A day to reflect on Taiwan and its culture.

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October 15, 2024

With only a day or so left in Taiwan, it seemed right to spend some time just walking in the streets and reflecting on Taiwanese life.

Alice and got up around 7 and decided to ride the motor scooter downtown to the old market area where we could get traditional steam buns. They are the quintessential typical food of the region, but I’ve not had any yet. We found a vendor and picked some up. Then we went a couple of blocks to a 7-Eleven where we could get some good coffee and then sit out on some public benches on a main artery during rush hour.

I took a little time to enjoy the culture of the motor scooter and all of the people headed to work, school and daycare.

Here small children join other commuters on a major street. NoticeTa the little leg of an even tinier child. Taiwan has not had the luxury of getting to high levels of safety and protections that we enjoy in the US. We can’t judge it based on our own history and values.
More families on motor scooters.

Taiwan doesn’t have 100’s of years to develop its culture and esthetics. It was born out of the Communist Cultural revolution in 1949. For much of its history most its populace was quite poor. More recently it entered the high tech world of semiconductors and computers.

Buildings can be drab, dull or ugly. But notice the use of greenery arond the buildings.

Things can look like a jumble of junk, but every discarded piece has a use and will beused

American English words or cultural icons are used freely to make products seem more desirable.
A scooter piled to the sky with recycling.
It’s not that there is no beauty, but that practical necessity usually takes precedence.
And there is kindness, as in the woman who sold Alice some passion fruit, and gave her a special deal for having a handsome husband!

Later, in the afternoon, we went to the port to get good views. After all, Kaoshiung’s identity is first as a seaport, and secondly as a naval military base.

We took a little ferry to a small think island that helps to provide the protection to the port.

There were many vendors and tourist traps on the island.

Street food, always available.

After exploring the island, we learned that niece Killian had just gotten off the bullet train returning from Taichan and needed a ride. She rode a rental bike over to meet us.

Killian arrives by “U bike”

Alice suggested that we climb a lookout point to see all of Kaoshiung near sunset.

A view of the Kaoshiung port.
A panoramic view of the city and port at dusk.

As the sun set, we headed to one of Alice’s favorite restaurants, that serves Tokyo style tofu in hot pots with soup bases and many unusual vegetable items to choose from.

It was a beautiful evening and we came back home satisfied with a great meal and a great trip. Tomorrow will be my last day hear and Alice will stay on for a couple of weeks.

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