Curbside Service, a photo from Taipei, Nord

Photographer's Note

This photo is not exactly what it may appear. The girl you see is not involved in the sex trade, she is one of Taiwan's infamous betel nut girls. Betel nuts are chewed throughout much of Asia and are a stimulant, quite addictive and highly disgusting, at least to my western eyes. The yellow cup she is giving her customer is used to catch the red saliva/drool/spit that is created when people chew the betel.

I guess it is quite obvious why the betel nut girls are infamous. What you are looking at here is quite typical. They are young, good looking and dressed to appeal to their primarily male clientelle. Although I have not seen it, I have heard stories of certain betel nut girls wearing clothing much, much more revealing than what you see here (think clear plastic, perhaps a thong, that's about it). As it is though, her outfit is provocative to say the least. I need to get a shot of the typical storefront of a Betel Nut girl, they are further suggestive of the sex industry; all glass front, the girl sitting in a stool looking attractive, neon pink lights surrounding the window. (I will find a shot of the storefront and upload it as a workshop in a few hours).

It is important to note the location of this photo as well. It was not taken in Taipei, but in Hsin Tien, probably less than 500m outside of the city of Taipei. The city has been pretty effective in moving the betel nut girls outside of city limits. However, the area here, joins into the highway leading south and virtually all traffic on the street was in the City of Taipei just minutes earlier. NIMBA comes to mind on this one.

Anyways, this guy has pulled over to stock up, probably for a trip down the highway (remember, the nuts are stimulants). To be honest, I was quite surprised that the girl saw I was taking a photo, yet seemed to take very little notice of me.

ISO 200, 98mm focal length, some cropping.

Fil, remember, this is one I told you I had been working on.

Galeota, henrye, Jeppe, rosie, Steely, sunny, ianmcall, johnnyfive, Frankp, jhm, Edwin, summer89, joergen115, whereami, kogawa, omritoppol, strangiato, choucas, kourosh, nfriedli, sengir, rabani, pem, Pompey, Roly, iamxa, Guse, umbrellaphotos, djnik2004, jeggye, aella, santosh, RegisMinot, dmitriy55, krystian, ash_parikh, convey, fcuk81, maverik12, fireflyz, oleg, Damberio, slarnold, shal, djslim, MLINES, pawelen, magost, kajspice, schobi, BigBen212, sajagi, Traveller, polatkaan2000, japiey, jwharch, jowish77, yasoda-nandana, N-B, mikele_pl trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

Galeota (10352) 2004-05-10 4:12

I'm starting to really appreciate to see your photos day after day. Not only because they are indeed very good photos, but also because your notes are interesting and full of details. Each time I open one of your thumbnails I learn something. Thank you.

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gringofil (0) 2004-05-10 4:18

Darren, this is what I've been waiting for! Thank you SO much for finally getting this up on TE. Compo wise the photo is excellent as well with a simple background and just the car and the betel nut girl doing her thing. Lucky, too, that there was no traffic in the background. This is what TE is all about, Darren, so thanks for bringing Taiwan (and lovely Taiwanese betel nut girls) closer to home. Excellent, just excellent!

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henrye (3500) 2004-05-10 4:29

Very interesting photo accompanied by a great note. This is what TE is all about! Today I have learnt something, and thanks for sharing this photo with us. Well done!

Jeppe (18654) 2004-05-10 4:35

Thanks for sharing this different photo of daily life on Taiwan - I never heard of this phenomenon before - but perhaps about the betel nut.

Where comes the money in - I presume she's not doing this for free.

I like your composition with a blurred background - You got the right moment - very fine work and note Darren.

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rosie (119) 2004-05-10 4:36

We have betel in China too (South China) but no betel girl. Very interesting photograph. I like to see different thing here on TE and this is very good. Well done!

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Steely (895) 2004-05-10 4:38

The famous BingLang girls :)
The BL biz seems to be able to weather thru run-ins with the local authorities and such :)
Good Daily Life Darren :))

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sunny (3069) 2004-05-10 4:51

Wonderful picture together with the fine and informative note - so much in TE spirit, Darren! You really captured a perfect moment of no other traffic around, so the scene could have more impact. Very well done!

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ianmcall (1213) 2004-05-10 5:04

Sex and drugs? Gee, is there a connection? ;-) Ah...yes, apparently so, or more broadly, just sex and merchandising. Lure the customers in with what appeals. The tasty little dish here isn't the yellow cup.

Nicew daily life capture.

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Frankp (143) 2004-05-10 6:25

Great photo and explanation - actually, betel nut is not all that bad. If you don't use the lime powder, it doesn't turn red... And in the maldives they mix it with cloves which definately adds to the flavor.

As you can tell, I have tried betel in my travels, particularly Sri Lanka and Irian Jaya, but I have never had it served up this way. Thanks for letting us in on a local secret.

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jhm (191315) 2004-05-10 6:38

Very interesting photo accompanied by a great note Darren, beautiful, clair and sharpness.

Edwin (188) 2004-05-10 6:50

I recall to have read Fil's earlier request in a comment/posting somewhere. So there you are Darren, what an excellent documentary picture! Accompanied by a perfect note, thank you for sharing both. Very much in the spirit of TE.
Just thought of a rather daring crop. Cropping the green background including the girl's head, would perhaps increase the feeling of street photography... Just an idea, I really like your picture as presented. Very well done Darren, congrats!

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maciekda (19895) 2004-05-10 9:08

hi Darren, nice shot, at the first sight I thought the girl was.. you know...
good moment, but... you show or too much or not enough here. 2 choices: you show the whole girl with her feet or you zoom in more not to see that much the back of the car. nice shot, but could be even nicer imo ;)

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joergen115 (2246) 2004-05-10 11:26 [Comment]

Show Comment

whereami (1477) 2004-05-10 21:44

I remember chewing betel nut once - it was one of the most disgusting things I've ever eaten. It felt like my tongue was being cut by a razor blade, and afterwards it was painful to even drink water. BUT, I would try it again in a flash if I thought this was the kind of service I could expect!!

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summer89 (5422) 2004-05-11 3:39

Wonderfull Photo, Darren.

Why this photo have 136 visit? :)

It's lovely, the composition, the GIRL, the DOF, the GIRL, the colors, the GIRL, the detail and the GIRL :)

Very well done and great note, too.

Tomernayer (516) 2004-05-11 6:37

Thanks for sharing this picture, it really is nice, great capture! thanks for sharing!

omritoppol (826) 2004-05-11 10:00

Darren, it's a great picture, with a very informative note. It seem like you really captured the moment here. Well seen & captured

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strangiato (10) 2004-05-11 13:09

Funny to see that even beetle nuts are sold like this.
Excellent photo, note and girl!

kourosh (2346) 2004-05-16 2:24

This is great Darren. very educative both the picture itself and the notes. good compo, framing and DOF. its a great catch, well done.

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rabani (9645) 2004-05-23 22:05

Great note Darren and thank you. Betel chewing is also practiced by the natives in Sabah but without the contemporary service as noted by you in the photo.

This reminded me to get a potrait shot of a native, chewing betel. Pretty graphic I would imagine with the red saliva,on the lips and teeth.

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philip_coggan (11) 2004-05-27 20:22

Excellent photo, and sounds like a very intersting story with it. I think you could write this up and sell it to a magazine...

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iamxa (3103) 2004-06-18 7:28

Nice image and very well note.

Guse (83) 2004-08-15 17:16

Interesting note to a very good photo.

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flydragon (0) 2004-08-18 7:23

hello Darren
i took time to watch more of your picture
this one remind me a movie ,o)
i think a movie from tawain "Betelnut beauty" from Lin Cheng Sheng
have u seen this movie, verry nice one
and verry interresting to learn about those girl
see you
Simon

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santosh (304) 2004-12-02 18:08

Very interesting note and quite educational too. The timing is perfect and a great shot. The DOF is great.

djslim (570) 2005-11-19 21:09

Amazing... if you didn't sayanything about the stimulant nuts.... I would hve sworn that she did buisness in another kind of nu... uhhh nvm.. The photo seems a little dark, but it's no biggie... nicely composed.

pawelen (92) 2006-01-05 20:05

interesting. well done. cheers!

kajspice (4542) 2006-02-08 14:33

Not only is this a fantastic picture, the yellow cup is also a brilliant idea. I would love to see it employed in India, as well as Leicester (my home town in the UK!). Chewing tobacco is the equivilant here, and its absolutely disgustive and offensive. I've actually had someone spit on my foot with it on a recent visit to India! In certain places, the wall/pavement is completely red. If you didn't know what it was, it would look like a disturbing mass outbreak of a urinary infection as it trickles down the wall once it is spat out!

It is now banned in many public places, such as the cinema; people (prodominantly male) are searched as they enter; causing (my brother in law in this case) to hide it in his 3yr old daughter's purse!

I was shocked to see the same traces of red in discreet alleyways in prodominently Indian occupied areas in England

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david (3992) 2006-07-02 21:34

technically, a very ordinary photograph. however your note makes the photo interesting.

11,000 views and 5 favourites seems to be the call allure of a beautiful girl, rather than photographic expertise.

i do admit though that in the aim of trek earth, learing about the world, this photograph has its place.

japiey (10163) 2007-04-07 17:24

Darren.
This is interesting. A great moment framed very sensitive in true nature.
jean paul.

mikele_pl (2400) 2009-02-08 10:09

Hi Darren,

I admitt I've learned something about the world through your photography today, which means this photo fits TE just perfectly.

Thanks for sharing

michal

v4vjk (26) 2009-06-29 3:04

good photo with nice note!
20959 views as of now kool