Ghost Month

This is Ghost Month in Taiwan. It's a month to honor the dead. People put fruit, beer, dried soup, and all kinds of food and drink out on a table in front of their house. Then they burn incense and burn ghost money (fake money) in small covered fireplaces out in the street (remember, no sidewalks for the most part). The idea is that your relatives on the other side get some nourishment, catch a little buzz, and have some cash to spend (but the food is brought back inside at the end of the day and consumed by the living). In some parts of Wuci, it looks like two or three business will get together and erect a tent over the street essentially making it a one lane street. They'll put out long tables and have larger versions of the covered fireplaces. They are nice enough to put flashing red lights along the edge so drivers don't hit the tent, although I don't know how you could miss them. There are fireworks and other displays that go along with the month long homage. On some streets there is so much ghost money being burnt that it makes it hard to ride along without getting burning ashes in your eyes. The other day I had to stop a few times to wipe my eyes. Those scooter helmets with the full visor were looking good.