Jets on the freeway

Part of a section of the Sun Yat-Sen freeway - one of the main arterial roads linking northern Taiwan to the south - was cleared so that 6 fighter jets could take part in runway exercises as part of Taiwan's annual HanKuang military drills.

More than a thousand people got up before dawn to take a look and get a bird's eye view: standing on roofs; on irrigation dykes, in rice paddies.

At times, it was ear-deafening as the jets landed and took off after reloading.

street festival

I was just about to arrive home, when the deafening sound of firecrackers exploded.

I realised there was a huge procession walking slowly down my neighbourhood market - people in costume, painted faces, and musicians.

I ran home and grabbed my new camera to take some pix...

It was a cool mix of explosive sound and colours...the procession snaked its way out of the market, onto one of Taipei's busiest main streets.

I love Taiwan's mix of modern and traditional...