On the first of April I surprised myself and am in a country I was not on my list at all: Taiwan! But a couple of East Asian experts had told me that this is almost THE hiking paradise and also so culturally exciting. Aha. And three days before I bought the ticket.
I assume that many know as much about Taiwan as I do: nothing.
Therefore at the beginning a few neat and fun facts:
... Taiwan is an island with about 25 million inhabitants off the coast of China
... Taiwan is actually called "Republic of China" and is the most populous country in the world that is not a member of the United Nations (UN)
... Taiwan co-founded the UN and represented China in the Security Council
... Since 1971, this has taken over the People's Republic of China (the "big China"). Due to pressure from the People's Republic, almost all states now have no diplomatic relations with Taiwan
... Taiwan is still one of the 30 largest industrial nations (with everything that goes with it)
... The future is completely open: there is everything between joining China and independence
... Due to the conflict, Taiwanese have developed a dominant pragmatism in all spheres of life
... Example: Religion here is almost the bribery of gods ? it is a mixture (no juxtaposition) of Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism
... In the temple, one seeks out the god who fits the wish. Please be specific, gods have a lot to do (best address left on paper or which room in which hotel) and not the wrong god address (eg the god of learning: you leave in a post box, when who writes what exam .. actually there were many students)
I am in Taipei for a few days and used the time for city tours, for discussions about China and China and the future of Taiwan, as well as for food and drink!
In a museum I was also: the National Palace Museum is considered one of the largest collections of Chinese art and crafts So quite it was not mine, whereby a work of art, 17 elaborately worked together balls, starting from a ball ivory, really more than crazy. Oh, if you see the photo, you know what I mean!
But the bangers in the museum were very many and very large groups of Chinese visitors who are very fast, very purposeful and not necessarily considerate to work. Absolutely entertaining! Traveling to just one such group is a bone job!
Because city and confusion and so: below a colorful photo mix, more random than structured.
Also included: no Ming vase, but a Ming tea pot, many beautiful police rollers and pictures of the Chiang Kai Shek monument and the skyline including "Taipei 101" (formerly the tallest building in the world).
