Flickr Group - Hsinchuang

There is a Flickr group all about Hsinchuang.

Taiwan's tiny trash tins

Taiwan is one of the most crowded places on earth and yet the garbage bins are about 1/3rd the size of those found in places like Hong Kong or North America. Why? One would think the Taiwanese - who love their island - would learn from overseas and expand the size of cans? Does not seem to match with Taiwan's excellent (world-class) recycling program.

McDs delivers in Taiwan!

Following the lead of Dominoes Pizza and Pizza Hut in crowded Taiwan, McDonalds has started delivering by scooter as well. American fast food adapted to Taiwanese charateristics!

Heavy Taiwanese rain - no lights on again

Taiwanese rain! With no lights, I really feel the pain! Again...

Labor for sale graffiti

Throughout Taiwan (and China) graffiti that advertises ad hoc labor can be seen. Only mobile phone numbers are provided.

This photo was taken near Fu-jen Catholic University. Perhaps location-based services one day might service this labor market? A real Blade Runner-esque scenario with rough-and-ready laborers illegally finding dangerous work in the largely unregulated factories of Greater China (to manufacture for the world).

Great new Italian restaurant / coffee shop near FuDa

There is a great new Italian restaurant (with some Taiwanese characteristics) along the "restaurant row" right next to Fu-Jen Catholic University in Hsinchuang. It is called "Milco Coffee" in English.

Here is a video clip of the interior:

This is how I roll...

This is how I roll... from Hsinchuang to Linkou.

Homelessness in Taiwan (台灣無家可歸)

Despite Taiwan's economic success over the last half a century, there are still those left behind. One such is an old man who lives in Hsinchuang (新莊), Taipei Hsien (台北縣). He lives in a three-wheeled truck that is parked in a parking lot. He scavenges cardboard and other recyclables for small income. As you can see here, he hangs his clothes out to dry on the parking lot's wall.

Traffic hell in Hsinchuang

Poor urban planning. Noise pollution. Crowded conditions. Too many scooters (very polluting). Taiwan.

View from a Taiwanese taxi

Typical scene from a Taiwanese taxi. Chaotic traffic outside the taxi; the driver playing annoying music and chattering away on his phone with colleagues or friends in the Taiwanese dialect of Chinese.