This Palace from the 14th century is just huge. The many buildings with total 7700 rooms are scattered over a huge area. Big squares and small courtyards, gardens and ponds with pavilions and beautifully decorated roofs and walls are inviting for long strolls. For those are interested of more details of Gyeongbokgung use the link provided, or just enjoy some impressions.
Midst in the city of Seoul is the Deoksugung Palace.
I was lucky to be there early morning with almost no other tourists. Under the cold blue sky lies this gem with its beautifully restored buildings surrounded from the big city. This palace was in use until the begin of 20th century and some building shows a mix of western and traditional architectures. Also were some rooms fitted with electricity.
I witnessed by coincidence a guard changing ceremony at the main gate. Quite a spectacle.
Modern Taiwan was founded by the former president and revolutionary leader Chiang Kai-Shek, after Chinese civil war in 1949. It is only understandable that the people wanted to dedicate a special memorial place to him. So, the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall was build. This huge complex was build between 1976 and 1980.
People gathering to hundreds inside the gigantic hall to watch the hourly change of the guards of honor. It’s an impressive performance of the skilled guards. A great subject for photo- and videographers too, if you get a place in the front row though.
Nowadays the people enjoying the huge park with ponds and cherry trees. Especially a warm, sunny day like lucky me got here. Certainly there are many people taking selfies and group photos for memories. Amongst them was a young lady i got into talk with. Sofia took a few photos for her Instagram account ( https://www.instagram.com/sofiameeow/ ) and agreed for a quick, spontaneous photo session on this beautiful location.
There’s an important historical place outside of Tainan, called Fort Zeelandia. It’s the place where Dutch people arrived and build their first trading outpost on Taiwan.
Beside a museum and a tower with nice view, there’s also a beautiful garden with cherry trees. It’s just the right time of year to enjoy the cherry blossoms here.
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.
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 impressions #14: Ephesus surprised me not only with its sheer size and the huge roman theatre, but also with some incredibly well kept mosaics and wall paintings in some excavated houses. Lucky i arrived early, because i spent way much more time than estimated before. It was so amting to roam trough these contemporary witnesses from so many eras and history.
Winter in Turkey impressions #10: Derinkuyu is famous for its underground city. My camping neighbor told me about it. And since it started to snow i gladly took his invitation for the ride there in his comfortable heated van. Beside exploring this fascinating underground city, it was also nice having a nice pal to talk to.
Turkey in winter impressions #4: I spent New Years Eve in Antalya and surroundings, where i found a super nice family renting me out a room in their airBnB. Beside that i met again a travel mate from an earlier trip in Africa and made more friends.
Winter in Turkey Impressions #3: Heliopolis, an ancient roman town, lies just in the mountains above Pamukkale. Get your impressions here:
rene bauer photography 