Skywatch - Twin Pagodas

The Dragon and Tiger Pagodas are one of the famous twin pagodas located at Lotus Lake in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan. They are pretty magnificent especially at night.



Here's a dragon and a tiger standing guard over the pagodas. According to Chinese folk tales, entering through the dragon and exiting from the tiger brings good luck and reverse bad fortune.



The surrounding views made it a worthwhile stop whether or not you believe in the folk tales.

I took these photos without a tripod and I liked the way they turned out.  Hope you liked them too.

Happy Skywatch Friday.

Our world - Chishingtan Beach, Hualien

There is nothing more enjoyable than spending the day at the beach.



Serene, inviting and refreshing.



Don't you wish you were here too?

Our World

Wordless Wednesday - For the sweet tooth

Wordless Wednesday

Our World - Jiuzhaigou Natural Reserve

This is a continuation on my trip across Sichuan. We made our way from Huanglong Valley  to Jiuzhaigou Natural Reserve at the crack of dawn the next day.

Also known as Valley of Nine Villages, Jiuzhaigou consists of 3 main valleys arranged in a 'Y' shape.  As the layout within the park is enormous, shuttle buses are available to take you from one scenic spot to another, so it's really convenient.

We visited the park in the middle of peak season since it was the most beautiful time to see the place.


While I'm pleased that tourism in China is booming, I'm not happy with the big crowds. Despite the long queue, I was hesitant to get in line as this was the place we mainly came to SiChuan for.



When we arrived, we were warmly welcomed by the beautiful trees swaying in the air.



A wonderful start to autumn



The scenic landscapes were indeed a feast for the eyes. The water seemed to be perfectly still and everything had a balanced reflection



I learned that some lakes have a high concentration of calcium carbonate, which made the water crystal clear and the bottom often visible even at high depths.



At a different corner, here's a flock of beautiful mallards moving gracefully around the lake



Another breathtaking view along the way. The air smells great and refreshing too.



Before leaving the park, we stopped by to enjoy the the soothing sounds of a waterfall before we made our way back. A lovely way to end the day.

Our World

Our World - Huanglong Valley in Sichuan

While in China last year, we made our way to HuangLong Valley after reading that it had become a top destination for hikers, trekkers and nature lovers. The scenic area is known for its colourful ponds, snow-capped mountains, beautiful valleys and hot springs and as such, has been listed as a World Heritage site.


It was a beautiful autumn day but a long and strenuous hike.  It was tough to catch your breath in the high altitude and I moved like a snail most of the time. Despite this difficulty, I was fine the rest of the day.



We took a cable car to the summit and walked further uphill.  Along the way, we were greeted by heavenly skies and incredible mountains as far as the eye could see. Parts of it reminded me so much of the Austrian Alps.



This was the highest altitude of our hike, over 3,000m  above sea level.  And one of the many things I loved about this place was the multi-coloured ponds. I was told that it took thousands of years to harden and formed.



We passed yet another splendid view along the way.



The crisp mountain air combined with the panoramic view was lovely.



Every trail offers a magical hiking experience. There's so much to explore and trek around the valley.


As the sun beginning to set, I hurriedly took one last shot before we made our way out of the valley and headed back towards town.

Our World