sometimes... you just gotta go it alone...

Okay, right of the bat - do not think anything heavy here.... just lack of a title really.... sometimes, one just really have to do thing on their own, no matter how much more fun it would have been with another person... or at least, less tricky, desperate and frustrating when
taking photos...

A couple of years now, I have heard about this MRT Station in Taipei, that is decorated with so much, one of my Fave Artists, Jimmy Liao's paintings.... Have been wanting and dreaming of going there to check it out, as he is a FAVE of mine.... Tried to get someone, just about anyone to go with me and check it out - for one it is a bit outside of Taipei - so a company would have been nice... and two, I know it would be more fun and less STUPID like to take photos on my own.... Sadly, no one has had the time... everytime it was put on the schedule to see - it got cancelled and pushed aside... and seeing more write ups about the place in local mags or papers, not to mention photos of it on FLickr, made me wish to see it more....

One nite this week, I decided to just got it alone... the weather not too good but not too bad either - and I pretty much knew already the vicinity it is in, , so I would not be afraid to even get lost... plus, I can ask for my way back home, am pretty sure... and I was SOOOOO VERY GLAD I did.... for a Jimmy Liao fan, it was really a sight to see,,,,, sooo much of his works, well loved character graces the MRT Station - just about everywhere.... Large walls covered with his art was just like HEAVEN for me... I was once again a little boy lost in my fantasy world...Okay now for the sad part, well, funny really if you can IMAGINE it... whenever the TIMER on my digi cam fails me, I had to resort to stopping - nice & friendly looking travelers - to actually stop and SNAP a shot of me - A LOT!!! A lot as the station is big enough that one must go from places to places to see and admire everything...The station, which opened on 2007, boasted the permanent installations of Jimmy Liao works.... and it has remained one of the Best Destinations even if you just want to get off the MRT to check it out and take photos, for both locals and tourists... and on this nite, I spotted at least, 4 different people - doing what I was doing... taking photos and getting embarrassed upon noticing that they are being watched... hahahahahaha... But of course, am a Professional - did not let all the passersby giving me weird looks deter me from my mission... snapped away I did... running quickly to get in the shot using the timer... and yes, begging others to do the snap for me...

All In All, it was a Great Trip... and am soooo very glad I got to do it, even on my own... another one Checked Off on my To See List....

COMPLETE PHOTOS HERE

Up the Tea Mountains of Nangang

It always amazes me how Taipei is surrounded by soooo much wonderful places and history.... you can go an hour outside the city, any direction and you are sure to end up somewhere nice and historical. Nangang County is one such place -- and only about 30 minutes outside Taipei City.

Nangang, literally "Southern Port", refers to it's location in the Keelung River. Now known, as the home to the Taipei World Trade Center Nangang Exhibition Hall, this area used to be more well know for being Taiwan's Tea Farming/Producing Capital.
So last Friday, with the sun not shining too brightly, we decided to TREK up the mountains and go for a little run -- take in th scenery and fresh air. It was such an amazing experience as the view of the mountains, and of the city from the mountains were just breathtaking. Touring the old homes that have managed to survive through the years was an added bonus. We also got to visit the "Nangang Tea Processing Demonstration Center" where you can take in nice views of Keelung River and explore the recreational sites of the area, such as the old sweet osmanthus tree forest, tourist tea plantations, old coal mines, Guangming Temple, the Luku Incident Memorial Tablet at Xizhi, the old residence of the Yu Family, etc.

All of these just 30 minutes outside the hustle and bustle of Taipei City!!!

MORE PHOTOS HERE