island – 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

Norway – Island Senja

Friends told me not to miss the island Senja. And they were right!

Typically Norway weather with quick changes from sunshine to rain and dropping temperatures also. The landscape however was stunning. In every weather situation. Especially at the cooler morning when the mist is floating around the mountains or falling from the cliffs.

I also had a hike on smaller mountain peak or a stroll along a beach. But not boring longer with words, let’s show some pictorial impressions.

November 29, 2023November 22, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: europe, flower, landscape, nature, roadtrip, tinatortuga, travelTags: beach, ferry, fjord, flower, fog, hike, island, islandsenja, landscape, landscapephotography, lighthouse, mist, mountain, nature, northerneurope, norway, overland, people, renebauerphotography, reportage, scandinavia, sea, senja, ship, sunset, tinatortuga, Travel, tunnel Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Norway – The Northern Cape

Another long drive trough beautiful landscape of northern Norway. Even the sun comes out for awhile, just when i was on a hike at Silfar Canyon. Another traveler approached me for a chat. So we went together along the the canyon, shared travel stories and enjoyed the nature around.

Due maintenance the North Cape Tunnel was closed for a couple hours. This roughly 6.9 kilometer long tunnel dives 212 meter underneath the sea and connect the mainland with the island Mageroya.

Just to make it clear: The North Cape is not the most northern spot, neither from mainland Europe (what is at Sletness Fyr), nor from Europe as in general (what is on Svalbard ). It’s simply the most northern point one can reach on road from mainland Europe. When i arrived there unfortunately strong winds brought dense fog too. With that the midnight sun was hidden behind clouds. Just for a minute there was some sun rays pushing through the thick mist, slittering over the surface of the Barents Sea and reached the foot of the cliffs.

A nice surprise to meet my old traveler friend Paolo, who i met before in Africa. He’s traveling for years around the world with his motorcycle. There’s a lot to catch up, and so we spent hours in the cold to share stories.

November 27, 2023November 21, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: culture, landscape, nature, reportage, roadtrip, tinatortuga, travelTags: barentssea, canyon, fishfarm, friends, island, landscape, mageroya, midnightsun, nature, northcape, northcapetunnel, northerneurope, norway, overland, people, reindeer, renebauerphotography, river, roadtrip, sea, silfarcanyon, tinatortuga, Travel, tunnel Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Islands of Malta & Gozo Photo Impressions

Just another #throwback from 2019. I spent two weeks on the beautiful islands of Malta and Gozo and was stunned about landscape and surprised with the hospitality of the people. Another destination i priomised myself to go back!

November 13, 2020November 13, 2020 by Rene Bauer Categories: culture, europe, history, landscape, nature, reportage, roadtrip, tradition, travel, UncategorizedTags: ancient, church, city, coast, culture, europe, gozo, history, island, malta, sea, summer Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Lake Bunyonyi

The road to Lake Bunyonyi was already worthwhile the trip. Hills and craters everywhere you look. Fields around tiny villages, which are scattered in the landscape. Whenever you stop you get company by curious people and begging kids. Then suddenly the lake appears between the hills, lies quietly in the valley. I reached my destination, a peninsula with a campsite. And what a site to camp; in the morning i woke up with the view over the lake. Mist flows over the calm water and crawls up the hills. On the small island in front of me moved slightly the treetops, as some strange power lives there.

Next day i decided to go for an hike on the nearby hills. One of the rare opportunities to go for a hike for free, without any permit needed. But i wasn’t alone. Buggy, the dog from the campsite, followed me. In the villages women sitting on the floor, doing handicrafts. Soon another company joined in. A kid from the village wanted show me the path to the top, and went with me since. From the small farmhouses with beautiful views over the lake the kids waves shyly their hands, wondering where i’m going. I hadn’t an idea myself. My new little friend pointed to another villages behind the hill we just climbed. Yes, let’s go there, i agreed. The people watched me in astonishment, when i arrived with that little local kid and the dog. I found an empty bar and bought my company a soda, which he sipped with a broad smile in his face. Meanwhile Buggy were sitting in front of the door and watched the curious kids on the other side of the street. After the refreshments the way back seems to be easy and fast.

Februar 23, 2017Februar 23, 2017 by Rene Bauer Categories: Africa, animal, landscape, nature, portrait, reportage, travel, uganda, Uncategorized, waterTags: Africa, africaoverland, bar, eastafrica, farm, hike, hills, island, lake, lakebunyonyi, landscape, locals, overland, overlandafrica, Travel, uganda Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Zanzibar – Jambiani People

The biggest surprise was the openness of the village people. Despite all the tourism on the beach, the village just back of it, seems hardly to see any foreigners. Old people greeting friendly, while kids waving and shouting enthusiastically to me. Some small kids were even so afraid of a strange looking white man they started to cry. But mostly i got a open smile in my camera and laughters after they’ve seen their faces in the screen. If someone would ask me about the most beautiful spots on Zanzibar, i’d response in the smiling faces of the village people.

Januar 16, 2017Januar 16, 2017 by Rene Bauer Categories: Africa, HOPE, humansofplanetearth, portrait, reportage, tanzania, tradition, travel, Uncategorized, urbanlifeTags: Africa, africaoverland, faces, family, island, jambiani, kids, overlandafrica, people, portraits, smile, street, streetlife, streetphotography, streets, tanzania, Travel, Village, zanzibar Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Zanzibar – Jambiani Beach

At least one of these famous beaches of Zanzibar i have to explorer. I choose Jambiani at east coast of Zanzibar. Many kite-surfers had the same idea, as a school class and football players too. It became a lively spot, despite the low tide, when i arrived.