Taipei (2009) - Night

Shilin Night Market

Taipei (2009) - Scooters - A Rain Shot

Still on scooters (see previous blog entry).

Scooters scooters everywhere. I think I've grown to love taking photographs when or after drizzle.

Unlike taking a shot in daylight which one could leverage on the shadows and its cast angles to create stunning image effects, rain on the other hand, creates a different opportunity. Instead of casting shadows, the water in the surrounding context casts reflections which could be very useful in photograhy.

This shot above, however, could not really demonstrate what I have just said, but you could see the reflections of the scooters on the bottom right of the image. This photo's focus is on the passing vehicles at the background. Thus creating a feel for movement while the scooters are in their stationary position.

Taipei (2009) - Scooters - Naturally Neat

Many things the Taiwanese have normalized and accustomed to to do as society has amazed me. One of the first things I noticed is that stark contrast on how everyone parks their scooters by the road.

It is just amazing. In fact to simply say amazing is an understatement. Why so? It is easier to be neat and to follow public rules for parking when one is not in a rush and when there are ample space to maneuver the bike. The parking lots for scooters (or motocycles) in Taipei are actually quite scarse because of the large number of "scooter'ist" on the road.

Despite the number of riders trying to find a lot even if they have to literally squeeze in between a gap the size of a paper thickness, I've not (yet) caught any parked scooter whose handle is not positioned to the left.

That is not all, this societal rule applies also to bicycles. Amazing isn't it?

Taipei (2009) - National Palace Museum

National Palace Museum under the clear blue sky.

Wild Flower

A digitally modified and enhanced photograph of a wild flower taken many years back.

Taipei (2009) - Shilin Night Market - Kittens for Sale

Shilin Night market has a corner that sells animals and birds of all kinds. Most of them looked very cute and cuddly. Well, of course they have to be otherwise who'd be buying them...

Taipei (2009) - Insects

It was evening time. On our way back to our hostel we came across a fruit stall. We decided to buy some fruits. A flying insect crossed my path and stopped over some pears. Very quickly... and I mean VERY QUICKLY, I snapped a shot of it at rest.

Taipei (2009) - Beef Noodle

Dinner Time! I like the way the guy in yellow looked at the camera. =)

Taipei - Ice Jelly Dessert @ Shilin Night Market

We were at the Shilin Night Market for dinner. Before heading off to soak into the market atmosphere we got ourselves a cool ice jelly dessert. It was really nice. The sight of the bucket full of jelly and floating lime reflecting the ceiling light was even more captivating at least for me.

Taipei (2009) - Black Ball Dessert & Plant on Table

We were at a dessert stall having Mango dessert with Black Balls. Nope I didn't get it wrong. Not black pearls... black balls. Sounds wonky I know. By the way, their website is http://www.blackball.url.tw/.

And every table is decorated with a little potted plant. Refreshing.