Taiwan Legs of the World Photowalk 2009

Joined the second annual photowalk this year. The Taipei one was led by Craig Ferguson, a seasoned Taiwan-based photographer.

http://worldwidephotowalk.com/

I'm no professional. I didn't even have a decent camera (I just used my Canon 950IS snapshotter). But my friend Joe and I still had a good time taking pictures within the shadow of 101 and drinking beers all the way.

To view the Taiwan pictures, follow these links and scroll to the bottom:
Taipei leg
Taichung leg

Here's a panoramic interactive image of all the Taipei walkers to enjoy as well. Check out in the trees and on the ground as well:
http://www.theodorekaye.com/pano/photowalk.html
Craig's in red with the hat.
You can guess which person I am...

And the winner is...
www.craigfergusonimages.com

Taiwan Has Never Been the Same Since...

Taiwan has come a long way since I first arrived in 1997:

From Blogger

From Blogger

Osama makes a Taipei appearance

From Blogger

Along with his buddies Mao and Che...

From Blogger

From Blogger

CNY 2009

Have trouble talking with that mask on? Want a mask that doesn't cover your mouth? This may be for you!


Selling firecrackers and fireworks in front of the park sign prohibiting fireworks in the park.

Random Around Town Cell Shots

From Blogger

The Goddess of Democracy guards Taipei 101.

From Blogger

Metropolitan Life sells using Peanuts characters.

From Blogger

Cadina potato chips uses movie characters to advertise. I detect a lawsuit coming...

From Blogger

Sportsac creates people entirely made of balloons.

From Blogger

Google advertises "What can you use Google to do?" Get a tip!

From Blogger

A bus has an ad for MOD (Media on Demand) on the side featuring Californication starring David Duchovny. Funny thing is, as far as I know, that series doesn't air in Taiwan! Great show though!

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire...

No really!  In Taiwan.  I kid you not. And the smell is amazing.

From Blogger

In Taiwan they use tar pellets and mix them with the chestnuts and then roast them in a wok. The tar pellets insure that the heat gets all around the nuts and not just from the heat under the wok.  I wonder if they know the Christmas song describing this age old treat...

From Blogger

I remember traveling with my wife in south France and eating these. They were a fraction of the price of the ones in Taiwan. In fact, they were lying all over the place in France for anyone to pick and bring home...

Merry Xmas and Happy New Year everyone!

Thanks for reading and being a part of my blog!

The Beitou Garbage Incinerator Smokestack Resto

View Larger Map

As you are passing by on the MRT on the way to Danshui, you may notice a large tower near the river. This is the Beitou Incinerator.

And when you think incinerators, you think restaurants, right? Well, boy do I have a surprise for you. You can combine your love for burning trash with delicious food by visiting the Beitou Incinerator!

While walking along the bikepath from Guandu with a friend, we spotted the tower and wondered what it was. Upon closer inspection we noticed that the smokestack also had an observation deck. Googling it on Google Maps, I found out that the building was a trash incinerator.

The story would have stopped there had it not been for a hotpot meal with some corporate students. I told them about the walk and the tower. Then, one guy, to my absolute astonishment, said that there was a restaurant on the tower! (He also mentioned that it was operated by a famous star, who I don't recall.)

Googling the incinerator again I found its website:
http://www.ptrip.gov.tw/

Sure enough, if you scroll down, you can see some links for the restaurant. Clicking around the site reveals that the tower also has a viewing deck. There are various pictures of the view there as well.

But here's the thing: do people really equate incinerator with restaurant? I keep picturing sitting enjoying a wonderful meal while thinking the smokestack inside is pumping out poison into the sky around us. Maybe it's just me.

One more thing. Take a look at the art on the roof. It's pretty elaborate when considering that only the people in the tower and Google Maps can see it.

Stores, stores and more stores...

Just in time for Xmas, let IslaFormosa help you pick that special gift for everyone on your list...

For the Samurai swordsman on your list...

From 2008_12_10 Taipei Walkabout

For the boar's head collector...

From 2008_12_10 Taipei Walkabout

For the action figure collector...

From 2008_12_10 Taipei Walkabout

Or the Nazi you may know...

From 2008_12_10 Taipei Walkabout

Or the all-around pleaser: an 'artistic' dining room or living room wall hanging!
(Check the details of the pictures for the bestiality of it all...)

From 2008_12_10 Taipei Walkabout

So many choices... So little time...

Police and Army Uniforms Galore!

From 2008_12_07 December Day in Taipei

I thought there only were these kinds of stores in China. This is a kind of stores where you can buy official (looking) uniforms of police officers and soldiers. It's on ChungHua Road near XiMenDing.

As some people living in China may know, army and police surplus stores are everywhere. In fact, many people who are not police or soldiers wear the uniforms for regular work clothes as they are cheap and fairly durable.

This was a first for me to see in Taiwan. I wonder who the prime customers are: army vets, para-military types or Halloween costume hunters.

From Blogger

From Blogger

From Blogger

From Blogger

From Blogger

McDonalds Goes Psychedelic

From 2008_11_16 Good Citizen

I wonder what item on the menu caused me to trip like this?
Blah!

Grounded

From 2008_11_16 Good Citizen

A photo I snapped on my cell of a jet sitting outside a machine tool shop on the TaiDa campus.  I assume it's for students to take apart in order to study engineering.

Fittingly, one side of it was plastered in grafitti.  If I'm bold enough, I'll try climbing on it one day to take a look in the cockpit.

Big John's Excellent Taiwan Coastal Adventure

Here's a little promotional bit about a friend of mine's blog, Big John. John's goal in his own words "is to walk all the way around Taiwan, staying as close to the coastline as reasonably possible." He has also set a goal of doing the circumference of the island in 80 days.

He hasn't been doing it all in one shot, though. He's been doing it in pieces on weekends and on holidays, picking up where he left off the previous time.

It's a worthy concept and he seems very determined, despite what some may feel are walks through pretty bleak, isolated and even dangerous stretches of coastline. The pockets of beauty captured in his logs and accompanied with photos are proof of the beauty of Taiwan which obviously spurs him on in his quest.

From my experience of driving the coastlines, the point of interest were far and few. Upon looking at John's blog, I have somewhat reconsidered my view and might take a better look.

John has recently added a crude, albeit useful map. Hoping for something a little more precise using Google Maps and GPS points so that others can find some of the points of interest he has experienced without the distances in between.   

Here is a recent article John has written for the latest issue of Highway 11:
highway11

John is a self-professed newbie of things blog but his site is coming along great!  He maintains a day by day blog of walking events here:

http://aroundtaiwanin80days.blogspot.com

Taipei Tourism... Second Take?

Of highlight on this TOUR.I.SM MAP (Is this an S&M plug?):

Memorial Hall of Father of China
Fashion World
GOSO (SOGO???)
Former Highest Building (101 but not very flattering)
WC (Yes, public washrooms are an attraction!)
Motel's Love (No idea what this means... heh heh!)

Check out the third pic. Is it a bird? Is it a spoon? Is it a tower? No, it's a bird!

(click on any of the pics for a larger view!)

Ok, ok, I guess by now you might have read the Chinese explanation below. Although this might just be a exhibition of artwork, it still is amusing, especially since it's displayed in a very public area behind the Natural History Museum.

Either it's a comment about what Taipei tourism is like in reality or it's a collection of the creators personal favorites.

Either way, it makes us think.

Focusing on Taipei Tourism

I found these posters behind the Museum of History beside the Horticultural Gardens.

Created by Japanese Nobuo Takamori for The Institute of Chinese Taipei's Tourism, they obviously focus on what attracts Japanese tourists.

The highlights?
The Amazing Snake Killing Show (HuaXi Street)
The Fat Bamboo (Taipei 101)
The Best School (???)
The Statue of Dictator in the Best School (???)
The Former Erotic Taipei
The Erotic Taipei

The last two speak for themselves.

(Click on the pictures for a larger view. Sorry for the glare from the glass.)

Treaure Hill is a mess

I went to see what Treasure Hill was all about. Treasure Hill is the squatters' village that runs down the other side of the hill at the edge of the GongGuan water filtration plant (if you don't get it, see my Picasa page below that is tied into Google Maps).

I have to say that it was a little disappointing as it is under construction. Large areas have been blocked off . I managed to get into the construction area and take a walk up one of the lanes. It seems a lot of the houses have been vacated and have been gutted and/or some torn down.

Villagers are living in temporary green barrack type buildings while the renovation and rejuvenations are going on. I asked one woman there and she told me the time frame may be as long as 2 years before completion.

Once complete it will be nice as there is a great view of the river and a little creek runs nearby. The village also has a pleasant Buddhist temple. It also seems that there will be a way for villagers and passersby to ride or walk onto the riverside bike path as well.

I've posted some pics of what it looks like now here:
picasa

Mud volcano lit up!

Dumpy visa office

This is the visa office of America's defacto embassy in Taiwan called the AIT (American Institute Taiwan).

It's amazing that with all the unofficial connections between the ROC and the US that they couldn't have gotten better property and a better building. It looks like barracks for construction workers.

Is that the strategy? Low key? Well I say it's an eyesore and an embarrassment. Any Americans feel like weighing in on this?

Religious tolerance for a change

The Museum of World Religions, Yonghe. This is a fantastic museum that will cost you NT$150 and take you about 2 hours. Located in YongHe, the museum is right next to the Sogo department store on ZhongShan Road.

Inside are great collections of items and information from major world religions: Christian, Jewish, Islam, Buddhist, Taoist, Shinto, Maya, Hindu, Sikh, Egyptian. There is also a fine presentation of Taiwan folk religion as well.

I strongly recommend it.

Google Earth link

Fatherly Love... Again

This statue stands behind the train station on the north side.

Just thought you'd like to get a few different views from the ones in my previous post...

And to answer the question from my former post: yes, it's still there for all to see!

former post