We've arrived!
Yay!
Our hotel, the Howard Plaza
Traditional Taiwanese food
Brian reading the guide, as usual. Brian planned everything and did a great job of it!
Longshan Temple
Brian loves to take pics!
Pretty waterfall at Longshan Temple
Brian too!
This woman was lighting candles at the temple
Isn't Brian handsome?
The Temple worships a mixture of Buddhist, Taoist, and folk deities such as Matsu.
Incense is big here
I really liked the temple. This Chinese woman stopped me and told me that if I prayed, the deities would protect me (thank God Brian was there to translate!)
This was an art educational center
Scooters were EVERYWHERE!
Dead Lotus Pond behind the National Museum
These 3 school girls ran up to me, gave me these flowers, and said 'Welcome Foreigner!“. It totally shocked and cracked me up.
Flower Market
Loved the Jade Market! Brian & I got free phone charms from this nice lady that I bought a necklace from. She also gave me a “white girl discount”. Hee!
The Jade Market -- this place ROCKED! I spent lots of $$ here, including buying a stamp that I had my last name carved into. Three men contemplated the best way to say 'Birdsong'. Have I told you yet how much I love this country?
A Neighborhood Temple
This was in the Museum of Miniatures, which was really an elaborate doll house museum.
Jack & The Beanstalk -- in miniature form
Alice in Wonderland
Buckingham Palace -- it's like Brian & I went to London all over again!
YUMMY Japanese food! Everything cooked in that bowl on the left -- it was cool.
Taipei 101 building
Isn't it tall?
We're headed up to the 91st Floor!
All those stairs!
Taipei
More Taipei
Sunset
Isn't it pretty?
Pretty Lights
I was obsessed with the ferris wheel on the left
This thing is the damper for the building. It's basically a big shock absorber but someone turned it into marketing genius by creating 'Damper Babies'
Me and the damper
Brian and the damper
And here is a damper baby! Seriously, they spray painted that thing gold and created characters for it. Marketing Genius!
We're holding hands!
On the top of Taipei 101
They had these crazy hallways on the way to see the damper
Brian!
Square Ice Cream Cones! And it was delish!
Funky Sculpture
Dried Cuttlefish -- I got in trouble for taking this pic in a supermarket. Whoops!
Dumpling Baskets -- always full of yumminess!
Red Bean Paste Buns - I became a little addicted!
We're invited to a wedding! It's tradition to deliver the invitation with sweet treats!
At the wedding!
There is a large scroll to sign as the guest book
Look close & you can find my name (hint -- it's the only one not in Chinese!)
Awww, isn't Baiyi gorgeous!
And her dad is so handsome
Baiyi's Costume Change -- Dress #2
Weiging looks handsome too!
Champagne Tower
Drink Up!
Baiyi's 3rd Dress, the Goodbye Dress!
Brian and I went to Beitou to the hot springs. We headed to the Asia Pacific Resort & got a private hot spring bath & a massage!
Yummy dumplings!
Danshui Lover's Bridge
Another Bridge Pic
Brian on the bridge
Me in front of the bridge
MMMM, Brian getting a snack of Cuttlefish Balls
Cuttlefish balls!
The Shilin Night Market Food Court -- this place was insane
Another pic of the Shilin Night Market Food Court -- I told you it was crazy!
Stinky Tofu -- this is the MOST DISGUSTING thing I've ever eaten. It reeks and tastes horrible. Seriously, my gag reflexes kicked in the minute it touched my mouth.
The Shilin Night Market
Thank God we found some Heineken!
Taiwan McDonald's Menu -- isn't the rice bun funny?
Brian & I made our own paper at the Paper Museum!
You start by grabbing one of these frames
and then dip it in the vat to gather the pulp to make the paper
then you dry it and this nice woman hangs it up
You let it dry & voila, paper!
Hee, this was the sign for the ladies room in the Paper Museum
Brian & I together!
Again!
Taipei 101
Taipei 101 is designed to withstand the typhoon winds and earthquake tremors common in its area of the Asia-Pacific. Planners aimed for a structure that could withstand gale winds of 60 m (197 ft) per second (216 km/h, 134 mi/h) and the strongest earthquakes likely to occur in a 2,500 year cycle.
National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
The National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is a monument that was erected in memory of Chiang Kai-shek, former President of the Republic of China.
The guards on both sides stand at attention
Hello?
Hi!
Brian in front of Din Tai Fung, an amazing dumpling place
Me too!
Brian with a mouse at the airport.
Me in Hello Kitty World at the airport
Hello Kitty!
Goodbye Kitty
Smile! We're headed home! At the airport, I left my wallet & passport in the bathroom (Stupid Foreigner!). Thankfully, someone turned it in without taking anything! The airport police had it and were calling my hotel to see if they could find me. I found them first and got my wallet & passport back after filling out a police report. The Taiwanese are SO NICE!
