In the summer I experimented with using the camera on my new phone, especially for black and white photos (due to a class fad). This was surprisingly successful. I'm still sometimes using the phone camera and sometimes using my hand camera.

My summer classmates and my shadow leaving Shida MTC after class Student waiting for class at Shida MTC One of the MRT stations on Fuxing North Road Somewhere in Taipei, probably Renai Road near the Renai Dunhua traffic circle Jinjiang Street near my apartment

My neighbourhood had a procession of deity-type figures around the time of Mid-Autumn Festival. It is probably the same procession I saw three years ago, but seemed to take a different route.

The procession going by on Roosevelt Road Part of the procession Part of the procession

I went to Xindian a couple of times, and finally tried the trails on the small mountain near the station.

Pedal boats at Xindian Pedal boat at Xindian Upstream of the Xindian waterfront View from a mountain in Xindian Part of the abandoned theme park at Xindian

I went to Danshui.

Danshui waterfront Boats at Danshui View of Guanyin Shan Looking towards the ocean from Danshui Sunset at Danshui

I went to Daan park. For some reason I didn't do this until after the summer semester, even though it's just a few minutes walk up Heping East Road from school. The pond there is good for seeing birds and watching other people watch birds.

Birds in the bushes at Daan park Birds at Daan park Duck type of bird at Daan park More birds at Daan park Turtle at Daan park People taking photos of a bird in a tree at Daan park

I went to the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall grounds, also having for some reason not gone at all during the summer semester. I noticed that the roofs have decorations somewhat similar at the palaces in Seoul, which I noticed last year. As I haven't previously registered this in Taiwan, I hypothesize that this is either a difference between palace-style and temple-style architecture (most of the traditional roofs I see in Taiwan being on temples), or a difference between a Fujian style and a northern Chinese style that would be shared with Korea. Or maybe I just haven't payed attention here. There were also large protests at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall on National Day.

Performance halls by Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall; note roof decorations Roof decorations on a smaller building at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall on National Day, with protesters (especially on the steps of the Hall) Police blockade across from Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall on National Day

I have a small series of cat photos from local cats.

Cat on a car behind Shida Cat on a doorstep behind Shida Cats in the alley downstairs from my room Downstairs cat on a car The other downstairs cat, also on a car Cat on a roof somewhere in the Shida area

Food is good and cheep as always.

My standard lunch at the buffet near by apartment; this doesn't look very appetizing in the photo but is actually quite good At Mr Papa with classmates Coffee at Gongguan Mr Brown