New Year Trip January 1-4, 2009 * That's Bob who's originally responsible for landing us in Taiwan, Nicole's cousin, Nicole who made this great lil' journey happen, and Anita, now back in the T-dot. Miss ya, girl!
New Year Trip January 1-4, 2009 * Rich utilizes a spare moment to get freshly shorn.
New Year Trip January 1-4, 2009 * a lil' abstract geometry
New Year Trip January 1-4, 2009
New Year Trip January 1-4, 2009 - this one's called the chest-rubbing alley in beautiful old Lugang. I think the official names are 1) the touristy and mysteriously appealing Narrow Alley and the literal translation Touching Breast Alley
New Year Trip January 1-4, 2009 "I've seen narrower!.." haha...
New Year Trip January 1-4, 2009 * I think that tree is coming right for Anita!
New Year Trip January 1-4, 2009 - night market food
New Year Trip January 1-4, 2009 * outside of the famous, amazing, huge temple to Matsu, the Goddess of Heaven and also the Sea. It was a freezing cold night and the place was haunting and only semi-filled with visitors.
New Year Trip January 1-4, 2009 * "Here, kitty, kitty, kitty.."
New Year Trip January 1-4, 2009 - how did they manage such dizzying detail? Who has this kind of patience?
New Year Trip January 1-4, 2009 - Prayers smoldering away in the night... If the incense sticks go up in flames of their own accord, it is said the Goddess has descended from her celestial abode to be right there with her devotees.
New Year Trip January 1-4, 2009 * seems like there's always a dragon snaking along the sides of an incense cauldron
New Year Trip January 1-4, 2009 * Taiwanese kids are cute
New Year Trip January 1-4, 2009 * in Buddha's serene presence, a new year to a good start
New Year Trip January 1-4, 2009 * There are stairs and floors of exhibits inside the Buddha, depicting his life. I think it's great seeing how he's aired out
New Year Trip January 1-4, 2009 * An impromptu artsy scene
New Year Trip January 1-4, 2009 * Bonding with the Indian fig. They are beautiful, but apparently deadly to other trees, using them as support to hike their tendrils up to the sunlight, then choking around the host...
New Year Trip January 1-4, 2009 * old streets in Lugang
New Year Trip January 1-4, 2009 - made out of... benches! yes! probably not a piece of metal or glue in sight! but don't quote me on that.
New Year Trip January 1-4, 2009 * not-so-old funky sculpture
New Year Trip January 1-4, 2009 * a wee dragon boat
New Year Trip January 1-4, 2009 - "Git yur squid heeere! Step right up!"
New Year Trip January 1-4, 2009 * Nico, happy as a clam with her new candle
New Year Trip January 1-4, 2009 * haha! Bob is either oblivious or politely looking away....
Down the East Coast: Hualien, May 2009 - at first Ana did a solo reconnaissance trip
Down the East Coast: Hualien, May 2009
Down the East Coast: Hualien, May 2009 * steamy night market goodness... those are probably stacks of steamed buns or dumplings
Down the East Coast: Hualien, May 2009 * cool hotel by the waterfront
Down the East Coast: Hualien, May 2009 - I caught a performance by the indigenous Ami tribe, whose ancestors inhabited this area for a long time before Europeans or Chinese came
Down the East Coast: Hualien, May 2009 - a Taoist? temple on my wander back to the hostel
Down the East Coast: Hualien, May 2009 - first shot within Taroko Gorge, one of the natural wonders of Taiwan
Down the East Coast: Taroko, May 2009
Down the East Coast: Taroko, May 2009 - coming out into the bright light on the other side of the tunnel, I was taken under the communal wings of 3 older couples, incredulous that I might be wandering around on my own.
Down the East Coast: Taroko, May 2009 * waterfall coming down the mountain
Down the East Coast: Taroko, May 2009 - Here are all the ladies, and one hubby.
Down the East Coast: Taroko, May 2009 - Look for the baboon head shaped by the rocks
Down the East Coast: Taroko, May 2009 - "Here's lookin' at you, kid!"
Down the East Coast: Taroko, May 2009 * I was really excited to see this little mountain goat guy! I am a (Chinese horoscope) goat, after all!
Down the East Coast: Taroko, May 2009 - BATS!
Down the East Coast: Taroko, May 2009 - The Waterfall Shower Cave
Down the East Coast: Taroko, May 2009 - super weird fungus inside the cave
Down the East Coast: Cingshui Cliffs in the background. Rich and I came back together, rented a scooter for complete freedom and mobility and went exploring during a couple extra days off for Dragon Boat Festival.
Down the East Coast: May 2009
Down the East Coast: May 2009 - look for the fisherman on the rocks
Down the East Coast: May 2009 - Rich and I camped out on the beach. I felt like a rebel with a fabulous view.
Back (for Ana) in Taroko
this time Nicole and Bob come along too
One of the many tunnels drilled through the mountain
some kind of (bell?) tower
Down the East Coast: Taroko, May 2009 * every mountain needs a gold Buddha
Down the East Coast: Taroko, May 2009 * this waterfall connects to a-nother...
Down the East Coast: Carp (Liyu) Lake, May 2009
Down the East Coast: GuanYin at Carp Lake, May 2009 * looks like that's one lil' lady that can take care of herself, or at least Toothy there will help her out
Down the East Coast: Carp Lake at night, May 2009
Down the East Coast: Carp Lake, May 2009 - here's one of the famous dragon boats used in the traditional races
