASY TO DO 'CAUSE THE HOLE IN THE BOTTOM IS NOT THAT-- THERE'S NOT MUCH SPACE THERE.
ALL RIGHT.
[SPEAKS MANDARIN] I'M HAPPY TO HAND IT OFF.
WHENEVER I GET INVOLVED IN HELPING PEOPLE, I START TO REALLY GET A SENSE OF WHAT IT TAKES TO LIVE ON THESE ISLANDS AND IN DIFFERENT DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.
ONE-HANDED.
ALTHOUGH FARMING IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF LIFE ON ORCHID ISLAND, IT IS STILL THE SEA THAT PRIMARILY SUSTAINS THE TAO PEOPLE.
THIS IS SOMETHING VERY UNIQUE.
THE TRADITIONAL WAY OF FISHING.
IT'S ONE OF THE LOCAL MEN, AND THIS IS A FISHING TECHNIQUE THAT THEY USE FOR WHAT THEY CALL IN-CLOSE FISH, FISH THAT COME ALONG THE SHORE.
IT'S BASICALLY A NET ATTACHED TO 2 LONG STICKS.
THEY HOLD ON TO IT WITH THEIR MOUTH.
THEN THEY THROW OUT THE STICK, AND THEY LET IT GO, AND IT SHOOTS OUT ALMOST LIKE A BOW.
AND HE SNEAKS UP ON THE FISH, REALLY.
HE WATCHES FOR THE FISH ALONG THE SHORELINE, AND WHEN HE SEES A FLASH IN THE WATER, HE GOES AFTER THEM.
HERE HE GOES.
BOOM--THAT JUST SHOOTS RIGHT OUT THERE, AND THEN HE'S GOT THE FISH.
AND NOW HE SPLASHES SO THAT THE FISH WILL GO RIGHT INTO THE NET.
QUITE A TRICK TO GET THAT TO WORK.
OK, I'LL TRY.
>> YOU TRY IT NOW.
>> OK, THIS WAY.
>> YES.
>> THIS GOES IN MY MOUTH.
OH, LITTLE PIECE OF STONE.
AT LEAST IT'S NOT MY TOOTH.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO SUBTITLE THIS.
OK. AND YOU'RE STALKING AROUND.
YOU KIND OF LOOK OUT THERE FOR THE FISH.
AND WHEN YOU... SEE A FLASH IN THE WATER, GOT IT!
HAH!
YOU ATTEMPT TO THROW THE NET.
OH.
EMPTY AGAIN.
YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING THAT THOSE OF US FROM DEVELOPED COUNTRIES LIKE TO THINK THAT PEOPLE WHO CAN HANDLE SOMETHING LIKE THIS ARE PRIMITIVE.
EXCUSE ME.
IT'S MUCH EASIER TO THROW OUT A ROD AND A LITTLE REEL AND REEL IN YOUR FISH THAN TO TRY TO HANDLE SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND TO ACTUALLY NOT JUST BE FISHING FOR FUN, BUT BE FISHING FOR FOOD.
[SPEAKS MANDARIN] THANK YOU.
EXPERIENCING DIFFERENT CULTURES HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE MAIN REASON I TRAVEL, AND THE MORE I TRAVEL, THE MORE I RESPECT THE VALIANT EFFORTS PEOPLE MAKE TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE THEIR TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS.
FOR THEIR PART, IT TAKES CARE, DETERMINATION, PERSEVERANCE, AND COMMITMENT.
AND FOR OUR PART, IT TAKES EDUCATION, RESPECT, UNDERSTANDING, AND A DESIRE TO HAVE AN INTERACTION IN WHICH BOTH PARTIES BENEFIT FROM A NEW APPRECIATION OF EACH OTHER.
UNTIL NEXT TIME, THIS IS JOSEPH ROSENDO REMINDING YOU OF THE WORDS OF MARK TWAIN-- TRAVEL IS FATAL TO PREJUDICE, BIGOTRY, AND NARROW-MINDEDNESS.
HAPPY TRAVELING.
>> "TRAVELSCOPE" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES.
DK CITY, COUNTRY, AND DRIVING GUIDES FEATURE EVOCATIVE PHOTOS, 3-D MAPPING, AND ILLUSTRATIONS FOR KEY SITES AND TRAVEL ITINERARIES.
DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES-- THE GUIDES THAT SHOW YOU WHAT OTHERS ONLY TELL YOU.
AND ROSETTA STONE-- CHANGING THE WAY THE WORLD LEARNS LANGUAGES.
FOR A DVD OF TODAY'S SHOW OR ANY OF JOSEPH'S "TRAVELSCOPE" ADVENTURES, CALL 888-876-3399 OR ORDER ONLINE AT TRAVELSCOPE.NET.
YOU CAN ALSO E-MAIL US AT TV@TRAVELSCOPE.NET OR WRITE US AT THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN.
>> NOW THAT WE'VE FISHED WITH THE TAO OF TAIWAN, LEARN MORE AT TRAVELSCOPE.NET, WHERE YOU CAN FOLLOW MY ADVENTURES THROUGH MY E-MAGAZINE, BLOG, AND PODCASTS.
KEEP IN TOUCH.
888-876-3399 OR TV@TRAVELSCOPE.NET.
[SPEAKS MANDARIN] [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY FRIENDS OF NCI] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org--] THAT'LL DO IT.
[LAUGHS] >> GOOD MORNING.
[LAUGHS] >> I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SAY GOOD MORNING IN TAO.
[SPEAKS NATIVE LANGUAGE] [REPEATS IN NATIVE LANGUAGE] [SPEAKS NATIVE LANGUAGE] [REPEATS IN NATIVE LANGUAGE] [SPEAKS NATIVE LANGUAGE] [REPEATS IN NATIVE LANGUAGE] >> NOW I KNOW.
[LAUGHS] WE'RE IN THEIR SITTING PLATFORM.
I LIKE THIS SITTING-PLATFORM IDEA.
THIS IS NOT--I'M NOT GONNA EAT FISH EYEBALLS.
MMM.
>> GOOD FOR YOUR EYES.
>> GOOD EYES.
[WOMAN LAUGHS] [MAN, INDISTINCT] [MAN SPEAKS MANDARIN] >> SPIT OUT THE HARD PART.
[ALL LAUGH]
Support for PBS provided by:
Joseph Rosendo’s Travelscope is presented by your local public television station.
Distributed nationally by American Public Television