Resting Leaves (enlarge photo)

During a rest-stop on my solo bike ride across Taiwan's stunning Southern Cross-Island Highway, I found myself in the midst of a non-tropical forest. This was unusual for me, as much of my time in Taiwan was spent at low elevations in cities or biking in the dense jungle. My previous visits to higher elevations usually took me to coniferous forests.

Though I was riding in late spring, the appearance of this scene struck me as more of an autumn scene than spring itself. These leaves had fallen on the ground and appeared to be resting, just as I was.

This has been a popular photograph, and has been used as a background for wedding invitations and on a label for a wine bottle.