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"Persimmons" (right)            There are fruit shops throughout Hsinchu.            For some reason they often play blaring            techno music. Persimmons became one            of our favourite fruits.                "Spirit on the Entrance Arch to the Temple" (above)        I am not versed in the meaning of the spirit animals        that decorate the temples in Taiwan. But, they        certainly make an impact on me nevertheless.

"Tombs on the Hillside" (left) Tombs are everywhere here. They can often cover entire hillsides.

"Dragonfruit" (right) Such a spectacular looking fruit!                       "Temple Roof" (above) The roofs on the temples are made of mosiacs and  petals and curved shapes made of porcelain.

"Pigeon House in Hsinchu" (left) When I first saw this structure I thought it was a fancy solarium of some kind. After a while I realized it was a pigeon house. And, then I started seeing them everywhere!                                                                              "Across the Tracks" (above)                                 Near our apartment there is a verdant park                                 that runs alongside the railroad tracks that                                runs through the centre of Hsinchu. I did this                                painting while sitting in the park looking                                across the tracks to the buildings there.

"Taoyuan Airport" (right) We had to go out of the country to reapply for the proper visa that would allow us to stay in Taiwan for the year. So, off we went to a visa office in Macau. You never know what will happen week to week when you are in Taiwan!

"Portugese Section of Macau" (left) Macau has preserved much of their Portugese heritage. This is one of the streets around the plaza downtown.

"Path Near the River" (right) Along the river near the university there are some massive trees with extensive root systems and grand spreading branches. I love to walk in the shade of these giants and look up through the leaves.

"Tree with Extraordinary Leaves" (left) The leaves on these trees are shockingly large! To me, a Canadian, these trees look like they are from some fairytale land.                             "Birds and Fish" (above)         We enjoy sitting by the pond to watch         the golden fish glittering in the sunlight.

"Temple Dogs" (right) Ivan and I often visit the jungle forest near a temple in our neighbourhood. In the temple grounds we always see the dogs that hang out there. There are old ones and young ones. There are sleek ones and fleabitten crippled ones. But, they are all happy and lead rich social lives.           "Temple Entrance" (above) There are temples everywhere in Taiwan. This is the entrance way to a temple in our neighbourhood. It is also one of the entrances to the forest in which Ivan and I often find quietude and fresh air on the weekends. Taiwan Journal Page 6 Taiwan Page 1   Taiwan Page 2 Taiwan Page 3   Taiwan Page 4 Taiwan Page 5   Taiwan Page 6