Memories of Taiwan

Green Lake @ Bitan

memoriesoftaiwan — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 09:58:49 +0000

Not much to see here … looked much nicer in the brochures and guide book … but since we were there already and had nothing else to do on a hot morning, we hired a pedal ‘swan’ boat and got into the river.

Wildlife

Lunch was at a chill, new eatery overlooking the river, which was nice.

Martyr’s Shrine

memoriesoftaiwan — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 09:36:45 +0000

Changing of guards that happens every hour on the hour. Its funny they need at least 2 guys in black suits to ‘control’ the tourists from disturbing the guards! Even funnier: me and the other Japanese tourists followed them up and down the courtyard !!

Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall

memoriesoftaiwan — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 14:23:58 +0000

Easily assessible via Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall MRT station, is a museum dedicated to SYS @ Father of Modern China.

Core Pacific Living Mall – what an interesting building …

Forketta

memoriesoftaiwan — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 12:31:51 +0000

After the cherry blossoms at Yang Ming Shan, we tried looking for bicycle rental along Bailing Riverside Park, a walk from Jiantan MRT station. But no luck, so we just soaked in the river view and let others on bicycles whizz on by.

Then it was dinner time! We had dinner at Forketta …

View from outside Forketta, of Taipei 101 covered in mist

Cherry Blossoms

memoriesoftaiwan — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 07:50:12 +0000

Beginning of March is supposedly the best time to catch the cherry blossoms in Yang Ming Shan. So we took the bus up, with loads of other people on a weekend. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t the best, it rained a little. And we went round Yang Ming Shan before realising the park with the cherry blossoms was right near the base, walkable from the bus stop!

There were alot of other flowers apart from cherry blossoms …

Finally, cherry blossoms!

More flowers …

Flower clock

228 Peace Memorial Park

memoriesoftaiwan — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 05:11:54 +0000

So coincidentally I landed in Taipei on 228 ie 28th Feb, thus we decided to check out the 228 Peace Memorial Park.

The park is a memorial to victims of the Feb 28th 1947 Massacre when an anti-government uprising was quashed violently, triggered by the brutal treatment by police of a contraband cigarette peddler. We also go to go into the Memorial Museum for free since it was 228.

President Ma was attending a memorial ceremony, and this was the shot I could get with my limited zoom lens. Loads of “secret service” police scattered all over the park …

Riot police were around on standby, but nothing happened. Only a few old foggies shouting from a distance …

Park residents:

228 Monument

Taipei 101, Longshan Temple

memoriesoftaiwan — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 16:33:09 +0000

Views from the observatory deck of Taipei 101.

The little yellow building at the bottom left is the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall.

The tall building is Shin Kong Mitsukoshi, the departmental store.

Trying to get the whole building from the base.

Longshan temple.

National Palace Museum, Ximending

memoriesoftaiwan — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 16:17:25 +0000

The National Palace Museum has completed it long renovation and reopened in 2006. Among the famous exhibit we saw was the “Jade Cabbage” and “Meat shaped stone” and many others. Plenty of Chinese history to absorb here.

Ximending.

Introducing my mum to Ay Chung’s oyster mee-suar.

Danshui

memoriesoftaiwan — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 15:49:24 +0000

Getting to Danshui was very easy: just take the red MRT line to the terminal Danshui station. To the left is the waterfront and up ahead is Danshui Old Street with rows of shops and stalls selling food, drinks and more food and drinks! We ate the famous A-gei -deep fried tofu stuffed with flavoured crystal noodles and sealed with fish paste (surimi) with a spicy saucey – and Danshui fishballs – yummmmm !

Danshui waterfront … a nice place to chill and watch the people go by.

A bus ride away is Danshui’s Fisherman’s Wharf.

Lover’s Bridge.

Live music can be heard all around. Plenty of seafood shops and restaurants where you can buy food and drinks to be enjoyed at the amphitheatre or from any of the abundant available tables and benches.

Night view of Bali township, across the river.

Raohe Night Market and temple

memoriesoftaiwan — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:03:49 +0000

As this was a shopping trip of Taiwan, naturally I brought my mum to Wufenpu. After a hard day of walking and shopping, we went to Raohe Night Market for dinner and more strolling.

Raohe Temple