Spectral Codex

Photo:Postcards From Linnei(林內明信片)

Photo:Yuanlin Credit Union(員林信用合作社)

Photo:Yuli Shinto Shrine(玉里神社)

Photo:Beigou Forbidden City Vault(北溝故宮文物典藏山洞)

Photo:Tainan Second Air Force New Village(台南二空眷村)

Alexander Synaptic

Curator, Spectral Codex

Welcome to Spectral Codex, a digital garden, a travel journal, photography portfolio, and geospatial database curated by Alexander Synaptic. This site is completely ad-free and features no sponsored content, though you’re welcome to support my work via Patreon if you like what you find here. Read a little more about my background and motivations, or start browsing the collection!

Currently this project features 6,307 locations (1,165 with images), 100 posts, 512 regions, 97 themes, 7,543 images, 19,562 outbound links, and 926,387 words, mostly covering topics related to Taiwan. Gathered below are some of the better and more recent links from around the site to get you started…

Recent Updates

Eguchi Ryozaburo Monument
(江口氏紀念碑)

Hualien

Hualien City

June 23rd, 2026

Shirakawa Shinto Shrine
(瑞穗白川神社)

Hualien

Ruisui

June 18th, 2026

Mailiao Jincheng Theater
(麥寮金城大戲院)

Yunlin

Mailiao

June 1st, 2026

Lincuo Anti-Airborne Fortifications North Section
(林厝反空降陣地北段)

Taichung

Daya

May 9th, 2026

Lincuo Anti-Airborne Fortifications South Section
(林厝反空降陣地南段)

Taichung

Xitun

May 8th, 2026

Tianmu US Military Housing
(天母美軍宿舍群)

Taipei

Shilin

April 19th, 2026

Dahu Little Tianmu Villas
(大湖小天母別墅)

Miaoli

Dahu

February 5th, 2026

Linkou Shengtai Brick Kiln
(林口勝泰磚窯)

New Taipei

Linkou

December 4th, 2025

Yingge Nanmen Market Building
(鶯歌南門商場大樓)

New Taipei

Yingge

December 3rd, 2025

Changle Theater
(大樹昌樂大戲院)

Kaohsiung

Dashu

September 26th, 2025

Xinglin General Hospital
(杏林綜合醫院)

Tainan City

Tainan West Central

September 7th, 2025

Tainan Guanghua Theater
(台南光華戲院)

Tainan City

Tainan West Central

September 5th, 2025

Tainan Minzu Theater
(台南民族戲院)

Tainan City

Tainan West Central

September 5th, 2025

Hunei Wenxian Theater
(湖內文賢戲院)

Kaohsiung

Hunei

September 1st, 2025

Zuoying Qingshui Theater
(左營清水大戲院)

Kaohsiung City

Zuoying

August 30th, 2025

Waipu Airfield
(福興外埔飛行場)

Changhua

Fuxing

July 13th, 2025

Themes

Many different themes are explored on this site, generally as a way of making sense of history and socioeconomic change. Each theme features posts, field notes about specific locations, and a map to help navigate the geospatial dimension of a subject. I recommend having at least a glance at my most ambitious project, an extensive overview of nearly 1,200 movie theaters across Taiwan.

Theaters in Taiwan
(台灣老戲院)

Locations: 1,167

Posts: 5

Animal Spirit Monuments in Taiwan
(台灣畜魂碑)

Locations: 24

Confucian Academies in Taiwan
(臺灣書院)

Locations: 32

Zhaijiao in Taiwan
(台灣齋教)

Locations: 30

Koxinga’s Legacy
(國姓爺的歷史影響)

Locations: 30

Alishan Forest Railway
(阿里山森林鐵路)

Locations: 32

Luodong Forest Railway
(羅東森林鐵道)

Locations: 22

Postcards From Taiwan
(台灣明信片)

Posts: 15

Series

Complete series of photo essays and field notes from some of the many road trips and bicycle journeys I’ve undertaken over the years, mostly around Taiwan. If you prefer more of a narrative structure to explore the many places documented on this site you might like to start here.

Spectral Codex