Wednesday, May 06, 2009 @ 12:01 pm
Taipei Day 2 - 30/4/09.
Today is the 1 day tour but before that, we went to have complimentary breakfast at the hotel. Nothing really fantastic, some food like scrambled eggs and ham are bland and tasteless.
The driver pick us up at 9am and the first destination is Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall. Very big place and big gusts of wind too. Almost felt like I'm fighting against the wind just to walk around the area. Didn't manage to enter the hall cos slippers/sandals not allowed but manage to take some photos.
After that we were in time to watch the changing of the guards at Martyrs' Shrine. A lot of tourists were there and sadly that's not the last encounter of them. Pity the guards a little cos have to stand in the sun and endure all those picture taking.
Next destination is Jiufen. Really nice scenery on the way to Jiufen, nice blend of the sea, sky and mountains. Again the place is overrun with tourists, making the whole place too commercialise. The stairs at Jiufen nearly kill my legs and we were so tired after walking around. Lucky we were travelling by car, otherwise I don't know how to survive the rest of the day.
Went to Yeliu after that and again we were surrounded by tourists. I can say for sure I dislike tourists from C****. Pushy, rude and selfish, I can't think of anything nice to say about them. Anyway Yeliu is really beautiful. The rock formations are fascinating but hard to take pictures with it cos the wind is damn strong, always messes up my hair.
After that we were supposed to go to Yangmingshan for hot spring but the driver took a little detour to a jade-selling shop and a lingzhi products shop. Motive is of course to earn a little commission. Due to this little detour, it was already sunset when we reached Yangmingshan for hot spring. We were given each person one hut with a wooden tub inside. The water is very hot, I think I take 15 mins to get inside? Lol. Didn't feel really shiok after that, maybe I didn't soak long enough haha.
Our last destination is Shilin Night Market. Well supposedly but we couldn't find any lockers around the MRT station even when the driver told us there is. After asking the MRT staff, there is no lockers around so we went back to our hotel, as we were not willing to carry our barang barang to visit Shilin Night Market.
Settled our dinner at Dongqu (MacDonalds). The meal is cheaper than sg and my drink is medium size! But couldn't finished the meal because of the drink haha. Walked around Zhongxiao Fuxing and Zhongxiao Dunhua stations. Wanted to visit Taipei 101 but it started to drizzle so only manage to take a picture from afar.
Entrance to Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall
Rubbish bins at the Memorial Hall
Flowers
More flowers
The hall with 89 steps
The statue
Writings on the right side of the wall
Writings on the left side of the wall
View of the whole place
National Theatre
National Concert Hall
Marching guards at Martyr's Shrine
In the midst of a march
The brown lines are the tracks which the guards marched on 
One of the pavillion in Martyr's Shrine
The inner hall
Place where they enshrined those who fought bravely
Painting beside the door
Another painting
View from Jiufen
Jiufen Old Street
One of the shops along Jiufen
Stairs at Jiufen
More stairs
Lunch - Bamboo rice set
Camel rock at Yeliu
Mushroom-looking rocks
Sponge-looking rock
Whale tail?
Potholes
A bridge at Yeliu
Rocks surrounding the area
The famous Queen's Head
Fairy's Shoe
A random flower-shaped rock I spotted
Signboard of Yeliu
Street along Zhongxiao Fuxing 
View of Taipei 101
