Betelnut Trees

Betelnut Trees
Originally uploaded by zanmei east west.

Did you know that the street signs in I-lan are shaped like palm trees? Each street name is written on one of the leaves... Or maybe they are betelnut trees? Betelnut trees are not the most beautiful of the palm family as the leaves stick straight up and out without curving back towards the ground... like flyswatters or feather dusters. And as the I-lan locals point out, they provide little shade.

But I-lan is nice. Lately, I have been there often enough for work that I feel like taking up Mr. Yang's offer of use of his second/empty house and bicycles. Would be a nice break from Taipei.