Taiwan

Liugui Township in Kaohsiung county, Southern Taiwan

In Kaohsiung county due to recent typhoons and landslides, traveling is quite limited, many roads are still destroyed, and many people in Taiwan avoid those areas now. However, for me, in love with southern Taiwan, it's hard to resist not to go over those mountain roads again. This time I want to show a bit of small mountain city called Liugui Township (六龜鄉) - it's no information in internet at all about it, and I want to fill this gap. Living here is really dangerous, as the risk of landslides are high, and the discussion whether people should go away from here still remains harsh in Taiwan. Now, in winter, when typhoon season is over, all here looks calm and silent, however, reminders of harsh summer typhoons and landslides are seen everywhere:

You can just imagine the power of raging river and what was happening here just a few month ago.
Mountains all around here looks somewhat like this:

 

 

All of them now have such a yellow sand sides, can see where the landslides were, and many of them lost their beautiful green trees cover, and now look like old, bald men standing lonely there.

Such a houses like the one above are at the highest risk to be washed away at next flood and typhoon. And there any many of them, and people prefer stay - would you like to move away from your own home?

Road goes up and up bringing us more to the middle of Kaohsiung county.

If you do not concentrate on the typhoon and landslides, views in Southern Taiwan is as breathtaking as usually.

It's fresh, just rebuilt road - and I hope this time it won't be damaged again so soon.

Luigui (Six Turtles) township itself if calm, rural southern Taiwan township with it's own 7ELEVEN, school, police and all other facilities you will find in any place in Taiwan.

Shops try survive here mostly hoping on passing traffic up to the mountains - to Baolai hotspring area. 

 

One of the most amazing things in Taiwan is the people - they live everywhere - you could drive the smallest road in most remote are - and still, you will find people sitting like this, and socializing. 

Luigui School - another thing I like in Taiwan - no matter how small is the township - school will be big enough and good building. Education is important.

Taiwan people like to do business - no matter, where and what - but you will always find someone selling something in most unexpected places.

 

If you really happen one day to be in Luigui - stop by to eat in this restaurant - it's common in Taiwan that not bright at all walls does not means that food is terrific and tasty. Local drink stand suggested us to try this, and it was really a good place.

It's as usually a family owned restaurant as most of such places in small cities in Taiwan.

Feeling of real Taiwan - it's how most of small family owned restaurants in rural areas look like.

 

Green vegetable is always present dish

炒麵 - fried noodles

蛤仔湯 - Clam soup

Nuts, pork and garlic offers really special flavor - very delicious

烤鮭魚 - Grilled salmon

In case you need directions:
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Jioufen - mountain town in the Rueifang Township of Taipei County near Keelung, Taiwan.

For those, who live in Taipei, or Taoyuen, and not yet visited this place - try to get there once you have a time. Besides night market (of course, what else), there is pure charm of those Japanese era architectures and houses.

Jioufen was only an isolated village until 1893, when gold was discovered in the area. The resulting gold rush hastened the village's development into a town, and reached its peak during the Japanese rule.

Tell me fast, what's annoying there? Yes, 7ELEVEN sign. Just same annoying as in Fenchihu train station old town (also featured in my blog). Many present features of Jioufen reflect the era under Japanese colonization, with many Japanese inns surviving to this day.



Jioufen, also known as Jiufen or Chiufen (Chinese: 九份; pinyin: Jiǔfèn; Wade-Giles: Chiu3-fen4), is a mountain town in the Rueifang Township of Taipei County near Keelung, Taiwan.


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The street runs through most of the village with a multitude of food such as yam dishes, stinky tofu and other local specialties such as peitou meatballs and mixed vegetables topped with peanut powder and ice cream.





Street is cramped with shops, eateries, homestays and restaurants and widely decorated by red lanterns.



Meat balls



Juice stand here. Jioufen sometimes also is referred as "Little Shanghai".



There are also restaurants, street stalls and dessert shops that provide a plethora of gourmet indulgences.



And that's the "nose problem" for a novice foreigner in Taiwan - stinky or tzo tofu. Later you will adapt to this smell, and finally also you will eat it. By the way trust me - it's taste is far better than it's smell. Well, one thing I am not sure - how about living in a flat, with a windows just above tzo tofu vendor?



Northern Taiwan snack - fried fish powder.



And that's tou gan - similar to tofu food. From soybeans.



Dry sweet fruits.



Not everyone thinks that need keep nostalgic japanese era and gold rush mood here. How about those neon "restaurant" signs? But the restaurant (and homestay at second floor) is not bad, however, expensive. We had a dinner there - for this price you get good food.



Shoes, Chinese brushes and scrolls, jewelries, toys and souvenir of all sorts will be offered you in a hectic way, because you look like a tourist. Hint - do you know how to DO NOT look like a foreigner in Taiwan? my suggestions: - Do speak louder as you usually did; - Do wear a striped T-shirt (not Hawai style); - Do not wear those shorts a-la travel style with big pockets - wear jeans instead; - Keep a tea in hand; - Ask your girlfriend take Louis Vouitton bag; - Use mobile phone when making pictures; - Overreact on fireworks, and try to make video of them using mobile phone; - Wear bluetooth even if you do not drive; - When someone is talking with on phone, instead of "I see" say - 'aa-- haa haaa --- aaaa - aaa -- aaa --- long string of those sounds and end it by "dzangzi la (that's all). - In winter dress more as you would usually do at this temperatures before.



Anyway, those shops still are waiting you buy something



Chinese fast food - noodles, dumplings, soup and the like



Heavy "discounts" today for nuts. I suppose, like for any other retailer, discounts here are 365 days a year. And for you only.



Tea shops in Taiwan always will be happy to sit down with and offer tea. You will drink, and finally buy. A lot. It's a marketing & sales trick called return the favor. Can you after a drinking tea with host go away without buying anything?



If you come too late, like after 9:30 - you see most of shops will be already closed



Gold museum down there

Luodong night market in Yilan county, North-East Taiwan

It was much bigger as I was expecting to see. It was much more impressive, vibrant atmosphere surrounded and there was much bigger selection on food than you would expect from regular nightmarket allover Taiwan.
It's just same impressive, and maybe even bigger than Fengchia nightmarket in Taichung, located nearby my flat. Definitely, Luodongers can be same proud and self-acclaim it as biggest and most popular tourist attraction as sometimes Taichungers do with Fengchia nightmarket.

Luodong (traditional Chinese: 羅東; pinyin: Luódōng; Wade-Giles: Lo-tung) is an urban township in the central part of Yilan County, Taiwan. Its name derives from the Taiwanese aboriginal word Rutung/Lutung, meaning "monkey".





Same as in Fengchia nightmarket, and in most big nightmarkets in Taiwan - it has several parts. As you might know, night market is "night" because it appears on a particular street only in evening, so it will be always a situation that one side will have a shops - inside the buildings, usually selling clothes, glasses and jewelry, and in front of them - food sellers and all the usual shelters selling everything starting from fake Gucci bags made in China and ending children toys, also presumable from mainland. This part of market for you as a foreigner might be less interesting, however, take a walk to breath the atmosphere of friday evening in Luodong - food smell rises in the air mixed with loud voices of clothes sellers - a cacophony of sounds you will find only in Taiwan. Take a walk with me - watch the below video and especially listen the noise - NOISE of nightmarket.





In old fashioned brick-and-mortar business the location is the most important factor for any retail shop. So for this shop promotional banner with weak call to action is OK, to write by hand - as you can see still it's full of people there.



Shoes & apparel shops compete with each other not only using bright red signs but also sometimes switch on very loud "lai lai lai (come come come) recorded voice "spam" - very annoying in fact.



It's the woman's world out here.



Target customer for those apparel shops are teens and students - as you can see they are also most popular demographic group seen here.





it's a food selling area already in above video. In 0:19 and further notice the row - waiting in a line for dumplings stand.



Juice stand



Call to action for kids - entertainment here for everyone, and you will go out from market with very thin wallet. However, with full stomach.



Lu wei - same as in Fengchia night market and everywhere else. Taiwan people like it a lot, and with various flavors.



different fried food selection





Dumplings. Cheaper than in Fengchia nightmarket. And even more cheaper than in Kenting nightmarket - I had wrote about it here.





Kiss of Love cherry juice. No, it's not pathetic. It's Taiwan.





I can't stop wonder why Taiwanese man so like those striped shirts? My all are with palms and flowers, like those in Kenting...



Restaurant area in Luodong night market - yes, crowdy. But, it's a nightmarket!



Friday night - it's hard to find a place to sit.

















Time to relax. Luodong style massage.





Those games are not just for kids - for big kids also. In love. After Kiss of Love cherry juice.

Yuan-Wuang-Keng Riverside park - Northern Taiwan, near Gongliao Township

Fulong beach and all Northern Taiwan areas are not for everyone - well, at least for me - a big lover of western and southern parts of Taiwan. However Fulong beach is a place you will sooner or later visit, and then what I want to suggest you - it's a brief rest in Yuan-Wuang-Keng park, also known as Butterfly Ginger Park.
What's really interesting here, and as you will see below in photos - designers tried to use a natural materials to build the park, and also did not touched anything - even the rice fields and houses are left untouched.
The riverbank, the trails, even the park benches were all built with stones of different sizes and shapes. The water pond was brought in directly from the Yuankeng River with a specially designed pavilion and an arched bridge that elegantly arcs above the pond. The wild ginger flowers along the riverbank and the parking lot's greenery blossom from summer to October.
The Yuanwangkeng Water Park is also an ideal place for those who enjoy hiking, as it is located near the grass track. In November, the park is awash in white due to the blooming wild sugarcane.



It's really not big at all, and if you come at weekdays, I suppose it will be silence there as well.

\

Old living house are here and park stretches just in front of it. It's interesting, what those people think - you live and live, and then one day you wake up and find your self in a park.







Small river here





Kids having fun at water pumps





Evening mood in Yuan-Wuang-Keng Riverside park

Taimali township, in Tautung county, South-East coast of Taiwan - Shi Jia fruit heaven

Once you are driving around Taiwan, and happen to be in a Taitung county, it's well worth to stop by and check Taimali township.

As Wikipedia says:

The Tai Mali village was started 1,000 years ago by Qian YaoKao who was ancestor of the Pai Wan race. The Qian YaoKao is also called DaMa race. Guangxu 3th year, due to DaMa has similar pronunciation to Tai Ma, thus it has been called Tai Mali by mainland people. Early in the Republic Era, other aborigines such as the Ah Mei and Bai Wan races were moving continuously to Tai Mali village. During the Japanese colonial period, there were also some residents from Miaoli, Nantou, Zhanghua, Yunlin, Jiayi, Tainan, Gaoxiong, and Pindong settling in Tai Mali village.

If you just stay on a main road, Taimali looks just like any other east coast township:





Most of inhabitants are engaged in farming, while others try to squeeze out living selling food to those who pass by the township.

What Taimali area is really famous for, it's a Shi Jia fruit, and I think, that there is no english name for it - at least yahoo dictionary could not find one. Anyway, you should come early in may to get the season and best of them, because when we came at end of may, it appeared that it's already too late, and only such ones left:



Do not be too concerned also, if you could not catch the fresh fruits - there are a lot of jellies and candy made from them, so you will be sure to get a sweet (maybe even too sweet in my opinion) taste of this fruit. And a good place to buy a gifts and different sweets, related to eastern Taiwan are in the shop, which you will not miss (good example of marketing skills - in a mess of red signs in Taiwan, it really stands out). And it's a parking around it - as Sam Walton noticed, that in case his parking lot's were filled more than 50 %, the sales in his shops started to decline. This shop apparently does it good - get's the attention, offers you parking and here you are - inside the shop.



Good isn't it? At least you will point your finger on it, asking "what's that"? And most likely stop to take a picture.



A lot of things to choose from



Li Ji - my favorite fruit in Taiwan also sold here.

After you had packed up with eastern coast sweet's, don't speed up too much. There is a really terrific place to have a lunch. Definitely - such quality and such a taste - exceeded our expectations.



They had named it Sea restaurant, but not because of sea food, but I guess, because of really fantastic eastern coast views, which are just here to enjoy while you have a lunch.

Adress is No.133, San-Ho Village, Taimali, Taitung county.





Such a views, just from a restaurant table. Let's take a look on menu:



If you think that it's not cheap at all, I agree with you. But it's worth to try, because it's really tasty.

Here is our lunch, but your choice could be another:



It's Hai Shin. Inside are mix of sea food - shrimps & similar.



Noodles, pork, ginger & much other tasty things.



Again a mix of different kind of vegetables and meat, and as I remember, tofu as well.



Chicken.



Desert - watermelon, sweet's and coffee.

I will remember Taimali as such, but it's for sure, that I am going to explore it more next time, not just such quick run through.

Engagement in Miaoli, Western Taiwan: What it takes...

Engagement... What's the difference with actual marriage by the way? It turned out that I recently visited one, and I will give you chance to see it also - by means of pictures and video - thank you - youtube! Most interesting is a fact that if I wouldn't knew before, that it's engagement, then I would be absolutely sure, that it is marriage

For those of us, who comes from countries where engagement hardly goes beyond "please marry me words, in candlelight dinner, preferably in Hawaii", I am giving Wikipedia's opinion on it:

An engagement is a promise to marriage, and also the period of time between proposal and marriage – which may be lengthy or trivial. During this period, a couple is said to be affianced, betrothed, engaged to be married, or simply engaged. Future brides and bridegrooms are often referred to as fiancées (brides) or fiancés (grooms).

Now, I want to show how this promise is celebrated in Taiwan, particularly in Miaoli. Before we go on, I want to tell also, that before I had also visited actual wedding as well, and also in Miaoli. Let me tell you that in principal no difference, however, there is one - and a principal one. Those 2 ceremonies are totally same - a lot of tables for dinner, bride & groom walks from table to table, and of course (my god my ears), everyone things he CAN SING - Karaoke, or KTV, and - depending on culture level of particular family a little dressed girl singing and dancing - more you will move to South of Taiwan, more will have those. In the wedding i was before, there was such a girl, here in engagement - no. 

And one more important thing - in engagement, all friends and family (except most close ones, who are from both) from brides side are invited, and in wedding - all friends and family from groom's side are invited. here answer to question why ceremony is almost same lays also - because we want to eat & drink and we (do not want) to listen KTV performed by brides sister's in law father's uncle. Especially if they try to perform Hotel California. 

Enough words, let video and pictures speak louder than text!

Who is who introduction. Parents and closet relatives of bride and groom.

Now, check this video how many people are invited. It was just at the beginning only, when i just arrived in Taiwan, when in much smaller family gatherings i was always asking my wife or someone else - who is that man, or who is this woman - in 99 % cases, answer was - No idea. (remember - it's FAMILY gatherings). However now, I still can not stop wondering about another Taiwan Flavor - it is very common at such gatherings to sit at the SAME TABLE with someone, who you ask - who is this, and still get answer "no idea". I am adapting, but still did not adapted fully though.

If you do not know 90 % of people around, of course this man below is the one awaited most I guess. He brings dishes..

Asparagus - well, let's keep a hope that more to follow.

Sushi (Japan, your GDP down in 1Q 15.2 %, but at least you are evergreen in sushi dish) and some meat.

Brrr, from those i am scared. Seafoodophobia - i would call it like this. Crabophobia particularly.

This soup was ok...

More sea food.

In western weddings most pathetic moment are Mendelssohn March, when bride comes out, or both comes depending on country? Well, the key is that it is pathetic, and they come only once. Taiwan is a country who says, why not repeat it? Such "walk-outs" as you can see in above video were at least 3 in this engagement.

A kind of rap...

You must accept that your "uncle-in-law" will be singing at your wedding if you want to have one in Taiwan. Just read this again - you must to.

At one moment couple will come to your distant table as well. Be sure to be present at that time, it happens only once.

Jiouhua Mountain Monastery and Temple in Tongluo, Miaoli county, Western Taiwan

If you happen to be driving from Tongluo (銅鑼) - small rural township in Miaoli county in Western Taiwan to Sanyi township, a place worth to visit is Jiouhua Mountain Monastery and Temple - place that reveals a real heart of contemporary Taiwanese religion and gives you insight in a spirit of Western Taiwan. You will not find this place in tourist guides, while everyone who lives on western taiwan knows this place. Students come here to pray before exams, some people come here several times per year to pray - and - eat "good" noodles. What's "good" noodles? Stay with me, you will see. Now, we did not arrived yet, there is a place to visit before.

Don't miss the turn, it shows just a turn to Jiouhua mountain:

 

Soon, after you turn right following this road:

...you'll stumble upon interesting place. I would call it tea shop, but it's something really unexpected here.



and the nearby shop, where you can find a snacks and nuts (at least at the moment, we were here - may, 2009).



At this moment, the tea shop seemed to be closed, but i was so interested about it, that one of older woman went out and then after a moment a woman - owner appeared in a door, and opened tea shop just for us. She told, that they are usually open in november only, when Chrysanthemum full blooms - in fact that's what Miaoli and Tongluo is proud of - Chrysanthemums, and their blossoms. Owner told us that it is worth for them to be open just at this time of year. Nevertheless she is so warm and welcome to us! After short chat, we decide to try Chrysanthemum flower tea, coffee and what else she can make for us. I took a walk in garden while snacks where preparing:





In november, when Chrysanthemum blooms, they also offer bicycles for rent.







Here's what we've got. Chrysanthemum flower tea, coffee and really tasty honey cake - seems warmth of welcoming hosts are transforming in their snacks also.



Aroma & taste is very special - you need to try it, it can not be described and photo can not pass aromas...

For the temple itself - in fact the tea shop already made my mood good for all the day, it turned out as a very big place, surrounded with a supplementary small business - there a lineups with noodles sellers before the temple you buy it, and then give away, and then they cook it and you eat for free. That's the idea.



When you approach the temple, monks chants are heard already from a distance, and here is what opens to your eyes once you arrive:



Singers are two monks in black, standing with faces to temple:







I noticed that here prayers were older man and woman, while "good" noodles - those were eating everyone - small and not so.

According tradition, you need eat those noodles and luck will be with you - those are good noodles.

Let's try, here you see the serving room, a really big place:

Of course signs of "no photo" are everywhere, but I still wanted share this to world - so, I did it for YOU:





Serving "good" noodles for everyone...



Choose your seat...



... and enjoy your meal - especially recommended before important university exams!

Southern pearl of Formosa - Kenting

When I was thinking about how to write about Kenting in few words - just to start this blog entry with a short and exact description of this beautiful in any meanings place -I finally came to conclusion that it's not possible. Few words, even few paragraphs is not enough.
Turning to Wikipedia for help gives us this:

Kenting National Park is a national park located in the Hengchun Peninsular of Pingtung County, Taiwan, covering Hengchun, Checheng and Manjhou Townships. Established on January 1, 1984, it is Taiwan's oldest and southernmost national park, covering the southernmost area of the Taiwan island. Administered by the Executive Yuan's Ministry of the Interior, this national park is well-known for its tropical climate and sunshine, scenic mountain and beach, the Spring Scream rock-band festival held in every March^[1], and has long been one of the most favorite resort places in Taiwan.

.. and when you read this - you just can not grasp all the beauty what lays behind this dry wiki text. What Kenting is anyway, and what's there? Why it's a one of must visit places when someone comes to Taiwan for short or no so stay?

First of all Kenting is not a city or town in regular meaning of this - with a houses, schools and hospitals. That's why road signs shows it in a brown color - like a cultural object or scenic area, rather than township:

Kenting belongs to Pingtung county, and that's a south of Taiwan:

In short - it's place to enjoy a beach recreational activities - diving, swimming, catching the waves, surfing, laying in sun - something that reminds Hawai maybe. I personally incredibly enjoy to wear Haiwai, or if you want Thailand style colorful shirts with palms, sea and other elements usually present on such shirts - so, if you also like them - Kenting nightmarket sells them a lot, and choice are very good. During my last trip to Kenting, I bought more such shirts for my collection. One of interesting things, that you will for sure notice when you arrive to Kenting - a lot of Ling Jiao - water chestnut sellers. One buy one they stand on a road selling same product:

Typical view in Southern Taiwan - different, than you would see for example in Northern areas of Taiwan.

Road back usually will be overcrowded with onion sellers - besides Ling Jiao, onions seems is a second most popular "sell on the road" product in Pingtung county.

If onion or Ling Jiao is not what you desperately want right now, mango and other fruit are available at every moment.

Just a few meters from fresh fruit, they keep such a view. When we saw this, we did not bought anything. I wonder, why in Southern part of Taiwan such views are much more common that in Western or Northern part?

One more. And this one can be found just behind this extremely crowded restaurant:

let's go in:

Lunch boxes, what those guys are enjoying - are the food you can get in this restaurant. if you feel desperate to sing, there is a KTV terminal in far front of this place. During our stay, some man were singing twice. No. Not singing. "singing", need write like this. I do not know, why in Taiwan everyone think, that he can sing, forcing for example me - who listens Antonio Vivaldi in car, listen those waves of inarticulated sounds. By the way, wondering who are those guys with fashion hear cut? Again - they are very religious persons,those who are usually organizing such religion performances like Matsu in Taichung, what I presented recently.

Another "pearl" of southern Taiwan. Toilets which I call "big brother is watching you". You do the job, and local souvenir shop woman eyes you. If you go in this toilet - one more "surprise" there is a window to woman's part of facility. That's what i could not understand the real reason - this window is for what? No picture sorry, i am reporter not pervert.

OK, enough about wrinkles of southern taiwan, let's get to aesthetics! i need to tell, that not all Southern Taiwan coastal area has nice sand for beach activities. While you drive to Kenting, most of coastal area has such outlook:

Enjoy the volleyball but wear shoes, please!

Few words about the hotel, and how to choose it. All the Kenting is nothing else than a collection of hotels, bars, restaurants and shops. Just google for Kenting hotel, or press any add here near my post and you will get a selection of them. Cheap home stay or expensive 5 star sea view hotel - just 1 click away. We trusted Lonely Planet, and decided to try Chateau Beach Resort. It is important to note, that not all the hotel you will reserve in internet will give you sea view from a window. Morever - most of the hotels are located at right side of the road, and for sure have no sea view - at least not a close up one. Of course price is much cheaper if you do not need a sea view. But... you come here maybe once a year.. and we could not resist to have this view from our window, even if it was more expensive:

Now, let's go to the beach - it's just few steps from a Chateau:

Good news are that those chairs were at least always free - one ore two were available, because seems this part of beach in some way are protected to those who stay in hotel.

Hotel really looks nice...

All this complex is Chateau - just be sure to get beach side room. By the way - first floor is more expensive, because you can just go out from a room and here is a sea - but, let me tell you that there are drawbacks as well. You feel like living on street - everyone walks around so, best choice i think is second floor.

When waves are big, and they were at the time we was there - they will not allow you swim without safety vests - those are free. As a rebellion in heart of course I felt shameful to wear it, and told that I no need it. In next moment next big wave swallowed me, and kicked over the rocky ground under the water. After few moments I was up and everyone looked at me and and my knee, little bloody. Are you OK (yeah, just like in US made films, where Bruce Willis all in blood comes out from a factory, where he just killed 50 enemies - this is question he get's from his girlfriend (same tone - are you ok?). Lesson - if those waves are really big and you are cityboy like me - don't go too deep.

Shadows becoming big... evening is coming.

Fiji? Tahiti? Hawai? West Waikiki? No! it's Taiwan!

After the sunset, it just becomes more beautiful. That's the view I got fro our hotel balcony!

What to do after sunset? Well, depends who you are and you came with whom.

For sure Kenting night market is worth to visit - although prices are terrible - if compare for example with Fengchia night market, :

BBQ - at least 3 times more expensive than in Taichung - because this night market is 100 % for tourists - there are no locals at all.

That's street what I writing before -no living houses in Kenting - just bars, hotels and restaurants - and left side is cheaper, but then no sea view.

Want some relax? Massage for you right on the street.

Besides those regular things you will find in any market in Taiwan - here in Kenting are much disco bars, just bars and bars with showgirls and beyond. Get relaxed in Kenting, things to enjoy for everyone!

Matsu goddess procession comes to Fengchia street in Taichung

Last April I was lucky to witness Matsu goddess procession right in my district near Fengchia Park in Taichung. Matsu goddess procession is one of the most important religious rituals in Taiwan and especially in central region of Taiwan, mainly of course because of DaJia Matsu Temple, from where most biggest Matsu event usually starts.
As Taiwanfun.com points out:

"Each spring, Taichung county's Dajia (Tachia) town becomes a busy hive of religious and tourist activity as preparations for the goddess Matsu's birthday celebrations take place. Matsu, who came to Taiwan with 17th-century immigrants from Fujian province, is the most worshipped deity in Taiwan with hundreds of temples around the island devoted to her.
Matsu's birthday falls on the 23rd day of the third lunar month, but is usually celebrated earlier with a pilgrimage to sister Matsu temples. The pilgrimage procession starts from the Chenlan Temple in Dajia and goes hundreds of kilometers through Taichung, Changhua, Yunlin and Chiayi counties before returning to Dajia eight days later. "

This time however, "another" Matsu arrived on Fengchia street, and a woman in nearby restarant was kind enough to say a story, which follows exactly this Matsu. I am re-writing the story from her words, so if someone knows some discrepancies, please point them out in comments.
There was a parents, who's daugther recently died. At the same time, some businessman (she told us exactly this - businessman), saw in a dream this woman, which he never knew before, and she asked him go find her parents, and tell them, that near their house, under the tree, there is a gold buried. Businessman found the parents and told them about his dream and they really found gold. After that, frustrated and shocked they went to temple for prey, and found that Matsu goddess is crying.
Well, it seems a kind of Virgin Mary Statue Crying story.
Anyway, that's a story behind this Matsu, and my goal is to show anyone this procession as it looks like - photos and videos are to follow now.

Small temple host prepares for a ritual dance to meet Matsu when she will arrive. Procession at this moment is pretty close, as you can see the motorbike approaching with a flag - they are following procession, and some goes before it. Here are some more photos of this man:



Notice the red "snake" on a street - fireworks are prepared to make as much noise as possible - Taiwan is loud country. Just remember what noise are made at Bombing the Dragon Festival - videos are here.





It's really meditation now - watch how he concentrates for a dance.

And here they come:

2 police cars escorts procession. Singing bettelnut style girls and drummers are going first.





Followers keeping flags in hands rushes over the street trying to catch the procession.

Eventually it stops, so you can enjoy the drums more:







Finally Matsu arrives - and most interesting moment happens - man meets Matsu by ritual dance. Just watch above video!

Welcome, Matsu!

At this moment you may think, that most interesting is over. No! Most interesting starts just now. Watch below! There is one more Matsu? I could not figure out, but seems this one is more important one, as now fireworks were launched, and noise were such that my camera one moment even lost connection with hard disk. Also singing "bettelnut style" girls, photographed below, are seen here on video as they perform.





Very religious, isn't she?



This girl was so scared from fireworks and all the sounds that stopped singing and tried to hind in a car.



One more Matsu coming? Considering the noise, more important one.



Smaller than first one, but noise is much bigger.



Man in action also here.





...and they leave, just smoke and people with cameras and mobile phones in hands left.

Feng Chia Night Market, Xitun District, Taichung

Fengchia Nightmarket. Probably everyone heard about that, at least those, who stay in Taiwan longer than 1 month, should have caught at least some word about it. Where? In Taichung, Xitun district, near Fengchia university. As Wikipedia says, Feng Chia night market was established in 1963, established along with Feng Chia College of Engineering and Business (now Feng Chia University), the rising of the popularity stimulated the business of the near by residential military dependents' village. Food/drink stands, gracious stores, restaurants, were established along Wen-hua road (thus the night market is also called Wenhua night market), then expanding to Fengjia road(逢甲路), Fushin road(福星路), Xian street(西安街)etc.

For those, who like taxi, here is address:
Chinese address

台中市西屯區文華路69號

English address

No.69, Wunhua Rd., Situn District, Taichung City 407, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

I have a feeling, that Fengchia night market has become far more popular than it's nearby university, and it's now claimed to be biggest nightmarket in whole Taiwan. It's pathologically busy there in saturday evening when Fengchia road get's stacked by long traffic jam, and all sidestreets are packed by cars, and everyone goes tothis nightmarket.I decided go friday, since it's same chance to get most of sellers out, and same time at least little bit less crowd as it would be in saturday. Here by the way, popular advice by Lonely Planet - "come weekdays, and there will be no people and all this place will be yours), do not work there.Because even if crowd will be less, also stands and sellers will be less, so you will miss some interesting choices.
Enough words, let's dive in.

I went here by Fengcia road, passing Fengchia road park, covered specially in this post. Below are how it looked like friday evening about 8 o'clock. No traffic jam, but come saturday...



It's start's already there, just after a one more street junction. 2 years ago, instead of those cars, there also were stands of various sellers - now cars there. I think, it's because owners of land changed rules - i do not believe noone wanted use this space.



As you walk more up, crowd gets bigger:



and you bump in first stands. Here, you can see guava and so called tea eggs - cha yue dan. Eggs cooked in this way are very popular, you can find such bowl even in 7-ELEVEN or Family mart.



7-ELEVEN? no TWENTY3. As you might guess, sells clothes for those at this age. In my opinion similar to shop moto are - more clowny and ugly - more better.



more guava and strawberry:



Meat, prepared in LuWEi style. You will find it everywhere and a lot of choice. Luwei - a way of preparing, or taste if you want. Need try, hard to explain. It can be heart, chicken legs, etc. Soybean souce used, though taste varies from seller to seller.



Street junction near university is very busy:









That's entrance to campus:



Here is a video of entering market from entrance just near university main entrance:



LV bag by the way. A must have for any Taiwan (and Japan female). I recently read in one marketing topic book, that 94 % (!) of female in Japan has one. Here is Taiwan, if you have no idea what gift for your girlfriend or wife - buy any LV item. 100 % hit. The problem is only one, expensive.Very.

Here below are spray meat balls seller.



Again Luwei.



Dumplings...



You guessed it - Luwei again:



Here it should be Tzo Dofu - famous stinky tofu of Taiwan, but i write should be, because there was no usual smell.



Bloody cake and hot dog. Some people say, those bloody duck cakes, is a must try in this night market:



Yes, it is again luwei - if so much of it there, it should be good. Yes? i do not know. You try.



What's my choose -  such BBQ, very tasty, juicy and delicious:





A-ha, here is Turkish ice cream seller. I even devoted 2 posts in blog for this guy. Here is first, and second.





Another famous item there - 4 in 1 juice mixes. Claims again are, that it's here only such.



That's calamary BBQ:



Again one of my favourites, BBQ selection - really large collection here, meat, vegetables, tofu, topi and sausage.








Luwei, but more spefic taste:



Fried mushrooms:



Not diamonds, but still, everyone wants to be beautiful. Large choice.



If you did not spent all money for food, here is a chance to left it in those amusements.



Do you want a cake, asks father a girl? Nooooo.... And this? Yesssss... Easy way to fool your kids, when they do not want eat.



KFC? A rival of them.



Large collection of dumplings. The problem of such big choice is that it usually causes so called analysis paralysis. Too much choice is also bad.



NTD 10 for 1. I can not say that cheap by the way.



Again bloody cake.



Luwei...





Fruits..



It's kind of luwei, but now made in japanese style, all here as you can see. Meat, vegetables, tofu.





This is why I said 10 for 1 dumpling is too much. Here in this show any item costs 10:



Don't kill messenger. But it is... you guessed it.





Dumplings again:



one of my favourites again this night market - potato cheese. It's really very tasty.








Tea eggs again. Video and the product itself.





And one more video - i tried catch a feeling of nearby streets: