I wish they’d ban them, like they have in Beijing.
The noise is starting in earnest now, and I know it’s going to drive me close to madness over the next few days.
When in Rome…plug your ears and forget about sleeping before 1am 
. My advice? Buy a few and light 'em off. If you can’t beat 'em, join 'em 
,
God, man!! If I was worried about noise I would have to ditch my girlfriend - talk about a “box of firecrackers”!! 
Omni, try to think of the firecracker noise as a “cultural noise.” Anyway, moronic bastard neighbors lighting fires in hallways has to be worse. I’ve had that all day.
And remember, there’s much more “culture” down here in the south so you actually get off quite lightly.
Happy New Year,
John.
I live 50 feet away from a lake, so I get to hear the damn things at all hours for the rest of the week. Culture, my ass - it’s jeuvenile pleasure in making loud noises.
I could never understand why Taiwanese students in Belfast didn’t like loud bangs, bonfires, etc… I thought they’d feel right at home.
Worst is yet to come. I think it’s the 4th or 5th which is the official ‘reopen business day’. Don’t count on sleeping in that morning.
Brian
What I do is go and buy a shitload of those shotgun firecrackers, take a nap wake up at 4 in the morning, go outside and light them off. Hey guys I’m celebrating the chinese new year!
What is good for the goose is good for the gander…
I can tolerate firecrackers as long as they aren’t set off right next to me and my 3 year old without a word of warning. Selfish bastards didn’t even think to say ‘Ok - stand back folks!’ Scared the crap out of me. My son didnt stop crying for half an hour. What a jolly old tradition.
I hate rockets even more than firecrackers. I feel so nervous walking around with those things flying around. You hear a fizz nearby and you wonder if it’s going to hit you in the face.
To those who say it’s a cultural thing, I say it’s a fucked up cultural thing.
Around here they were going until 1am, then some idiots started up again at 7am. Cold, wet, cloudy, not enough sleep, damn things going off outside. ARGH. My wife says “oh, it’s traditional, let them have some fun!” ARGH.
What in the world is wrong with you people? Firecrackers are great!
I usually drive to a little spot in Taipei County that sells the really cool stuff, like Jade Flowers for example. They start as a fountain and then explode in a huge fireball. They are loud as hell too. There is another one that has a bigger, deeper bang. They both are about as big around as your wrist, to give you an idea of the size of these things.
I also have these really big helicopters, which are my favorite.
Years ago we used to have bottle rocket wars with the kids across the little neigborhood park. God that was fun.
I can’t fathom you guys bitching about something so fun (love the smell of gunpowder, too) and that lasts such a short time.
You want to ban firecrackers? You want them to play a tape of them like they do in Hong Kong? You must be insane. Maybe instead of you having sex, you can just watch a video.
[color=red]Fireworks rock![/color]
I agree with you Wolf. We went down to the river last night to check it all out. People were shooting stuff right at each other…insane!!! And bottle rockets rule!
When and where is that festival down South where everybody has to wear raincoats and helmets to protect themselves? I think that’s Lantern Festival.
[quote=“twonavels”]I agree with you Wolf. We went down to the river last night to check it all out. People were shooting stuff right at each other…insane!!! And bottle rockets rule!
When and where is that festival down South where everybody has to wear raincoats and helmets to protect themselves? I think that’s Lantern Festival.[/quote]
In the town of Yenshui, about 300km south of Taipei, the annual fireworks festival is held on the Lantern Festival, which ends a 15-day celebration of the Lunar New Year.
Wolf’s right. I stayed up all night last night drinking beer and watching porn until the last firecrackers at four. Then after being woken up at seven by more, I shagged the bejaysus out of the missus. Firecrackers are great. Can’t wait for chu wu.
WTF??! Some people don’t like firecrackers?!???
Some of my fondest memories revolve around firecrackers. Like the time I burned my eyebrows off. Or the 4th of July when I rolled into Seattle at 10pm in the fog, and the whole place looked like Baghdad during the Gulf War. We gots Injun reservations out here, we get to blow up the good stuff. :shock:
Unless you mean dynamite, there is nothing in the States like the big fellas here.
Up on the mountain - quiet (relatively) is the order of the day. The guards stamp it out.
Like that. I then do bottle rocket wars down in yangmei and get up here when I have had enough.
Unless you mean dynamite, there is nothing in the States like the big fellas here.[/quote]
For dynamite, you have to go to Idaho. For tennis-ball bombs (tennis balls crammed full of black powder), the Boom City stand on the Clearwater Rez is your friend.
It is culture, and has been going on for centuries 
.
Believe it or not, after a long enough time here, you’ll sleep through them :shock: . Of course, I sleep through most earthquakes too 
.
Well if they can set off firecrackers at all hours of the night why can’t I listen to my loud music without having some police officer show up at my door with a shotgun?