In Taipei, Taiwan
Beautiful Taipei: land of colorful tile-covered buildings!
I arrived on the island yesterday after a two-leg flight that passed through Hong Kong. From the clean, but well-worn and ugly airport, our van took us immediately into town to the production company’s office. There were many fires that night, and few were extinguished as the team worked until around 11. Still smoldering, the team went back to the hotel and checked in. I blasted the grease of my hair with a torrent of scalding hot water. After nearly crying with joy over the speed and un-firewalled freedom of the internet here, I went to sleep.
In the morning, I woke early and walked around the neighborhood before work emails started rolling in. I feared this a luxury I’d only be able to take once on this trip, so I needed to make the most of it. Even at an early hour the air was warm and humid. But immediately I was in love with the city. Little narrow roads are where it’s at: restaurants, makeshift gardens, weird old people walking around. Everywhere are colors, well-worn buildings, and scooters. Hopefully, I’ll get to see more before I go. I’m here for a week, so it would be a shame otherwise.
Some photos:
Scooter against a chipped wall painting.
Chicken in seasoning waiting to be fried.
One of the many underground garage entrances.
Green tile.
Small, empty restaurant.
Brick apartment towers.
Cable junction.
Construction worker with handbag looks at me with hostility.
Street.
Barriers.
Corner.
Casual street-side restaurants.
Spiral staircase amongst numerous draping power cords.
Kitchen.
Red scooter hides in the shadows.
Kitchen under tarp.
Handsome boy in convex mirror.
Blue ornate gate to shanty dwelling.
Garden.
Various buildings with Taipei Tower in the background.
The Dorkmobile.
Roots.
Vines.
Foam.
The contents of truck 4970.
Green washing machine in alley.
Diners stair at moving LED signage.
Mural covered electrical boxes.
Belt cart.
Spigot and colorful buckets.
Every apartment is unique.
The strutting WALK dude.
Weird buildings.
A hidden walkway.
Sidewalk kitchen.
Rubble garden.
Another rubble garden.
Mail.
Central Clinic.
Pedestrians outside Central Clinic.
A wall of signage.
Red-railed stairwells.
Alley.
Red trim.
Prison style windows.
Tile patterns on a shopping building.
Blue tarps on a new building.
Couch and bucket.
Man at a sink.
Arch.
Warning: magenta plant!
Big, blue building.
Two cones, one pole.
Steamed buns for sale.
Medical supplies spilling into the street from a store.
Scooterists.
Red trim.
Brushes for sale.
Graffiti face on parking garage.
Balcony bars.
Red door, tile wall.
Fried snacks including squid and chicken.
Stinky tofu and cabbage.
Strawberry Shortcake cheers the delivery of thick soup.
Vegetables and rice desserts.
Spicy chicken and peanut stir-fry.
Yucky congealed blood and delicious tofu on the side.
High grade, Taiwanese milk tea with pearls.
The desk of a stressful production.
Until the next set of crappy photos…
Work! Taipei! Yay!
4 Comments
Hey Daniel, yeah all the images are with the new lens. Nice sharp pictures from that sucker. I should have got the 35mm prime though since my sensor crops the image and makes it hard to shoot anything in alleys.
October 31st, 2009 at 1:57 amCongrats! Love those pics!! You really captured the authentic Taipei.
September 23rd, 2014 at 12:17 amThanks Max!
September 23rd, 2014 at 9:46 am
Those taken with your new lens?
I’m eager to see that custom made suit too. Perhaps in the next convex mirror.
October 30th, 2009 at 9:31 pm