While in Daejeon i visited the Hanbat arboretum too. It’s situated just behind the Daejeon Museum Of Art, which i skipped due the lack of time. The sunny day let me stroll rather trough the park, although it was bit too early for flowers. At least i had a calm and peaceful atmosphere within and could collect some more impressions.
It was bit hazy, so not ideal for making photos. There was many photo restrictions anyway due the security regulations.
When we enters the DMZ (demilitarized zone) our passports has to be shown, then crossed the bridge to the no-man-land. Not far after, there was the border post to North Korea. The bus passed it very slowly, even stopped for a few seconds, while our tour guide was requesting us to make quickly a pictures since it was actually not to allow to stop here.
We reached a viewpoint and looked over to the border of North Korea. The two nearest border towns on each side put a huge flag post in competition to have the taller one.
There’s also tunnels dug by the North Koreans in order to attack South Korea. The famous Third Tunnel was discovered by South Korea and now open for visit by tourist. An access tunnel leads down to the original tunnel and follows it until 170 meters distance to the actual border. Our guide joked, the South Korean eventually must be happy about it, since the North Korean did all the labour but South Korea makes now money with it.
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.
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.
It was late afternoon when i arrived Tainan, in southern Taiwan. But it’s never too late to go out for a stroll in the neighborhood.
Much to see explore, as i found out soon. Around and inside the temples were still lots of lanterns, since the final festivities about Chinese New Year weren’t over yet. In one of the temple two nice, young ladies explaining me, how they interact with their gods and asking questions. It works with throwing two crescent-shaped wooden parts. Depending how the lie, the gods are willing to listen to their questions. Next step is to choose one of the providing sticks, which have numbers what leads to a certain box in a cupboard, where finally is a piece of paper with the answer to your initial question. Maybe.
They also told me about the various gods and goddesses in the different niches of the temple. There’s one who helps to find your soulmate, another one brings luck for women wants get pregnant, or students pray for their exams. On the wall were the proof of success, when it worked. Not so far from catholicism, where various Saints get these tasks done, i thought for myself.
Outside of the temple a sudden strong rain started. It makes the colorful lanterns reflect on the street, giving a new, friendly atmosphere. A small snack on my way home and some juicy strawberries for dessert. The first day in Tainan ended nicely.
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.
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.
rene bauer photography 