landscape – Seite 2 – rene bauer photography

Taiwan: Lost Place On Lü Dao

There’s one last place i wanted show you on Lü Dao.

Okay, actually two. Because there’s also this small cave, called Guanyin Cave, which considered to be holy and worth a short stopp anyway.

And then there’s the tipp i got. An abandoned house on a hill near the lighthouse. There’s no road up there, just a path overgrown by dense bush. It took me awhile to find my way up to the hill, but it was completely worth it. That ‚lost place‘ appeared a beautiful spot for a quite hour or so. It would be also a nice sunset point. But i preferred another coffee on my favorite place @coffeestray

März 22, 2024März 22, 2024 by Rene Bauer Categories: Asia, culture, landscape, nature, reportage, travel, Uncategorized, urbanlifeTags: abandoned, altar, Asia, cave, coffeestray, graffiti, graffitiart, greenisland, hiuse, island, landscape, lüdao, lighthouse, lostplace, nature, overgrown, renebauerphotography, reportage, sea, shrine, sunset, taiwan, Travel, wallart Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Taiwan: Hike on Lü Dao

There’s a hike on Lü Dao which leads to the highest point of Green Island. And there was the most beautiful weather to do that. So, hiking boots on and up the hills.

The path is wide, well maintained and not to miss. But on its side is dense forest with rich flora and fauna. Most obvious are the many butterflies fluttering in the air, buzzing insects and the calls of different birds. Also obvious became these big spiders and their sticky webs, especially when you run into it. They use the space on the path and once i missed it, i was busy for quite awhile to get rid of the gluey threads all over my face and head.

A nice surprise was but the sights of these little deers. Even twice they crossed my path, had a look at me and jumped back into the bush, before i could grab my camera for it. And there was more. Small lizards and even a pretty big snake, which flee from me too. I could just take picture from its tail, before disappearing.

At the summit i was rewarded with a splendid view almost over the entire Island. From here, once more you can imagine how it came to its name Lü Dao, the Green Island. This day surrounded with the deep blues, not only by the sea but also from the sky. And look closely, the air is clear enough to see even the town of Tauting on mainland Taiwan.

Another beautiful day on this remarkable island. Only to finish with a local speciality, an omelette with local seaweed and of course a coffee in my favorite cafe @coffeestray

(sorry for the many butterflies, but they were too many too nice ;-))

März 20, 2024März 20, 2024 by Rene Bauer Categories: Asia, flower, landscape, nature, travelTags: Asia, birds, butterflies, butterfly, cafe, coffeestray, fauna, flora, forest, greenisland, hike, hiking, island, landscape, lüdao, nature, renebauerphotography, snake, Spider, taiwan, Travel, whiteheron, wildlife Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

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.

März 17, 2024März 17, 2024 by Rene Bauer Categories: Asia, history, landscape, nature, reportage, travelTags: Asia, cave, coast, greenisland, history, island, landscape, lèdao, memorial, museum, nature, people, prison, prisonisland, renebauerphotography, reportage, taiwan, Travel, whiteterror Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Taiwan: The Unique Hot Springs On Lü Dao

Why should I take a trip to the Island of Lü Dao, also known as ‚Green Island‘, just for a bath in the ‚Zahori Hot Springs‘? The answer is simple: because this place is one of only three saltwater hot springs in the world! Learned this, i just had to go, if just for a day trip and short dip there.

The idea of a day trip ended up to a five day vacancy on the beautiful Green Island. But later more about it. On my first visit in the pool area i expected the place full of people, but ended up alone there. At least for almost an half hour or so. It’s a public bath, that’s why i couldn’t run around with my Nikon camera. But i grabbed my cell phone for a few pictures, whilst i’m pretty on my own in the pool.

My blue baseball cap replaced with a blue swimming cap i dived in the warm water. And while i’m floating in the different pools with water temperatures up to around 42°C, one of the staff member was willing to explain me, where the water comes from and how it get pumped up from the sea into the pools. The hottest pool is at the top, and its water flows down terrace like pools, mixed with colder water to reach the specific temperature of each pool.

He was also telling me with a proud tone, that there was only three saltwater hot springs on the world, but that one in Japan isn’t accessible anymore due an earthquake. Now there are only one left in Italy, and this one on Lü Dao.

März 15, 2024März 15, 2024 by Rene Bauer Categories: Asia, culture, landscape, nature, portrait, reportage, tradition, travelTags: Asia, bath, fareast, greenisland, hotsprings, island, landscape, lüdao, nature, pool, portraits, renebauerphotography, reportage, sea, selfies, swimming, taiwan, tauting, Travel, zahori, zahorihotsprings Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Taiwan: Along The Coast Of Lü Dao (Green Island)

Fascinated from the cliffs at the sea i spent hours to watch the waves rolling over those sharp rocks when the tides came in. Just some impressions from these hours.

März 13, 2024März 13, 2024 by Rene Bauer Categories: Asia, landscape, nature, travelTags: Asia, bay, cliffs, coast, fareast, greenisland, landscape, landscapephotography, lüdao, longeexposure, nature, naturephotography, pacific, phillipinsea, renebauerphotography, rocks, sea, seaview, smooth, splash, sunset, taitung, taiwan, tides, Travel, waves Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Taiwan: Baiyang Trail And Shuilian Cave

It was already late afternoon, when i had another stop on my route trough the famous Taroko Gorge. Here i noticed a start of an hiking trail. Spontaneously i grabbed my camera and went on the path. It’s an easy going hike for approximately 3km each way. A broad path followed a river and was quite leveled. Even some tunnels were made to avoid steep bypasses. The only danger was the fallen rocks, which is not uncommon, as one can see along the way.

Just before reaching the waterfall of Baiyang, a suspension bridge has to be pass over an impressive gorge. Unfortunately the waterfall is rather a trickle, despite the rain from day before. I did expect more to be frankly. At least i had a nice chat with a doctor from Taipei, who offered me to take a picture from in front of that waterfall. Instead i asked her to join me on the selfie.

A signpost pointed to a tunnel, which lead to a stormy sound in the dark. To my surprise water streams from the ceiling of the tunnel, created a curtain of water falling to ground and flows in a stream towards the light on the end of tunnel. What an amazing spectacle. This hike was really paying off, latest with this final. Taroko Gorge will stay in good remembering for sure.

März 10, 2024März 9, 2024 by Rene Bauer Categories: Asia, culture, landscape, roadtrip, travel, waterTags: Asia, baiyang, baiyangtrail, baiyangwaterfall, bridge, cave, friend, gorge, hike, hiking, hualien, landscape, mountain, path, renebauerphotography, reportage, shuilian, shuiliancave, suspensionbridge, taiwan, taroko, tarokogorge, trail, Travel, tunnel, water, watercurtain, waterfall Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Taiwan: Road Trip To Taroko Gorge

One of the most beautiful place on Taiwan, is Taroko Gorge at the East Coast, i read.

So, i took a direct train to Hualien, rented a car, grabbed a coffee early next morning and went off to see the landscape. And what a landscape i saw. Deep in the gorge, the walls went high on my sides when i drove in the narrow gaps of the mountains. Started at sea level, the road went higher and higher, got almost 2500 m.a.s.l. before i turned back. Many stops for photos or just taking a deep breath or resting on a quite place while was stunned about the old trees, the forest covering the high mountains and the river cutting its way down to the sea.

A fairly long hiking trail goes all the way up, but was closed due a typhoon earlier. Unfortunately i didn’t get to the hot springs there neither. At least another shorter, but still nice trail was open, as i found out on my way back. But this is another story for my next post. Stay tuned!

März 8, 2024März 8, 2024 by Rene Bauer Categories: Asia, landscape, nature, reportage, roadtrip, travelTags: Asia, forest, gorge, hiking, hualien, landscape, mountains, nature, renebauerphotography, river, taiwan, taroko, tarokogorge, Travel, trees, tunnel, valley, view Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

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.

März 1, 2024März 1, 2024 by Rene Bauer Categories: Asia, culture, history, landscape, nature, portrait, reportage, tradition, travel, urbanlife, waterTags: Asia, bangkok, beach, beachlife, beer, bigbuddha, bkk, buddhism, cappuccino, city, citylife, coffee, landscape, nightlife, nightmarket, pattaya, people, renebauerphotography, skyscraper, southeastasia, temple, thailand, Travel, urbanlife, walkingstreet Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Iceland: Hunt For Polar Lights

More spectacular landscapes on our way trough the south of Iceland. Even some reindeers crossed our path. But still no polar lights until we reached Reykjavik. So, we decided to have a night out with some beer and live music.

To our surprise, we got a notice about sightings of northern lights just outside the city. A few moments later we’ve been on our search for a dark spot with less light pollution, and witnessed a wonderful heavenly light show. A last amazing impression of Iceland before returning home.

Februar 18, 2024Februar 13, 2024 by Rene Bauer Categories: europe, landscape, nature, reportage, roadtrip, travel, urbanlife, wildlifeTags: auroraborealis, coffee, glacier, hotspring, iceland, landscape, mountains, nature, nightsky, northerneurope, northernlights, overland, polarlights, reindeer, renebauerphotography, reykjavik, roadtrip, sky, Travel, winter, winteriniceland Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Iceland: Ice Cave, Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach

From the Vatnajökull Glacier breaks icebergs into the lagoon Jökulsàrlon. That’s also the starting point for tours into ice caves. The weather wasn’t ideal at all due the rain and dark clouds. So i was missing the colors on both, the ice cave experience and on the lagoon itself too. However, there was a nice group i joined and despite i didn’t bring home the pictures i expected, it was worth the experience.