This is the Gate of Great Centrality and Perfect Uprightness, an impressive entrance to the National Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall.
On either side of the memorial stand the National Theater and National Concert Hall.
The flowers were beautiful.
In the centre is a huge square - the Liberty Square.
In the distance is the Memorial Hall featuring a large statue of Chiang Kai Shek inside. The weather on the first day of our tour was gloomy.
Pity that the unkind weather did not allow us to enjoy these splendid buildings the way sunshine would have.
Next visit was Martyrs Shrine to watch the ceremonial changing of the guards.
Gateway to Martyrs Shrine.There was a slight improvement in the weather here.
Photo taking with the shrine in the background.
The gardens within the Memorial grounds were beautiful.
The Changing of the guards was an event worth waiting for every hour.
Military officers paying respects at the shrine.
After paying their respects, the soldiers marched back to the main entrance to complete the guard-changing ceremony.
This is an old picture of the National Palace Museum that we visited after leaving Martyrs Shrine.
Leaving Taipei behind the coach took us to Yehliu Geopark to see the mushroom rock formations of this part of the coast in Northern Taiwan. Being on a package tour, the guide only zeroed in on one famous formation - The head of Queen Nerfititi, ignoring all other amazing ones because there was enough time to do so. What a pity!
Stopping by a strawberry farm to buy rather than pick strawberries, I was captivated by the mist and the mountains that were parallel to the road we were travelling on.
The owner of the farm had picked most of the ripe strawberries the day before because of the bad weather.
Some strawberries were left to satisfy those who went around looking for them to photograph.
Leo Ho Night Market in Kaoshiung. It was our first night market visit and everyone was thrilled.
Intricate roof and pillar designs typical of temples in Taiwan.
A closer view of the temple.
Two massive pavilions dedicated to Guan Kong, the God of War.
Pillars are the most outstanding features of the temples.
Architecture that brings you closer to Heaven.
Sun Moon Lake was supposed to be a highlight of our trip. Unfortunately heavy mist masked the surroundings leaving us with only a myopic view of a place reputed for its natural beauty. We took a boat ride to a small island with man-made platforms that support the tourist weight and satisfy their need to snap pictures especially of the likeness of a deer at the centre of the island.
After a so-so lunch we waited for our coach to pick us up from the steps of a hotel.
Still in the area of Sun Moon Lake, we made a stopover at Wen Wu Temple dedicated to the worship of Guan Gong, Yue Fei and Confucius.
Next day, we visited Fokuangshan, a Buddhist temple that ranks as one of Taiwan's largest with a the tallest image of Buddha surrounded by 480 life-size statues of his disciples.
From Kaoshiung on the west of the island, we journeyed for four and a half hours to Taitung on the other side. Along the way we stopped by at a farm where we get to drink fresh milk direct from the source.
Outside the Nantian temple, we ate peanut ice-cream poh piah. It was delicious.
A good break in our long journey from Kaoshiung to Taitung was the visit to this stockbreeding farm that had great scenery and animals that we could feed.
Rabbits for the young ones.
Camels for the older folks.
Ponies for the teenagers.
Scenery that calms your nerves. This elderly couple spent more than half the time taking photos while the rest of the tour group explored the farm.
Taroka Gorge was supposed to have been another highlight of the tour but it was such a let-down because our big tour coach like several others were not allowed into the gorge.
I was glad I visited this beautiful place some years back and got to enjoy the route through the tunnels on the way to higher parts of the mountain.
The tour itinerary stated that the visit was to "Taroko Memorial Arch Building" and that sealed our fate with this mountain.
Coffee and snacks at this cafe for the hordes of tourists that could not enter the park.
More time was spent instead at a Marble factory where we were given a talk on jade and cat's eye gemstones and thereafter it was loitering around the souvenir shop of the factory for those of us not interested in making any purchase.
Dinner was at the Ami Aboriginal Cultural Village at Hualien.
Tourists invited to dance by the professionals. Everyone had fun.
Nantian Temple is dedicated to the Goddess of the Sea, Marzu. On the third storey of this temple was a large solid gold image of Marzu and on the second floor, there was one of her that was made of jade. The dragon roof embellishments were fantastic.
Nearing the end of our tour, we visited Jiufen (Nine Portions) that got its name from the nine families that lived there in the past and alluded to the requests each family makes of shipments or supplies from the town.
Grilled mushrooms I wish I had tried. This stall is amongst several interesting ones selling food in Jiufen.
Back in Taipei to yet another souvenir shop. I was glad that it was the last day of the tour because I had not gone on a holiday to visit these specialty shops that the tour guide brought us to. More time could have been spent at Jiufen instead of listening to unsolicited sales talks.
Taipei 101. Because of the time spent at the shops (lingzi, Fengshui, marble factory) we were left with only an hour and that was insufficient for us to visit the top of the building and to see the fantastic mechanism that makes this building earthquake-proof.
Tourists sitting around. The place was swarmed by tourists from Mainland China.
White bittergourd, the result of cross-breeding rather than genetic engineering, I was told by my Taiwanese friend.
Shilin Market in Taipei - Gastronomic shock.
Apart from the area selling food, there was also a night market that fed the flames of consumerism.
I was not adventurous enough to try these.
The first of our free-and-easy days in Taipei after the tour ended. A visit to the Taipei Botanic gardens.
Lovely lotus.
The National Museum of History is in the grounds of the Botanic Gardens.
What a change from the hustle and bustle of a package tour - the liberty to enjoy things at your own pace.
In the afternoon, I took the Taiwan High Speed Train to Tainan from Taipei. The journey was one hour and fifty minutes. Amongst the things I saw was this embroidery hand-sewn by a lady in a shop selling altar cloths and banners.
On the premises of Fort Provintia.
Fort Provintia in West Central District, Tainan City was built in 1653 by the Dutch. It is now known as Chikan Towers.
The Taiwan Black-foot Disease Socio-Medical Service Memorial House where I spent a meaningful hour with my Taiwanese friend.
Stories of immense kindness and good deeds.
Next, my friend took me to a salt field.
Tainan is a historical city with very interesting buildings constructed in different eras of political power.
Fresh fish for sale at a fishery. We had steamboat for dinner that night.
Mother and child fishing by a small canal for fun.
Juicy watermelon. Taiwan's fruits are stupendous.
Second day, I explored Xinbeitou on my own. A library in a park that had a lovely architecture that was Japanese influenced.
The fountain in the book Turn Left, Turn Right by Jimmy.
The Hotspring Museum.
The upper floor of the museum.
A bridge where lovers meet.
Stopping by to enjoy the park on the way to the Thermal Hot Spring.
Here it is, no way you can soak in this thermal spring.
You could probably boil and egg in there.
Hauntingly beautiful Japanese melodies played on a bamboo instrument. This man grew up during the time the Japanese were rulers of Taiwan.
Walking back to the train station.
Sun getting ready to set in Xinbeitou.
Apartment buildings that remind me of the couple in the story Turn Left, Turn Right.
Danshui station at the end of the blue line.
I came here to see the famous sunset. Alas, the weather was still bad.
Back in Taipei - Ximenting where we stayed for three nights.
Great location for the cost-conscious traveller.
The Red House, a theatre that I did not get a chance to get into,
Longshan temple - Goddess of Mercy. I visited this temple to get blessings for myself and my family.
One of a pair of the only brass temple pillars in Taiwan.
Sunset. Like a sunset, my trip ended and I came home to start a new day.
