Cosplay at Hsinchu Big City 新竹巨城

We ended up at the Cosplay event 2 weeks ago at Big City in Hsinchu. There were your fair share of characters to be photographed. Each had their own unique pose. I wanted to try and get some candid shots of the characters, but sometimes I think the Taiwanese have a six sense when a camera is around to pose and throw a V sign as fast as they can. Anyway, pose or not, I had a good time taking these.

Hsinpu Yimin Festival Shenzhu event: Holy pig 義民節神豬

In Taiwan there are many events that follow the lunar calendar. I had shot the Yanshui fireworks festival, but it left me craving for another event to get a good dose of Taiwanese culture you don't see in everyday life around the streets. 

This festival is kind of a competition to see who can raise the fattest pig in time for the 20th day of the 7th month of the lunar calendar. The Hakka tradition has been carried down for generations and is a big part of their yearly celebrations. 

http://www.culture.tw/index.php?option=com_content&task=rdmap&Itemid=262&id=879

 

 

Back to Borneo

Borneo is just a quick direct flight away from Taipei. It offers so much in terms of nature, culture and cuisine. It is also a very friendly place. Our original plan was to visit the caves of Gunung Mulu. Unfortunately our flight was cancelled and due to our short amount of time, we had to stay in Kota Kinabalu. Still, we did a lot of fun stuff and I took advantage of the interesting streets of Malaysia.

Coincidentally we landed in Kota Kinabalu the day before Hari Raya, the end of the Muslim Ramadan festival. Here a shopping center is filled with people dressed in traditional Islamic attire.