TAINAN
COUNTY
Tainan is a southern county which is home to Tainan city, the oldest city in Taiwan. It is famous for its food, historic buildings, and temples. The city is the 5th largest in Taiwan. Tainan is one of my favorite cities in Taiwan! This city is an interesting place of narrow alleys with various types of architecture from Chinese, Japanese, Dutch, and modern. It is not uncommon to go down a very Chinese looking alleyway to find a very cute modern looking tea shop or other type of shop. It doesn’t make sense to me, but it had appeal because of it. On the coast are mangroves, many types of birds for the bird watchers or photographers, and decent beaches. The coast offers chances for beautiful sunsets. I have spent hours upon hours exploring the Tainan coast for cool spots to fly my drone, catch sunsets, and explore in general. I highly recommend visiting Tainan. My first day here, my host showed me around downtown, where I got to go to a temple of the Monkey King. His avatar was there, and I was blessed. Don’t sleep on Tainan. People are a bit more friendly from here continuing south. I even got a few hellos. While still boring as far as cities go, it has a charm and flavor that is unique to me.
台南市台灣最古老的城市。以食物，歷史建築及寺廟聞名。是台灣第五大城市。台南市我最喜歡的城市之一。它的有趣在於狹窄的巷弄裡有很多形式的建築，包含台灣，中國，荷蘭及現代風格。走進一個很中國的巷弄，看到一間可愛時髦的飲料店，這對我來說並不正常，但也正因如此，它擁有奇特的魅力。海線附近有紅樹林，住著不同種類的鳥可以賞鳥，可以攝影，當然也有很棒的海灘。海邊同時也是看日落的好地方。我曾經花了好幾小時探索台南海岸線，飛空拍機，拍夕陽。我超推薦來台南。記得我第一次來的時候，民宿主人帶我逛市區，然後我發現孫悟空廟，他的神像就在那，感覺我被保佑了。不要猶豫馬上來台南。這裡的人比較友善，比較多人跟我打招呼。雖然城市生活還是有點無聊，但台南有他的迷人之處跟韻味，對我來說是獨一無二的。
I’ll be honest. It’s just mounds of salt. I don’t know much about this. I went because I was bored and to take photos. It was near here where my camera broke. I was hurt about this. (Update June 2022) Again, yes, its mounds of salt, however, as I was driving on the highway, I noticed some things that caught my attention; structures, natural spots with birds, and as usual, because this is how I find things, I got off the highway and found the location. It turned out this amazing area was right near the salt flats. Should you come here? Yes. I am not going to post spots. Just drive around. It's a cool area. You might even find the Crystal Church.
井仔腳鹽田: 我必須承認，這裡就是一堆堆的鹽，我對這裡也不太熟，會來這裡只是我很無聊然後我想拍照。在附近拍照時我的相機壞掉了，很心痛。(更新於2022,六月) 是的，我又來一次，也是一堆堆的鹽，但當我在高速公路開車時，我注意到了一些東西，一些建築，有很多鳥，所以，一如往常我開下高速公路，這是我發現新東西的作法。結果我發現了一個好去處，就在鹽田附近。你該去嗎?當然，但我不打算寫出地點，你就開車繞繞，是一個很酷的地方。同時也可以發現水晶教堂。
I have been to so many places in Tainan. I am not going to share all of them with you, but this is a sandbar I found while doing my usual, driving around aimlessly to find a dope cut to shoot or explore. You will have to put in some work.
頂頭額沙洲: 台南我還去過蠻多地方的，我不會全部都寫出來，但這個沙洲是在我到處亂開車時找到的一個秘境。花點力氣來探索吧
I don’t know the name of this place, but it has purple water. It caught my interest enough, so I drove out to find it. There were hella dogs there when I arrived. They were all up in my shit, circling my car and I have had many bad experiences with dogs. I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t find any weapons around me just in case I had to fight them. It wouldn’t be the first time I had to fight off a pack of dogs. So, I waited. There were other cars too, but no one would get out of their cars. Finally, something happened that only dogs could sense and most of them raced off from the pool. I figured since there were only 2 or 3 left, I could fight them if I had to. I got out of my car and the dogs were cool. They didn’t bother me at all. I started walking around to get a better view of the purple pool. Then I noticed EVERYONE else coming out of their cars, now that I took the risk of going first. This place was…uhhh…I don’t know. There's dogs and purple water. There were hella dead fish in there. Should you go? I don’t know. Maybe. I don’t regret going but it was kind of out of the way, but then again, when you explore you may find something even better close by......clues? Maybe. I do have hella hearts around this area, actually the whole Tainan coastline.
我不知道英文名字，他就是個水是紫色的地方。他的確引起我的注意，所以我開車尋找。這裡超多狗。他們會跳上來，繞著我的車，因為我對野狗有不好的經驗，我不知道怎麼做。周遭沒辦法找可以保護我自己的武器。這不是第一次，我必須面對一大群狗。所以我在車裡等。也有其他車子，但沒有人下車。最後，好像有甚麼把狗引到其他地方，最後剩兩三隻，我覺得我可以對付他們，所以我下了車，而那些狗滿冷靜的。並沒有來打擾我。我開始四處走尋找紫色池塘的最佳觀賞點。然後我也注意到，大家都下了車。因為我是第一個出發的。這裡就是...嗯，紫色的池塘跟狗，有超多死魚。你該去嗎? 我不知道，也許，我並不後悔前往，但他有點不在主要道路上，但是，如果你自己探險的話也許會發現附近有更好的地方。我的確蠻喜歡這附近，就是台南的海岸線周遭。。
I didn’t even know this was an island. It has a beach and it's pretty good and usually pretty empty when I go. WEEKDAYS. I swam here. No current, small waves, super chill.
漁光島:我甚至不知道這裡是不是一個島。有沙灘，很棒的沙灘，通常我去的時候都沒人，週間。我會在這裡游泳。沒有流，小波浪，超放鬆。
It's an easy drive with no narrow roads. Parking is 100NTD, but if there is space, you can park down the hill for free. It's a short walk to a waterfall and pool. I wouldn’t say it's a cave, but it’s a cool looking spot. No swimming, but I think for photography purposes it's the best reason to go. If you stay after dark, one of the dogs will bar your path and bark at you aggressively. It's not chained, but if you just continue walking it will go away. At least that's what happened to me.
蝙蝠洞:開到這裡的路，並不難開。停車費一百元，但如果有位子你可以免費停在山坡下。走到瀑布不遠。我不會說他是一個洞穴，但是個蠻酷的景點。不能游泳，但我認為如果是為了拍照就值得一去。如果你一直留到天黑，有隻狗會擋住你的路然後很凶狠的對你叫。沒有被鍊子拴著，但如果你一直走，他會離開，至少我的經驗是這樣。
This is another beach in Tainan. As usual, it was a pretty empty beach.
黃金海岸:是台南的另一個海灘。一如往常地沒甚麼人。
Famous for their mangos! Nuff said.
玉井:以芒果著名
This is a great spot for sunrises! The fog, the rising sun, its dopeness! I liked this way better than Alishan for sunrises. It is way more simple to get to as well. As a matter of fact, let me share 2 locations I stayed at that are nearby. There is also a bunch to explore in this area. Again, turn off your phone and drive randomly around the area. I have been here 4 times. The first time there was no sunrise. The 2nd time there was a sunrise, but the air was hazy with pollution, and I accidently had my camera on JPEG, though I thought it was a good sunrise. Then I went a 3rd time, and by this time I was known by the OG local photographers. It was funny. I thought the sunrise was really nice, but they told me it was 60 out of 100. The 4th time, I felt I was respected by the locals. For you photographers, get ready to be laced with game! There are 4 types of sunrises here: the Jesus line/Buddhist line, bamboo light, colored clouds, and cloudy sea. The best time to see this is during the summer after it rains. Also, and here's the big one, it is possible to see ALL 4 during a sunrise. That's 100%! I have only seen cloudy sea and bamboo light.
二寮日出: 這裡是看日出的超棒景點。霧，上升的太陽，超讚的。比起阿里山我更喜歡這裡。而這裡也更容易到達。實際上，讓我跟你分享兩個附近的住宿點。這地區附近也有很多可以探索的地方，你就關掉手機，隨便開。我來這裡有四次。第一次來的時候沒有日出，第二次有日出但有點朦朧，空汙嚴重，然後我不小心把相機設定成拍JPEG檔，雖然我覺得日出挺不錯的。第三次，我遇到了一群年長的台灣攝影師，滿有趣的，我覺得日出已經夠美了，但他們告訴我滿分一百，這大概六十分而已。第四次，我覺得我受到當地人的尊重。如果你是攝影師，把器材準備好。這裡有四種形式的日出，耶穌光，竹子光，彩雲，和雲海。最佳時機是雨後的夏日。還有很重要的一點，夠幸運的話可以一次看到四種。 我只看到雲海跟竹子光。
This is where I lost my fucken drone, across the lake, on some small hilly mountain, in a tree. It was recommended to me by one of the OG photographers at the Eliao Sunrise Pavilion. It was a beautiful place. I had some real nice drone footage too….and lost it all. You should come here, it's a bit out of the way, but it's really nice. Yeah.
我在這裡弄丟了我的空拍機，越過湖，在某個小山坡的樹上。這裡是二寮那裏的攝影師告訴我的。很漂亮，我用空拍拍了很多影片，但全都不見了。你應該要來，要找一下，但真的很棒。
I call this place the White Palace. It's an all-white temple. I was driving by, and it caught my attention and I just had to check it out. It is on a hill and quite beautiful. There is an aggressive dog there who only feigns aggression. I doubt it will attack you, but it will bark and posture up on you. I just kept my distance and eventually he just walked off. I have never seen anyone here. It never looked open, but really stands out.
我把這裡稱為白宮。他是一個白色寺廟。我開車經過然後被吸引了。位於山坡上，很美麗。有一隻很兇的狗，但他只是裝兇。我不認為他會攻擊我，但他一直叫，並且好像要撲過來。我就跟他保持距離最後他就走掉了。這裡都沒有人，看起來也不像有開放，但真的很特別。
Places to stay near Erliao Sunrise Pavilion:
二寮日出附近的住宿點
大坑休閒農場
I don’t know the name (I can’t read Chinese), but it had everything; hot springs, cold springs, murals, food, animals, hiking, towers, bridges…I went alone, it would be better with a group.
我不知道英文名字，我不會讀中文。但他什麼都有。溫泉，冷泉，壁畫，食物，動物，健行，塔，橋...我是一個人去的。如果很多人一起去會更好。
The daughter was nice. She’s in college and is studying art. She has some nice pieces around the establishment. She even showed me her private collection. Nothing happened! Just sharing art. She’s good! I went there again and met her father. He’s actually a criminal police officer. I was super interested in talking with him, as I see the police doing absolutely nothing in this country except for dealing with traffic accidents and directing traffic. I’ve seen police do nothing when people go through red lights, double park, fight, cut people off and more. As a matter of fact, I’ve seen Taiwanese punk on police, so when he told me he was a criminal police officer I had like 1000 questions to ask him, and we had a nice chat, and I learned a lot. There isn’t a lot of crime here.
女兒人很好。他是大學生主修藝術。他有一些很棒的藝術品放在房子周圍。她甚至告訴我他的私人收藏。 甚麼都沒發生，只是分享藝術。他很棒，後來我再去了一次遇到他爸爸。他是一個刑警。我超有興趣跟他聊天，因為我覺得台灣警察除了處理車禍案件或指揮交通就沒事做了。我曾經看到警察眼睜睜看的闖紅燈，併排停車，打架的人而沒任何行動。事實上，我看過台灣人不甩警察，所以當他告訴我他是一個刑警，我超想問他問題，而我們也聊了很久，我學到很多。台灣並沒有太多刑案。
This is another place you can stay at. I didn’t stay here but I visited this place during my last week of living in Taiwan. The owner is a Taiwanese woman who has some land and kinda left the rat race most of us live in. She offers a place to sleep or visit and the price depends on you, I believe. It's a beautiful location that offers sunrises and sunsets. You have to sleep outside on mats. I met the owner's sister from Chiayi named Angelina who lived in LA and spoke pretty good English and she was breaking things down. They are art lovers, spiritual, and laid back. I told them I was also an artist. Ex professional street dancer and photographer. We danced, drank tea, ate bamboo, and chatted. It was a very holistic and beautiful experience. I would recommend this to anyone. Yogis, artists, people who like to talk and share, would dig this place.
這是另外一個你可以住的地方。我沒有住，在我在台灣的最後一個禮拜我拜訪這裡。主人是台灣女生，他提供了住宿或參觀的地方，價格隨你意。這裡很美，可以看到日出及日落，你必須睡在外面的地墊上。我遇到主人的妹妹，他叫Angelina從嘉義來，住在LA，英語說得很好。他們都是藝術愛好者，心靈層面，很隨和。我跟他們說我也是藝術家，專業街舞者跟攝影師。我們跳舞，喝茶，吃竹筍，聊天。是一個很神聖美妙的經驗。我會向每個人推薦這裡，瑜珈，藝術家，喜歡聊天跟分享的都應該來這裡。
Moon rocks! Get your moon rocks! “Thangs! Half thangs! QP’s!” Close up with the moon rocks. I just gotta have my moon rocks! They aren't moon rocks. I just don't know what type of rocks these are but they sure are cool!
它們不是月球石。我不知道這是甚麼石頭。但他們保證很酷
I can’t get enough of those moon rocks! If you are driving to these locations, then you are driving through lots of areas with moon rocks! These are just some places you can go where you can park and not block the little traffic there is.
草山月世界大峽谷:給我更多的月球石。如果你開車來這些地方，那你一定會經過很多相似地形的地方。這些都是一樣的景觀，你可以去任何你可以停車的地方，注意不要檔路就好。
Here is a gimme. I like these types of rocks. There are lots of them in this area and further south.
馬頭觀景台: 我喜歡這種樣子的石頭。往南可以看到更多。
I enjoyed walking here. It had a nice view.
我喜歡在這裡散步，風景很好
This place is dope! Especially at night. I loved shooting some long exposures here. This was also a main location for an event I went to. It was like a street performing festival that happened during spring. I am not sure if it's a yearly event and or if it changes cities. Fun times!
河樂廣場:這裡超棒的! 特別是夜晚。我喜歡在這裡拍一些長曝。這也是一個我去過的活動場地，街頭藝人嘉年華，在春季時舉辦的。我不確定是不是每年都有，或是會換地方。很有趣。
Tainan Street Art Festival-
This festival is held every two years. It allows art to take place freely in public spaces and has a distinct urban feel. It is also an exchange platform for street performers. These performances cover drama, circus, dance, music, sports competing and more. I used to be a street performer and practiced dance on the street every day. I will ALWAYS support and respect street performers. This was no different. If I were to find something about this festival that bothered me, it would be more diversity in performances. Granted I didn’t see all of the performances, but I felt it could have been more diverse in artforms. Even still, I enjoyed watching every show. Street performing is hard work.
台南街頭藝人嘉年華: 每兩年舉辦一次。藝術自由的在公共場合發生，並帶有都市的氣息。同時也是街頭藝術者的交流平台。有戲劇，馬戲團，舞蹈，音樂，運動競技等等。我曾經是一個街舞藝術家，每天都在街上跳舞。所以我完全支持跟尊重這些街頭藝術家。如果要挑剔的話，就是缺乏了多樣性。當然我沒有看過全部的表演，但我覺得在藝術形式上可以更為多元。即使如此，我還是很享受觀看每個表演。 街頭表演超棒!
It’s another museum. I actually don't hate museums. I go to them often, but it's a museum.
歷史博物館: 另一個博物館，我不討厭博物館，我常常去，但這裡就是個博物館。
They sell stuff. It's actually pretty cool and worth checking out. I don’t buy stuff so I just window shopped.
林百貨: 這裡賣很多東西，很酷，值得來看看。我不買東西，所以我只是逛逛。
Another museum.
司法博物館:另一個博物館
Taiwan has some awesome gardens and parks.
吳園藝文中心: 台南總是有一些很棒的花園跟公園。
Dutch fort. It’s in the top 10 things to do in Tainan. They can explain it better. It doesn’t look like a Dutch fort anymore. It has been refurbished many times.
赤崁樓: 荷蘭堡壘，他是台南必做十件事之一。他們可以講解的更多一點，因為他看起來完全不像荷蘭堡壘。被重建很多次了。
Anping is a cool little tourist town. The Treehouse is dope because it's overgrown with banyan trees. Would be good to shoot a horror flick there.
安平樹屋: 安平是一個小的觀光鎮。樹屋很棒因為他被榕樹貫穿。如果拍恐怖照片這裡很適合。
More white people forts in other people's countries. It’s cool though. Check it out.
安平古堡: 更多白人在別人的國家建造堡壘。滿酷的，來看看。
Every city has their “Old Street.”
安平老街:每個城市都有一條"老街"。
It's the first Confucious temple in Taiwan, but there are many Confucius temples.
台南孔子廟: 他是全台灣第一座孔子廟，而台灣有很多孔子廟。
It's got some interesting art here. There are lots of these places all over Taiwan.
藍晒圖園區: 這裡有些有趣的藝術作品。全台灣也都有類似的地方。
This strip has various artworks in the middle of the street. They created islands for walking traffic and to see street art. There are murals, sculptures, and more. That is not the address, but it's on the same street. I liked it.
戶外藝術博物館: 街道中間有很多藝術作品。他們會設徒步區，有壁畫，雕像，等。這個點不是確切地址但就在附近。
I haven’t been to this art museum, but the architecture is amazing. I just like to look at the building. It’s probably dope inside though!
台南美術館二館:我沒去過這個美術館，但建築看起來很驚人。我只是看外面建築，裡面的展覽應該也很棒。
I don’t know where it is, but I will post the first place I stayed in Tainan, and the owner of it knows. Let me know if I don’t find out first. I was lucky enough to go to this temple and get blessed by the Monkey King in human form. I asked my “workout buddy” what was going on and why the man was mimicking what I perceived as Monkey King mannerisms. He told me the spirit of the Monkey King was in this man and he was blessing the people in line. I asked him if he could talk to the disciples to see if I could be blessed. I was accepted. For those who don’t know, I have a high respect for “Ton Ngo Khong” or you may know him as Sun Wukong. When I moved to Vietnam, there was a temple in Saigon with various statues of deities and one of the Monkey King. I prayed to him every time I went there. I would not give up the chance to be blessed by Sun Wukong in Tainan. (Singing) "NY Chen, NY Chen, she found the spot, and sent it to me, so now you, can enjoy it too!" She also told me there are other Monkey King temples in Taiwan!
齊天大聖廟:我不知道他在哪裡，但我會把我第一次在台南住的地方標出來，民宿的主人知道。我超幸運可以到這個廟然後被齊天大聖保佑。我問我的運動夥伴發生什麼事，為什麼這個人模仿孫悟空。他告訴我齊天大聖的精神在這個男的身上，他也會保佑大家。我問他，他能不能跟師父講話看我有沒有受到保佑。我被接受了。給那些不知道的人:我對孫悟空有極高的敬意。當我搬到越南時，西貢有廟祭拜孫悟空。每次我去那裏我都會向他祈禱。我是不會放棄在台南被孫悟空保佑的機會的。
It's one of the things I like about Tainan. Narrow allies with interesting things to see like street art and stores.
蝸牛巷: 這是我喜歡台南的一點。窄巷裡有很有趣的藝術作品或小店。
I have never been to this theater, but what’s tight about it is the guy who paints all the billboards for the movies. If you’re lucky, his shop is across the street, and you may see him working outside. I saw him twice out of like 9 times. He gets my respect!
全美戲院:我沒在戲院裡看過電影，但最酷的是這個畫電影看板的人。如果你夠幸運，他的店就在對面，你或許可以看到他在那裏工作。我看過他兩次。我尊敬他。
This was the first place I stayed at. Location is prime! The owner came up to me as I was putting my things down and said, “I exercise at 6pm every day for an hour.” His English was passable. “Would you like to join me?” I replied, “Ummm….I don’t really want to exercise, what are you gonna do?” He said, “Walk. I will show you around downtown.” I replied with an affirmative nod. He showed me a lot of stuff, including the Monkey King Temple. I had a nice walk with him, and he was willing to share history and information. If you stay here and he invites you to exercise with him, you should go. Saved me a lot of time.
歐野家民宿: 這是我第一次去台南住的地方。地點很棒。民宿主人跟我說我每天早上六點起來運動一小時，你要跟我來嗎?他的英語還可以。我說嗯嗯嗯我並不是很想運動，你會做甚麼?，他說，散步，我帶你看市區。我點了點頭。他帶我看了很多東西，齊天大聖廟，他跟我講了一些歷史。如果你也住這裡，他邀你去運動，你一定要去。 省了我不少時間。