Moon Festival

This weekend we visited the Li family tomb, newly purchased from after my grandmother died.  There are places reserved for my father's side grandparents and all their sons, along with their (potential) wives.  I thought this was weird at first, but on the second time returning, I just think it's okay.  Death is part of life; it cannot be denied or hidden, just like farting.  I've seen lots of people fart and burp here without any type of apologetic acknowledgement.  Life goes on.  One thing that's rude though, is showing your teeth.  Sometimes people talk to you with their hand over their mouth, as if they have a giant green thing dangling from between their incisors.  Whether those same people would fart while doing this, however, remains to be seen.

Anyways, the moon festival is about enjoying the moon and a lady in the moon, and a rabbit, and a revolution against the Yuan Dynasty with cakes.  It all works in there somehow.  In Taiwan, people also like to have a barbecue, a tradition started around 20 years ago based on a commercial.  I participated in a barbecue at my aunt's house, under the awning of their front door because it was raining, which also prevented the accompanying traditional moon-watching.  We ate these mooncakes that were really popular that they had seen on TV and went out and bought.  They included non-traditional flavors like taro, curry, mochi and meat:

It tasted kind of like jerky, but a little sweeter.

Some other flavors:

Mochi

Mung bean (left), Curry

Taro

They were all delicious.  Even jerky flavor.  I know, I'm a terrible vegetarian.