After several days of experiencing Taiwan's more modern side, Jeff and Barbara finally got to see the "real" Asia, beginning with the Great Buddha Statue of Changhua 彰化:
From Changhua, we drove to Lukang 鹿港, and plunged into the chaos so typical of popular tourist spots in Taiwan on weekend days. The sights, the sounds, the smells, the souls - the meaning of the term jenao 熱鬧* was starting to become clear to Jeff and Barbara:
When in Rome, do as the Lukangans, so lunch was oyster omelets 蚵仔煎 and dragon whiskers 龍鬚糖:
No time for quiet contemplation at the T'ienhou Temple 天后宮:
For Amber, Lukang meant an opportunity to get a T-Rex balloon:
Streets thronged with visitors, old storefronts selling touristy knickknacks and glimpses of traditional homes behind locked gates - welcome to Taiwan:
At one point, we stopped to listen to a performance of traditional music:
Some locals discuss the transient nature of existence:
Lukang on a Sunday not only means hordes of people, but also lot of cars clogging the roads. Eventually, we made it back to T'aichung 台中, meeting up with Steve and his kids for dinner at an Indian restaurant, followed by dessert at Swensen's. Taiwan, truly Asia:
The Citrus Heights contingent partially reforms in central Taiwan!
Tomorrow will be Jeff and Barbara's last day in Taichung. While I go back to work this week, our intrepid duo will set out by themselves for T'ainan 台南 and T'aipei 台北. I'm looking forward to hearing about their travels next weekend.
* 熱鬧 = bustling with noise and excitement/lively
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