I made it down to historic Birmingham, Alabama a couple of weeks ago to attend a friend’s wedding. Having never been through the city before, I was surprised by the beauty of the architecture, public art, and parks in downtown Birmingham.

However, Birmingham has seen it’s share of hard times – like any other southern city, the nice parts of down are adjacent to more run down areas of the city. Downtown Birmingham was no exception but somehow there is a timeworn beauty to these older buildings.

Lichter’s Sign in Downtown Birmingham, Alabama

A faded wall mural sign for Uniforms in Downtown Birmingham

Birmingham Alabama downtown YWCA

Jefferson Courthouse in Birmingham, Alabama

Birmingham Art Museum

Birmingham Blazers Stadium and Mascot at University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB)

Memorial to Patriots at the Jefferson Courthouse in Birmingham, Alabama

Abandoned Gas Station

A James Drake statue depicting police Brutality at the Civil Rights Museum in Birmingham entitled “The Foot Soldier”

The Raymond Kasky Statue of 3 Ministers in Kelly Ingram Park (John Thomas Porter, Nelson H. Smith and A. D. King)

Lyric antique fire escape in downtown Birmingham

Architectural scroll detail at the Jefferson Courthouse

Old Style \ vintage blue Parking Meter in Birmingham, Alabama

New Ideal sign in Downtown Birmingham, Alabama

The historic 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham – this church was fire bombed during the civil rights movement

Civil Rights March Route Sign in Birmingham, Alabama

Oscar Wells Memorial – Birmingham Museum of Art

Police Attack Dog Sculpture at Kelly Ingram Park by James Drake entitled ‘POLICE AND DOG ATTACK’

“Firehosing of Demonstrators” by James Drake Sculpture of water cannons being turned on protesters next to the Civil Rights Museum at Kelly Ingram Park

Downtown Birmingham, Alabama urban decay

University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) Campus sculpture – abstract dragon

A sculpture in Kelley Ingram Park of children behind bars by James Drake entitled “Children’s March”. The caption reads “I ain’t afraid of your jail”

Alabama Theater in downtown Birmingham

Taiwan is where both of my parents grew up, and these Taiwan photos are from my March, 2008 trip. This was my 4th time going back, and I had the privilege of travelling with both of my parents this time around.

Taiwan is a very interesting place to me. I have probably a hundred cousins and about 30 aunts and uncles living there, while back home I don’t have much extended family at all. It’s cool to be around so much family even though I don’t know them that well.

The culture is very different in Taiwan – I would say that Taiwan is a mixture of Chinese, Japanese, native Taiwanese cultures, and western influence.

Oh yea…. the food is amazing too (more posts on that later)

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Kaohsiung at night

Taiwan 101 (World’s Tallest Skyscraper) Tuned Mass Wind Damper – Stock Image

Speeding through Taipei on a Scooter

Dam outside of Taipei

Taiwan Temple Dragons

Kaohsiung Train Station

Taipei near National Taiwan University

Boats at Yilan

Shilin Night Market Arcade

Peikang at Night – next to Matsu Temple

View from Taipei 101 – Sun-Yat Sen Memorial

View from Taipei 101 – 3 Bridges

Praying at Matsu Temple

Traffic Hour near Taipei Main Station

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