green island part 2: taiwan's alcatraz

It seems popular to imprison the real bad apples offshore--preventing escape, I guess? The U.S. had Alcatraz, England had... Australia (?), and Taiwan has Green Island. There are several prisons complexes on the tiny island, but just one is still being used (by 200 of the most "incorrigible, unmanageable, and accusation-prone" prisoners in Taiwan, according to an English sign). The outside of this prison can be viewed; loads of Taiwanese tourists were stopping to take pictures outside of it and rummage through the gift shop (!) where handicrafts made by prisoners can be bought.

Here's the prison that's still in business. Guarded by a dude with a name tag. And his cat.

I would NOT attempt busting outta here. Not with that black and white lioness just waiting to bite my incorrigible head off.

In the gift shop. You can really get the experience of being in jail--very educational!

A memorial that I'm not quite sure I understand... the two prisons that are shut down did not have very good human rights policies and were apparently the site of horrible abuses. The prisoners there were political prisoners. I think this seaside memorial commemorates the people who were there before martial law was lifted... or something.

The old prisons. Totally abandoned and no tourists to be found (except a few foreigners like us). Very eerie and, though I don't quite understand what went on here, it felt very sad.

Green Island Part 3 is coming soon, and will be happier and prettier and will not contain any mossy urinals. You're welcome.