(26 Aug 1999) Mandarin/Nat
In Taiwan, the seventh month of the Chinese calendar carries with it a particularly eerie theme.
Like something of an extended Halloween, "Ghost Month" is considered a time for ghost wanderers and other ghouls to roam the streets.
Traditionally, residents pay their respects by holding a water lantern parade and blessing a peaceful year.
One resident, however, have decided to cash in on the event, by opening a restaurant - themed on death.
Night time in down town Taipei - Taiwan's capital city.
Chinese grim reapers stand guard over an ominous building by the street.
Behind these doors, are coffins.
UPSOUND: (Mandarin)
"Hope you get promoted and make a fortune, welcome !"
SUPER CAPTIONS: Restaurant workers
Hardly the words one expects on the other side of life, these coffins are used to dine on.
It's "ghost month" in Taiwan and demons are on a month long release from hell.
So engrained is the fear of bad fortune to believers that many are unwilling to make any momentous moves for the duration of the period.
So, weddings are out of the question, moving houses a bad idea, and travelling too risky.
But for 25 year-old restaurant owner and founder, Chen Yun-chi, there could never have been a better time to open his concept restaurant.
Here, willing diners are, so to speak, taken to their coffins.
Chen Yun-chi says he's spent the last five years refining the novelty concept.
A coffin collector since the age of 14, Chen is confident that building a restaurant concept around the subject of the afterlife, won't put people off his food.
SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin)
"I hope diners will experience a nice and warm feeling, just like to be at home. I think it's good."
SUPER CAPTION: Chen Yun-chi, restaurant owner
"Ghost month" is celebrated on the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calender.
According to traditional belief, the time is marked by an opening in the gates of hell, allowing hungry ghosts to visit the living.
As a result, residents usually place food on their doorsteps, burn money or float water lanterns along rivers in honour of the deceased.
Business is also usually slow making the opening of the Coffin restaurant even more seemingly inappropriate.
But Chen is fully aware of the double meaning contained in the word "Coffin".
In Chinese characters, the word can also be interpreted as "promotion and fortune" - a translation more in common with the popularity of the Coffin restaurant.
Packed with diners unperturbed by eating dishes like fried worms in black bean paste or fried pig's brain, it's hard to see how the restaurant could do any wrong.
But with such a morbid theme underlying the dining room, could Chen be in danger of scaring off his customers ?
SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin)
"Others may think it's bad luck to come here, I don't think so. Because 'good brothers' (ghosts) don't go to good people. They only look for bad guys."
SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop, male diner
SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin)
"We came here for spooky flavor during the Ghost Month."
SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop, female diner
SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin)
"I don't mind it. On the contrary, I hope dinning here will bring me good luck."
SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop, Woman diner
Appealing to the dark side of your client's humour may seem risky, but Chen's unusual concept cuisine seem to have hit the mark with the locals.
A full house since the day it opened, the restaurant may indeed have its own set of friendly ghosts.
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: / ap_archive
Facebook: / aparchives
Instagram: / apnews
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
Информация по комментариям в разработке