The day I arrived in Taipei and stepped on Taiwans soil the first time, my friends and travel mates from an earlier journey, Lucy and Alex, picked me up and showed me around Shilin night market. A very friendly gesture and interesting evening to get introduced in some of Taiwanese culture and daily life. And got to taste some of Taiwanese favorite drinks: Bubble Tea!
My friend Lucy posted some footage of this evening on her YouTube-Channel 🙈https://www.youtube.com/@MamaLucy
Midst in the old city lies the Hwaseong Haenggung Palace. Nicely renovated and with beautiful displays of the daily life on the king’s court of an old dynasty. It’s an educational place, not only for day visitors, but also for school classes. So i met a friendly teacher with her pupils, explaining the sundial on a very accurate model in an inner court. After a little chat i stepped outside the palace, where people gathered on a big square and let fly kites in the evening sky. A beautiful, calm atmosphere surrounded me for a last glimpse of these friendly and peaceful folks.
Near the city of Daegu, settled on the foot of Mt. Palgongsan, is the beautiful temple complex of Dhongwasa. It’s surrounded by lush forest with small streams and nice walk ways trough nature.
The first temple dates back around 1500 years ago. Nowadays are existing older buildings beside new houses and temples with huge statues and figures. Among them are also some figures from African animals. No idea they just like them here too or there’s maybe a deeper meaning about it. More clearly seems the meaning of angry looking guards at the entrance and the calm Buddha inside the complex.
At the foot of the mountain Namsan with the Seoul Tower is a traditional village located. This Namsangol Hanok Village shows the architecture and daily life in a traditional Korean houses called ‚Hanok‘
Did you noticed the beautiful traditional dresses in my last post? Well, these dresses called Hanbok and are popular for photo shoots at Gyeongbokgung Palace. At the nearby streets they rent it out and offer even make-up and hairstyling services for that occasion.
Friends, couples and families walking dressed up trough the old palace. They’re all in good mood and the scenery feels like a happy, sunny day in the 18th century.
A worthy visit while in Tainan is certainly the Temple Of Confucius.
It appeared beautiful to me in its simplicity and calmness. The imagination of a place to study and and have philosophical discussions is real to me. Luckily there wasn’t many people there, as i strolled trough the lush garden and enjoyed to roam trough the different halls.
There are still ongoing events for the Chinese New Year. So i bumped into a street procession and followed it for awhile. Gods and Goddesses were carried in ornate sedan chairs or pulled in decorative carriages. The people were in festive mood, played drums and instruments and cheered up the spectator and i think the gods and goddesses too.
Maybe you noticed these stacks of yellow papers in my prior posts. Well, these are ‚paper money‘ what get burned for the ancestors and family members who passed away, to ensure they have the financial fundings for a comfortable afterlife.
While i visited the City Temple in Tainan, i found myself in the backyard in a nice garden. I noticed a huge chimney. Getting closer to inspect it, i became a witness how people enlightened stacks of these paper money and let it burn in big flames, providing a comfortable time for their people in afterlife.
Roaming through the streets of Tainan many people gave me a smile or a wink or even posing in front of my camera. So did the lady with helmet, who had seen me with camera and jumped literally towards me. The three guys in bicycle training who winked me and posed shy but proud. Two young ladies nicely dressed up with amazing, traditional hairstyle posed happily on the street. Not to forget the proud owner of a ‚Vespa‘ shop, which caught my attention, since this brand is rarely seen here.
There was a Puji Temple just around the block. It wasn’t the biggest and most important, but beautiful set in the neighborhood and colorful decorated with many lanterns.
When i found it, it was pretty busy with worshipper and priests. The smell of incenses and the atmosphere with the dimmed lantern lights gave me quite an impression…
rene bauer photography 