More Taipei

Day #2

I feel like I did a lot on my first day in Taipei, so I thought I'd make a second post, rather than 1 really long boring one.

On day 2, I went to Tamsui. A little district in Taipei that it right on the water. I was told to check it out, there are some cool things here. I noticed that there are a lot of balloon shooting games, with bb guns and with darts. Side note - I SUCK at throwing darts, I later found out that I have stellar aim with the bb guns.

Here at Tamsui you have to get tall ice cream. What is tall ice cream...? It is soft serve like you haven't had before. I ate most of it, after a while I couldn't sit and eat it while there were other people around, it just felt dirty.

me with the tall ice cream

Note the pictures of ice cream on the ice cream machine in the background....makes for easy ordering. 

I continued to walk down the pier and found this man paying harmonica for money. He was very good. 

When money would go into his bucket he would stand and play, and then sit as if he were a machine. I have no idea what he was sitting on. There was no visible chair.
I had heard that there were some cool ruins near here, so I went to go and find them. I passed helpful signs like this:

It was really good to know that I was there...? Anyways I continued my journey and found an old shell oil plant instead. 

It was an interesting display/collection of items. I continued on because I wanted to find these ruins before sunset because I wanted to head to fisherman's wharf for sunset. 

As I continued on I was stopped by a man who asked to take my picture. Sure, this wasn't the first person to stop me. He said I  had very beautiful eyes. He took a photo and then another and then another. He asked me to pose different ways and he took my pictures for about 15 minutes. It was the full Asian experience. These poses were interesting and characteristically Asian. I don't usually do many poses like that. Afterwards he asked for my contact information, e-mail and he also wanted my Canadian phone number in case he ever comes to Canada....sure. I also got his e-mail and phone number. His name was Jason. He said that he would send me the photos. I have not received them yet. He told me that Taiwan is generally a safe place but I should be careful, and I should feel free to call him if I need anything. A very kind offer. 

It was almost time for sunset when we finished so I headed back to the pier to purchase a ticket to go to fisherman's wharf. 

The boat that I rode

The sun as is started to set...it was a foggy day

At Fisherman's wharf. Me with Lovers Bridge in the background.

Because I do love myself

Lovers Bridge at night. It glows. 

While I was exploring I came across a wall of hanging wooden postcards, where lovers would fill out their wishes for each other and tell the world how much they loved each other. I can't be left out..so I did it too.

And I tied it into the mix of thoughts of love. 

As I was about to walk the top of the board walk, I noticed a sign that said "world chocolate wonderland".....whozawhatnow? I must investigate!

It was magical. Everything was made of chocolate!

Life size chocolate car

Even the King of Narnia

Cinderella Carriage (decked out for halloween)

Nobody was looking....

At the beginning I was given 3 gold coins (made of chocolate), if I didn't eat them I could trade them for things. This post card was one of the things. Let's see if it ever makes it.

Lots of opportunity for photos. Because this place was closing in about 30 minutes, I was the only one there

This place smelled amazing, they have some master chocolatiers here and everything look stunning. They even do classes - so cool. So happy I decided to go and check it out.