Taiwan 2024 - iPhone 15 Series, Starting the Day Buddha Style / Red Notice by Bill Browder

Back in New Taipei...this is one I knew would be posted someday as soon as I snapped the "shutter" on the iPhone.  Some stores ceremonially burn (fake) money and offer first fruits to bestow blessings and prosperity for the day's business.

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Finished a second reading of Red Notice by Bill Browder yesterday, and have a new hero in life.  Very highly recommend this book to anyone interested in justice in a largely-unjust world...

Taiwan 2024 - iPhone 15 Series, Kid Culture

Not long ago a series of pictures was posted on dogs and the way they are pampered in Taiwan and China.  The way they handle their kids is sometimes just as interesting...

Closer shot of this little guy (can he breathe?) as well as one captured at the airport below:

Taiwan 2024 - iPhone 15 Series, Egg Bush

Ah yes, Chenjean's little village.  This beautiful paradise on the mountains in the jungles of Formosa, where the monkeys roam and eggs grow on bushes...

Taiwan 2024 - iPhone 15 Series, Meat Vendor in Zhuqi Market

...very typical meat vendor in the Zhuqi market.

Taiwan 2024 - iPhone 15 Series, Market Lady in Zhuqi

 

Taiwan 2024 - iPhone 15 Series, Mobile Vendors in Zhuqi

The market where we did most of our shopping in Zhuqi was interesting enough, with blocks of vendors and wall-to-wall people in the street between them.  But these types are what interested me the most.

One that was perhaps slightly more affluent below:

Taiwan 2024 - iPhone 15 Series, Mannequien Arms

Chenjean was shopping in a clothing store there in Zhuqi when this caught my eye just outside...

Taiwan 2024 - iPhone 15 Series, Homemade Pickup Truck

You would think that only an eccentric would drive a vehicle like this, but I saw several others just like it.  Must be a local guy just slapping stuff together and selling to his neighbors.  Reminds me of those horse-drawn wagons in Mexico with car tires just like these...

Taiwan 2024 - iPhone 15 Series, Colorful Plant with Glowing Edges

Glowing Edges below:

Taiwan 2024 - iPhone 15 Series, Eccentric Motorcycle Guy

Now THIS was an interesting character.  When we saw him we thought he was homeless, so after talking to him for a while Chenjean offered him some money.  No need, he said, and showed us his wallet containing a huge roll of cash.  Has a family with grown children in the area.  Nope, he's just an eccentric be-bopping around, flitting from place to place on his motorcycle, which to us seemed just as novel as its rider: