Taiwan 2024 - Northeast Coast, Beach Lookout Tower

Our daughter and soon-to-be son-in-law both love the beach, so we built some time in at one up on the northeast coast of the island.  What passes for a beach in Taiwan is very different from what we think of in most other parts of the world, however.  Generally they are not places where you can freely swim or grab a board and surf; they are usually rocky and pretty dangerous.  But it was nice for them to be able to actually be at a beach where there is (that day very strong) wind in your face with a view of lapping waves against the rocks.  The building above was evidently built to do just that - provide a good view of the ocean and surf.

Taiwan 2024 - Northeast Coast, Pastel Housing

Probably a bookmark somewhere in this pic, which was snapped looking out of our hotel window.  Original below:

Taiwan 2024 - Northeast Coast, Rice Paddy Heron

Driving through the rural roads, both between and within the small towns along the East Coast, we saw scenes like this many times - a heron or other wading bird walking slowly through the rice patties in search of food.  Finally got the chance to snap one that I had in mind.

Much wider composition of same photo below:

Taiwan 2024 - Northeast Coast, Stardream Statue

When I saw this thing I could hardly believe my eyes - indeed, I was shocked.  What is it...a bench, an art installation, a slam on America?  Still don't know what to make of it, but it sure grabs your attention.  Wish I knew its origins and purpose.

Taiwan 2024 - Northeast Coast, Stardream Zoo Animals

Animals - yes, this is a zoo so there are animals.  These are a few that caught our eye for one reason or another.  Since the sun was shining bright overhead it was hard to get decent shots but here they are:

Below is the only halfway-decent shot of the animal that most fascinated our daughter Allison - the capybaras.  These giant rodents were wondering freely amongst the zoo goers, and would approach for a handout just like deer or a dog.  We concluded that they might even make decent pets.

Taiwan 2024 - Northeast Coast, Stardream Zoo Greeting Piece

Debated about this one since the sunshine made it uneven right-to-left, but the colors were there so decided to keep it for the blog.  This was what greeted visitors upon entering the main part of the "zoo", which underscores that fact that the place was designed for small kids.

Yet the concept of "kids" is a little different in Taiwan.  While American grownups our age would balk at patronizing such a place (unless they had small kids), this kind of venue is equally enjoyed by Taiwanese "kids" up to age 30 or so.  Indeed, in that country a person is still considered a kid if not married no matter how old they are.  And "kids" of even that age continue to live with their parents.  By contrast, the typical American leaves the nest as soon as practically possible to seek independence, and leaves this kind of stuff far behind once in his or her teen years.  I, for one, was forced to make very adult decisions at that age and never looked back as of my first day of college.

Taiwan 2024 - Northeast Coast, Stardream Sign / Locking Our Doors and the Lunatic

As we moved along the coast our tour guide had to make a change in plans since something we were going to do was closed.  He asked if we wanted to go to a zoo instead.  Of course, we replied, we love animals.  So off we went into the boondocks outside this very small town and landed here, a place called "Stardream".  It was a small outfit, clearly designed for the benefit of small children, however it did have animals and we agreed to go to a zoo, so here we are.

Being a thing for kids, there were lots of pastel colors around the place, so snapped a few that turned out to be keepers.  The sign above was converted using the glowing edges filter, which appeals to a preference for bright colors against a black background:

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We are a month into watching after our brother-in-law's house while he and his wife are in Taiwan for an extended stay.  We've been following very specific instructions written for us before they left.  These instructions include checking the mail, driving the car once in a while, watering plants, switching lights that are turned on, and locking the doors when leaving.  There are multiple doors, some with a deadbolt plus combination to unlock the doorknobs, and a coded padlock for the gate to the back yard.  It's quite the chore, keeping up with all that, but we happily do things for our relatives.  Besides, we need the same sort of favor when we're in Taiwan or on another extended trip, now that we're retired.

As we're fiddling with all the locks and lights, I can't help but think of a much less anxious time when, in Orange, TX (pop 25,000 in the 60's and 70's) there wasn't nearly the angst we experience today about keeping things secure.  Unless you ran with the wrong crowd there simply wasn't a need to.  During the daytime I don't ever recall having to unlock a door to get into the house, even if no one was home at the time.  My dad did check the doors at night and when we went on vacation, but that was it.  And in Nacogdoches (also pop 25,000), in my little cottage out in the country, I never locked the door except at night before going to bed.  No worries about your TV, valuables, or even guns.  There's a certain freedom in not having to constantly think about anyone breaking in to harm you or steal your stuff.

Even in Mexico.  During the first part of the summer of 1980 I lived in El Ejido Charcos, which was a 14-kilometer drive from Allende, Coahuila, a town of 15,000 at the time.  This was a farming co-op way out in the sticks, and there was never any fear of anyone entering the house day or night.  In fact the windows were left open, and I hooked the screen door only to prevent the chickens, hogs or snakes from finding their way into the place while I was asleep.

EXCEPT DURING THE QUARTER MOON !  When I began my stay, there was a warning to keep the doors and windows closed and locked at the quarter moon.  This was because there was a crazy guy, a lunatico, in the area that would shout obscenities at you through the windows at night if they were found to be open.  I didn't take it too seriously until seeing my neighbors locking their windows, so followed suit.

Though there is a risk in allowing nostalgia to overtake reality about the "good ole days", I really do believe, based on experience then and now, that in those days and places life was simpler and the general population - at least where I lived - didn't have to worry so much about crime.

Taiwan 2024 - Northeast Coast, Reflection Shot

Walking a little further along, ran across this and thought it'd make a good reflection shot.  Due to the debris on the water's surface, it reminded me of this shot captured in New Orleans at the very beginning of my adventures in photography.  Unfortunately, the whole scene of that swamp shack was obliterated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Taiwan 2024 - Northeast Coast, Courtyard Behind Abandoned Building

This is an installation they had along the side of the building, which showed an inner courtyard.  I couldn't crawl through and explore, so what did I do?  I reached over and grabbed a 2-shot panorama of the innards:

Taiwan 2024 - Northeast Coast, Tree Growing Out of Abandoned Structure

Focusing now on this tree that literally grew out of the side of the abandoned structure.  Looks as though it's possible there's some dirt in the floor where the roots are coming out, the same that could be providing a toehold for the smaller tree popping out of the window to the left.

Different perspective and profile of same below: