Street art is becoming a big obsession. One of the first things that I do when I decide on a new destination is to find out whether or not I’m going to get my fill of street art. When I decided to be in Taiwan for two weeks, and Taipei for a large majority of that, I knew I needed to scope it out. Luckily, one of my favorite things to do while traveling is just to wander the streets. And from wandering and gaining some insight from a local in Taiwan, I was able to find some of the best Murals in Taipei.
 
Taipei may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of street art culture, but be prepared to be pleasantly surprised. In Taipei street art and better yet, good street art is easy to come by. The capital of the island country of Taiwan is rife with large and small scale street art.

Here are my favourite photos of the street art that I saw. And as always, if you know of any more, leave them in the comments!

在台北，越来越多机会看到风格不同的街头涂鸦作品。从台北东区的南港车站附近，到松烟艺术特区、圆山大直河滨公园到中山桥下，再到西门町的美国街与电影主题公园附近，都可以看见街头涂鸦的踪影。其中美国街与电影主题公园，因为有艺青会进驻，从早期是没有计画的随意涂鸦，到近几年会找国内艺术家前来，以台北街头或是台湾所见所感后，再进行街头涂鸦创作后。不管是创作技巧与内容质量，都跟其它区域有所区隔，可说是街头涂鸦的艺术重镇之一。每隔一段时间去，就不会失望，每每都能看见新的惊喜!

其实在台湾，涂鸦通常都跟违法脱不了干系，和其他国家不同的是，国外的空白墙面是可以被涂鸦创作的。在公共物品上涂鸦，当然在台湾的学校，或在社会，都是不被允许的。从学生时期桌角上的涂鸦，椅子上的涂鸦，到校园墙面的涂鸦，天桥的涂鸦，废墟外墙的涂鸦等等，任何一个土生土长的台湾人，很难伪装说他们从来没有看过这些东西的存在。涂鸦可以是文字，也可以是图画。街头涂鸦是种临场考试，与画纸创作有很大的不同，因为街头涂鸦使用的是喷漆，不仅颜色受限，更无法调色，必须利用手感来涂鸦，线条的粗细取决于喷漆的角度与速度。

金工的历史，最早可溯源至数千年前，当人类开始使用金属造物，金工技艺发展的齿轮便一同开始转动。各种金属皆有不同的特性、光泽、样貌及属性，透过创意亲手将金属制作成独一无二的手工饰品、艺品，让手作艺术更贴近生活。
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对想专心进行手工创作的人而言，最需要的就是能找到一个轻松舒适、同时还能与其他同好进行交流的空间。为打造出理想的手创天地，从事这行三十年的温清隆师傅原本想在东区找店面，却意外在《甘乐文创》内找到满意的地点，创立了 “三艺金工” 工作室。

Blacksmithing and traditional metalworking are ancient crafts and techniques that are quickly disappearing from society. The San Yi Metalworking Studio is an excellent example of CAN’s influence on traditional industries. Mr Wen Qing­long, a master silversmith, was trained as a traditional apprentice since the age of 13. Although he has a solid mastery of the skills of his craft, he could only find work making items to order on a case-by-case basis. With the help of CAN, however, he began to see beyond this traditional dynamic. He founded an independent studio and developed his own brand of design products, allowing him to engage in artistic creation firsthand. He also works to cultivate an appreciation for his craft through interactive demonstrations and hands-on experience sessions. By continuing to introduce new possibilities to local craftspeople, CAN hopes to continue to make use of local resources and find new meaning in old arts. 

我喜欢探访老街，主要是想透过老街的巡礼，了解当地人过去的生活，捕捉一点残留的人文风貌。每个人都有旅行的梦想，有人喜爱跳上列车，北上南下在轰隆作响的车厢里探寻环岛的乐趣, 有的爱往深山荒野走去，越刺激的地域越有旅行的价值。还有一种旅人，喜爱在时光迁移的轨迹之外，偷得记忆留下的證证据与老地方来场叙旧的旅行。

台湾北中南东各有特色且年份久远的建築与景点。这些存在已久, 拥有好几世代共同回忆的地点。无论是老街风华，飘香一甲子的路边美味，废弃後重生的日式房舍，历久弥新的观光景点或者是改头换面的旧厂房，都让人为之惊豔。我透过一次又一次的小旅行，以悠闲的心情重温旧梦或者在老旧故事里，把它们一个一个记录下来。不甘于只留下文化标本，我希望文化并不只是静静被欣赏的对象，更能以生动面貌重新活在世人的生活中。

位在台北三峡老街上，一看似咖啡馆的庭园，简约的现代建物与绿植隐身在矮门之后，如果没仔细看我还以为就跟一般咖啡馆差不多，而没发现《甘乐文创》的与众不同。我感觉就好像要走进老家的门口，还有在步道上可用眼睛翻墙的小庭院，幽幽绿意衬托著后方的屋子，引人入胜。

Taiwan’s old streets play a significant role to the country’s architectural, cultural, culinary, and economic history. Each old street is famous for only one particular thing which it produced many years ago. Despite having developed into tourist attractions, these streets are preserved, and you can still trace the roots of the locals’ lifestyle, and get a glimpse into Taiwan in the olden days.

Walking along Sanxia Old Street is like walking into a time tunnel - the arched red brick hallways, the traditional architecture, the beams, columns, ancient wooden plaques, the squat maidens walls and the figure carvings upon the buildings are all very unique. This ancient street has a feeling of nostalgia for the good old days and makes visitors want to linger. 

The Culture Art and Nature (CAN) located in Sanxia Old Street is re-established from old houses, and periodically hosts music, plays and photography exhibitions. CAN, a local community advocacy group, has been intimately involved with San­xia’s cultural preservation efforts and creating a historical record of its past. The group’s founder, Jeffery Lin, grew up in the area.

My photo essay under pen name 蓝天游 on Hong Kong's Heritage of Mei Ho House 美荷樓生活館 and SG's Chinatown Heritage Centre《香港美荷楼生活馆与新加坡牛车水原貌馆》is published in today's LianheZaobao 联合早报缤纷版 dated 19 April 2018! 感谢、感恩! Thrilled to see it being featured nationwide in print! Special thanks to Lianhe Zaobao, you have made my day! :) 

黑白屋随莱佛士而登陆新加坡，主要建于1898-1941年间，是殖民地时代英国人为公务员与官员建造的房屋，基本格局模拟英国的“都铎”（Tudor）式建筑风格，并配合新加坡热带与季候风气候而建设。狮城中仍有波斯陶路（Portsdown Road）这块空旷“宝地”，在发展与保留过程中取得良好的平衡。走进波斯陶路里仿佛时光倒流60年。波斯陶路一带有许多英军时期，所留下的黑白老式洋房。这些富有殖民地色彩的洋房，建于上世纪的40年代，见证了岛国发展。在英军撤退前，洋房多尾军官的住宿，之后则多租给了外籍人士。这些房子的建筑结构坚固，设计上也展现了欧陆典雅风格。
 
我最近到访才发现这里的几十幢黑白相间的老洋房洋房原来藏在浓郁的绿色之间，低调又矜持，延续昔日的风采。每一栋独立成户，拥有大片的绿地，空间开阔，某些洋房背后交错的树枝间，还隐约闪烁着游泳池蓼蓝的波光。黑白屋之上，又见另一幢黑白屋，远近互相辉映。没有高聪入云的建筑，也没有又直又长的柏油路，环境清幽僻静。而这正是这份在城市里得来不易的安宁与平静。
 
我觉得这里是新加坡最后一片乐土，世外桃源。黑白屋在时间与空间上极为奢侈，老房子有了岁月的沉淀，特别耐看，加上树林或园林环绕，面积动辄过万，在时空愈发紧缩的岛国，更是奇景。真的，不把黑白屋当景点，是不可能的。每个进入黑白屋的人，都会发出赞叹。然后，很自然地，拿起手机或相机拍下这些老房子。这是大多数人意想不到的新加坡。社会发展得快，所有旧的东西都迅速消失，我喜欢黑白屋所带来的怀旧氛围与情调。

在新加坡有这样一条废弃的铁道，铁道的两边有郁郁葱葱的草丛和森林。来到这里会让人觉得，如果和心爱的人一起沿着铁道一直走下去，真的就可以走到天荒地老，那真的是太浪漫了。而它，曾经只不过是一条理所当然躺在那里的铁道，每天都有一列列火车往返于新加坡的丹戎巴葛与马来西亚。这里就是新加坡的铁道走廊。
 
故事要追溯到上世纪30年代，马来亚铁道公司修建的这条铁道是新马泰三国人民和货物往来的主要交通工具。其中在新加坡的铁道线以丹戎巴葛为起点站，同时为了方便住在市区以外的人们享受火车服务，还分别在亚历山大、东陵福和武吉知马兴建了几个小型的火车站。1965年新加坡脱离马来西亚宣告独立，当时的两国领导人决定维持铁道的主权，铁道沿线两旁各25米的地段归马来亚铁道公司管辖。2011年7月，当铁道正式由马来西亚交还给新加坡，新加坡火车总站也从市区的丹戎巴葛移到新马边境的兀兰，当铁轨与枕木被拆除送还马来亚铁道公司后，这条从丹戎巴葛到兀兰长达24公里的贯穿新加坡心脏地带的铁道线就结束了历史使命。
 
这条铁路从武吉知马铁道站以南不远的地方，最先在金文泰路与Lorong Gaung （今Maju Drive 一带）横越金文泰路，然后沿着旧金文泰路（今金文泰邻里公园所在）北面穿越斜阳大道（Sunset Way) 再,横越乌鲁班丹河。铁道沿河向西南方向，从花柏岭、花柏林和花柏径住宅区边缘经过，至班丹河与乌鲁班丹河交接的不远处，横越班丹河，向西而去。从这里，铁路沿亚逸快速公路的北面至旧亚默依布拉欣路（今改名亚逸拉惹快速公路）交接处转向南面，继续往西。最后，铁路横越裕廊河，直通裕廊渡头路站。 

There is a Peter Parker, who has been serving in Hong Kong’s friendly neighbourhood as their local-Spider-man since 2016. After an exhausting day at work, the young man breathes a sigh of relief in his bed. Then his “spider-sense” awakes, he puts on the world-renowned costume and leaps to the street – the hustle and bustle of Tsim Sha Tsui. For him, this costume is not merely a source of income, but also his own way of doing good, like his comic book counterpart.
 
When interviewed, i realised the two Peters share a similar childhood. They were both victims of bullying at school, due to their introvert personalities. The Hong Kong's Spidey recall that he was living with his mum on a tight budget when he was young. The Spider-Man movies toughened him up. He said he wants to share the power with others which is one of the reasons why he took up the costume. Hong Kong Spidey says he just wants to bring happiness to the stressful Hong Kong. He hides his identity to his family and friends.

Standing on the streets for more than two hours during summer is unbearable for most, yet sweat and tiredness never stop him. Hong Kong Spidey is able to perform outdoor for up to six hours a day, regardless of season, simply because he enjoys what he does. Spidey insisted that his purpose is to bring joy to everyone. He declined when people gave him tips at first. Later he thought of a meaningful idea, which is to use the tips from the public to help the needy. Despite the strict regulations of fund-raising activities in Hong Kong, Spidey finds his own way of doing charity, works as a street performer and spends all the money he makes for donation. We first met in the Star Ferry Pier when he was surrounded by people who were taking turns to take selfies with him including myself !

首先，我想借此说一下这番话。最近新闻播报台湾花莲这次地震的灾情，我觉得很心酸且难过。地震无情，天灾难避。在台湾，花莲是以大山阔水的景致，朴实善美的人文。这一次的地震却带来如此的浩劫，我期望花莲能早日步上正轨。台湾加油!

Before the start of my blog story on a place visited in Taiwan last December, i would like to first express my sympathy. I have learned with profound sadness over the earthquake in Hualien in Taiwan which has caused loss of lives and enormous devastation of properties. I encourage all of you to please dig deep and let's stand strong behind the people who need it the most and those who have given up the most to be there for others in their greatest time of need.

去年我在台北探访了芝柏山庄。三芝是北海岸著名的观光景点，沿途一整排各色各样充满异国风情咖啡馆林立，因此一到周末假日，总吸引络绎不绝的游客前来吹海风、喝咖啡，或是观海听浪、堆沙堡、戏水。。。但如果你来到三芝，只是享受蔚蓝海岸的怡人景致，那未免有些可惜，因为这里其实也是个丰富迷人的人文艺术城镇，能让人体验不同于一般所熟知的三芝风貌。

原本的芝柏山庄本是有钱人买来做为度假别墅的高级社区，因此除了家家户户都是独门独户，外加私人小庭院外，社区里还有游泳池、网球场、篮球场和溜冰场等设施，但后来面临金融风暴，有许多屋子因屋主无力偿还房屋贷款，因此而遭到法拍或是闲置，由于地处偏远、交通不便，一般人也不愿居住在此，但在艺术家的眼中，这里环境清幽、不受外界打扰，加上房价租金低廉，简直就是启发灵感、艺术创作的天堂，于是吸引了不少艺术创作者的进驻，并且在有心人士的共同经营与推动下，让这个曾经一度面临荒废的社区，重新换上新面貌，每一栋艺术家的住所兼工作室都非常具有特色，建筑本身就等于是一件他们的代表作，包括外观造型、用色、涂鸦和造景摆饰，都独具巧思与创意。如今一到周末假日，就有不少游客慕名前来造访，逐渐成为三芝另一处观光热点。

For me, travel and photography have always worked in perfect harmony. They go hand in hand. Capturing great moments and transforming what I’ve seen into something new and artistic while strolling through a new city with fresh eyes is a rewarding experience.
 
Hong Kong is famous for its distinct urban skyline, comprised of towering skyscrapers and futuristic office blocks – some of the tallest in the world. For this reason it's long been a favourite subject of artists and photographers, eager to capture the sprawling, bustling metropolis.
 
I develop a passion for photographing the striking architecture of Hong Kong a few years ago. I took these photos last year while on vacation. Being interested in architectural photography, I always see various attractive buildings in Hong Kong. ​Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated areas around the globe. Faced with this limitation and the impossible prospect to expand horizontally, builders are forced to look simply upward. Buildings, housing apartments and condominiums are stretching more into the skies as developers hurry to provide more living space.

其实很多人不知道，在繁忙的台北市中心，还有条植满老树及日式古宅的幽静巷弄，青田街。巷弄两旁老树成荫，遮住头上的阳光，也隔绝了外面的人车声，静的连踩到树叶的声音都很清楚，和外头喧嚣的和平东路仿如两个世界，走在里面，不知不觉就放慢了脚步。​​一栋栋日式老屋，静谧地坐落在巷弄绿荫之中，在茂密的雀榕、软枝黄蝉之间，个性店铺群聚，这是青田街，台北最富人文诗意的街道之一。经过数十年无心插柳，虽然不少日式建筑已被改成4、5层楼的公寓，但青田街依旧保留超过30栋日式老屋以及为数众多的老树，堪称水泥丛林中的绿廊，也自然散发多元的生活美学。

青田街一栋栋老屋如同时空胶囊般，保留住许许多多文人雅士的生命轨迹。

Taiwanese people are entirely accustomed to having residential and commercial spaces mixed together, as is evident in the presence of convenience stores at every street corner. Some streets in Taipei bear such historical vestiges that one forgets time. The verdantly shaded Qingtian Street for example, is still flanked by wooded dormitories built during the Japanese Ruling Era. 

Qingtian Street is where noise fades into tranquility, and leafy giants stand quietly before rustic wooden houses of the Japanese style. While time passes by, Qingtian Street still retains its elegant look in a gentle attitude. Not only you can feel the historical inheritance, but also feel its vitality. 

We always want the New Year to bring bigger and better things, and 2018 will be no different. Every year, we make resolutions. Every year most of us break them. But, it seems that keeping resolutions that are tied into things that you enjoy and appreciate, like travel, are much easier to keep as they’re achievable and you want to accomplish them.  Travel New Year resolutions are in fact fun, encouraging and exciting. Making minor changes and creating goals can help travel infatuated humans achieve and tick off the biggest bucket-lists to date and help set you up to do even more. How satisfied and stoked will you be?

​One ultimate list of travel tips for the budding adventurers is to stay in the moment. To me, that’s most important thing. Take your time and enjoy yourself. Travelling should be fun not hectic, so have a simple plan and stick to it. While you can sightsee all seven wonders of the world in a month, you can’t really experience their majesty if you are on a plane every four days. Find a place where you can truly enjoy yourself and stay there for a time. Look up information about the place you are in and learn something new, even if no one cares but you, it will be worth the effort. A month in a single country is better than running across an entire continent.

Last but not least, i always remind myself to be happy always. Happy travels in 2018 :)

I know Taipei is not well-known for being at the top of many Asians’ travel bucket lists. I haven’t visited Taiwan since the last in 2013. But after almost two weeks affair with Taipei, I really love Taipei. So what made Taipei special to me? It’s just a feeling that I get; a feeling of knowing a place even though I’ve only been there for a while; a feeling of belonging somewhere. I collect such places, as someday I’ll settle down and I’ll do it in a place that I feel like I belong to.
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I stumbled upon a sort of street art park, the gray skies making the colorful murals pop. I knew then that Taipei and I were going to get along just fine. It reminded me of Tokyo, where as a foreigner you feel like a fly on the wall even when you're in the middle of the action. You overwhelm your senses trying in vane to absorb your surroundings. I remember thinking, "I should move here to live and work" with so little trepidation that it scared me.

这次的台湾行，其实是应该称作台北之旅，我在台北逗留了差不多两个星期。所有的目的地似乎都埋伏着一场回归。一次又一次向别人提起台湾的种种，一次又一次给别人写台北的旅行攻略。这是我的第四次台北之行。在四年后重返这座温情脉脉的城市，那些最初抵达的地方依旧朴素迷人，可那些日子的记忆如何寻找呢。我已经改变了。重新去和台北相认，交谈，惺惺相惜，重新触碰那些令人心意荡漾的行走线路，重新喜欢上一个城市，唤醒爱意，这就是旅行赋予我的，最奇妙的意义。走在台北再繁华的街道，可能会突然发现一幢古旧建筑，一侧是朴实的小巷，一辆鲜黄的机车正不紧不慢朝你的张望中开过来。

台北是这样，它具备一个城市令人心动的所有理由。

哈咯大家！我现在身在台湾旅游，已迫不及待地​真的要告诉大家，台湾的合欢山真美，高山真美。
我很少这样说，但是让我告诉大家一下，14甲公路是台湾最美的公路。大家有机会一定要上山，慢慢开车、散步或是挑个步道来走，能感受这条路的美。

​我漫游合欢山区，到处充满著昔日的足迹回忆。周遭是熟悉的山影，不过在变幻云彩的掩映下，呈现出不同的风情。无限的高山美景依然令人陶醉。伫立高山上，蓦然旧事上心来，此情此景最是令人怀念往事。远山一望，晴空蔚蓝，极目天涯浮白。我欣赏著高岭上朵朵白云漂浮，当看到那飘逸的白云，有种寄语白云的心境。

I write about my travels all the time. When I write for this site I delve into my discoveries, feelings and learnings. For most, a journal is the place to hold both kinds of memories. You’ll want the details of what you did and where but at the end of a trip, it’s also nice to have a journal rich with the meaning of your travels. I found the journey to Mt Hehuan in Taiwan soul inspiring. Mountain climbing is something you have to experience for yourself, and once you have, it’s unforgettable.

Mt Hehuan means mountain of harmonious joy in Chinese. And you will totally experience this joy when you reach the top. When I was there, the weather was surprising good albeit windy. The sky was vibrantly blue, forming a stark contrast with the passing white clouds. At the top, the actual scenery is far more beautiful than a photo can depict. One should really should pay a visit to witness and enjoy the spectacular view and feel the sense of joy.