Tuesday, February 14, 2017

A Trip Down South and Back

An inflatable man at the Taipei Zoo who is celebrating the Chinese New Year. Year of the Rooster.

A temple in the Maokong District of Taipei. Located on top of a mountain, I had to take a cable car to get here.

Deep fried squid balls.

Modern Taiwan aborigine art. A mosaic made of different grains

Fort Zeelandia. An outpost of the Dutch during their 38 year rule of Taiwan

the last Dutch governor of Formosa (Taiwan) Federick Coyett

Koxinga, the man who ended Dutch rule in Taiwan

A view of the canal in Tainan, Taiwan's first capital city

Chihkan Tower. AKA Fort Provincia. The location of a Dutch outpost in Tainan

Me and Chihkan Towers

The Great South Gate of Tainan

A dragon fountain. Somewhere in Tainan

Currently the Taiwan Museum of Literature. Previously Tainan city hall during the Japanese occupation. The building was constructed by the Japanese.

Many varieties of milk in Taiwan. Apple, Peanut, Chocolate, Banana, Papaya, Watermelon, All are delicious.

2017: Year of the Rooster. These pieces of art were made by students of varying age groups.

Step 1: Grab a bucket. Step 2: Select your items to be grilled and place in aforementioned bucket. Step 3: Pay for your items and wait for them to be grilled. Step 4: Enjoy!

Taiwan, I learned, has IKEAs. This was actually the first time I had ever visited any branch of the store.

Constructed in the mid 1800s, this building complex was the home of a Taiwanese general who resisted Japanese occupation of Taiwan. I like the mix of the old and the new (the apartment building in the background). 

Daan Forest Park in Taipei. Notice Taipei 101 in between the two buildings.

A cool bird I had never seen before. Seen at the Ecological Pond in Daan Park.

Friday, January 27, 2017

First 10 Days in Taipei

Haven't had time to post anything. These are some of the better photos I've taken, but haven't even had much time to edit them. For now I will just post them with a brief description. I will update later when possible.

My favorite pear drink

oyster pancakes on the left. some beef noodles on the right

Always crowded at Shilin Night Market

Bubble Tea

A view from a park I found

outside the National Palace Museum

a bronze bell from around 800 BC

Beitou Hot Springs

Beitou Hot Springs

Interior Longshan Temple

Exterior Longshan Temple

Taipei 101 as seen from Elephant Mountain

Taipei 101 at night from street level

Taipei 101 and myself at night

a hot pot meal I had

Me and Chiang Kai Shek at the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall

Exterior of the Memorial Hall

National Taiwan Normal University. The location of the Mandarin Training Center where I may take Chinese classes

A Chinese ink painter who paints scenes of Western cities. This one is Budapest

Another crowded market

A view from the top of Taipei 101

The top of Taipei 101 as seen from the 89th floor

soaring above Taipei at night

the base of Taipei 101 during day and night

Saturday, December 24, 2016

I Leave January 13

On the 13th of January 2017 I will be flying from Chicago with my final destination being Taipei, Taiwan. Check back weekly for pictures and stories...that is if I have time in between my Chinese adventures and Mandarin language studies!