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
Another highlight on the day tour trough Busan. The fish market and the nearby shopping street BIFF.
Let the pictures speak for themselves…
Just when i arrived Busan i bought a bus ticket to the popular Haeunde Beach with it’s famous beach train. I didn’t take a ride in one of these colorful capsules, but took a walk along the train route.
Later on i took a streched beach walk among many other weekend visitors on the beach. Just to collect some more impressions from the beach life.
When night falls over Seoul, there’s a popular night market to go at the Seoul district of Myeong-Dong.
It’s not to deny how close tradition and modernity exist in South Korea, but especially in Seoul. One of the best example is the modern complex of Dongdaemun Design Plaza.
Arriving at Incheon International Airport in South Korea i got almost overwhelmed by its futuristic design. I missed the express train to Seoul, so i got the chance for a coffee and stroll around the airport. A roughly hour of comfortable train ride brought me straight in the centre of the capital Seoul. Despite the long journey i couldn’t resist just having a short walk around the block to get a glimpse of Seoul and a peek of the Seoul Tower which is overlooking the city.
Back in the streets of Taipei i was welcomed nicely by the team of a noodle restaurant. With this culinary and emotional uplift i went out for another stroll in a unknown street of this huge city.
Of course i came across a temple. Always impressing how people including a short visit to their place of faith while their out for shopping or eating. On the streets there’s always enough food to taste, street musicians to listen to and also historical buildings to set back in the old times.
One of the greater pleasure, i have to admit, is to sit on a street cafe and watching people. Some are in a hurry, whilst others enjoying a chat on the street, or just communicate non-verbal with their fashion „Not your baby“
Last impressions of the streets of Tainan
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.
rene bauer photography 