Another Gorgeous Day in Tainan

Air Supply, behind bars at last.

The rain stopped, the wind blew in, and the sun came out. And so I marched across Tainan, camera in hand.

This introduction to the history of National Chengkung University, whose institutional core dates back to the Japanese period, refers to Taiwan being "returned" to China. *sigh*

Rising prices don't slow down those delivery vehicles. In many cities gas delivery trucks constantly roam the streets of their neighborhoods, waiting for phone calls. This reduces delivery times.

Sunlight in the alleys.

Shengli Road in Tainan.

Flowers crowd the camera.

There's a doctoral dissertation hidden in these signs.

85C is a booming Taiwan coffee chain that opened an outlet in Australia.

One thing I like about Tainan is that the wilderness of signs has not been tamed by some local government that wants all the signs to look the same.

Residential neighborhoods.

Curving alleys are a feature of Taiwan neighborhoods. A relic of their origin in converted rice fields?

Water pumps waiting for customers.

A small restaurant takes a break between meals.

Another great thing about Tainan is the brick pavements. Very atmospheric.

A gas cooker, common in street stands.

Washing down after lunch rush.

A small shrine tucked into a crevice next to an auto repair shop is a physical metaphor for the unobtrusive integration of religion into everyday life in Taiwan.

A street stall.

I've never seen this variety of mango before. Delicious.

It's nice to have something to do while the vendor cooks your onion cakes.

In every neighborhood such bulletin boards announce places for rent.

The sun brought out the clothes.

Enjoying an afternoon BBQ in a tea stand.

Good fengshui: where an alley intersects housing, a temple is often built to deflect the negative effects of the road running like a dagger into a potential home.

The inside of a local restaurant. Bare walls: I've never understood the attraction.

Meats pose in a local restaurant display.

Your friendly neighborhood police station.

Filling up with water.

Words fail me.

Sells a little bit of everything.

Drying the cleaning stuff.

The imposing edifice of a local junior high school.

The day was so clear that the mountains were visible. I've actually never seen them before.

After a long walk, ice cream is the correct therapy for sore feet and a parched tongue.

[Taiwan]