Sunday, August 26, 2012

Pingtung Train Station


Saturday, August 25, 2012

Spirit Money?

This isn't your typical spirit money, you can actually buy objects that look like ipads, razors, sports things, to burn to your ancestors or gods. No, they aren't real they are just paper or cardboard objects. If you want to worship your idol to the fullest forget burning your $400 iPad when you can just burn something that looks like it for $3.

Friday, August 24, 2012

Idol's on the Drive

Sometimes the idols just get a little too dusty in those old creepy temples. The best way to fix this is to put that idol on the back of your car and drive until its looking spic and span again. In Taiwan as part of their worship to their gods they drive them around on tours through the city.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Thursday, August 9, 2012

The City of Idols: Chia Yi, Taiwan (嘉義)


Walking through the town of Chia Yi (嘉義), the crowds began to gather and bang drums, carrying their idols on their shoulders with faces painted like monsters.

As if a bomb was dropped in the middle of town, the city fills with smoke and loud bangs. They lay out the firecrackers on the pavement to walk through them while going off, carrying their gods.


After all the excitement the streets and cars are covered in the ashes from the fireworks.
A bus used for carrying idols

Fire Prevention






Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Chia Yi Skatetrip (嘉義)

 We decided to take a trip to Jia Yi (嘉義), with a bunch of local Taichung Skaters. The first place we showed up to was the skate park which wasn't much.

There was a big idol parade going on right by the skate park. The firecrackers left smoke that looked like someone dropped a bomb.


 We then skated this plaza which was full of ledges. No one cared if you skated there. A bunch of the locals have repaired the ledges and have rails and boxes to skate also.

 I'm pretty sure we were the first to skate this in the park. Isun was trying to get a 50-50 but didn't land it before we had to leave. (left photo: Strectching?)


Isun got tired and decided to put his face on the ground.



Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Typhoon Saola Damage




Typhoon Taiwan

We have a Typhoon today. That means the rest of Taiwan is shut down except for SYME. I arrived to work this morning soaked. I live in the mid-west coast. We mostly have high winds and lots of lots of rain. There hasn't been much damage besides a couple of flower pots knocked over and one tree that smashed a car.