Taiwan: The Prison Island (Lü Dao)

There is also a dark side in the history of Green Island. For the period of so called „White Terror“, from 1949 until late 1980’s, many political prisoners were held on a prison on Green Island, which got the name Prison Island back then. Nowadays it’s converted to a museum and memorial.

There are more places outside the prison walls, which played a role in those times. Most obvious the cementery, but also a cave, in which the prisons were forced to play and watch scenes and plays in order to get the right mindset for the Taiwanese society.

Taiwan: Hot Springs And Night Market

Not far from Taipei is a hot spring area in the town of Beitou. It’s easy and fast reachable from Taipei by metro train. In a few steps, a green park invites for a stroll, or to play mahjong, or skating.

I found the public bathing places. There’s an open air one, but i decided to go to the more authentic bathing house. At entrance i got informed, that female and male visitors have separate zones and use to bath naked. I acknowledged and entered, after changing room, a room packed with men sitting in and around two pools. The temperature of the water was between 42-44°C, while the second pool had a thermometer showing constant 45.9°C. The hottest bath i ever had.

Back in Shilin, i went another time to the nearby night market, enjoying some food and the lively atmosphere.

Start Into New Asia Trip: Jomtien, Pattaya, Bangkok

Just before i checked in my flight to Bangkok i decided not to see the hustling city but go to the nearest beach from the airport first. Since there was a direct bus link from the airport to Jomtien Beach, just next to Pattaya, it was a good decicion.

A few days on relaxing beaches, nice walks trough forest hills nearby, visiting temples and lookouts, eating at local night markets and having a beer in the street of bustling nightlife.

Bangkok with its skyscrapers, the green lush parks, but busy, noisy traffic, is a whole different story. I ended up in the famous-infamous Khao San Road, a backpacker area even long since my first visit here 30 years ago. When i went for a stroll there among the nightly, crazy party folks i thought literally: ‚New generation, same shit!‘, but enjoyed it.

Lantern Festival In Taiwan

The celebrations of Chinese New Year held over quite a time in Taiwan. One of the highlight is the famous Lantern festival in the Pingxi area outside of Taipei.

To get there was already an adventure, since the trains were already fully packed all day long. Once there, the crowd is blocking the ways, even the railways, of the tiny village. People are busy everywhere to buy lanterns and write on them their wishes for the New Year of The Dragon, taking pictures with it and let them fly towards the sky. Beside that, food and entertainment are important too. Food stalls along the way making good business today.

The main event takes place a few hundred meters out of the village. A big stage with dancers, singers and performers entertains the crowd. Big screens displays the show to the unlucky ones bogged in the mass outside of this place, means people like me. And then, in waves, dozens of lanterns get released towards sky, floating over the heads of the spectators, dragged away from the wind.

After the first bunch of released lanterns closing to the horizon, dimming their red lights into the dark night, i slowly make my way back too. There’s still much to see and watch while passing happy people bathing in their hope for a good year coming.

Iceland: Along the roads (Golden Circle, part1/2)

Just got into my car and drove along the road. It’s a popular circuit route called the ‚Golden Cirlcle‘.

I stopped along the way, where the landscape was beautiful, the place had to offer some points of interests or also just for the Iceland horses.

At the Kerid crater, a strong, icy wind reminded me on the country i’m in. It kept this way all day. But maybe it was the reason not seeing many tourists around. Most of them just jumped out of their big, comfortable busses for a quick photo snap. Also at Skalholt Cathedral i was completely on myself.

More highlights are the icy Gullfoss waterfall and the hot geysir, as well the Thingvellir Nationalpark, where two continents drifts apart. Literally.

Iceland: Lava Tunnel and Aurora Borealis

Volcanic activity with lava flows belongs to one of the impressive nature phenomena of Iceland. Despite the recent eruption of a volcanic fissur on the Reykjanes Peninsula, there’s currently no lava flow. The area is closed to public for safety reason anyway. But i heard of that lava tunnel, which is accessible by a tour…

Another natural spectacle are the northern lights. The night i left the capital city for more remote and dark place wasn’t to expect any sightings of Aurora Borealis. But often, when you expect it least, luck crawls into your life.

From my warm, beautiful and cosy place i stepped out into the dark, cold and windy backyard. I noticed the clear sky with shiny stars and decided to give it a go. I learned before, Aurora Borealis not always appears in strong, bright colors, but often starts with a rather dull grey area on the sky, easily mistaken as mist. I pointed my camera by chance to such a fog-like area, and got surprised by a greenish band of light hovering over the city of Selfoss in my back.

After the excitement of this first sight and capture, i changed my location. Outside of town and near a small mountain i observed the sky for more light phenomenas. I didn’t get disappointed. That foggy looking sky turned greenish, got stronger and ghostly lights from strong green to soft reddish was dancing over the sky…

(sorry for the many northern light photos. i was too excited)

Winter In Turkey: Gelibolu/Gallipoli

Winter in Turkey impressions #17: Gelibolu, also known as Gallipoli, gained sad notoriety after a disastrous battle on WWI with many thousands killed. In the history of the many New Zealander and Australian soldiers involved it bekam known as ANZAC day.

For me was it the end of an very interesting trip trough the history of times. But before i left Turkey, i met an very nice couple riding a Honda Africa Twin. A newly wed couple, it turned out, on their trip trough their own country. After a nice chat, i handed over a sticker, which i got from an other Turkish friend and motobiker.

Güle güle ve yakında görüşürüz. Teşekkür ederim Türkiyem!

Winter In Turkey: Troy/Troja

Winter in Turkey impressions #16: Troy is another very interesting archeological site. Already mentioned in ancient Greek by Homer. After they found the remains, the excavations shows different levels of eras of inhabitations.

Winter In Turkey: Cesme

Winter in Turkey impressions #15: Cesme is a small, nice town at the coast near Izmir. A travel friend lured me there, so we could meet again, having nice diner and i got a safe overnight spot at the port. Next morning i realized this place was rich on history too. So i went for short walk to get some more impressions.

Winter In Turkey: Ürgüp

Winter in Turkey impressions #11: Ürgüp in Capaddocia and surroundings in winterly conditions offers also unique landscape. My new friend and i went around to experience this Turkish winter wonderland.

Just more random photos…