Taipei, naturally

As a great urban metropolis, Taipei isn't exactly the most attractive city to look at. Sure, there are pockets of pleasantness to be found, but for the most part the city is a vast collection of concrete boxes. It can be dense and oppressive at times.
Yet there are some special things to be seen here, if one slows down for a closer look. Things like flowers and birds.

Buckets of magnolias and lilies ready for sale. The magnolias have a strong natural fragrance that lasts for days. Most of the contents of these buckets will end up as car air fresheners.
This fellow has set up his magnolia stall near a busy intersection. Whenever the light turns red, he walks between the waiting cars and looks for customers. If we were driving, I would have hung the bouquet on our rear view mirror. For this day I hung it on Fiona's backpack instead.
During the springtime, swallows descend on the city to roost and raise a family. These birds have adapted well to urban living, opting to build their nests in the places people frequent. Here's one above a popular tea shop in our neighborhood. Mama swallow gets ready to take wing in search of more food for her chicks. As the chicks get bigger you can see their open beaks poking out of the nest, waiting for mama to return.
This swallow has found a home above a dentist's office. And this one outside a restaurant. Some shopkeepers will install a wire for the swallows to sit on. A bona fide birdhouse here! These two have nested on a little platform, also installed by the nearby shopkeeper.
Here we can see the mother swallow returning to feed her family -- four little beaks are waiting for a meal
A fallen cotton tree flower lands on the back of a scooter. Near my office there are rows and rows of cotton trees that shed dozens of these blossoms every year. A nice contrast to the concrete and vehicles and congestion of Taipei.