Return From a Land of Dragons
Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 8:10PM I have returned from a land of dragons and modern skyscrapers, misty mountains and fast paced city streets.
Taiwan is an island about the size of Maryland and Delaware combined, with a population of around 23 million people. Old meets avant-garde, and ocean is a short drive from the city center. I was fortunate to be immersed inTaiwanese culture and to get a genuine taste of its diverse offerings on my recent visit with friends there.
I am seriously jet lagged, and I still have a hard time remembering what day it is. But I have over 1200 photos to remind me of the experience of a lifetime. I have had a hard time choosing only a few to post on this blog!
I spent most of my time in Taipei. Remembering this is a garden and nature blog, here are some city images. The tall tower is the 101 Building, the second tallest building in the world:
I spent a day in Taipei's botanical garden, where I ate lunch overlooking the garden's large lotus pond:
Some other lovely flowers and scenes from the botanical gardens:
I was fascinated with a plant labeled Ravenula madagascariensis, which looks like a large palm but is actually a member of the bird-of-paradise family, Strelitziaceae. I was also drawn to the fabulous bark of the Eucalyptus delupta tree:
While the city is exciting and offers a lot, my heart was drawn to the countryside, where farmers grow tea and many other fruits and vegetables and where mist covered mountains stretch to the sea:
And of course, a trip to Taiwan would not be complete without seeing the Pandas. The highlight of my trip to Taiwan's zoo was my photo capture of a smiling Panda, though she could use a good tooth brush!
It was all quite a journey! May your own adventures leave you with smiles and warm memories, as well.
Deborah
Panda, Taipei Botanical garden, Taipei City, Taiwan in interesting places
Reader Comments (22)
Nothing less than spectacular Deborah, breath-taking ! You are a fabulous photographer-the upclose shots are excellent. Such a beautiful place-so many special places in our world that one will never see...doesn't seem right :)
I left a response on my blog to your note....I love your trip, so glad you chose to share.
Get rested and back in the right time zone....let's keep in touch~
Bea
Fabulous photos ; that Eucalyptus and Ravenula madagascariensis are AMAZING!!! Tie-dye bark. Also really liked the shot of the lotus seed pods which look as though they are studded with jewels.
Welcome home, Deb! The photos are breathtaking - how much more so it must have been to actually see these places. I love the misty countryside ones.
wow, what a beautiful country. I have a past student teaching there at the moment but he doesn't post such beautiful images as you have. It must have been wonderful, thanks for sharing such an exciting visit. Christina
what a fantastic experience Deb, beautiful photos, it looks like a lush green land, love the textures you've captured, Frances
Welcome back Deborah! I don't know how you narrowed your photographs for this post, they're all so beautiful, as I'm sure are the ones we didn't see. The stone bridge across the lake is just breathtaking, and the lotus pond too! Goodness, I'd struggle to grow just one lotus in a pond, never mind that many. I love their seed heads, they're just charming.
Thank you so much for the tour of Taiwan. Your images are wonderful and I felt almost immersed in the culture and locale. It is a place I will never visit, but almost felt like I did.
Thanks for sharing Taiwan with us--quite a beautiful country. I was wondering how you ended up choosing to visit Taiwan because I don't hear very much about it as a tourist destination.
Welcome back Debs, you certainly have had a fantastic trip with thousands of memories, thank you for sharing a few with us. Your misty views are stunning and the flowers in the Botanical garden are so beautiful, including the unusual seed heads of the Lotus.
Was an interesting view into an unknown country. Glad you are back again.
I had thought you meant China as I relate to China as the Land of the Dragons.
I have enjoyed your beautiful captures. The bridge and the flamingo are my favorites. Those shots of the botanical garden have been wonderfully captured too.
Did I see a man doing Qi Qong at the other end of the bridge? :)
Cool Photos!!!
What a lovely photologue of your trip to Taiwan, a place that we've been considering to visit very very soon, knowing of their diverse flora, especially of plants growing on higher elevations!
I'm intending on going through your photologue again tonight! :)
Welcome home! What an exciting trip this must have been. I enjoyed seeing all your pictures and hope you post more.
What a fantastic post... both entertaining and educational... I love all the photography and am very appreciative that I was able to share in your wonderful excursion! Larry
I have had many friends and family visit Asia and Taiwan. They simply love this area of the world and I can see why!!
Deb, What an exciting adventure, and what beautiful images! I especially love the lotus photos -- I find both their flowers and their seedpods wonderful.
I can see why you would have sensory overload. What an exotic beautiful place. I will look forward to seeing more.
Nice, tour and post. Must have been invigorating.
I love the pictures of the Lotus flower and seed pods. So beautiful. I was enjoying the pictures from the city gardens and then you showed the pictures from the country -- magnificent, with those mist shrouded valleys and tall mountains right on the ocean.
What an incredible trip!! You'll probably be dreaming about it all winter. :o)
Deb - for all of us that may never get to visit such an exotic land, thank you for sharing such amazing photos!