JIUFEN – A Mountain Jewel in Taiwan

View of the coast from Jiufen, Taiwan
View of the coast from Jiufen, Taiwan

Last month we spent several days in Taiwan, sightseeing, shopping and taking care of a couple of important errands.

Most of our stay was spent in Taipei, but we did manage a day trip to the historic mining town of Jiufen, now a popular tourist destination in the mountains northeast of Taipei.

With scenic panoramic views, dozens of curious shops and galleries, and more eateries than any two people could sample in a month, the picturesque village provided a fascinating getaway from the urban bustle of Taipei.

Here are some of the colorful sights from our daylong adventure.

click on each thumbnail for more information about the image

Since when did we become Rock Stars?

The Vietnamese seem to think we're rock stars (Michael Bolli/pixabay.com)
The Vietnamese seem to think we’re rock stars (Michael Bolli/pixabay.com)

HANOI, VIETNAM – Melanie and I have noticed something funny happening since we moved to Vietnam. We’ll be out and about, minding our own business, exploring a historic site or wandering around at a festival. All of sudden a young person or two – sometimes not so young – will come up and ask to pose with us for a photo. It’s weird.
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