The Colors of Taiwan

Taiwan is undoubtedly a paradise of 24-hour snacks. But it is not only that. It has another name, "Green Island" (綠島) on account of its lush vegetation. I wanted to go to a flower show. But when I was there, I found that it was already over. But the logo had not yet been removed.







The logo of the missed flower show.

In fact, the very first day I went to Taiwan, I visited one of the favourite local leisure centres close to Taipei, Bali (八里 ) (8 Chinese Miles). Before I could go there, I first had to go to Dan Shuei (淡水) . Once off the station, my eyes were greeted by a garden. What struck me was how long some of the plants had been there.

The air roots of a bunyan tree at the garden outside of the Dan Shuei Metro Station.

Flowers and trees there seemed to pay absolutely no attention to the extension works being
carried on just a few tens of feet away along the Dan Shuei river bank. 

Some flowers were in pink and yellow.

Some in pure pink.

Some in red.

Some in yellow.

Once I crossed the river however,  I found myself walking along first a beach then an enormous 
wetland park, the "Danshuei River Mangrove Wetland Park".(淡水河紅樹林濕地公園)

The path leading to the wetland park coasting the wetlands.

Some of the trees lining the path to the wetland park.

Some of the leaves of a bush growing by the water in the wetland park. I like the silvery lines
embroidering the leaves. .

The wooden walkway was surrounded by bushes and shrubs.

Some morning glories I found about to burst into flower.

Morning glory in full bloom under the sun along the path.

One of the flowers I found strewing the wetland path. I like its bright color.

I also visited another popular tourist attraction, Yaliu (野柳), a little distance from Kam Shan (金山), where
I visited Ju Ming's Museum later in the day..
 

Some wilting leaves under the sun on the way to the beach where a large number of wind and
water-eroded sedimentary rock formations in strange shapes can be found.

A close up of one of the leaves. I like the lines and dots and its translucence.

On the final day of my visit, I visited the Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山 1914 藝文區) quite close to my hotel.
It was formerly a distillery and has now been turned into an area where young aspiring artists may exhibit their
works. I shall introduce some of those artists whose works were on exhibit at the Creative Park in later blogs.

A tree growing into one of the walls. When given the slightest chance,
Life will find a way to survive.

The air roots of the tree sneaking through the formerly broken canopy.

Two fallen leaves in a dying embrace on the ground ?

Plants old and new , growing cheek by jowl, both straining for a bit  of the life giving sun.
 
In the afternoon of the my last day. I tried to catch what I thought would be a flower show. How
disappointed I was when I learned that it just closed a few days ago. But I got a plan B. I would
visit the nearby National Museum of Art. So I walked around the area. I discovered a number of
gardens. I loitered there for a while.

The entrance to the Garden of Sian.

A pink flower just after the rain.

A hibicus? But not in the usual red or pink!

A yellow flower. I really like its bright yellow. How soft and yet bright, especially sharp against
the surrounding green leaves displaying its splendour under the sun.





Wow! What a complicated flower! Is it one or more than one flower? No matter what, I like
their  colorful rims embroidered in gold! Just like a middle aged lady with heavy make-up! 

When I exited the garden, my eyes were caught by some blinding sunlight coming through
the edges of some plants stuck on a wall. When I looked carefully, I found that they were
actually potted plants! The pots were ingeniously hung upon a wire network strung along
the outside of the wall. What a clever idea! When I walked further, I was quite surprised.

What a good idea for fencing and decorating the bottom of a tree!

When I lifted my head, I was struck by the contrasts between the yellows and greens. A quick
click and now I have it !

The tree was just in front of another garden.

This is the second garden.

The inside of the garden. I love the blend of various shades of green with reds and yellows.

Not only greens, yellows and reds, but blues, purples, oranges and whites too!

When I walked in the direction of the National Museum of Art, I found some rushes.

Their flowers were swaying gently in the wind along the side of the park.

A close up of two of the gentle flowers, with hairs as soft as the fur of a Persian cat.


Next, I found myself in a bamboo garden, with all kinds of bamboos.

Through a window Inside an igloo like bamboo hut serving as the entrance hall, I could see 
 some lotus leaves and bulbs in an adjacent pond.

Through another aperture, I could see the reflections of some bamboo leaves.






Through a third rectangular window, I could see more lotus leaves but they were not in
the habitual green color nor in yellow, but in red!

Ah! This was what I saw through those windows in the bamboo hut! What a sight!

After the brief tour through the bamboo garden, I hurried to the object of my plan B, 

This is the garden outside the National Museum of Art, with the plants, shrubs and trees
 tastefully laid out . There were even three pumpkin shaped works of art!

But when I approached its entrance, I found that admission time was over! Just not my day!
Who told you to linger so long in the other three gardens! But not all is lost!

I discovered a "Tunnel of Flowers"  nearby. Might just as well go and have a look.

This is what I found.

More flowers, peering their heads through the overhead bars of the tunnel rack to look at
this unfortunate visitor!


 


Others say, "We would like to take a peek at that hapless guy too!"

This was what I found at the end of the tunnel, a tree growing between
two bunyan trees whose roots I had seen on my first outdoor visit
in Dan Shuei. What a curious coincidence. I saw at the end
what I saw at the beginning of my trip! Is it the beginning of the end
or the end of the beginning? No matter what, I had to go back to
town.

Trees glowing in gold at the town centre close to where I had my last meal before leaving for
Hong Kong.