Taiwan: USB-Powered Crap

As seen at the Nova electronics mall in Taichung...

vibrating massager
food warmer
heated slippers
heated mittens

Down On The Street - Taichung Edition

Purposeful, affordable, durable, and preferably vintage. Being of Japanese origin just makes it quirkier and generally more reliable. Those are the primary attributes I admire in vintage trucks. This sidewalk-parked Mitsubishi Pajero checks all but the vintage box. Unless you consider a ≈12 year-old SUV to be "vintage". I don't.
The US saw these as the Montero, albeit only in four-door guise - and not at all with the Evolution option package.

I believe that these came stock with the wide alloy wheels, but if it was mine, it'd be wearing skinnier steelies.
Still a pretty cool street find for normally-boring (auto-related anyway) Taichung.

Taiwan: Random Taichung, Part 2

More random pix snapped while taking in the streets of and around Taichung...

overwrought, ugly architecture
bucket o' pups
available for adoption
I like this one
expat bar w/good music and cheap beer

half of a sheep head, just washed on the sidewalk
window display
Engrish
huh?
random street, surprisingly blue skies
computer fans serving as kitchen ventilation
neon wilderness
side of a restaurant
no more excellence
betelnut shop
the coolest scooter in all of Taichung
Thai restaurant lamps
trouble is brewing
training wheels, trailer, proud woman
lumber store
fresh-delivered eggs
factory dog 1
factory dog 2
mechanical highway safety flagger
betelnut stand 2
street dog, he waited for a green light before crossing
little blue truck 1
little blue truck 2

Field Trip - Lugang, Taiwan

When visiting factories in the Taichung, Taiwan area earlier this week, we found ourselves with a little extra time as well as empty stomachs. Wanting to show me some historical Taiwan, we headed to the port city of Lugang. Or, should I say ex-port city of Lugang. According to the Wikipedia entry, the city's heyday was from about 1785-1845, but then port silted over and the city didn't allow a railroad to pass through, meaning that the port itself died. Because of this, the village was able to escape urbanization and modernization and was preserved. It's now a tourist destination and has many temples...

Longshan Temple

...as well as many places to spend your money.
On food:

eat the whole shrimp, head, scales, tail and all
suck the critter out of the shell
fresh, fire-roasted peanuts were good

Streets to wander:
Old buildings:

Sometimes no buildings:
Oh-so-cliché (but cool) doors to shoot...

...as well as narrow alleys:
Gift shops had plenty of wares:

it felt like stepping back in time

traditional rain coat (no joke)

trinkets

toys
pottery

statues

bracelets
tea

It's definitely an interesting place to visit. I am happy as well as fortunate that I was able to experience more traditional Taiwan as opposed to the bustling urban centers of Taichung and Taipei.