luomujie blogspot: Shimen

CHERRY BLOSSOMS (櫻花)


TAIPEI (台北)


NEW TAIPEI (新北)


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OUTLYING ISLANDS


Showing posts with label Shimen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shimen. Show all posts

Kites were flying again in Baishawan in Northern Taiwan. A bicycle man, cute bear and even plants were seen dancing in the wind in the annual New Taipei City North Coast International Kite Festival. It's only a two-day event that one should never miss when it happens. Everybody were excited to witness the fun activity but there was only one problem. A typhoon was fast approaching and it will directly hit Taiwan!



The Central Weather Bureau predicted a fine weather for the 1st day of the event but not for the 2nd day. There was no other choice so I went there on a Saturday with my usual travel paraphernalia. Rakesh, who had been my Travel Buddy in my past travel adventures invited First Year PhD students in Academia Sinica to join the trip. Bus 862 and 863 ran along the north coast of Taiwan and it took us to Baishawan where the kites were flying high.









The bicycle man caught our attention! It kept on pedaling in the sky without even moving forward. A giant squid kite displayed its tentacles to the spectators. The caterpillar from last year's kite festival was still there and I remembered the shark and the whale from last year’s event. It was replaced by a floating orange bear and created an illusion of a giant balloon. Creepy plants danced gracefully in the white sand beach of Baishawan. When the wind blows to the right, the plants swayed to the right and vice versa.



There were also new features this year. Wind surfers courageously battle the strong winds and big waves of the East China Sea. Professional and amateur photographers took the opportunity to have great panoramic shots. The bamboo fence that prevented spectators in meddling with the kite flyers were expanded and there were more space for the festival participants to maneuver their kites during the kite flying exhibition period.
 
















My new friends and I also got attracted at the numerous kites hanging on the right side of Baishawan. We went there and found some men flying a circular kite. The kind men gave my friends the opportunity to try flying a circular kite. I also didn't missed the opportunity to try one! The winds were blowing strong but I just kept on holding the spool of thread. The kite flying experience prompted me to buy my own kite. My eyes got hooked with two fishes flying in the air and I bought them as my souvenir for this Taiwan Day 756. My fish kite cost NTD 100 and it is now part of my 'Taiwan collections'.










The group decided to go to the beach but I somehow lost them. The wind blew them away or maybe I was the one pushed by the wind to the beachfront where the kite flying exhibition was just waiting to happen. But before the kite exhibition happened, candies were seen flying in the air coming from a toy bear attached to a kite. The sweets flew with the help of parachutes and the visitors went wild catching them. I was even lucky to document Spongebob releasing hundreds of candies. A father caught one and gave it to his child. How sweet!














The sky became darker but the kite festival continued. All the visitors set their eyes on the sky as groups of kites flew in the air forming various patterns. The kites danced with the music being played loudly in Baishawan. My favorite kite exhibition was the 'lambada' performance. There were two diamond-shaped kites with very long tails. They swung in the air like two dancers moving gracefully in a stage.



Raindrops started to fall and the visitors decided to go back home. All beach activities in Baishawan were cancelled the following day. Many got disappointed for the suspension. Next year, the kites will fly again and bring smiles to our hearts but now they are gone with the wind.

2015 Shimen International Kite Festival (石門風箏節) [Taiwan Day 756: Gone with the wind - Sept. 26, 2015]

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The weather was perfect for flying kites. My Travel Buddies and I went to Baishawan (白沙灣) [Filipino: bay-sha-wan] to see the 2014 Shimen International Kite Festival. It was the last day of the festival but every year kites of different sizes and shapes are seen flying above the northern coast of Taiwan. It was sunny and the sky was clear but I wondered why the wind blows.






We boarded Bus 863 from Tamsui MRT Station to reach the beach. Bus 862 also goes to Baisha Bay. As the bus approaches the Baishawan bus stop, we immediately saw colorful kites flying. We got excited and I knew that it will be another great adventure in the North Coast & Guanyinshan National Scenic Area.













The blue sky of the East China Sea was filled with colorful kites. Elmo and SpongeBob were there. The red durian kites resemble immovable giant spike balls thrown in a white sand beach. The bamboo fences surrounding the kites didn't stop us from enjoying the festival. We also saw the flying shark and the black whale in the 'promotional material' that I posted in fb for this Taiwan Day Adventure.













Unfortunately, our group of seven people was split into two. I was with Gaurav (Indian), Lam (Singaporean, Taiwan Day 379 Travel Buddy) and Myrron (Filipino, Taiwan Day 371 Travel Buddy). We went to the other side of the beach to have our feet wet with seawater. It was my second beach adventure and the last time I went to a beach was in Taiwan Day 245 (Sand-sational!).












We got an opportunity to watch a group of men maneuvering small kites that looks like a fleet of jet fighters of the enemy of 'Maskman'. The small kites were in a snake formation and making an infinite loop. It was my first time to see such kind of 'kite exhibition'. It looks easy to do but I know it's difficult.







My group decided to see the other side of the beach. The wind was coming in that direction and there were small kites flying around the area. We walked in the sands until we found our friends who were also looking for us. They were walking towards our direction. The wind helped us to find our friends.




We then boarded Bus 862 to go back to Tamsui the see the sunset. We got there minutes before the sun disappeared and we have a nice group picture. It was also my first time to see the sunset in Tamsui.



There is a scientific explanation on why does the wind blow. This is due to the difference in air pressure. Imagine a balloon and it was pierced with a needle. A hole is formed in the balloon and air comes out immediately similar to the blowing of the wind. Air inside the balloon has higher pressure and it goes to an area with lower pressure which is outside the balloon. 


But there is a simpler explanation on why does the wind blow and that is to make kites fly! haha!

THINGS TO DO IN TAIPEI


2014 Shimen International Kite Festival (石門風箏節) [Taiwan Day 393: Why does the wind blow? - Sept. 28, 2014]

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