Photos by Caecie DeBlaere, (University of Minnesota), Student Correspondent for CET Taiwan, Summer 2022
Quarantine View!
During quarantine, I was lucky to be placed on the 15th floor of Aloft Beitou, so I had an amazing view during my seven-day required quarantine. A good view and sunlight were just what the doctor ordered.
Is it Cake?
The best meal by far, this tray featured so many interesting and delicious foods. The middle food looks like a mushroom but was actually a pastry in the shape of a mushroom. I was surprised by the quality of this particular dish
First Time on Campus
I decided to walk to National Taiwan University one rainy day after quarantine. Since classes were online at the time, the campus was very empty but super green! It was like walking into an animal crossing, even the grass seemed different!
The Green side of NTU
Continuing my journey at National Taiwan University Campus (NTU), there are a lot of beautiful plants, creatures, and sceneries. I thought this water wheel was so interesting, and it’s right by the Eco Pond that NTU has on its campus!
The Pond and its Residents
The Eco Pond at NTU is amazing and peaceful. There are turtles, fish, and birds! It’s pretty amazing how calm the wildlife is, some even swim up to the bridge when you stand there. This bird in particular seemed to be people watching.
Take a Hike!
This photo was taken at the end of hiking at Elephant Mountain with my good friend Marwa. With a beautiful view of Taipei 101, it was totally worth the workout, though as a novice hiker, it was a harder climb than I was expecting. I am glad I went because the sight was worth seeing.
Lights at the Café!
If you ever do find yourself at Elephant Mountain, there is this cute cafe at the base called Sunshine Café. My friend Marwa and I got to enjoy our drinks under these beautiful lights.
Lanterns!
Ending our day of adventure on the mountain, we headed over to Ciyou Temple. The temple was very busy and extremely beautiful.
Burning Incense
A lot of people were burning incense at the temple, and this brazier was one of the places they would put the incense. It was interesting to experience something that had many ancient qualities and yet at the same time, bursting with vitality.
Raohe Night Market
The night market is right next to Ciyou temple! The gate was beautifully lit, and the night market itself was even more lively than the temple. The smooth transition from a lively solemn atmosphere to street vendors and amazing food, was a lot of fun.