Sketch exchange in Taiwanese Frog Village

I was a lucky participant of the Asia-Link Sketchwalk in Taichung, Taiwan in 2018.
When I go there, Kumi introduced her friend Elaine, who lives in Taichung. She kindly met me and introduced her friend Claire to get to Taomi, where I wanted to go to see eco-village's frogs after the Sketh-Link. So, thanks to these people it became a sketch exchange in the famous eco-village Taomi, Puli Township, Taiwan.

 ←With Elaine Jean on the first day of Sketch-Link in Taichung

Claire picked me up in Puli and made a favor to me, introducing her hometown and friends.
My goal was to see the frogs, for which the Taomi village is famous, so we go to Frog Grandma's hostel together with the local sketchers group. There we sketched the garden of the Grandma. It was full of flowers and butterflies. The leader of the sketching group is the oldest sketcher in Puli. His name is Sun Shao-Ying (or Sun Sensei, how the group called him). Among his works is documentation of the Jiji earthquake in 1999, one of the strongest happened in Taiwan. He sketched all the details of life in the ruins and the activity on the revitalization of Puli.

We sketched each other, drink the blue peas tea and ate Taiwanese pies.
I sketched the unique orchid from the garden. It looked like a liana, climbing the tree, with the long stems, crowned with flowers. Grandma told us it is a symbol of Singapore. I never saw such an orchid before. In the evening we go to photo-hunt the frogs and met one of the most dangerous snakes in the world (many-banded krait)!

Orchid from Grandma's home

Sketches of all participants

Sketch of the Grandma's home by the participant of the meeting

The reason for my visit to Taomi is this animal↑

I took many photos of frogs, but will not upload it here :)

Discussing works

Earthquake sketches of Sun-sensei.  On the photo, the sketches show the outdoor school, organized for children since their school building was destroyed.

Souvenir from Claire - a book she wrote about sketching in Taichung city, illustrated by the Sun Shao-Ying.

Puli has a wonderful landscape. I wish I stay here longer and draw more.

Exchange with local sketch group in Sun Sensei's studio

I draw Sun Sense's portrait as a souvenir for him, and he gave me his book of the nature sketches (Photocollage by Claire Kang)

With Claire and Frog Grandmother in Taomi and with the big sacred tree in Puli (Photocollage by Claire Kang)

Elaine, Claire, thank you so much! I was so lucky to spend time with you and hope to see Puli again in the future. This trip was an amazing adventure, which I want to repeat at another season, to see more frogs. ^^