Still Taipei

So Taipei is a very interesting place with lots of things to do. I only spent a total of 5 days there, but could have continued to explore it.

I went to visit Lonshan Temple, a very old a beautiful temple. When I arrived at the metro stop I got off and decided that I needed to have breakfast before I do my sightseeing for today. So I went to find some food. I had that same anxiety where I was unsure of how to order or what. I found a little restaurant, there was an entire street of them I sat down and pointed to a picture on the wall. The picture looked like dumplings. I was excited for dumplings for breakfast.

This is what I got...not dumplings at all. In fact it is something that I never really wanted to try. It is tripe (I didn't find the out until later). It wasn't very good. I ate about half before I decided that I couldn't eat any more. I left and headed back towards the temple, found a bakery on the way and went inside. I figure I am going to eat something baked and delicious because I was unsure of what just entered my body and my body was not happy about it. 

The Temple:
Upon entering the courtyard I was greeted by an amazing waterfall and beautiful landscaping.

The temple

The Temple

Upon entering the temple, it was full of people. People were just everywhere, there were things everywhere, a quarter of the people were praying and the rest were tourists trying to get that perfect picture. I felt very uncomfortable inside, so I left. I had been in lots of temples in Thailand, but this one just felt different. Not just because it wasn't a buddhist temple. 

There was supposed to be a fountain near by, so I decided that I would go and see it. I got there and there wasn't even water. Sad day. I thought maybe I should go to zoo already, but I was stopped by an elderly man. He didn't really speak much English, he asked if I would sit and chat. I did, we talked mostly through charades. During our time together we drank a beer (it was 11AM). His friend was drinking wine I thought it was weird that his entire mouth was blood red, and the red stuff just kept coming out. I think he was chewing Beetle Nuts. A guard came by and asked us to move; there were lots of people sitting around, I was confused why we had to move. At this point I just bid them good-bye. But, not before I took a selfie...

Did I mention those eyebrows...

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. 

Taipei

Taipei

I had a few days to spend in Taipei by myself before Kristen would arrive. So naturally, I need to go find cool stuff to do. Something I am GREAT at.
I would like to add a side note...I slept in almost every day. I thought that after my 5:30am wake-ups in Thailand that I have turned into a morning person. Not true, I slept in almost every day while in Taipei.

Day #1

I went to Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall.

Me in front of the main gate for Chiang Kai-Shek

Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall

GIANT bronze statue of Chiang Kai-Shek

When I say giant I mean it. I would liken the size of it to the size of the Zeus statue in the movie Hercules. If you do not understand this reference, I feel sad for you. Inside the building was a wonderful space that held exhibitions, classrooms and the CKS museum. I stumbled upon an exhibition of handmade dolls, they were just adorable. Each piece had so much detail in it, I was in such awe. Sadly pictures were not allowed. 

I snuck this photo

On the bottom floor of the hall was the CKS museum. It was very well done, I even learned something. Chiang Kai-Shek started out as a general in the Chinese army. He led China in many wars. A civil war broke out between the Chinese Nationalists and the Communists. The communists won and he retreated to Taiwan during the Chinese civil war and ruled Taiwan as the President of the Republic of China until his death. 

A pano shot of his office. This is an exact duplicate of his office and even uses original furniture. The time on the clock is set to 11 o'clock, because that is the time that he died. 

While walking through the exhibit I realized that I must be a special kind of stupid, because I had forgotten to eat all day and I was pretty hungry. So, I left and went to find some food. On my way back to the metro...because I am not in a hurry to get anywhere and I should stop to smell all of the roses; I stopped to watch a man feeding the squirrels. I then came across a beautiful pond with some fish and birds just hanging out. There too, I stopped. I saw a giant golden fish statue, so I went to investigate. 

This golden fish dispensed fish food for 10NT (25NT=1CAD$)

So I decided to feed the fish too. This place was still in the gardens of the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall. I could have continued to explore that place for a while, but I wanted to see more things.

Taipei 101

Taipei 101

Taipei 101 was the tallest building in the world until 2010. It has a Guinness world record for the fastest passenger elevator. Less than 40 seconds to the top.

I did not take a video of the elevator going up, so I pulled this from youtube. It's crazy how fast it goes.

It is famous for its use of the wind damper, which helps to stabilize the building during strong winds and earthquakes. Being that this is Asia, they have turned the damper into a cute thing...

                                

View from the 89th floor

You wouldn't know it, but that is Taiwan in the background