Hey Doc

(Main entrance, looking over the new de Young Museum)

California Academy of Science reopened in September, 2008. Turning the old museum into an eco-friendly, sustainable architecture. The African Hall was completely preserved plus few remanents from the pass. The new museum featuring an aquarium, a natural history museum, a rainforest, a planetarium and the living roof.


(The dome of rain forest)


(The Living Roof)


(Looking up in the glass tunnel of aquarium)


(New penguin exhibit in the African Hall)

(Interesting pattern for the morning frost on my sister's car)
Just my luck, the first day I am back in Bay Area was below 40 degrees. Not sure of the condition I went for my morning run and discovered that it was freezing cold. Felt better after the warm-up. It was actually refreshing running in the cold morning air.


(Farmer's market at West Valley College)
There was a farmer's market on every Saturday morning at West Vally College. I used to go there buy fruits and vegetables when I first moved to my sister's house. Today, there were plenty of sweet seedless grapes for $2.50 a lb.

(XiMenDing main square at night)
In my high school years, Xi Men Ding (West Gate Town) was the place we hang out for the movies and food when the school was out. It was also the place for the guys to meet the girls or vice versa. I don't know when or why, the crowd had disappeared and moved to the East District. But the XimenDing is making a come back. Younger generations are roaming the streets day or night again.


(Live TV)
The window of a hair salon in the area.


(Check, 1,2,...)
A rock band was rehearsing for tomorrow night's free concert. Often the only way for young aspiring artists to get recognized.


(Say cheese)
A group of photographers using the main square as their backdrop for their photo shoot session.

(Queen's Head - YeLiu Geopark)
Along the northern coast of Taiwan is a 25 miles long scenic highway runs from DanShuei to WanLi. The coast is a mixed rocky and sandy shoreline. YeLiu is best known for its amazing rock formation, the result of millions of years of shaping from wind, sea and rain. Queen's head is a typical mushroom rock that was caused by water erosion undercutting the dryer upper sections.
Because if you look at that rock from a certain angle, it looks like a human head wearing a crown. So, for people to get a 'proper' shot, there are foot prints painted on the walkway marking the position for people and photographers.


(Grounded)
Sadly to report. About two months ago, a Panama registered freighter Morning Sun carrying automobiles ran aground here. Spill oil all over, contaminated two miles long of the coast. I can see the cleanup effort but the damage was done. Remaining oil is been pumped out (see the line connected between the ship and shore). Estimated the ship will be removed by the end of December.


(Windmill Farm)
I believe this is the only windmill farm on the north coast. Six 45 meters tall giant windmills stood at the top of the coastal hills. The first commercial windmill power plant on the main island. Completed in 2004.


(UFO House - Revisited)
It was going to be demolished in December but some movie director saw the place at the last minutes that he wanted using the site to shoot a movie. So the site was saved, for now. See my previous shoots.

Here are few street photos around Taipei city.


(Store for rent)
This must be the smallest store front in the world. Looks like this less then 3 sq/ft triangular "building" was what's left from a road widening project or something like that.


(Dummy flagman)
The result of rising labor cost.


(Sausage stand)
As long as I can remember, I was told that this sausage was made from rat meat. I believe this was the way my parents did not want me to buy them.


(Fisherman at TanSuie)
I believe the fun of fishing is not for the catch, it was the waiting. ;) But I don't understand how fun is to watch a fisherman fish.


(Taipei at dusk)
I took this shot at Elephant Mountain, north/east edge of Taipei city. The hike up to the location took about 30 minutes on a very steep step trails. I arrived at 4:00 PM. By the time I set up my tripod and camera gears, there were 15 photographers gathered around me. I spent two hours there until its completely dark.


(A sudden rain pour)
This was taken awhile back. I learned to live in Taipei carrying an umbrella in my bag at all time.