140. TAIWAN

Taipei 101 with its head up in the clouds...like most up and coming cities in Asia, Taipei too wanted an iconic building. The 101 was constructed on fengshui principles which makes its architecture and facing most interesting...

This most interesting embryo sculpture is fashioned out of  tightly coiled steel cables recycled from elevators. The 101 is touted as a very green eco friendly building. By and large, I found Taipei and its people environmentally conscious, actively practising recycling and keeping lights low...

 


Singapore needs such umbrellas with non-skid rubber tips, which more old folks can use when they don't want the public to think they are old (!) Many of our oldies hobble around holding on to umbrellas or their caregivers instead of canes.

 




 





















Just behind the hotel, tucked away behind foliage was this glorious scene. Mountains behind it, water around these chalets, I would have much rather stayed here than in a typical hotel room...and been woken by ducks and birds and crickets

 








Quaint Taiwan English brought a smile to my lips...

This chappie is carved out of soap. He smelt good...

These gourds appear to be genetically modified to an albino shade. One can't tell what one is eating these days...is there nutritional value? Are they safe? Is there a deeper agenda when there are no seeds - how do we reproduce them? Will we be at the mercy of those countries that will ultimately control our food source by supplying the world with Genetically Modified foods in which we can't grow them without seeds? Can those same countries disable their enemies slowly through the export and consumption of their food?

Once a population is rendered sickly who next benefits? The drug/pharmaceutical companies and all others in the medical field...including manufacturers of medical aids and equipment...most of whom are multinationals from the West. Some and Taiwanese, increasingly from China...

Virtually all of Singapore's food is imported. The world knows most can pay for all manner of drugs and treatments. Desperate people will clutch at straws. Be afraid, be very afraid...

At the Martyr's Shrine, I stopped to watch the changing of the guards where they put on a juggling show with their bayonets...

This temple below was the only seriously old building I managed to take in whilst on a walkabout...

 
The history between Taiwan (ROC) and mainland China (PRC) is rather convoluted. Although General Chiang Kai Shek 'ruled' China for at least 22 years, there was much politics and acrimony between many different factions. After the defeat of the Japanese, he took his government and army and retreated to Taiwan where he imposed martial law and ruled the island with an iron fist for 30 years as the country's President

The imposing building of the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall housing an equally imposing bronze sculpture of the General himself...

I can't figure out the style of architecture of this monastery in Chung-Tai World, Qingjing. It's Buddhist judging from the sculptures within. It's front porch was held up by 4 pillars of some 4-face guardians which I don't think is Buddhist at all, but than, Taiwan seems to be suffering from some identity crisis. It dosen't want to be mistaken for mainland China perhaps, so it tries to create an identity that's more uniquely Taiwanese but what's that exactly?

Taiwan is officially known as the Republic of China (ROC) with Taipei the seat of the central government.

The island of Taiwan (formerly known as "Formosa") was mainly inhabited by aboriginals.  The Dutch and Spanish moved in in the 17th C. The Han Chinese began immigrating from mainland China and managed to expel the Dutch. During the Qing Dynasty of China, they annexed Taiwan.

Taiwan was ceded to Japan in 1895.The Republic of China (ROC) was established in China in 1912. 

After Japan's surrender in 1945, the ROC assumed its control of Taiwan. When the Communist Party took full control of mainland China and founded the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1949, the ROC relocated its government to Taiwan, and its jurisdiction became limited to the island of Taiwan and its surrounding islands.

Over the decades, there's been much huffing and puffing as to who should be the representatives of more than a billion Chinese. With China's rise...nobody's asking that any more. I suspect China will leave Taiwan alone for now and one of these days, very naturally, organically, it will be assimilated into the whole.....as there's much mingling amongst its peoples through trade, tourism, marriages.  Left to her own devices, Taiwan has fared not too badly.



Ita Thao Shopping St in the Sun Moon Lake region...

....so this is the famed Sun Moon Lake...it looked far better in the picture perfect postcards






Shilin night market, Taipei

So these are their famous night markets - this one is Jiufen Old St, Yilan. It was quaint with lots of interesting knick knacks. I don't find their street food great - lots of it was fried or processed...the nicest thing was...whether it's side lanes or souvenir stores in the hotels, prices of the same items were consistent...

 






She's quite a dish herself...!

 

Taiwan used to have lots of hill tribe aboriginals. Most have now integrated into the mainstream. Their ethnic arts and crafts are sewn by seamstresses and any ethnic shows are put on for tourists - as is the case elsewhere...

The National Center for Traditional Arts, Yilan County, is an exhibition area on Taiwanese culture, arts, crafts etc.....Spring rain is quite lovely...makes the surroundings ethereal...most of Taiwan's architecture is 'newish' they've recreated from scratch as the country itself is new...

What can be more English than Devonshire teas with scones and cucumber sandwiches...?! in Qingjing

 
The 3 hill resorts I checked out had a English style identity, being up in the rolling hills and during the change of Seasons, it would feel like one is somewhere in the British Isles...this place is the Green Green Grassland - not terribly imaginative but uniquely Taiwanese I suppose...

It was early Spring...weather was a mite chilly but glorious...flowers were in full bloom, birds and sheep and goats were in the mood for love...

 

 

 

   

The Taiwanese think highly of this iconic Oriental Gentleman and the Government he established. As he's a fellow overseas Chinese, they are proud of that. I can't say if they think the same of his fellow citizens...