The weird and wonderful parks of 桃園 (Taoyuan)

I am not sure how to start this, so I will begin with my favorite talking point – public transportation. I saw 落羽松森林 (Bald Cypress Forest) on Google Maps in 八德 (Bade) and decided – why the heck not. Of course, for me that’s just an excuse to try yet another bus line, this time it was 5098 from 中壢 (Zhongli) to 大溪 (Daxi). I got off half-way along the 龍南路 (Longnan Road), right next to a small lake. Before long I arrived at the forest:

Fascinating.

Just look at how it has been planted – probably using rulers:

It’s a tiny little forest in the middle of rice fields:

And very romantic, at that:

It’s full of… people?

There were literally more people than trees at some places:

Time to say goodbye…

From here I moved on past 福德祠 (a small temple)…

…snapped a bee pollinating a flower…

…and saw this woman using a CD on her bike as a reflector 😀

Shortly I arrived at Puding park:

Ha-ha! I expected some free pudding but… no dice! Instead, I was welcome by somewhat weird animal statues. I saw a giraffe:

It seemed to me like she was fully aware of being naked and watched by the Chinese couple in the background:

Then there was this good-mannered camel:

She seemed relaxed. Not worried too much, nor pre-occuppied about anything:

This baby elephant apparently did not like the fact that there were no banana trees around:

Not sure what this lion was up to:

Upon closer look, it struck me! He had borrowed some money from his dog-friend but he’s still not returned it:

So he was feeling really awkward and trying to avoid him when he saw the dog walking by…

In the middle of the park was this tortuously disconcerting sculpture with a poetically nonsensical name:

Favorable Winds Timely Rainfall… what is it even supposed to mean?

And finally, the frighteningly towering pig:

He looks like he is holding on to all the humanity’s water supply and he knows it…

Other than that there were just really beautiful residential blocks:

The next day I decided to visit 青塘園 (Blue Pond Park), which is located on the opposite side. If 八德 (Bade) is east of 中壢 (Zhongli), then this park is to the west, towards the coast. The first thing that hits you in the face when you arrive is the incredibly weird yet wonderfully conspicuous 青瑭橋 (Blue Pond Bridge):

After you cross the bridge, you will see… an airplane?

You can even climb inside…

…and make pictures of… other pictures!

Then there is a turtle…

…and a child~~-kidnapping~~-carrying bespectacled stork:

Anyways, in the background you can see the elevated track of 桃園機場捷運 (Taoyuan Airport MRT):

And there is the beautiful 冠德購物中心 (Guande shopping center) right next to the MRT 桃園體育園區站 (Taoyuan Sports Park station):

One thing that I still need to visit there is the crazy big Buddha at 廣天寺 (a temple nearby):