Clearing out the Camera: Random Shots of Taiwan

All Photos:  Chris Banducci

Other Posts you may be interested in:

Taiwan Travelogue:  Driving to Hawaii
Random Asianess:  The Rest Stop
Day Tripping:  Jiufen

Local Color: A Winter Trip to Danshui

For the last month or so we've been enduring the usual northern Taiwan winter weather:  Cold, gray, rainy skies.  The temperature hadn't been too low yet, but it wasn't shirtsleeve weather either.  We had started to fall into the emotional winter grays, as well.  Living in northern Taiwan in the winter is like I imagine living through England’s winter weather would be. 

The main differences between a northern Taiwanese winter and a normal English winter are heaters and fireplaces.  Very few, if any central heaters in homes and apartments exist and to this day I have never even seen a chimney indicating a fireplace here.  If you think about it, Taiwan is a small island and if everyone was burning wood all winter the islands would be balder than I am.  So winter, because of the high double-digit humidity and the utter lack of heating in homes, can get bone-chillingly cold. 

I don’t do well in cold weather.  I have a tendency to hole up next to a space heater and mutter incoherently, but enough about me.  Let’s just say that the weather wasn't beautiful. Then, last Saturday, December 29,  as if a miracle had occurred I thrust off the blankets.  The joints didn't hurt, the mumbling had stopped, I almost spoke a coherent sentence.  Last Saturday dawned brilliantly.  Last Saturday was an absolutely gorgeous, warm, spring-like day.  Life returned to northern Taiwan. 

My daughters and a number of their friends took a trip to Danshui.  Danshui is in the north of Taipei just across the Keelung River:  The very last stop on the MRT.  Here are some striking pictures they took of Danshui, Fisherman’s wharf, and the Taipei Skyline.

Thanks to Elizabeth and Emily Banducci for the Pictures.

Danshui the last stop on the MRT

Bali's Skyline from a boat on the Keelung River

A couple of electric bicycles and about a gazillion people 

An Evening Shot

Other posts you may be interested in:

Local Color:  The Temples of Taoyuan City

Local Color:  The Colors of Yingge

Local Color:  Ju Ming Museum in Taipei

Local Color:  The Taoyuan City Ghost Festival

North Coast Taiwan - Shi Tou Shan

On a recent outing to the north coast of Taiwan we visited Shi Tou Shan Park.  This scenic area is located mostly in the cliffs above the ocean.  My kids went on a hike with some friends that we went with.  For me, who is full time in a wheelchair it was impossible.  There were many stairs and difficulties for wheelchairs.  Much of Taiwan is changing and we are seeing a greater number of accessible places.  Fortunately, I don’t have a real life and live vicariously through my children’s lives.  So, they took some beautiful pictures and told me what I was looking at. 

One of the features of this area is couple of small islets.  The official name is the Candlestick Islands.  At one time, in the mists of the pasts these small matching islands were a part of the Jinshan coast.  But thanks to erosion they were separated and were actually an arch out in the sea.  But then the arch collapsed and left these the Twin Candlesticks.  The local people used to call them the “Husband and Wife Rocks,” but the official officials changed the name to the Twin Candlesticks.  

Photos by Emily Banducci

Merry Christmas from the Taiwan Adventure

On The Move: Changing Places in Taiwan

Da Nang Traditional Market

A while back I was writing about finding a new home in Taiwan.  Well, we finally decided to actually do it.  So we have moved into a new home in Bade, City.  Bade is right next to Taoyuan City, in fact, unless you know where to look, you can’t tell where Taoyuan ends and Bade begins.  

We actually only moved about two kilometers from where we were before, but the atmosphere is completely different.  We are living half a block from the famous Da Nang market.  It’s not actually a famous place except in my little world.  The traditional market is sort of like an American swap meet and bazaar at the same time.  People are yelling out what they’re selling. It’s colorful and interesting…and absolutely wall-to-wall with people.  They sell everything there, from meat, to vegetables, to clothing to sundries, to prepared food.  I can just hang out there and watch people.  The nice thing about the traditional market is that is an eight square block area with vendors on curbs and in buildings and is the most handicapped accessible place I’ve been in Bade.  Everything takes place right on the street, no curbs and steps to worry about.

10th floor view

The apartment we moved into is a brand new modern building.  We live on the tenth floor.  Every two apartments on each floor has it’s own elevator.  Say for example, apartment 2 and 4 next to each other.  Only those two apartments on each floor have access to that elevator, all the way up, (twenty-six apartments per elevator).  The ground floor has a garden, gym and an entertainment room with pool and air hockey tables.  Each apartment has three levels of security, the guarded entrance, security elevators, and door locks, so its all safe and secure.  There’s not a lot of violent crime in Taiwan, it’s one of the ten safest nations to live in, but I get the feeling there’s a lot of theft. 

The easiest way to find an apartment is through a real estate agent.  Typically, real estate firms charge half of the first month’s rent to help you to find a place.  We had some friends who went on websites that list apartments and found this one for us.  There are many listings in just about any place you want to live.  Most apartments are for sale, but some individual owners are willing to rent.  Apartments in places like Taipei are fairly expensive, but outlying areas like Taoyuan or Bade City are less expensive and it’s only a thirty-minute train ride from Taoyaun City to Taipei.

Part of the moving Crew

When we moved here from the US we used a company called Lucky Moving to transport our stuff to Taiwan.  I thought they were reasonably priced for that move.  They came to our home, packed up all of our furniture, moved it to their warehouse, loaded it into the container, sailed it across the Pacific Ocean, stored it until we had a place to live, then delivered and unpacked it and set it up in our new home.  They really worked with us on making sure that all of our needs were met.  So when we wanted to pack it up and move we remembered them.  Again for a reasonable fee they took all of the stress and pressure out of the move.  They hauled our furniture to two different locations (one location for storage the other was our home) and gave us the same high level of service we had as an international customer.  They made sure that their on the job supervisor was fluent in English and even agreed to come another day for some other things.

Lucky Moving's Phone Number in Taoyuan City

We've had bad experiences with moving companies in the US.  One company refused to unload some of our furniture until we paid them with a credit card and the payment was secured.  The price was higher than quoted and the crew was unhelpful, even insulting.  But this move was carried out professionally, for exactly what was quoted.  The crew was young, energetic and positive, what a difference.  We were lucky to find Lucky Moving!

Lucky Moving is located in Taiwan and three cities in the US:

Lucky Moving, Irwindale, CA 626-333-1306

Lucky Moving, Sugarland, Texas 281-265-6233

Lucky Moving, East Brunswick, NJ 732-432-4299

I received no goods, services or money for this post.

Other posts you may be interested in:

On the Move:  Finding a Home in Taiwan
Taiwan Travelogue:  The Traditional Market

Struggling through the Murk!

This is for all those looking for Taiwan flag pictures

I have been writing the Taiwan Adventure Blog (TWA) for about three years now.  I began in August of 2009.  For much of that time it’s been a pleasure to write it and document what I’ve seen and done in Taiwan.  The photos and writings will make wonderful memories at the end of this journey.  Who knows when it will all end?

I have grown to love Taiwan and its people.  I think it is a beautiful place once you leave the city, although, many of the cities are spectacular.  I believe that Taipei rivals San Francisco in its beauty, personality and quirkiness.  That’s one of the things I like about Shu Flies and Vagabond in Taiwan, the detail about little places you find in back street neighborhoods, throughout Taipei.

Taiwan has many more exciting things to see and places to go and for me, most importantly, foods to eat.  I’m not through with the idea of continuing to explore Taiwan.  I’m still excited about Taiwan and its possibilities for my calling and me.  I don’t mention my calling much in TWA, it never seems to come up, really.  I came to Taiwan for a specific reason, and that is to win souls to Christ.  I’m a missionary.  The Door Christian Fellowship in Colton, CA launched me into this nation.  I’m part of a fellowship that has more than 1500 churches in more 100 nations. 

And for those looking for M13 Pictures

I’m not ashamed of that, in fact, I’m proud of my mission and purpose in this place.  I have a website for the church, www.pottershousetaoyuan.blogspot.com.  The church is located in Taoyuan City and all the details are listed on that website. 

I have been writing TWA for a number of reasons. Mostly, as a way of relaxing.  It’s like an occasional game of golf or racquetball; a way to allow my thoughts a fallow season.  It’s interesting but when you’re faced with a job of some sort, sometimes by thinking of other things you can free your mind to engage the details of a situation.  I can be more creative on the job if I’m creative off the job.  At least that’s been the case.

But now I’m feeling a certain ambivalence toward this blog.  Last year at this time I was looking forward to writing, and engaging people around the world each week.  This year, not so much, I’m really struggling to write.  It’s not a writer’s block, it’s a motivation block. 

The reason I say that is that I have several ideas for other writing projects.  I have a couple of non-fiction Biblically oriented books that I’d like to write.  One I’ve started but have left off on working on, the other is in the germination mode.  I would also like to write a novel.  It’s a historical, science fiction, political thriller.  Well, it will be if I can pull it off.  That, by the way, is the big question because in reading other blogs, I’ve discovered that I’m not really all that good a writer.  It may take a lot more time than I’m willing to invest to write anything, we’ll have to see how that goes.

So, looking at this and thinking about my readers, you’re probably wondering why I’m sharing all this.  Believe it or not I have a reason.

This year, I have been enduring a struggle unlike any others I've faced in life, and I've had a few to be sure.  So, in struggling through this I have begun to prioritize my life.  In arranging priorities some hierarchies become obvious.  At the top of the priorities are my family and my calling.  These are the two most important things in my life.  I love my family above all earthly things.  I also am committed and still excited about my calling, I want to serve God and people.  Those are the easy ones.  Other things are a bit murky.  I don’t know anymore where TWA fits into my priorities.

On the one hand it’s enjoyable to write just for me.  I usually enjoy the time I spend on it.  There is value in doing something just for yourself.  I get that.  I’ve met people and done things I never thought I’d meet or do.  But I’m geared toward making an impact and I really wonder if that’s happening with this blog.

So I’m wondering if this is even worth continuing.  I think I will put the Taiwan Adventure Blog on hiatus for a while.  If I can’t come up with a compelling reason to start writing it again then the hiatus will more than likely be permanent.  I've actually been thinking about this for some time. If you have an opinion you want to share feel free. 

PS The Tea Blog and Taiwan Gongfu Tea are on permanent hiatus already.  The Church website and the Standing Stones Sermon Blog will continue.

Local Color: Ju Ming Museum in Taipei

Recently we took a trip to the Ju Ming Museum in New Taipei City.  The museum is nestled among the hills above the North Coast of Taiwan.  The interesting thing about this museum is that it is an outdoor museum.  You walk through a park-like setting that is filled with Ju Ming’s sculptures. 

Ju Ming is a Taiwanese Sculptor famous in both Taiwan and new York.  His art is exhibited throughout the world.  He began his early training as a woodcarver but began to apply those skills to a number of mediums including, rock and stainless steel.  The Ju Ming Museum was built at his own expense, and showcases a number of sculptures from his Tai Chi, Military and Living World series. 

In addition to the art exhibits, there is a small water park and arts and crafts centers for the children.  In other areas, children are encouraged to do chalk art on paths, with frames painted onto the sidewalk.

 For more information on the Ju Ming Museum, follow this link: http://www.juming.org.tw/opencms/juming_en/main_en.jsp


Other posts you may be interested in:

Taiwan Travelogue:  The National Palace Museum.
Day Tripping:  Jiu Fen
Taiwan Travelogue:  The North Coast

Photo Credits:  Elizabeth Banducci