As most Shrines and Temples in Taiwan, Dalongdong Baoan Temple is decorated with some beautiful lights at night. An impressive architecture made even better. Taipei, Taiwan.
Prayer at Dalongdong Baoan Temple. What I found remarkable in Taiwan is that locals are not bothered by the tourists inside a temple. Of course I tried to be discreet as much as possible. A moment I didn’t want to interrupt but I also didn’t want to miss this portrait. Taipei, Taiwan.
Cooking with a smile. Whoever visits Taiwan is mandatory to try the street food, not only for the taste but for the interaction with the locals, priceless. Dalong Street Night Market, Taipei
No posing and no preplanning, this is a Real-life portrait of a lady cooking at a Soup Station. Street food is a must try in Taiwan. It’s tasty and there is a huge variety to choose from. Shilin Night Market, Taipei, Taiwan.
Among soup pots and motorcycles the crowd is gathering for a meal at the Shilin Night Market. My 50mm 1.8 STM precisely captured the scene from one of the most famous neighbourhoods in Taipei.
Ready or not Taiwanese are always comfortable in front of the camera. Shilin Night Market, Taipei.
Underground Food Court (when the ground floor is not enough) Shilin Night Market
Dried fruits and nuts among other natural flavors from a Street Vendor at Shilin Night Market, Taipei, Taiwan.
Making Top Scholar Cakes (狀元糕) at Shilin Night Market, Taipei, Taiwan.
A taste not to be missed: Top Scholar Cakes (狀元糕). These are traditional Taiwanese rice cakes with Sesame and with Peanut. They were made in front of us, I had to try them both, they were delicious! Shilin Night Market, Taipei, Taiwan.
A street vendor carefully preparing Taiwan’s ice cream burrito. A local delicacy of fresh peanut bar served with ice cream and coriander. Very tasty! Shilin Night Market, famous for the tasty street food.
Sugar Coated Cherry Tomato, combination of sweet and sour taste. One of the countless options for food in Shilin Night Market, Taipei, Taiwan.
Fan Tuan (Rice Roll) stall in Taipei, Taiwan… The Absolute BEST in the area! Starting from early in the morning the couple is making their delicious and healthy snacks for their many many local customers (that must mean something, right?). One of our most memorable foods in Taiwan 🙂 上順興香Q飯糰 https://goo.gl/maps/G7Ju5XMAqok
Fan Tuan (Rice Roll) stall in Taipei, Taiwan… The Absolute BEST in the area! Starting from early in the morning the couple is making their delicious and healthy snacks for their many many local customers (that must mean something, right?). One of our most memorable foods in Taiwan
Fan Tuan (Rice Roll) stall in Taipei, Taiwan… The Absolute BEST in the area! Starting from early in the morning the couple is making their delicious and healthy snacks for their many many local customers (that must mean something, right?). One of our most memorable foods in Taiwan 🙂 上順興香Q飯糰 https://goo.gl/maps/G7Ju5XMAqok
A commuter waiting at a bus stop, on the way to Yehliu Geopark. The symmetry and simplicity drew my attention. Keelung City, Taiwan.
Pedestrian sign on the road at Yehliu village, Taiwan.
Fishing boats in a dry dock and houses in front of a hill. Morning light gave some good reflection on the water. This is such a typical scene of the place, and also I found it an interesting composition. Yehliu Port in Taiwan.
Tremendous carvings and statues decorate the Yehliu Baoan Temple (野柳保安宮) in Yehliu Port, Taiwan.
A very Taiwanese frame. Taiwan’s nature combines sea, rivers, green hills and mountains. Yehliu is a fine example.
Tour Guide signaling her group in Yehliu Geopark, Taiwan.
Rock formations in Yehliu Geopark. The site is attracting a lot of tourists every day. We found it a nice location for an excursion and a walk in nature.
Yehliu Geopark and Tourists. You can spot the famous rock formation “Queens Head” on the far left side of the photo. The place gets busy early in the day.
Close to the Yehliu Geopark there was a small street market (nothing unusual for Taiwan). I decided to take a photo of the seller among her merchandise, framing her portrait. Yehliu Port, Taiwan.
Street photography in Yehliu Port, Taiwan.
Fishing boats docked at Yehliu Port in Taiwan.
Portrait and birds in front of the famous Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall Gate. A huge construction and temples with endless possibilities for photography. Also with plenty of people visiting. Took us a long wait for this photo to happen. Taipei, Taiwan.
Taiwan’s amazing temples give many opportunities for photography. I like to combine portraits with a nice background. National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Taipei, Taiwan.
Anywhere in Taiwan if you wait long enough you will have a bike in your frame. Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall , Taipei.
Tourists passing by the gate of Chiang Kaishek Memorial Hall. In Taiwan there are many locations where your can rent a bike, it’s great to experience Taipei on a bike tour!
Comparing sizes: A group of students close to the huge gate at 中正紀念堂 Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Taipei, Taiwan
A Florist driving her van among thousand of flowers. The gardeners are doing a tremendous job in keeping up these beautiful views. Taichung, Taiwan.
Portrait among the flowers from the flower farm in Taichung, Taiwan.
Florists and Gardeners in Taiwan are bringing color, aroma and beauty in our lives. A big thank you to all those people who have such an important role. Portrait from the wonderful flower farms in Taichung, Taiwan.
Two amazing creatures a Dragon and a Tiger ready to receive the guests right in their mouth! From the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Visitors touching the Lion Statue for good luck outside Dragon and Tiger Pagodas in Kaohsiung.
In the Dragon’s mouth (literally) which is the entrance to the Spring and Autumn Pavilions (春秋御閣). Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Inside the Dragon statue-tunnel (yes, it’s that beautiful) a very creative entrance to the Spring and Autumn Pavilions (春秋御閣). Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Looking at the Dragon-Tiger Pagodas through the window of the Wuliting 五里亭 Pagoda. Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Inside view of the Wuliting (五里亭) Pagoda. Excellent art decoration. Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
The Bridge connecting Spring and Autumn Pavilions (春秋御閣) with the beautiful little pagoda Wuliting (五里亭). The lotus plants complement the view. Also visible the back of the Dragon (the decorated tunnel) at the entrance of the Spring and Autumn Pavilions. Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
View of Wuliting – 五里亭 Pagoda through a flower garden. Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Long exposure of Wuliting – 五里亭, a Pagoda located a few minutes walking distance from the (often overcrowded) Dragon and Tiger Pagodas. As a contrast, in the background the modern city buildings. Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Taking his grandchild or child for a bike ride is common, but in front of this background, (the Great Warrior Statue 玄天上帝神像) makes it unique! Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
This lady is not posing, she just stopped for a few seconds, I decided to put her in the frame. Main Gate at Great Warrior Statue in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Accross Dragon and Tiger Pagodas there is this temple, 慈濟宮. Superb art decorated roof and of course the local bike riders give a great subject for photography. Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
The amazingly huge Buddha statue in Dashu District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Super minimalist shot of a traveler approaching the gigantic Buddha in Dashu District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
My admiration to the gardeners in Taiwan (as well as during my trip to Japan) is great. They deserve to be mentioned after all their hard work. Great Buddha, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Fo Guang Shan Great Buddha Land (佛光山大佛城). Magnificent Standing Buddha Statue in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.
HDR photo from the interior of a Taoist temple dedicated to Xuan Tian God. Tainan city, Taiwan.
Tainan Chinese Temple 三老爺宮. Minimalist portrait.
Tainan Chinese Temple 三老爺宮. Roof detail.
Bicycles in narrow streets are a common view in old Tainan City.
Candid shot of a lady florist walking in the street of Tainan with flower coordinated boots. My camera is always ready for situations like that.
While traveling for photography I like to include local people in their daily activities. Like this lady during her morning prayer in Tainan.
Moment of prayer framed by the beautiful decorative art at the Temple of Avalokitesvara. So many temples in Tainan! It’s hard to visit in one day.
Amazing Roof decoration detail from Avalokitesvara Temple. One of the numerous temples you can find in Tainan, Taiwan.
Slightly long exposure of Motorcycles that are the favorite transportation in Taiwan. You can find them everywhere from street markets to countryside.
Paying no attention to my camera this man was exercising his Martial arts routine at the Confucius Temple garden in Tainan. A fine example of concentration.
Confucius Temple in Tainan. Dragons roof decoration. The power of minimalism. Tainan city, Taiwan.
Detail from the amazing roof decoration of Confucius Temple, Tainan
Detail from the amazing roof decoration of Confucius Temple, Tainan
Inside view of the Confucius Temple, Tainan
Perspective and symmetry at Confucius Temple Garden, Tainan
Billboard Posting in Tainan, Taiwan.
Parking Graphiti with traditional images (one dragon is never enough). Tainan, Taiwan.
Popular location of Street food in Tainan, Taiwan.
High Speed Rail Train in Taiwan provides an excellent way to reach fast and safe various cities of the island. It can reach 300km/h (measured by my GPS) and offers snacks, tea/coffee and toilets onboard. Excellent service!
Wuji Tianyuan Temple in Tamsui. Minimalist portrait.
Cherry Blossoms were not easy to find at mid March. This lady showed us the way to a 2km trekking path in the Taiwanese nature leading to a great spot with cherry blossom. We enjoyed walking there. An unforgettable experience. Tamsui, Taiwan.
Cherry blossom in Tamsui, Taiwan.
After some hours of walking in Tamsui countryside we really apreciated this lady’s soup and tofu! Tamsui, Taiwan.
Road workers in Tamsui with a typical Taiwanese city background, even a temple with Dragon decoration (as usual).
Not easy to choose food in Taiwan, the options are so many! Tamsui street market.
Impressed by sites like this. Motorbikes parked in a very disciplined way in a street of Tamsui, Taiwan.
Whether it’s taking the kids from school or shopping, (or both) Taiwanese love to use their bikes.
Family ride. It’s not unusual to see the entire family riding a single motorcycle in Taiwan. Driving carefully and everyone wearing helmet. That’s the way! My favorite part of the photo is the kid’s look. Tamsui, Taiwan.
Bicycling in Tamsui street market.
Lover’s Bridge portait. Fisherman’s Wharf, Tamsui, Taiwan.
After a day of travelling, one needs a good service of ramen. Tamsui, restaurant Aloha 海洋餐廳
Taiwanese dessert Taro Balls (芋圓). Tasty and healthy. At a famous dessert shop in Fisherman’s Wharf, Tamsui, Taiwan.
Night portrait at Lover’s bridge in Tamsui, Taiwan
The famous “Stinky Tofu” of Taiwan that we tried was not from a restaurant but traditionally from a street vendor, home made. Note: it’s not stinky at all, it’s very tasty!
Kostas Trovas Photography 