FINALLY, I wrote something, right? There are far from enough seconds in a day. Don’t we all feel it? I could really use the 10 or so extra days that Pope Gergory XIII removed from our calendar in 1582. Between working full time, Christmas plays, moving, the holidays (what holidays?), two root canals, PLAYING WITH MY NEW DIGITAL SLR, and just living Taipei, my minutes are precious. My 5 day holiday I spent in deep slumber, dreaming of the magic that is going to happen in just 10 more short sleeps, love and lust await me in south east Asia, all of which my new camera will capture. Wait for it.

San Zhr Abandoned UFO Pod Village. Could there be a more captivating draw for a quest? North of Taipei, just 15 minutes east of Danshui on a motorcycle, just after highway 2 joins with the coast, lie the shabby remains of a once aspiring futuristic housing/hotel development, now cursed by spirits, legends, and Taiwan weather alike.

The construction of the pods began in the 1960’s, or was it the 1980’s? Nobody knows. Nobody knows why the project was halted and then abandoned, or whether it was to be luxurious housing or a futuristic vacation spot for the wealthy. Nor does anybody know how or why the complex was left in such a state of disrepair.

Before I ventured out to this charismatic ghost town, researching the pods found so many tales that try to tell what the pod project was meant to be, and why it was left abandoned. One story tells that there were so many fatal misfortunes during its construction, and being how superstitious the Taiwanese are, no one wanted to visit, let alone live there. Superstitions go on, alas this Saturday afternoon, the site was packed with Taiwanese visitors, aspiring photographers or ones embracing fears, we were far from alone. The story goes on. The souls of those who passed during construction are said to linger, preventing any plans of completion or redevelopment. While reading of the pods, an online article reads that the buildings couldn’t be demolished, since destroying the homes of spirits and lost souls is taboo in Asian culture. However, other articles also state that the government is pushing strong for a fast approaching demolishment.

A contradicting story, one of so many, tells that the project began construction in the 1980’s and was funded with money made on the Taipiei stock exchange, but shortly near completion, a developer ran with the money. Another version tells that the company funding the project ran out of money. With no re-investors, weather and ghost stories played their part on the deterioration of this complex.

Yet another tale states that developers went ahead with construction without yet receiving the proper permits and approvals from the city to go ahead, which were then after denied and when left with no license to run a business, the doors were closed on the project.

The complex is a treat for ones imagination. The spherical, once vividly colored pods, look like the prototype could have been made by gluing Smarties atop of one other, after the architect was hours deep into an X-Files marathon. The rotting Roman looking structure was to be shops. The site has two pools and a cave made from fake stone. It was to have a small amusement park in the middle and a dam to protect it from storm surges. Funny, that, since the pods themselves were constructed of fiberglass, over top concrete. Situated right on the northern shore, winds, rain, water, and so many typhoons have contributed to the demise of the pods. It amazes me to think how these were ever believed to have withstood tropical coastal weather systems. Many of them have completely fallen apart. Windows are few and far between, walls are almost non-existent, stairs are crumbing, many no longer have roofs, some have even collapsed on themselves. But the ones left intact showed signs that people had been living in them, probably squatters or kids looking for a thrill.

A photographers delight, as much so for an explorer, or simply a way to spend an afternoon in Taiwan, the pod village is one of Taiwan’s many best. 2009 is going to be a lively year. I’m ready for it.

See my FLICKR photos of the pods here….