Tripatini2024-03-28T10:35:40Zhttps://tripatini.com/group/taiwan/photos/feed/allSun-Moon Lake, a celebrated beauty spothttps://tripatini.com/group/taiwan/photos/sun-moon-lake-taiwan2024-01-17T12:40:36.000Z2024-01-17T12:40:36.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12360407290?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=300"></div><div><p>Tripatini contributor <a href="https://tripatini.com/members/NithinC">Nithin C</a> writes:<br /><br />"The countryside was beautiful. My most amazing moment took place at beautiful, alpine <strong>Sun-Moon Lake</strong>, which resembles <strong>Lake Tahoe</strong> in <strong>California</strong>, where at a Taoist temple I performed a ritual where I ask God a question and then drop two wooden blocks on the ground. If they fall on opposite sides three times in a row, that means God will answer, and I take a fortune after randomly selecting a number. My host, Evelyn, told me that many people drop the blocks many, many times to try to get it to land the right way three times in a row.<br /> <br /> I felt really positive right then - I felt I would get a fortune; it seemed like my destiny. So I dropped it three times. To her shock, it landed the right way each time. The odds are 1-27, but what were the odds of this happening on your first time ever doing it, in a remote temple in central Taiwan right before you're about to embark on a great, uncertain journey? Even greater - probably outside the realm of mathematics, just as I like it."<br /> <br /> Read more in his post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/friendship-and-destiny-in-taiwan?edited=1" target="_blank">Friendship and Destiny in Taiwan</a>.</p></div>The many treasures of Taiwanhttps://tripatini.com/group/taiwan/photos/taipei-taiwan-national-park-and-taipei-101-taiwan2024-01-17T12:11:25.000Z2024-01-17T12:11:25.000ZJosé Balidohttps://tripatini.com/members/JoseBalido<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12357505284?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Officially the <strong>Republic of China</strong>, this island with a population of around 24 million – just a bit larger than the state of <strong>Maryland</strong> and just under half the size of <strong>Scotland</strong> – has been in the news lately both thanks to its controversial January 13 presidential elections and to its perennial potential (and especially in the context of other current crises in <strong>Ukraine</strong> and <strong>Gaza</strong>) as a world flashpoint due to mainland <strong>China</strong>´s obsession with eventually and forcibly annexing it. <strong>Taiwan</strong> is both one of the world´s most developed countries and <strong>Asia</strong>´s most progressive (for example where same-sex marriage is legal and LGBTQ rights most established). It´s also home to plenty of traditional culture and architecture as well as some stunning scenic beauty. And here are some of the highlights which will captivate visitors... <br /><br />Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/eliminate-risk-travel-frauds-electronic-identity-verification" target="_blank">Equal Parts Handsome, Historic, and Cutting-edge, Taiwan Is Terrific</a>.</p>
<p><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><a href="https://www.istockphoto.com/es/foto/parque-nacional-de-228-en-taipei-taiw%C3%A1n-gm1126904404-296832838?phrase=taipei+ancient+modern" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:6pt;">GoranQ</span></a></em></span></p>
<p> </p></div>Taipei´s National Palace Museumhttps://tripatini.com/group/taiwan/photos/national-palace-museum-taipei-taiwan2024-01-17T12:04:33.000Z2024-01-17T12:04:33.000ZJosé Balidohttps://tripatini.com/members/JoseBalido<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12357509883?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Perhaps the foremost of Taiwan´s crown jewels, this huge, traditional-Chinese-style complex built in the 1960s is home to the world´s largest collections of Chinese imperial artifacts – some 700,000 pieces – taken from <strong>Peking</strong>´s <strong>Forbidden City</strong> in 1931 to keep it from falling into the hands of the Japanese, then in 1949 to Taipei when the Nationalists fled here after losing to the Communists. Spanning some 8,000 years of history from the Neolithic to modern times, it´s a true bucket-lister for all culture vultures.</p>
<p>Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/eliminate-risk-travel-frauds-electronic-identity-verification" target="_blank">Equal Parts Handsome, Historic, and Cutting-edge, Taiwan Is Terrific</a>.</p>
<p><br /><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/aliarda/53199591727" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><span style="font-size:6pt;">Ali Eminov</span></em></span></a></p>
<p> </p></div>Mazu Temple one of the picturesque attractions of Lugang/Lukanghttps://tripatini.com/group/taiwan/photos/mazu-temple-lugang-lukang-taiwan2024-01-17T12:00:08.000Z2024-01-17T12:00:08.000ZJosé Balidohttps://tripatini.com/members/JoseBalido<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12357507298?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><strong>Lukang </strong>– Known as <strong>Lugang</strong> as well, is a seaside charmer which is Taiwan´s second oldest settlement, on the west coast overlooking the <strong>Taiwan Strait</strong> some 2½ hours south of Taipei. It has some 85,000 residents and a wealth of well-preserved traditional architecture and temples like 238-year-old <strong>Longshan</strong> (dubbed “Taiwan´s Forbidden City”), the also 17th-century <strong>Mazu</strong> (pictured here), and 212-year-old <strong>Wenwu</strong>.<br /> <br /> Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/eliminate-risk-travel-frauds-electronic-identity-verification" target="_blank">Equal Parts Handsome, Historic, and Cutting-edge, Taiwan Is Terrific</a>.</p>
<p><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/srgtravel/50153910812" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:6pt;">S.R.G - msucoo93</span></a></em></span></p>
<p> </p></div>Exploring Taiwan's non-Chinese cultureshttps://tripatini.com/group/taiwan/photos/taiwan-formosans-aborigines-cultural-travel2024-01-17T08:56:49.000Z2024-01-17T08:56:49.000ZJosé Balidohttps://tripatini.com/members/JoseBalido<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12357510288?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Though Han Chinese now constitute nearly 98 percent of the population, the people who proceeded them – known as Formosans and Taiwanese aborigines – are Austronesians whose presence here has been dated back as far as 6,500 years. Subdivied into more than two dozen ethnic groups such as the <strong>Alayal</strong>, <strong>Amis</strong> (above), and <strong>Bunun</strong>, unassimilated Formosans are these days they´re mostly found up in the highlands. Though socially and economically they have been moving up in recent years – including efforts by the government to promote their welfare and culture, many indigenous people remain largely relegated to the lowest rungs of Taiwanese society. <br /> <br /> The best way for visitors to experience the cultures of the peoples who preceded the Han is to visit the 37-year-old, 204-acre (82.65 hectare) <strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/tacp.tw">Taiwain Indigenous People Cultural Park</a></strong> (above) in the southern mountain village of <strong>Beiye</strong>, home to the <strong>Paiwan</strong> tribe and a 4½-hour drive from Taipei. There´s also the <strong><a href="https://www.museum.org.tw/">Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines</a></strong> near the National Palace Museum in Taipei; <strong>Sun Moon Lake</strong> (see below); and festivals in places like the city of <strong>Taitung</strong>, six hours south of Taipei. (Read more about these options and the aboriginal Taiwanese in general <a href="https://www.wanderlust.co.uk/content/indigenous-taiwan/">here</a>.)<br /><br />Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/eliminate-risk-travel-frauds-electronic-identity-verification" target="_blank">Equal Parts Handsome, Historic, and Cutting-edge, Taiwan Is Terrific</a>.</p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Taiwanese_aborigines.JPG" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:6pt;">Stanislav Koslovskiy</span></a></em></span></p></div>A famed Taiwanese beauty spot: Alishan National Scenic Areahttps://tripatini.com/group/taiwan/photos/alishan-national-scenic-area-taiwan2024-01-17T07:38:12.000Z2024-01-17T07:38:12.000ZJosé Balidohttps://tripatini.com/members/JoseBalido<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12357504657?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>A mountain resort and 160-square-mile (415-sq.-kilometer) nature preserve some 4 ½ hours south of Taipei, <a href="https://www.ali-nsa.net/en" target="_blank">Alishan</a> is renowned for its sunrise views, historic narrow-gauge railway, tea plantations, and waterfalls, and is one of Taiwan´s top natural icons.</p>
<p>Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/eliminate-risk-travel-frauds-electronic-identity-verification" target="_blank">Equal Parts Handsome, Historic, and Cutting-edge, Taiwan Is Terrific</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><a href="https://www.pickpik.com/taiwan-alishan-a-surname-mist-mountain-chenguang-71342" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:6pt;">PickPic.com</span></a></em></span></p>
<p> </p></div>Taiwan's Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hallhttps://tripatini.com/group/taiwan/photos/taipei-taiwan-chiang-kai-shek-memorial-hall2022-05-30T10:20:49.000Z2022-05-30T10:20:49.000ZMax Peslinghttps://tripatini.com/members/MaxPesling<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10524868295?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Built in 1980, this complex is and dedicated to the founder of the military dictator who ruled mainland China before the Communist takeover and then Taiwan from 1948 to 1975.</p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em>(<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chiang_Kai-shek_Memorial_Hall_2009_2_amk.JPG" target="_blank">AngMoKio</a>)</em></span></p><p> </p></div>Taiwan's Gate of Great Centrality and Perfect Uprightnesshttps://tripatini.com/group/taiwan/photos/taipei-taiwan-gate-of-great-centrality-and-perfect-uprightness2022-05-30T10:13:18.000Z2022-05-30T10:13:18.000ZMax Peslinghttps://tripatini.com/members/MaxPesling<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10524827882?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Part of Taipei's Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, built in 1980 and dedicated to the founder of the military dictator who ruled mainland China before the Communist takeover and then Taiwan from 1948 to 1975.<br /> <br /> <br /> <span style="font-size:8pt;"><em>(<a href="https://pxhere.com/en/photo/746361" target="_blank">PxHere</a>)</em></span></p></div>