AIT diplomat cycles around Taiwan taking photos — Gary Oba: The most beautiful thing in Taiwan is its warmth

▲Diplomat Gary Oba cycled around Taiwan, capturing its beauty along the way. (Photo provided by Chiayi City Government)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Gary G. Oba, Director of the AIT Kaohsiung Officehas spent the past three years cycling across Taiwan and capturing its beauty through his camera lens. Currently, 80 selected photos taken during his island-wide journey are on display at the Chiayi City Historical Relics Exhibition Hall. Oba said that these stunning photos are not due to his photography skills, but because Taiwan is truly beautiful.

After being stationed in Taiwan, Oba fell in love with the local street food, but ended up gaining weight from indulging in so much “Taiwanese flavor.” To lose weight, he started cycling. Coupled with his passion for photography since his younger days, he embarked on a cycling photography tour around the island, snapping thousands of pictures along the way. Oba humorously noted that when cycling, his stamina couldn’t keep up with the younger riders, so he often used taking photos as an excuse to take breaks.

▲Photos of Taiwan’s diverse local culture and scenery captured by Oba. (Photo provided by Chiayi City Government)

Besides capturing the local culture and scenery through his lens, Chinese-fluent Oba also wrote down his thoughts and reflections in Chinese. For example, while passing through the Daxue Mountain area, he photographed the misty mountain ridges and noted, “I never thought I would feel so moved here.” When visiting the lively Shuili Night Market, he used the vivid colors and lighting to express his admiration, saying, “The night market is full of vitality, and you can really feel the energy of the people.”

Oba pointed out,that the most beautiful thing about Taiwan is actually its “human touch,” and that the warmth of Taiwanese people is most felt during a cycling trip around the island.Whether it’s adults or children he doesn’t know on the roadside, or even truck drivers, they all cheer him on with loudspeakers. He hopes that through this photography exhibition, people can experience Taiwan through the eyes of a diplomat, and he also expressed gratitude to the friends who warmly hosted him during his journey.