Altough Taiwan has modernized to the point where it should be considered a First World country (judging 1st world by readily available consumer convenience and western level plumbing), in some ways - once you get out of the four or so big metropolitan areas - it still retains some of its former ways and charm. For one, there are certains towns and villages that are noted for being extra special hand-work centers.
One town is famous for being the premiere wood carving and wood sculpture center, for example. We'll go there on a future outing. The center noted for its pottery is a short (about 40 minutes) train ride outside of Taipei. In addition to having numerous commercial establishments that turn out world-class porcelain and "chinaware", they have smaller craft shops that turn out specialized "hand-thrown" pottery.
One of the big tourist attractions of the place is having small shops that let you "do it yourself." Each shop has several wheels and, for a modest fee, they set you up with a blob of clay; give you a bit of instruction to get you started; and leave you to create your masterpiece. Every once in a while they come around to see how you are doing and help straighten out the problems you invariably run into. Finally, they guide your hands to help turn what you have done into something presentable.
After a bit of post-modeling decoration, you leave it with them to be fired and glazed. In about two weeks, your artistic inspiration is delivered to your door - after which it can be gazed upon with amazement and admiration by your relatives and friends.
Click on a photo to see an enlargement.
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Our next outing took us half-way down the east coast to Luo Dong - famous for its Water Park. You can't beat a day's sloshing and splashing for relief from the heat and humidity of Taiwan in August - as half of Taiwan, or so it seems (check out the mid-week crowd) - has figured out.
Click on a photo to see an enlargement.
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We spent half a day out on the ocean to see dolphins and whales frolicking in their salty habitat. There were lots of dolphins (but we saw no whales), and they did frolic and gambol in the way you expect of dolphins, but because of the time lag problem with digital cameras, I could never catch them in time.
We spent the other half of the day in a beautifully scenic park famous for it five waterfalls.
Click on a photo to see an enlargement.
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Mandy's birthday fell on one of the days we were vacationing, so we bought a small birthday cake and brought it back to our hotel room to celebrate. Although according to the Western way of reckoning she is only 8 years old, according to the Chinese way she is 10 (they count the time she was growing inside mom's belly as one year, and passing the Lunar New Year as a second year). Naturally, like any kid who can't wait to grow up, she prefers the Chinese fashion - hence the 10 on her birthday cake.
We ended the trip off with a visit to the small town of Su Auo (pronounced Sue - as in the name, and Ow - like what you say when you stub your toe) famous for its Cold Springs. According to the local folklore, there are only two springs like this in the entire world - the other one being in Italy.
Click on a photo to see an enlargement.
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Wel, that's all there is for now - more is sure to follow. As always, if anyone has any photos that they would like to put up, by all means email them to me.