TAIWANfest 2022: Experience the sensations of Bali with A Sunset Journey to Indonesia

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      This weekend, TAIWANfest will offer up a taste of Indonesian island life in downtown Vancouver.

      As part of the festival's annual Dialogues With Asia series, TAIWANfest is shining a light on Indonesia and Malaysia.

      In that spirit, it's worked with members of that community to create a program called A Sunset Journey to Indonesia.

      It will re-create the experiences of what it's like walking along the beach and savouring the food, sounds of gamelan, and entertainment.

      The free event begins with a yellow-rice opening ceremony, followed by a fashion show, umbrella dance, and a pop-music performance. It starts at 7 p.m. on Saturday (September 4), in šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énk Square on the north side of the Vancouver Art Gallery.

      "Join us for a night of traditional song and dance presented with the local Indonesian community, sharing beloved cultural stories through the performing arts from the many islands of Indonesia," TAIWANfest states on its website. "Be a part of the Nasi Tumpeng Ceremony as we welcome everyone in this brilliant showcase of Indonesian culture and arts."

      TAIWANfest is also inviting Metro Vancouver residents to visit the 600 and 700 blocks of Granville Street between 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Labour Day for a range of other exhibitions and events.

      At the TAIWANfest Info Booth in the 700 block of Granville, visitors are encouraged to donate books in Southeast Asian languages, which will be shipped back to Taiwan at the end of the year.

      The Brilliant Time Bookstore in Taipie will then distribute these books to immigrant communities, migrant workers, and libraries in Taiwan.

      This store was founded by former journalists Zheng Zhang and Yun-shang Liao.

      In 2019, Taiwan News reported that there were 271,000 migrant Indonesian workers in Taiwan, accounting for 38.4 percent of all the country's migrant workforce.

      Watch the promo video for this year's TAIWANfest.
      TAIWANfest presents A Sunset Journey to Indonesia on from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday (September 4) in šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énk Square on the north side of the Vancouver Art Gallery. The festival continues at various downtown venues through Labour Day.

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