My Recent Taiwan Trip (in general) – 2017 Week 11

Posted on March 17, 2017 by Helen C

Travel becomes a strategy for accumulating photographs.
— Susan Sontag

I have been back to Taiwan about once a year starting year 2002. This, my recent trip, no doubt was one of the best.

What made the trip so special?

First, because we had set aside one day for photographing, I was more excited about the trip before I went. For me, being happy without learning something or helping someone is like holding balloons. I like balloons (a lot), but they don’t last long.

You may wonder if this is important to me why I didn’t arrange that in my previous trips. Well, there is this culturing thing, believe it or not. Since I don’t go back often and my trips don’t last long, I believe that visiting friends and relatives should be my higher priority and that “should” have a lot to do with how I brought up. I was happy when one of Wei’s nephews started showing interest in photographing. 😉 It is particularly fun to shoot with friends.

Another thing that makes this trip special was that I was able to connect to the nature several times in this trip. In order for me to connect to the nature, I have to work myself into it, not just being there. Thanks to my friend Eddie, my nephew Cheng-Lin and three of my high school classmates, I was able to take a walk in a foggy morning, hike twice, see the sunrise and see the sunset.

One other thing worth mentioning is that it was less crowded (so it was quieter) since there was less tourists.

Speaking of connecting to the nature… a couple of times, I felt if I jumped up, the sky would catch me, have you ever felt that way? 😉

(About the photo: I met these farmers in one foggy morning in Xitou 溪頭, and later we happened to walk by their house while they were cleaning vegetables.)

Thanks for visiting my blog.

About Helen C

A retired computer programmer who loves writing and photographing, and has managed to publish a YA novel "Jin-Ling’s Two Left".
This entry was posted in photo and thoughts, Weekly Little Thought. Bookmark the permalink.

31 Responses to My Recent Taiwan Trip (in general) – 2017 Week 11

  1. loisajay says:
    March 17, 2017 at 7:59 pm

    Helen–the photos are wonderful! As soon as I looked at the first photo, my immediate reaction was, “I love how Helen captured the fog.” These are gorgeous. I am so happy you were able to have a little ‘me time.’ I think you deserve it.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Emilio Pasquale says:
      March 17, 2017 at 8:25 pm

      My wife knows that wherever we go, for me it is all about taking photographs. Of course, when seeing relatives that is my priority But I must get out with my camera at least for one day. These are beautiful with the fog in the fields. And coming upon the men afterwards was very lucky.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
    • Helen C says:
      March 17, 2017 at 10:27 pm

      Thank you, Lois. As a city person, it was such a treat being able to stand 3 feet away watching farmers working in their vegetable farm. I was very happy that day. I need to learn to explore! Ha.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  2. Denzil says:
    March 18, 2017 at 3:09 am

    Nice atmospheric photos Helen. What is the crop they are harvesting, I wonder?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Helen C says:
      March 19, 2017 at 3:18 pm

      Denzil, thank you for visiting my blog. If I translate it word by word, it is “mountain celery”. All the local restaurants have this vegetable on their menu. I met this couple in the farm around 7 am and later see them at their house around 9 am, busy cleaning and getting ready to deliver to the restaurants.
      Have a great day.

      Like

      Reply
  3. Mabel Kwong says:
    March 18, 2017 at 3:50 am

    So nice to hear that this trip to Taiwan felt special to you. Always good to set aside at least one day on holidays to do something spontaneous and what you really, really want. These are amazing photos of the farmers in the early morning – they look so peaceful doing what they do, no stress at all. Maybe they do really live the simple life.

    Sometimes I feel like I can jump in the sky and never come down. I feel like that now about life – accepting what’s happening around me, enjoy it and not having too many expectations. Happiness can really be simple 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Helen C says:
      March 18, 2017 at 9:25 pm

      Thanks, Mabel. You got a good point, which I didn’t think of… they do live in a simple life! Hmm… And they did look peaceful and satisfied. Something to think about, yes?
      Accepting what happening is one of the keys for having a happy live. I am still working on it. 😉
      Have a wonderful day.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  4. lensandpensbysally says:
    March 18, 2017 at 9:44 am

    Enjoyed your memories and images.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. Suyash Chopra says:
    March 18, 2017 at 10:01 am

    Travel and photography truly go hand in hand. And dedicating moments & days just for photography is always top of my mind when I plan my itinerary now. Nice read Helen.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Helen C says:
      March 18, 2017 at 9:35 pm

      Thanks, Suyash. I will definitely dedicate moments for photography from now on 😉 One problem I had was that I always assumed what people preferred to do and went with that. After this trip, it will be easier to set aside some time next time. Ha.
      Good night.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • Suyash Chopra says:
        March 21, 2017 at 6:37 pm

        Yes Helen, I can understand. That is the reason when I travel with family or friends, I dedicate early morning or late evening around sunrise or sunset time for my photography. By the time, they wake up, I am already done with my photography during wee hours of morning. Evening could be challenging sometime. And rest of the day is all dedicated to travel together. I have found this pretty useful so far. For my upcoming trip to Arizona and Utah, I plan to execute this strategy more often.

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
  6. Pilgrim says:
    March 18, 2017 at 11:49 am

    Travel is making memories come alive by telling stories. Being one with the place you traveled at is the bestest. Have a good day, Helen. P

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. Amy says:
    March 18, 2017 at 12:44 pm

    I, too, like the first capture. Wonderful travel stories, Helen!
    It’s fun to learn about places, nature, and people while travel. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Helen C says:
      March 18, 2017 at 9:46 pm

      Thanks, Amy. I totally agree. I am more satisfied with my trip if I get to know the place, nature and people. More and more I dislike those “tour trips” when we ride bus to one spot, take some photos and move to the next spot.
      Good night.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  8. Edward Tan says:
    March 20, 2017 at 4:34 am

    “Being happy without learning something or helping someone is like holding balloons.”
    I like the above, Helen. Your words are always full of wisdom!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Helen C says:
      March 23, 2017 at 7:57 pm

      Thanks, Edward. As you probably can tell… I like to analyze things 😉 It’s so easy to be fooled by ourselves, so sometime it takes a while to figure out the truth. Ha.
      Have a wonderful day.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  9. Cee Neuner says:
    March 20, 2017 at 3:04 pm

    Sounds like your trip was fabulous and magical at times. That is so very cool. I’ve been busy myself and am doing real well. I catch you up soon. Your photos Helen are awesome. 😀 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Helen C says:
      March 23, 2017 at 8:00 pm

      Thanks, Cee. I am glad to know that you are doing well. Keep it that way, my dear friend!
      I notice that spring has arrived in your area. Hope it brings you a lot of joys.
      Have a wonderful evening.

      Like

      Reply
  10. Lignum Draco says:
    March 20, 2017 at 7:44 pm

    I’m glad you took the time in indulge in making yourself happy doing what you like. There is no harm in setting a day aside to explore when visiting, even if it is with your relatives.

    I would like to go to Taiwan one day. I have friends who have been there, purely to enjoy the food. That would be very very pleasurable as well.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Helen C says:
      March 23, 2017 at 8:04 pm

      Thanks, LD. Let me know when you are going to Taiwan. Maybe I can go at the same time… thinking about it… a picture of LD is worth a million… I have a big smile on my face! 😉
      Seriously, it would be nice to see your Taiwan photos. One of your comments talked about point and shoot camera. How often do you use those?
      Have a wonderful day!

      Like

      Reply
  11. Robin S. Kent says:
    April 1, 2017 at 2:53 pm

    I really liked the images in the fog, very expressive with the soft lighting. And then seeing the same people in a different setting. Great catch.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

I would love to hear from you...