2017 - Vietnam & Taiwan (Part 3 - Taipei)
The three day stopover in a wet and murky Taipei.
Friday 21 April 2017 - Monday 24 April 2017
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2017 Vietnam & Taiwan
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Friday 21 April
An early start for the flight to Taipei. After an issue with getting back the tax on my purchases from the day before (READ THE INSTRUCTIONS YOU MUPPET), a comfortable flight on an old Boeing 747-400 (haven't been on one of those for several years) landed me in a wet and cold Taipei. The MRT now extends to the airport and is fast and convenient. The hotel was located in an alley in the old part of the city and was very comfortable.
I found the Ximen pedestrian district for dinner.
Ximen, the night markets and eating district.
Saturday 22 April
Still raining and cool. Walked to the nearby Longshan Temple.
An old part of the city down by the river.
Longshan Temple.
Longshan Temple.
Longshan Temple.
From there the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial was a short subway ride away (beats walking in the rain). This is quite impressive. I got there just in time for the changing of the guard ceremony, which in my opinion, is a bit too theatrical.
The memorial to Chiang Kai Shek.
The National Concert Hall.
Chiang Kai Shek.
The changing of the guard.
The Chiang Kai Shek Memorial.
A further subway ride to Taipei 101, a particularly tall building in the city. The observation deck was closed so couldn't go up. Decent shopping centre underneath it.
Taipei 101.
After lunch it was still raining so I caught up on the laundry.
Ximen pedestrian area for dinner.
Sunday 23 April
The rain had stopped but it was still cool.
Out to Taipei Zoo station and I caught the Maokong Gondola.
The Maokong Gondola.
The first stop was at Zhinan Temple. This is a 130 year old temple perched on Houshan (猴山, "Monkey Mountain"). It is undergoing renovation and is thus covered in scaffolding.
The pavilion at Zhinan Temple Station.
A bit of artwork at Zhinan Temple Station.
At Zhinan Temple Station.
Zhinan Temple.
Zhinan Temple up on Monkey Mountain.
Zhinan Temple.
The old garden at Zhinan Temple.
The gondola carried on up to Maokong. This is situated in the hills and was one of Taipei's premier tea growing area. It has views back over the city and on a fine day they would be great views.
The view over Taipei from Maokong.
Lunch time in Maokong.
A very tasty lunch.
After the very tasty lunch, I went to the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall. This is again very interesting and details his life and work.
The Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall.
Sun Yat Sen.
Sun Yat Sen.
An afternoon nap and out to Ximen for dinner.
Monday 24 April
Not raining but still overcast.
I caught the train out to Tamsui, a port town that had been colonised by the Spanish, the Dutch, the British, the French, the Japanese and now the Chinese. All very confusing. It has a pleasant waterfront with parks, stall, markets and an interesting fort and customs house / consulate.
The Tamsui waterfront.
Fort Santo Domingo in Tamsui.
The British consulate in Tamsui, now a museum.
The old British consulate.
Part of the university in Tamsui.
Blossoms outside the university.
Blossoms at the university.
A statute of George Lesley Mackey, a Canadian missionary.
Another statue of George Leslie Mackay.
Back to town, collect the bags, and out to the airport for my flight home.
