Out and About in Taiwan's Windy City

current song playing on my iTunes: "Underneath It All," by No Doubt. From the album Boom Box - The Singles 1992-2003.

Hello, all of you. Sorry to have left off blog for such a long time, and for so many times! First of all, let me say how happy I am to be back in a creative mood. I used to find my life here a bit too bland, tedious, etc. Even in my posts from one, thre, or four years ago, I was complaining much too much. This is one of the biggest faults I find with blogging by expats here in Taiwan. The occasional criticism or complaints is okay. However, the majority of writings by expats on blogs here in Taiwan comprise complaints and gripes about how bad people's behaviour is or how you can't find this or that in Taiwan.

I must confess, my blog used to be like this, too. Maybe this is necessary. But I think it is time for our expat community to grow up, or move somewhere else where the people who have been doing this are happier. I certainly have! I live in Hsinchu now, and have been living here for almost two months. I have visited here for much more than a year in the past over three years I've lived in Taiwan.

I love Hsinchu. Some Taiwanese peopel ask me why the heck I love Hsinchu. They seem aghast. I guess if you expect the usual touristy things, or if they expect nightclubs with easy 3-8 girls, then Hsinchu is not really the gold-mine for you. And yes, there are a few tourist things. Hopefully, the pictures that show some of the parts of Hsinchu that I love will prompt some of you to decide that it isn't a boring place and come and visit. However, I hope not too many people come. The reality in Taiwan is that when something becomes well-known for being pretty, interesting, etc., then it isn't really bearable anymore. It becomes a sanitized tourist clone of all other tour-bus destinations that you can find in Taiwan. While the places here are pretty popular, they are not quite as over-saturated with tourists and development. I am happy about that!

Anyway, here is a litte bit about last weekend and the weekend before...


I live in the hills/mountains of Siangshan. I live in a house...that's right, a house. It most definitely is not expensive! In addition, it is surrounded by nature, yet is still reasonably convenient. The closest OK Mart (and then a 7-11, one block further down from that) is about ten minutes (fast) walking distance from here. I always take my scooter to the convenience store though. Anyway, the picture above is not of my street, but is actually from Mortuary Road, about two streets over from my street. You have to drive up to the highway, turn left, and then, immediately, turn right. Then turn left again onto the street where I took this picture. What you see is the skyline of Southern Hsinchu (Siangshan, by the ocean, which you can see in the farthest background), as well as some of Toufen, in Miaoli County. As you can see, the view is pretty spectacular, and the distant ocean water is pure blue. It was a beautiful day.


You might be wondering if there are trails or some such in the midst of the foreground greenery. Not really. This is where the tombstones are, so a lot of people are too scared of ghosts to come here for recreation. But in my country, Canada, people come to cemeteries for any number of reaons, including to have peace and quiet, or to walk around. Personally, I think this stubborn belief in ghosts is absurd. But to each his/her own, I guess.

There is not much in Toufen. In the part you see, there are a lot of roads, rather ordinary looking apartment buildings and houses, etc. Toufen and Jhunan are practically indistinguishable. However, because Jhunan and Toufen are more sparsely developed/populated, you can see the contrast with other views of Hsinchu's environs, where the downtown, East District, and North District provide captivating skylines from above. In fact, I feel like Hsinchu and Montreal are very similar. Except of course, among other things, Montreal is English and French speaking, and things are much, much cheaper in Hsinchu.


Almost identical pictures presented here, of course, which do, however, give subtle alternatives and a fuller sense of the particular experience I am trying to convey. By the way, pollution in Hsinchu is not as bad a problem as you might think. This might be because of the wind. Although, in the two months I've lived here, I haven't felt much wind. Many lovely breezes, yes. Wind, no. Personally, I think the monikker "windy city" is an exaggeration. But the pollution does get pushed aside by the ocean breezes. Not to mention that, where I live, up in Siangshan, the air is cleaner and fresher by virtue of the dirtier air mainly staying at the lower elevations.

Here, the ocean is more distinct.

Almost every day, for shopping, and for excursions to work or to meet up with people, etc., I will go down this road, and then turn right at the bottom, in order to get to Hsinchu East District. The pointy religious-looking building is, in fact, a Buddhist crematorium, or the temple where the bodies go before they are disposed of.

A closer look at the view below me.

As you probably can guess, I took this picture on a different day. Nevertheless, this is the bridge that goes from the Siangshan District to the East District. At the top of this road, you have to make a left in order to get downtown, or to get to Guangfu Road.

After driving up Sihwei/Shihpin Road, I made a right turn one block after Xida Road. Then I made a left turn at Shuifu Road. Keep driving straight, about maybe eight nine blocks (just a rough guestimate), and then I make a right at Bo-ai and Shuifu. Keep going up Bo-ai until it stops. If I want to get to the park at Eighteen Peaks Mountain, I don't go down the scooter road on my left (which goes down to Guangfu Road. Instead, just make a right, and basically I'm there. Just find a parking space, and I'm set! The above picture is one of the many pavilions at Eighteen Peaks Mountain.

This pavilion is the first pavilion you come to after climbing up the innumerable stairs from Bo-ai Road. A lot of people come to this particular area of the park. A side note: At 18 Peaks Mountain, you will see people lying down and getting massaged and people getting their hair cut. Indeed, you can, as you stroll along, purchase a cheap massage or haircut if you so desire.

Here are the stairs I mentioned. I guess there are about the same amount of stairs as the steepest, fastest climb from the pathways to the peak of Mont Royal in Montreal. Maybe somewhat less. More or less the same, I would say.

Here is the view of Hsinchu from the top of the many stairs. Certainly, I'm impressed. I don't mknow about you!

Another view...

A closer view. You might be able to make out certain features in the landscape which indicate a break in the city limits...

And here's what I mean. Just past two-thirds of the way up the top of the picture, you mean see a river flowing horizontally. That is the river which separates Hsinchu City from Jhubei.

I really do think Hsinchu is underrated. It is highly photogenic. And on a clear day like this, it is like heaven. I wouldn't change it for the world!

And some even more details views above, and below!


This photo was taken from the Dr. Sun-yat Sen Pavilion, which sits at pretty much the centre of the park. Here you see a view towards the even less polluted Science Park (at least when you get far enough away from Guangfu Road).


Even more in the distance, although it's unlikely you would be able to see it, as it is slighly beyond the mountain in the background, is Jhudong.

This tower, presumably, was built to have been a lookout point. Some lookout point! Most likely, when it was built, the trees were non-existent, saplings, or just short. I don't know why the designers didn't take such things into account. Anyway, the trees are large. Not B.C. Douglas Fir tree large, but still pretty large.

The previous weekend, Sharon and I not only went to Eighteen Peaks Mountain (to which I went both last weekend and this weekend), but we went further, as you shall see. This is Guangfu Road, right in front of one of the main entrances of Tsing Hua University. It is a beautiful campus. One of these days, I've got to take my camera and do a picture-taking excursion to said campus. It is a prestigious university (unlike some of the ones in Taiwan) and is full of young, hip people. There are a lot of foreign students there for many different countries. I have seen them studying in the nearby Starbucks quite often.

Here is the lake/park Sharon and I found, quite by accident. It is the residential area of the Science Park. The easiest way of which I know to get there is to take a right at Guangfu and Kexueyuan Road and keep going down Kexueyuan Road. Certainly, there are other ways to get there, but they all pretty much lead back to Guangfu Road.
The name of the place is Jingshin Lake, or Jingshin Park.

It has a lot of space and lovely places to walk, as you see. As Sharon and I were walking, we saw very few people. At one point we saw a small boy riding his tricycle around the park.

At this lake, you can see fish - tonnes of them, from what we saw - and water birds. You can even rent small boats at certain times (although that service wasn't available at the time we were there, from what I observed).

There are many lovely places to just stop and sit.

In the background, you can see a lot of picturesque houses...

It is a wealthy neighbourhood to live in, but one that I am sure is quiet and peaceful.

The trees and brass look very healthy...

Here you can see some typic homes that surround the park. The large windows are unusual for Taiwan. Apparently, in a refreshing turn of events, the owners and architects think that it is ideal to have a view, and even to have occasional light seep in. The constructions look solid, and the yards are really pretty, too.

Family Marts are alive and well in this part of town, too. I just don't know how you drive to this part of town. Sharon and I walked up via the Jing Shin park. Even the architecture of this Family Mart is prettier than Family Marts elsewhere!

A great big lotus pond. I saw a photographer taking pictures, so I could resist joining in the fun as well....


Here are Sharon and I posing for the camera. Sharon ambushed a couple who were taking pictures of one another to take our picture, so this one turned out pretty well.

There are lots of Chinese-type gates and constructions in this park. Not all are exactly moon-gates, but I don't know what the term is for the six-sided ones...


Here is Sharon posing for me at said gate...

Here is the overpass of Guangfu Road. I often go to this photocopy shop. There are a lot of photocopy shops in the area, which are decent and cheap.

Here is Guangfu Road going in the direction of downtown Hsinchu.

The night-life around Tsing Hua University is colourful. I have often eaten snacks at these benches surround the statue. Across the street is J.J. Cheers Bar. Both times I have gone there, I have struck up lively conversations with some friendly people. The English level in Hsinchu, or at least in this area, is quite decent.

There are many shops on this street, both local and multinational. You can find delicious noodles and stinky tofu in this area. And when I say delicious, I don't mean simply stinky or simply passable. I mean the food is juicy and refreshing and healthy tasting!

Here is the river that divides East Hsinchu from Siangshan. This area is also quite lovely in parts.

The skyline, returning at night.

The dusks are sweet and colourful.


For a map/guide to where you can get to some of these places, check out the Hsinchu Government's website (just click on the link). Unfortunately, the website doesn't do justice to some of the places. Some of the places that they list as being so interesting to tourists, are in fact nothing to speak of, in this world or the next. Anway, just take what they say with a grain of salt. Trust my pictures!

Update: Good news for Taiwan independence supporters. The botched Yunlin County election victory of a KMT Legislator was overturned by the courts in a decision which can't be appealed.