My Kafkaesque life

Chishingtan 七星潭 , Hualien, Taiwan

2011-10-09T17:52:00.000+02:00

Hualien's Pacific wonderland

Chishingtan 七星潭 (literally Seven Stars Lake) is one of those places in Taiwan, where the views are purely magical. It's a bay, which is named after a lake, that used to be located nearby, but the Japanese filled it up and today the Hualien airport is found nearby. The Chishingtan is also known as 月牙灣 or Crescent Moon Bay. You can visit this part in northern Hualien City, a little bit out of the suburbs and very close to the Hualien Airport. This is one of the most beautiful scenic spots of Eastern Taiwan, if you're into photography, you'll be able to take some amazing photos there.

Check some of my photos of Chishingtang (August 2011):

Flowers and bushes embellish the flat lands.

The beautiful beach.

The beautiful beach, closer.

The clouds clashing with the mountains.

Beach goers.

[My HUALIEN page][My TAIWAN TRAVEL page][All photos by MKL, 2011]

Hualien Pine garden 松園別館

2011-10-09T17:00:00.001+02:00

Hualien's green lung

The Hualien Pine garden 松園別館 is one of the most popular spots in the city. It used to be a military base for the Japanese navy, that has occupied Taiwan in the first half of the 20th century. Today over 200 pines are planted, giving refuge to the exhausted visitor and offering a breathtaking view of the city below. There is a café and a souvenir shop for your convenience, as well as pathways and benches to stroll around or take a rest. It's definitely a lovely place to spend an hour and enjoy the ambiance of these old pines.

See some of my photos of the Hualien Pine garden (August 2011):

The Japanese army was based here.

A view from the side.

A small lotus pond nearby.

The view on central Hualien below.

[My HUALIEN page][My TAIWAN TRAVEL page][All photos by MKL, 2011]

Hualien Martyrs' Shrine (Karenkō shrine)

2011-10-09T07:44:00.001+02:00

Hualien's legendeary temple complex

Karenkō shrine used to be Hualien's famous Japanese shrine built on the same spot where today the Hualien Martyrs' Shrine is found. The original shrine was built in 1915 during the Japanese occupation of Taiwan. In the 1980s the KMT turned it into a neo-Chinese style temple complex honoring the nationalist soldiers, who fell for the home country during the World War II. Today's Martyrs' Shrine is one of the most prominent spots in Hualien City, offering a breathtaking view of the city and its surroundings (source).

The hallway.

The stairways.

The shrine.

A detail.

The view.

The big door.

[My HUALIEN post][My TAIWAN TRAVEL page][All photos by MKL, 2011]

Amazing Pacific views in Hualien

2011-09-04T19:12:00.001+02:00

These are some of my photos I took during my first time in Hualien City. It was dawn, my wife and I were close to the ocean and I couldn't stop taking these beautiful photos of the Pacific ocean covered by dark grey clouds during dawn. Enjoy!

[My TAIWAN TRAVEL page][All photos by MKL, 2011]

Eastern Taiwan's beautiful coast photos

2011-08-27T13:36:00.005+02:00

Breathtaking views of Taiwan's blue pacific ocean

The Green Island sitting on the blue ocean while waves hit on the shores below.

View Larger Map

Few minutes after the Longchang village, we've came across one of the most beautiful views we've ever seen in Taiwan. There is a small rest area very close to the Pacific ocean and when I saw the clear blue green image of the water, I asked my wife to stop for a while and have a look. It turned out to be one of the highlights of our Taitung tour. We took some of the most beautiful photos here - the colors were just amazing. I can't say much more, but for me this is one of the most beautiful scenic spots in Taiwan I have ever seen. Let my photos speak for themselves:

The resting area attracted these two girls with yellow rain coats. Luckily no rain spoiled our trip.

View on the Donghe harbor and a small peninsula.

It looked like the ocean was foaming.

The cloudy sky was blue and grey while the ocean was blue and green - simply amazing.

Beautiful sandy shores of Taitung County.

Kids playing on the beach. Next time I might join them.

The view in the distance with the Green Island on the horizon.

To continue our tour along Taitung's northern coast, click on the link below or see the map.

Longchang :Before [Taitung Tour 2011] Next: Donghe>>

[My TAITUNG TOUR MAP][My TAIWAN TRAVEL page][All photos by MKL, 2011]

Taitung County tour map

2011-08-27T06:59:00.009+02:00

Below is a map of my Taitung County tour 2011, which went along the coast and all the way up to Sanxiantai. We made several stops, which are here marked by letters from A to K (which makes it 57km apart). If you want to tour this part of Taiwan, please click on the links below and use this map to navigate through the area. All links will lead you to my posts about a certain spot.

A Taitung City - capital of Taitung County

B Fugang - small harbour, where people leave for Green Island

C Xiaoyeliou - curious rock formations

D Jialulan - concert venue with a beautiful view

E Dulan - a village

F Xinglong - a village

G Longchang - a village

H Eastern Taiwan's beautiful coast photos

I Donghe - smaller town, famous for baozi

J Duli - a village

K Chenggong - small town, biggest settlement in the area

L Sanxiantai - a beautiful island with an bridge with 8 arches

View Larger Map

[My TAIWAN TRAVEL page][Taitung County Tourist Map]

National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei

2011-08-13T11:06:00.003+02:00

Taiwan's best hospital

National Taiwan University Hospital 國立台灣大學醫學院附設醫院 in Taipei is Taiwan's most famous medical center. It's located in Zhongzheng district, the part of Taipei, which is full of buildings from the Japanese times. NTU hospital is one of them, at least the old wing (photo above). However, there is a new wing built after WWII and is now the main part of the hospital. However, if you go out at the NTU Hospital MRT Station Exit 2, you can see this old building from 1912. More about the hospital here>>

The ROC flag on the Japanese colonial building.

The new wing of the NTU Hospital.

[My TAIPEI overview][All photos by MKL, 2011]

Taipei in photos: Xinyi at night

2011-08-13T03:26:00.004+02:00

Taipei's modern center is a festival of lights

Xinyi business district is one Taipei's most interesting spots, because new modern buildings are popping up every year. I have to say I am very impressed by the quality of the architecture there and it's always a pleasure to walk around this exceptional place, which is unlike any other in whole of Taiwan. And to show, that this is not only the part of Taipei, where you can find the world famous Taipei 101 skyscraper, I have put together a collection of photos, that show some other beautiful buildings in the area. Enjoy:

This office building with the BENQ sign is one of the landmarks here.

The Bellavita shopping mall always reminds me of Europe, especially southern.

The Taiwan Petroleum Corporation building is always changing lights.

The Taipei City Hall Bus station. A new over 200m tall building is rising next to it.

I love the lighting on this building.

The famous promenade near Bellavita.

A SOGO shopping mall.

The impressive Walsin Tower and Taipei 101 hiding behind.

The Xinyi pedestrian area, something like a public square.

Taipei 101, taken on another day than on previous photos.

The International Trade Building and the World Trade Center in front.

There are so many other interesting buildings in the area and I hope I'll have the chance to take some great photos of them as well. If you want to know more about Xinyi, click here.

[My TAIPEI overview][All photos by MKL, 2011]

The Real Taiwan in photos: Chopsticks bag holder

2011-08-12T17:21:00.005+02:00

A typical tool in common Taiwanese restaurants

In Taiwan, when you visit a small corner restaurant, you will most likely find one of these things. They are metal chopsticks bags holders (免洗筷套夾 in Chinese). Because most of the breakfast shops commonly use disposable wooden chopsticks wrapped in plastic bags, this holder is very useful. However, there would be a better solution for this problem: Using non-disposable chopsticks, which means that the plastic bags and the metal holders would not be needed. However, that would deeply change this cultural particularity, which is so uniquely Taiwanese, that it would somehow be a sad thing.

Related: Taiwanese breakfast>>

Fengjia Night Market, Taichung

2011-08-07T08:48:00.005+02:00

Taiwan's biggest and possibly best night market

Fengjia Night Market 逢甲夜市 in Taichung City is probably the biggest and most crowded night market in Taiwan. When my wife and I visited it for the first time, we nearly got squashed to death, but the second time wasn't that better either. The problem is, that I have no time to visit the night market on a week day, when it's less crowded, because I'm living and working in Taipei. I've been there twice on very crowded Saturday evenings and all I can say is: It's overwhelming!

MY IMPRESSION: The market is huge! It's located near the Fengjia University and hence attracts a lot of young people. It's comparable with the Shida Night Market in Taipei, it's just twice or thrice as crowded. When it comes to the number of visitors, so far only Luodong Night Market comes close to this one. The amount of food and other shops is just amazingly high and I have nothing more to say than just: Visit and try to survive! If you go during the weekends, there's a good chance that you will get stuck in the crowd and not be able to move. It's possible that you will need to wait in line for 10 or 15 minutes just to try a popular snack. Is it fun? Well, not really to me, but if you can take all this - good for you. Just be warned: It can get incredibly crowded. Beyond what you can imagine. And even walking and eating can be tedious, because it's just so many people.

WHAT KIND OF FOOD IS COMMON: You can get anything you want - almost. I could not really go through the stalls, but there's nearly everything for everyone, not only food stalls, also many restaurants can be found in the area.

MUST-TRY FOOD AT FENGJIA NIGHT MARKET: I tried few snacks and I liked them all. Quality of food is very high and a popular stall is usually crowded, because the food is really good. I recommend everything! Everything you see and smell - try it! Of course, if you will be able to order and patient enough to wait.

Let me show you a video and some photos from Fengjia Night Market in June, 2011:

Crowds.

This is a video I made while walking through a popular street.

More crowds.

This part is usually where you can take a break - the road is wider.

This is a popular street with stalls on the left and boutiques on the right.

Young people, who live and study in Taichung love this night market a lot.

This is probably the biggest night market in the Republic of China. And in Taiwan.

There are several buses to this night market, but I recommend you to take a cab from the main station. It may cost more, but will be shorter, because a cabby can avoid the traffic jam, common for Taichung city. Check the related Google map here.

IN CONCLUSION: If you are brave enough to have a surreal night market experience, go to Fengjia on a Friday or Saturday evening and try to fight yourself through the enormous crowds and see, if you are able to try some delicious snacks. If you succeed and even have a great time, I will congratulate you and give you a medal of honor and deeply bow in front of you. If you ask me, this is probably the best night market in Taiwan, but it depends a lot on your personal preference. However one thing is certain: It's definitely the most crowded in all of Taiwan. I will still need to visit few more times to really understand and comprehend the whole area, because it's simply beyond what I've ever experienced anywhere else in Taiwan.

[FOOD in TAIWAN][My TAIWAN page][My TAIPEI page][All photos by MKL, 2011]

[My TAIWAN NIGHT MARKETS list][My MAP of Night Markets in Taipei]

Daan Forest Park, Taipei

2011-07-22T17:00:00.000+02:00

Taipei's green lung

The Daan Forest Park 大安森林公園 is one of the most beautiful parks in Taipei. It's located in Daan District, one of Taipei's richest areas. Especially the part close to the park has one of the highest rents and house prices. And nearby is the popular Yonkang Street, where you can enjoy great food and famous coffee shops can be found there as well. Opposite of the park is Taipei's famous Grand Mosque, which I recommend you to see, if you decide to visit this park.

The park itself is pretty small compared to the parks in bigger European cities, but for Taipei it's considered one of the biggest. It's very clean, very well maintained and full of very beautiful trees. The name "forest park" really makes sense, because parts of it are like a forest. In the northern part is a beautiful lake full of ducks, swans and other birds. Another famous species residing there are turtles. I really enjoyed walking around the park, observing people, animals, the nature... It's such a huge difference to the hustle and bustle of the rest of Taipei, that one would think you left the country and went somewhere far far away.

Enjoy some of my photos from Daan Forest Park:

This is a map near the entrance of the park.

Along Xinsheng South Road.

The hilly part of the park with a nice lawn.

An amphitheater, where people like to chillax.

The pond.

Ducks cleaning themselves.

An interesting fellow, he was observing me.

The turtles coming out. Invasion?

To visit the park, you can take the MRT to Daan Station and then walk eastwards for 10 minutes along Xinyi Road (see a map here).

[My TAIPEI page][All photos by MKL, 2011]

Chishan Confucious Temple, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

2011-07-16T10:22:00.002+02:00

One of the most impressive temples in Taiwan

The Chishan Confucious Temple 旗山孔廟 (recently renamed to Kaohsiung City Confucious Temple) is a temple dedicated to Confucious. It is located in Chishan, a lovely small town 1 hour away from Kaohsiung City. The temple was built in 1984 in Song Dynasty style and is currently the largest Confucious temple in Taiwan (source). It was placed on the top of a hill, right above the town and if you go there, you can enjoy some of the best views in the area. But not only that, the structure is truly beautiful. The garden is neat and perfectly maintained and the courtyard is very big. It reminded me of the palaces I saw in Seoul in 2010. Truly an amazing piece of neo-classic Chinese architecture. Take a walk with me and discover this temple.

The stairs.

This is one of my favorite statues in the area. Makes me think about the meaning behind it.

A very beautiful paifang.

Slowly rising above Chishan.

And then we were up there and greeted by another paifang right in front of the temple.

Passing through the first walkway makes you feel like you're visiting a palace.

My wifey posing in the court yard.

A detail on the ceiling: A dragon.

The temple from the side.

A class room, where students are taught Confucian teachings.

Another detail of the temple.

The altar.

The ceiling.

The dragons, guardians of the temple.

The way back to reality.

Kaohsiung National Stadium

2011-07-12T18:42:00.006+02:00

Finest Japanese modern architecture

The Kaohsiung National Stadium (高雄國家體育場) is one of Taiwan's finest pieces of modern architecture. I was lucky to take few snapshots from afar during my last trip to the city. The photo above was taken from the World Games KMRT Station on a not very clear day. If you want to see better photos, go on Flickr and browse these photos. One day I plan to return with a better camera on a bright day and take few snapshots of this amazing structure. If you want to read more about the stadium, go to their homepage.

[My TAIWAN TRAVEL page][My KAOHSIUNG page][Photo by MKL, 2011]

Katy Perry - Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) video

2011-06-21T17:26:00.002+02:00

My music video of the year 2011

Katy Perry's Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) is for me the video of the year 2011. I think Katy is one of the best pop singers we have currently and I prefer her any time over Gaga. Her videos are funny and fun to listen to. Her songs are very melodic and easy to understand... and Gaga is something completely else. The T.G.I.F. video features several famous actors and musicians and I feel that especially Rebecca Black, who was so often mocked, surprised many people. She's funny and talented and I feel that soon they won't remember her from the song Friday, but from video appearances like this one and I'm sure many more will follow. Enjoy this awesome video, that will bring you back to the glorious 1980s!

Taipei Grand Mosque

2011-05-29T04:22:00.004+02:00

One of Taipei's architectural gems

Yesterday I was very lucky to visit the Taipei Grand Mosque 台北清真寺, the biggest mosque in Taiwan and one of Taipei's architectural gems. The fact, that it was built in 1960 and still looks so good is proof, that it was designed and built at the highest level possible. That's no wonder, since the architect behind this splendid structure is no other than Yang Cho Cheng 楊卓成, the man who designed one of Taiwan's most famous landmarks, such as the CKS Memorial Hall, National Theater and Concert Hall and the Grand Hotel. This mosque is truly worth a visit, it's just opposite the Daan Park. Use this map to find it and read more about it on the mosque's website. And very close by is a church, which proofs again, that Taiwan is one of countries with the highest religious tolerance in the world.

Compare: [Sultan Mosque, Singapore][TAIPEI's SIGHTS page][Photo by MKL, 2011]

Hakka bridge, Miaoli City

2011-05-22T14:05:00.004+02:00

A long and impressive suspension bridge

Hakka bridge 客屬大橋, a suspension bridge located south of Miaoli City is a remarkable piece of Taiwanese engineering and architecture. It's 1.2 km long and 16.5 m wide and was completed in 2006 (source). It connects Tonglou Township with Gongguan Township (see a map here). I took this photo from a Hakka park above the valley.

[My TAIWAN TRAVEL page][Photo by MKL, 2011]

Jinan Presbyterian Church, Taipei

2011-05-20T15:36:00.003+02:00

Taipei's most beautiful church

The Jinan Presbyterian Church 濟南基督長老教會 is according to me Taipei's most beautiful church and one of the most remarkable ones in whole of Taiwan. It was constructed in 1916 during the Japanese occupation of Taiwan. The church can be found in Zhongzheng, close to the NTU Hospital MRT Station. More info here (in Chinese).

[My TAIPEI SIGHTS post][Photo by MKL, 2011]

Central Taiwan tour map

2011-04-28T15:42:00.001+02:00

Below is a map of our Central Taiwan tour, which had the goal of seeing the famous Sun Moon Lake, but also exploring cities on the way such as Jiji, Shueili, Puli and Nantou. It ended with the visit of the Fengjia Night Market in Taichung. The first map marks the way from Taipei to Jiji via train, the second one marks the tour around Nantou county. Use these maps to navigate through the areas. Every link will lead you to my blog post about a certain spot.

A Taipei Main Station

B Jiji (with a stopover in Ershuei)

View Larger Map

A Jiji

B Shueili
C Sun Moon Lake
D Puli
E Caotun
F Zhongxing New Village

G Nantou City

H Fengjia Night Market Taichung

View Larger Map

[Introduction to my CENTRAL TAIWAN trip][My TAIWAN TRAVEL page]

Baoan Temple, Dalongdong, Taipei

2011-03-23T05:34:00.004+01:00

One of the most beautiful temples in Taipei

The Baoan Temple 保安宮 in Taipei (officially Dalongdong Baoan Temple 大龍峒保安宮) is a beautiful temple located in the northern part of Datong district called Dalongdong 大龍峒 (sometimes written as Dalungtung). It's dedicated to Chinese folk religions and it's origins date back to 1742, when the temple was smaller and made of wood. By 1760 it was extended and in 1804 the construction of the current meticulously adorned structure made of bricks, stones and concrete has begun. It was completed by 1830. Later it was renovated and extended several times, but the core of the temple's structure is over 180 years old (source and more about history here). The temple is simply beautiful, nothing could describe it better. There are so many details, so many small things that have deep meaning, it's just amazing (more about architecture here). This temple, in contrast to the very solemn Confucius temple nearby, is very vibrant and every time I've visited, there were aplenty of people praying and burning incense. If you want to experience how Taiwanese worship, go to this temple. It's definitely one of the must see temples in Taipei.

Let me show you some photos of the temple (March, 2011):

One of my best shots from the front side.

Detail from the roof.

People praying.

The backside of the temple.

Baoan Temple on a cloudy day.

[My DATONG overview][My TAIPEI page][All photos by MKL, 2011]

Taipei Confucius Temple

2011-03-23T05:20:00.002+01:00

One of the most beautiful temples in Taipei

The Taipei Confucius Temple 臺北孔子廟 (sometimes simply 台北孔廟) is a famous temple in Taipei, located in the northern part of Datong district, commonly known as Dalongdong (or Talungtung). The similarly beautiful Baoan Temple is right nearby. Unlike the Buddhist and Taoist temples, which are colorfully adorned and full of people praying and burning incense, the Confucius temple is more solemn and quiet. Confucianism is not a religion, it's a philosophy, a way of life (read more). The original Taipei Confucian temple was built between 1879 and 1884 during the Qing dynasty and then destroyed by the Japanese in the late 1890s and completely torn down in 1907. It originally stood near the South Gate in today's Zhongzheng, the Japanese built a Girls' high school on the same spot. Some Taiwanese however had the idea to rebuild the temple and they started to raise funds. Construction begun in Dalongdong in 1925 and was completed in 1939 and the temple still stands there today (source and more history here).

For me this beautiful temple represents perfection in every way. It's truly a great piece of architecture. Walking around the area and observing all the fine details and immersing yourself in the beautiful garden makes you calm and focused. If you need to recharge your energy, go and visit this amazing structure. This temple also represents the power of Taiwanese people, the power of solidarity and the high regard for culture and its preservation. I am most certain, that you will be impressed by this temple.

Here are my photos from March 2011:

The courtyard.

Bonsai trees on the floor, pine trees on the right: Their scent is dominant.

A bell.

The altar inside the Taipei Confucius temple.

My best shot of the Confucius temple that day.

[My DATONG overview][My TAIPEI page][All photos by MKL, 2011]

Sexiest woman of 2011: Lee Hyori

2011-03-22T05:16:00.004+01:00

Beautiful poster of the Korean diva

Lee Hyori on a poster sent to me by my Korean friend. She looks gorgeous, even with blonde hair. Amazing lips, incredible eyes: Lee Hyori is the sexiest woman alive in 2011. God bless her...

Yinshan Temple 鄞山寺, Danshui

2011-03-21T08:17:00.008+01:00

A beautiful old temple in Danshui

The Yinshan temple 鄞山寺 in Danshui is a very old and well preserved Buddhist temple (寺) dating back to the year 1822. That's nearly 200 years, which makes it one of the oldest in the area. According to the information board nearby, this is the only well preserved Buddhist temple in Taiwan, that worships Dīpankara Buddha. My girlfriend told me, that the whole area has a very good feng shui and the way the temple and the pond are laid out resembles a toad. For me, it was fascinating to see such a well preserved architecture from the Qing dynasty, because it's a very rare sight. This temple is truly a gem and it's very easy to find, even though it's not located in the old center (Only 10 min walk from the MRT station, see a map here).

These are some of my photos from March, 2011:

The front part.

The main inner yard.

Another small inner yard on the side.

The pond.

For more detailed photos, check this blogger's photo album.

[My DANSHUI overview][All photos by MKL, 2011]

The Real Taiwan in photos: Weddings

2011-03-20T12:05:00.003+01:00

A very typical image at Taiwanese wedding dinners

Taiwanese place a great importance on weddings and wedding dinners. It's the day where normal girls become princesses and proud fathers enjoy great honor in front of family, friends, relatives and business partners. Weddings are a mix of good food, good show, good image and a good script for a romantic novel. From performances to video slide shows and a full course dinner, Taiwanese weddings are perfection in every way. And that moment, when the bride and groom present themselves to the honored guests will be remembered as one of the most precious moments of their lives.

Related: Taiwanese wedding dinner>>

The Real Taiwan in photos: Night Markets

2011-03-19T11:28:00.002+01:00

A very typical image on Taiwan's night markets

Night Markets are the essence of Taiwan's night life. Be it young or old, rich or poor, every Taiwanese will love to return to one of his favorite stalls and eat his favorite dish. You'll see students, rich businessmen and retired soldiers eating their favorite bowl of noodles together. Night markets and food bring Taiwanese people together. The photo above was taken near National Taiwan Normal University, the night market nearby is very popular with young people.

The Real Taiwan in photos: Queueing

2011-03-18T03:44:00.006+01:00

This is a very typical image in Taipei's metro

I took this photo while leaving a Taipei MRT station. Taiwanese people always stand on the right side of the escalator, the left side is reserved for those who are in rush and need to pass by. I find this admirable and thoughtful and I gladly join the group dynamic. I only wish people were so mindful of others (let's say pedestrians), when they ride cars and scooters. That's a completely different image, though.

Related: Kaohsiung MRT>>