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Taiwan Quick Take

■ WEATHER
Temperatures soar
Taipei's temperature soared to 37.2oC yesterday afternoon, making it the second-hottest recorded May temperature in the city's history, the Central Weather Bureau reported. The temperature was recorded at 2:02pm, bureau officials said, adding that the highest temperature for May in the city's history was 37.7oC, recorded in 1991. Yesterday's high was also the second-highest in Taiwan so far this year. This year's high to date was 37.4oC, recorded in March in Taitung, the bureau said. Temperatures will remain high in Taipei over the next few days, they said, adding that there is a good chance new record highs will be recorded during the period.

■ CULTURE
Search for best pork rice
After a successful campaign to promote beef noodles, the Taipei City Government is inviting the public to vote for the city's best pork rice (滷肉飯) to boost the popularity of the Taiwanese dish. The online voting event was designed to promote the Taipei Traditional Food Festival, which will run through July 13. The Taipei City Markets Administration Office said the festival aimed at promoting night market culture and introducing more people to traditional Taiwanese dishes. The office will also invite foreigners to visit nominated pork rice vendors and cast their votes. A total of 22 pork rice vendors will provide free samples for tasting on July 13 at Ningxia Night Market, while an eating contest will also be held at the same time. Residents interested in taking part in the eating competition can download registration forms at http://home.anet.net.tw/jey.adsl/porkriceking/.

■ SOCIETY
Ape goes on rampage
An orangutan chewed through her cage and went on a three-hour rampage at an entertainment park until authorities subdued it with a stun gun, a park employee said yesterday. The 19-year-old primate, named "Little Black," turned over iceboxes, garbage cans and motor scooters near the ticketing gates of Santao Mountain Entertainment Area in Kaohsiung County after escaping on Wednesday, a park employee surnamed Hsu said. "She just turned everything upside down," Hsu said. The orangutan was finally subdued when an official shot it in the upper body with a stun gun. It was then carted off for treatment in the scoop of a small bulldozer. No human or beast was injured.

■ POLITICS
Lee heading to Japan
Former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) is set to visit Japan, his office said on Thursday. In a statement, Lee's office said the trip would concentrate on Japanese cultural sites. Scheduled to begin next Wednesday, the trip will last 11 days, the statement said. Lee, 84, president from 1988 to 2000, is scheduled to give a speech at Akita International University, the statement added. It said his theme would be Japanese-style education, which was popular when Lee grew up in Taiwan, then a Japanese colony. During his 11-day trip, Lee would receive a peace prize in memory of Japanese colonial administrator Shinpei Goto, the statement said. He will also tour a series of Japanese temples and meet reporters in Japan and in Taiwan after his return. Lee postponed two Japan trips last year -- one in May and one in September -- for health reasons.


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