The summer typhoon missed us, but the heat still hit the mark. A black dog walks into the convenience store behind me and follows me for the rest of the evening, my first ally in this beautifully vibrant city.

Fading colonial architecture in the south of the city is surrounded by modern apartments that have evolved and sprouted new balconies and sections over the years. Wide courtyard streets are punctuated by temples and steamy noodle carts. Neon signs hang everywhere casting ghostly rays into dark alleyways. This is Taiwan.

We catch the last minutes of an outdoor play in the park, people come up to me, curious about what I am photographing. I am curious too.