Taiwan 2025 - New Taipei Temple Shot #5

This is a VERY busy scene, but haven't seen the likes of it before at this temple so here we are.  Brightened the red dragon panel some, as not much light reached that far back.

My gosh, all these figures, carvings, sculptures, flowers and lights!  Buddhism must be a very complicated religion if you have to know what all this means...

Taiwan 2025 - New Taipei Temple Shot #4

Same subject, different viewpoint...

Taiwan 2025 - New Taipei Temple Shot #3

Used a little bokeh here in both directions to highlight the pagoda-looking thing in the near-foreground.  The possibilities are endless with all of the accoutrements of worship they use.  Almost every year the setup is completely different, depending on what religious observance is represented.

Taiwan 2025 - Folded Paper Things at Temple (New Taipei)

Don't know what these are, but found them interesting so here they are...

Taiwan 2025 - Incense with Smoke Tendrils

Anyone who follows this blog knows that, with all of the color and culture, I love taking pictures at temples.  Especially if smoke tendrils are involved.  And different things take place at different times of the year, which enables variety.

So here we are at the New Taipei temple, close to "our" apartment adjacent to the Ming Chi University of Technology.  Tomorrow will be posting a pic of those orange things in the background.

Taiwan 2025 - Something You Don't See Every Day (New Taipei Mountaintop Hike)

Now THIS is something you don't see every day, a tree growing from a different, separate tree.  The host tree developed a shallow soil bed over time and, well, wherever life can exist, it will.

Closer shot below (both captured on the iPhone):

Taiwan 2025 - Cityscape through Vines on Mountaintop Hike in New Taipei

Venture past the garden and, depending which path you take, it's either a longer or a shorter hike to the adjacent mountaintop.  Because we both love to hike and as therapy for my recently operated-on knee, we made it a point to do a mountain hike at least every other day, either here in New Taipei or in the little village where Chenjean's dad lives.  Caught this pic of something through something on the way up.

Taiwan 2025 - Strange Reddish Bloom in New Taipei Garden

The reason this is being posted a little smaller is because iPhone photos don't do so well with certain edges, which is quite evident when this one is blown up to a larger size.  Still, since it was new and something not posted before from the garden, decided to keep it in.

Taiwan 2025 - Red Hibiscus in New Taipei Garden

Another iPhone capture.

Taiwan 2025 - Yellow Hibiscus in New Taipei Garden

Hibiscus flowers are so incredible, with their size and variety of colors and shapes.  And they require very little maintenance there since droughts rarely happen in Taiwan.  Though this one was captured with the iPhone I managed to bring out the color a bit more and sharpen the focus as a contrast against the background.

Taiwan 2025 - Raindrops on Dark Leaves in New Taipei Garden

As usual during April in Taiwan, it rained some but not too much; the rainy season doesn't really get under way until June.  Thus, with a little luck we can venture out after a rain has cleared to capture droplets like these on leaves and flowers.

Taiwan 2025 - Flying Fish in New Taipei Garden

After cloning out a pole holding this guy up, decided there was an interesting subject here...