For Skylar (images of Taiwan)

Some random shots from the streets of Taiwan. I'm sure some of these will bring back many memories for Skylar. We had another Sunday off, so we took in the sights. Thanks to Floriey (Paul, Sherry, Angel, Avery, Justin, and Gloria).

From a street stand somewhere along the way.

I'm sure my girls will like these pictures of the squid I caught.

Look tasty, eh girls?

Or perhaps some snails? The Koreans (and I observed the Taiwanese doing the same) would take a rolled up paper cone of these with them as they did their sight-seeing. They pop the end on their eye tooth, then suck the snail out. Mmmmm... How-chir (delicious).

I couldn't resist when I saw this sign. It brought back memories of the "no gas" signs during the gas shortage of the 70's. We saw this sign for a Thai restaurant and when we got there to try their fare, this is what we encountered. Not just closed... but closed, no food.

I got in trouble for taking these two pictures at a 7-Eleven. Didn't have time to look close, but I remember seeing swiss cheese flavored Lays.

More from the 7-Eleven.

There are more scooters in Taiwan than anywhere I've ever seen. I think they outnumber cars 3-1. EVERYONE drives them, and everyone carries anything and EVERYTHING on them. The students get into this street racing/main dragging mode at night. It's fun to watch.

Some dried fish? I think these are sardines.

The post-lunch nap... this guy was able to sleep on a very busy street, with people walking by and cars and scooters zipping by. I wish I could get this kind of sleep over here.

An "old-school" scooter... I've named it the "Pink Cadillac."

Great colors and arrangement in these jars of pickled... um... er... pretty much anything and everything.

Colorful orchids.

As close to an off-road ready Jeep as I've seen over here. Now, for a mountain to tear up.

Selling his wares from the meridian at a busy intersection.

These guys came in to a Buddhist temple from out of town. Evidently ritual has it that they needed to "announce" their arrival. Their horns, all blaring a little different tune and tone (and none of them together), are actually amplified through those bull horns. This was loud, and the most obnoxious noise I've heard since Maggie's singing.

At the top of an escalator at an electronics store. Not sure I get it.

Taichung... the fashion capital of Asia. We happened across a street party/fair. A lot of foreigners, and some band with a Taiwanese drummer and three caucasians singing blues sounded strangely out of place.

Cute. Skylar should love this one.

See the FGA? I figured it must be like the Elks Bingo parlor (F.O.E.)

These next photos are the Buddhist temple we visited... over 300 years old. Very steeped in tradition and old-school ways. Mostly Taiwanese writing instead of Chinese.

The bell is run in the morning, and always hangs in the East foyer/entryway.

And the drum in the west foyer/entryway, beat at night.

Old town alleyways were narrow and had many turns to stop the typhoon winds from getting to the homes and doing damage.

Traditional doorway. All the writing is significant. A true step back in time.

Another great doorway.

Incense urn from the temple.

Ceremonial cart used to move the gods (statues) from one temple to the next.

Father Christmas?

Deity. A lot of idols, and paying homage to different gods for different reasons. Our hostess is pregnant, and bows to the goddess that will watch over her health during pregnancy. With the whole yin/yang thing of opposites in everything, they even have a god of evil (Satan?) that they respect and pay homage to, so they can pass quickly after death and get to the "good" place.

A dragon on one corner of the temple. I especially like the flexible ductwork in the background. It was somewhat disappointing that this temple was crammed in the middle of homes, shops, and the like. They should have given it some room, but evidently that isn't a luxury here.

Lanterns like these hang everywhere.

One side of an entryway. The other was almost a mirror image of this one. We learned that you always step across (never on) the threshold of a temple, and that the tiles on the floor, and the direction they are laid is very important. One patterns signifies "welcome", while another signifies, "stop" or "wait" to be welcomed.

On the fence surrounding the temple.

Up close and personal.

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