Sarda Sheep, Taiwan for Saturday Critter

 

The Sarda sheep, also known as the Sardinian sheep, is originally from Italy and is primarily raised for milk production. While they are not native to Taiwan, some farms in Taiwan may have imported these sheep for their milk, which is used to make cheeses similar to pecorino sardo

Sony A7RV

FE 14mm f1.8GM

Linking Saturday Critter

On the morning news, it was reported that some grandchildren accidentally toppled their grandmother's ashes and, in an attempt to rectify the situation, used a vacuum cleaner to suction them up, leaving their parents to manage the aftermath

Then I enjoy this music clip

Bug on my bag for Saturday Critter

 

Quite shiny on my strap bag 

Sony A7RV

FE 70-200mm f4 Macro

Linking Saturday Critter

Taipei Street Signs for Sign2

 

I love the duck 5 eats in this place

Linking Sign2

Hukou Old Street Signs, Taiwan for Sign2

 

Hakka is a minority group in China and Taiwan. Their food and cuisine are unique on their own including the architecture. 

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Sign2

Wu Feng Lin Heritage House for Sunday Best

 

This was one of the heritage households I visited when I was in Middle Taiwan.

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking to Sunday Best

Black-kneed Conehead for Saturday Critter

 

I saw this critter in Taiwan. Next to a street joint selling rice snack.

Linking Saturday Critter

I got my CT lumbar spine and pelvis back. No malignancy of any sorts. But I have extensive moderate arthritis affecting multiple levels including foraminal narrowing. I am depressed by the result. These are incidental findings not to my liking. I will work on my fitness routine once muscle tear heals. 

Old Nang Zhuang Street mural for Mural Monday

 

For cat lovers, this is a mural to cherish. Very old style look in Middle Taiwan

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Mural Monday

Joel took me to a lovely Japanese sake bar. Great food and company. It was fun. Yet we did a long exposure shot of the old sign skipping girl at Richmond. 

Long Teng Broken Bridge Taiwan for Sunday Best

 

The remnant of the bridge from Japanese occupation period is now wrapped around by nature.

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Sunday Best

Last night, Joel and I went to Pearses Bay again. A last-minute decision as it was a high tide. Weather was crap. So we ended up in a Greek Fish n Chips shop getting souvlaki in the end. This is the kind of life I like. No need to impress anyone just by being myself. 

White Whiskered Laughingthrush in Taiwan for Saturday Critter

 

I only learnt the name of this bird until a former mate in Perth Australia told me about it.

Extraordinarily plumaged songbird with white facial markings that lend it an almost comical whiskered appearance. Brown overall, with accents of yellow, buff, purple, plum, blue, and orange throughout the plumage. Inhabits montane forest edge with dense shrubbery or grassy cover, but often emerges out onto roadsides and paths to forage, often crossing the road close to vehicles. Moves in noisy flocks or in pairs, giving soft contact calls and harsh rattling and whistling calls when alarmed. Song, a melodic tinkling, is simple but pleasant.

Sony A7RV

Sigma 105mm macro 

Linking Saturday Critter

Da Xi Taiwan for Skywatch Friday

 

The place is renown for Tofu. 

Linking Skywatch Friday

Toucheng Old Street Facade for Sign2

 

This is an abandoned old street left from Japanese occupation era. 

The words on both sides of the entrance say

Exploding crackers get rid of old wax

Cherry Blossoms in the cold bring the spring 

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

This is linking Sign2

Nan Zhuang Old Street Railway for Sunday Best

 

The place has Japanese buildings left behind since the occupation in the 50s. 

It is also good to catch up with Joel today. Good friends are like old wine. The older the better.

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Sunday Best

HeHuan Mountain for Skywatch Friday

 

Love the clouds

Mount Hehuan is a 3,416-metre-high mountain in Central Taiwan. The peak lies on the border of Nantou and Hualien counties and is located within Taroko National Park. Hehuanshan is a popular destination in central Taiwan.

Sony A7RV

FE 14mm f1.8 GM

linking Skywatch Friday

Suao Port for Water H2O Thrusday

 

Suao port is where Dad used to take me to do his fishing. You can see the oily water surface in the dock

Sony A7RV

FE 70-200mm f4 

This is linking H2O Thursday

Mazu Shrine Birthday celebration for Sign2

 

Mazu is the patron deity of fishermen, and her birthday on the 23rd day of the third lunar month (it falls in April or May) is celebrated each year with frenetic explosions of colorful activity.

The sign says 1065th Birthday celebration. 

It is situated at an entrance of a night market

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Sign2

Bagua Buddha Statue for Treasure Tuesday

 

I was lucky to see no crowd in the spot. The rain actually stopped for the moment. That was a moment I realised I was meant to take the shot.

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Treasure Tuesday

Long Teng Broken Bridge for Sunday Best

 

There is an interesting story about the town of Longteng that is revealing of the superstitious beliefs that local people once held. When the first settlers started to cultivate land in the area, they believed that Liyu Lake, located nearby, was inhabited by a carp spirit which brought hardship to the people. In order to overcome this evil spirit they planted yuteng (a poisonous plant) in the Longteng Mountain area. At the same time they gave the mountain in the east the name Guandao Mountain (lit. Guan Sword Mountain) hoping that the Sword Mountain would cut the Yuteng Rattan. In this way, they hoped to poison the evil carp spirit. The ploy must have been effective, for people no longer believe that the evil carp spirit harms the people of Longteng. In the morning of April 24, 1935 a strong earthquake hit central Taiwan. lts epicenter was near Mt. Guandao, and many buildings in the Sanyi district were destroyed. A reminder of this earthquake remains in the ruins of the arched bridge over Long River. It can be seen from the railway line between Sanyi and Houli.

The ruins of Longteng Bridge join Chengxing (Shengxing) Station as one of the top-two visitor attractions on the Jiushan tour route. This historic span is notable attraction both for its simple beauty and as a memorial to the two major earthquakes that severed the bridge twice at the fifth northernmost pier, including damages caused by the 921 Earthquake in September 21, 1999.

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Sunday Best

Golden Waterfall Taiwan for Water H2O Thursday

 

This waterfall was adjacent to a highway. Not exactly hard to take a snap. 

Linking Water H2O Thursday

Wufengqi Waterfall (五峰旗瀑布262, Yilan County, Jiaoxi Township) - first stage for Treasure Tuesday

 

I arrive this place in the rain. Really muddy to walk the trails. So I did not continue hiking to stage 2-4 of the waterfalls. I did this without a tripod. Steady hand for 1.7 seconds.

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Treasure Tuesday

Lanterns in Taiwan for Sunday Best

 

It is literally raining everyday here. Including the same forecast for the next fortnight. Apart from the same usual public service inefficiency, I would take walks and long trips snapping street scenes.

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Sunday Best