I will sleep wherever I want.
Perhaps because Pingxi appears to be an easy-going small town/village kind of place, the dogs seem to have a free run of the area. At least some of them appear to be pets with collars on their necks.
This dog was sleeping undisturbed by the many humans who walked by to take pictures on the rope bridge.
Maybe he’s the bridge toll keeper asleep on duty?
The bridge leads to the residential, sleepier side of Pingxi.
You’d think with his kind of lackadaisical attitude to life, Pingxi must be real quiet and idyllic like so.
Pingxi is special for its unique architecture and design, as its market area, Pingxi Old Street (平溪老街), is built into a hill with a train track going overhead right through the middle with shops around selling local food and gifts. – Guide to Taipei
Years ago, we came to Pingxi and it was quiet. Nothing much was opened and there weren’t any tourists. Could be because it was winter. We mailed a few wooden postcards home, took a few pictures and left.
Today, a different sight greeted us. The sky lantern trade was alive and booming, despite it being the wrong season.
Every year around Chinese New Year (usually in Jan/Feb) the Sky Lantern Festival (平溪天燈節) draws massive crowds of people together in Pingxi to release their Chinese Lanterns together in a sign of celebration of the new year.
Frames with the paper lanterns pegged to them lined the tracks as tourists write their wishes with black ink. It’s a fun activity for the family or friends traveling in a group. The sky lantern shops lined both sides of the track.
Different colours of the lantern denote different types of wishes. These ladies want to be married soon.
The whole process is very systematic. The shop workers will take your picture with each side of the lantern before they instruct you to raise the lantern for a final picture before releasing.
And lift off!
With our sky lantern floating merrily off by it’s lonesome, we decided to walk about this old town.
This is what the hanging flower looks like from below. :P
Hah! Dog spotted!
What you looking at? Quit following me.
These human pupparazzos…. arf!
Two more I can discern by their tails. Hmmm….
And this handsome chap. Guess what he is on the look out for?
Hey stranger, you need to pay if you want to eat in our territory!
I tried but I don’t think the tall beast is gonna listen to you, bro.
My persistence will win in the end!!
Brings to mind the behaviour of those unruly deer at Nara Park. The tall beast walked here and there and couldn’t shake them off. He only escaped when he finished his food and dump the leftovers and packaging into the trash.
All these happening, while our lantern hangs in the sky.
By Train: From Taipei Main Station, take a northbound train (except Keelung-bound trains) towards Ruifang Station. Transfer to the Pingxi Line (平溪線) and purchase a One Day Ticket for the Pingxi Line, NT$52. The line is pretty scenic and you can get off any the stops to explore. Details. Train map.
More about
– Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival in 2014
– What not to wear to release a sky lantern
– Environmentalists say number of lanterns should be limited at Pingxi
– Other attractions along the Pingxi line
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Bailey
I wonder if it is seasonal tourist trade or if the area has revitalized into a more thriving tourist area?
weliveinaflat
I think it’s been revitalised, although there may be seasonal trends involved as well. When we went previously, we went in the spirit of fun but most advice online was to time the visit around February if releasing the sky lantern is our main intent of visit the area. :)
ThatJenK
Wow – looks like an awesome place! Great photos!
weliveinaflat
Considering I was travelling with mom, scenery not being her thing and we can’t just eat all day, this was something different that involved her active participation. So good. :P
Kyla
I bet I could teach those dogs the proper begging technique.
weliveinaflat
You could… they don’t seem to have access to your online learning course though.. since their outside all day. :P
Mary
Wow, very cool place. Does the train actually go on that track 2 feet from the buildings?
weliveinaflat
Yup, train comes by about every 1/2 hour, I think. Came by twice while we were there and people sort of clear the track and wait for the train to pass before getting back on it ;) One rail double use :P
FleaByte
What a beautiful town! And what handsome dogs. :)
weliveinaflat
Agree!
manicivy
Great pictures! The paper lantern ritual looks fun.
weliveinaflat
It’s a great activity for all ages I think, particularly for kids and those who don’t have an appetite for natural scenery when they travel :P
Ruckus the Eskie
Oh wow what amazing photos.
weliveinaflat
Thank you!
Jodi
Wow totally fascinating. How do the lanterns float? Is there something inside that propels them or is it just the way they are designed?
And thank you for your lovely contribution to the blog hop!
weliveinaflat
It’s propelled by hot air. There’s a flame inside like a hotair balloon, just smaller and made of paper. :)
2browndawgs
That looks like a really neat place. Wonderful pictures. Thanks so much for joining the hop!
weliveinaflat
TGIF and have a great weekend ahead!!
M. K. Clinton
That is so incredibly cool!
dogtailsblog
Judging by these photos I think life must be quite different for dogs there as opposed to here in the UK. Whether they are owned or not dogs aren’t allowed to roam here, and are collected by a dog warden. How does that work there in Pingxi? I do enjoy your blog as its shows a whole different world sometimes!
weliveinaflat
Hi Katie! Sorry for the late reply. Where does the dog warden bring the dog to in the UK?
In Singapore, stray dogs are allowed in that the government keeps a blind eye until someone makes a report/complaint about them. When there is a report/complaint, some strays will be taken in by the AVA (I suppose it is the equivalent of the pound in the USA… not sure about UK) when reported. Or culled if they have multiplied and become unmanageable to the community there. It is a government decision despite outcry by local animal groups. The dogs retained by AVA are subsequently reclaimed by owners, rescued by shelters/fosterers or destroyed, as far as I know.
We saw the dogs as pictured in this post about Pingxi, Taiwan. They were pretty much operating on their own, without interference from the locals. Brings to mind how dogs operate in the traditional south east asia villages or kampungs in the old past. The doors are never closed, so dogs certainly have the freedom to wander in and out. Unless their are tethered to something.
With regards Taiwan, there is currently a movie about to screen in Singapore called Twelve Nights. It is a documentary view at the plight of these stray dogs, who when they get reported, are taken into a high kill shelter and have only 12 days of existence left, before they are either adopted or destroyed.
In fact, M.C. at Shibasenji.wordpress.com has a great review of it here – http://shibasenji.wordpress.com/2013/11/29/film-twelve-nights-%E5%8D%81%E4%BA%8C%E5%A4%9C-documentary-on-taiwan-shelter-dogs/
I think he has a greater insight into Taiwan, than I do, which is why I’m sharing his blog with you. :)
dogtailsblog
Thanks for the reply :)
Well, in the UK if a dog is found roaming the street it is either taken by a member or the public, or the dog warden to a local animal shelter or vets. Here, they will check for an ID tag/scan for a microchip. In 2016 the UK government are making it compulsory for all dogs to be microchipped here. It currently is not. If an owner can be traced they are reunited, if not the dog will be assessed and put up for rehoming. So here, it is strange/alarming to see a dog roam the streets.
Alot of shelters in the UK will not put a healthy dog down. Although, sadly there is speculation that some shelters may do so.
I watched a TV program recently about an American shelter, which was terribly sad. They do not have the capacity to house so many dogs and each day one member of staff has to choose any dog(s) to be put to sleep, so they can accommodate the new dogs that have arrived that day. Dogs are literally dying for no reason.
I’ll have a look at that blog, will I need to get the tissues ready? :(
weliveinaflat
It sounds like in the UK you are far ahead in the game and have solved the problem of strays altogether so that you are assured that more dogs are treated humanely even in a shelter. :)
As for the blog article, I don’t think its particularly emotional or anything so I’ll say no tissues needed. But you’ll probably want to get tissues ready if you want to get your hands on a copy of the documentary.
I also have a new article here – http://weliveinaflat.com/blog/twelve-nights-movie/ – if you haven’t seen in. In it I included a post documentary video made by the same director.
It follows some vets who go to the rural villages to support spay and return program for the stray cats and dogs and also owners who bring their pets in to be neutered.
The very basic operations they had to go through to do good work was very interesting to me.
There’s no English subtitles but I’ve provided a summary of what is being said in the video under the clip. :) Just in case you are interested. ;)