“When Solomon said there were a time and a place for everything he had not encountered the problem of parking his automobile.” — Bob Edwards
Some may find my title confusing but I will do my best to explain it. First, if you know anything about the Taiwanese (and other Asian cultures) you know many prefer to back into parking spaces versus pointing the head of their car in. I’ve presented this topic to many of my Asian relatives and it appears that the main reason that they do this is due to safety.
In the United States most lots are arranged for you to back-out of spaces. I know some lots here even require that you park head-in. I assume if you violate the posted sign you may receive a citation but likely wouldn’t be towed. Clearly, the topic of “re-ver-sla” is not a matter of time-saving as either way you’re backing into a spot; either you back in initially or you back out at the culmination.
Regardless, let’s delve into this a touch more, logically speaking. When you arrive at an open space and begin backing into that space anyone coming along will see you backing into it which generally speaking makes it safer. However, given that it takes significantly longer to back into a space and the fact that patience is in short supply these days you will surely witness “impatient pukes” attempting to circumnavigate your vehicle. This is especially true if you are very cautious and extremely slow when parking in reverse.
When you exit a space after having backed into a space you will be able to see that there isn’t anyone in front of you and you can also see vehicles in various directions that might be coming towards you. Conversely, had you parked head-in, it is difficult to see if anyone is walking up behind your car (especially small children) as you back out of the space. Also, you really can’t see cars that are coming towards you as you back out. Another con of backing into or out of a space is that you will need to have some neck flexibility.
Some might propose never placing your car into reverse when parking by choosing to pull all the way through two spaces so that when you pull-out it would also be moving forward. In the United States, many rest areas on highways have long parking spaces available for trucks or other vehicles with trailers, into which they can enter at one end and leave at the opposite end to avoid potentially cumbersome reverse driving. Unfortunately, if you employ this method where the lot wasn’t designed with that intent in mind there is the chance that some car beyond your viewpoint might pull into the second spot that you are pulling through causing a “nose to nose” car accident.
Undoubtedly parking in reverse is the easier and right choice when doing parallel parking but it is more controversial in reference to normal lot parking. I know that I will continue to park head-in due to my own self-awareness that if I were to, “RE-ver-SLA”, on a consistent basis my insurance premiums would climb through the roof as a result of monthly (at minimum) side-swipes on cars adjacent to the spot I’m backing into. This is due to my self-awareness that given I am prone to anxiety on occasion there will surely be more of these occurrences than I care to endure. This will be especially true on those days when I drink my European-style java.
Here is a pretty funny video with an Asian guy narrating someone “attempting” to park in reverse. Be forewarned there is some four-letter word usage.
http://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?p=auntie+driving+in+reversal
DAY 1 – LAX AIRPORT – LOS ANGELES — AFTERNOON
Finding a long-term parking garage is a “hairy beast” as holiday travelers have occupied the majority of the open spots in nearly every garage. Finally, we locate a spot at Easy Park LAX. The shuttle takes us to the airport where we check-in.
DAY 1 – DAILY GRILL — LAX AIRPORT – AFTERNOON
Bella, dad and I sit down to eat burgers, soup and chicken fingers before heading to our gate. Needless to say there won’t be any American food eating for the next 10 days.
DAY 1 – EVA AIR — GATE – LAX AIRPORT — AFTERNOON
We’ll refer to my father as “Butch” (nickname given by his East Coast family) in order to differentiate him from Bella’s father. Butch begins relentlessly playing video games on his I-pod “like a teenager” and doesn’t relent until we land in Taipei.
DAY 1 – PLANE — AFTERNOON
I sport headphones and jam to Billy Ocean’s greatest hits via the free air tunes while Butch determinedly engages in his video games. Who is the youngster here? Yes, it’s Butchie.
DAY 1 – TAOYUAN INT’L AIRPORT – TAOYUAN, TAIWAN – NIGHT
We arrive around midnight and are picked up by Bella’s father, mother and sister, Cindy. They had trouble spotting us initially due to Bella’s new haircut and weight gain. Ah, the love between a father and a daughter. Yes, in many Asian cultures the people are known for being “straight shooters” whereas many Americans were reared to focus on positive reinforcement (i.e. “sugar coating” the truth). Think of “little Johnny” making his first attempt at playing tee-ball.
Many Taiwanese and Chinese don’t believe this fakeness or positive reinforcement does much to prepare children to be successful in the real world. There is a great article about “tiger moms” which is the moniker given to these type of Chinese or Taiwanese mothers. Personally, I see pluses on both styles of rearing but I do lean more on the “tiger mom” side. But of course I’m not a parent so take it for whatever it’s worth.
You can read the “tiger mom” article at:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2043477,00.html.
It is really fascinating stuff and I have several Caucasian co-workers (also mothers) who are employing a similar “tiger mom” philosophy with their children. As it was, this wasn’t so bad given that Bella’s father always thought she was too skinny. Another reason they missed us initially was likely that my tall frame (especially in Asia) disappeared momentarily as I bent over to tie my shoes.
DAY 1 – NISSAN LIVINA CUV — HIGHWAY – NIGHT
Cindy drives us to our Taipei business hotel in her Nissan crossover utility vehicle. Butch drives with Bella’s mom and dad in their Toyota Vios (between a Yaris and a Corolla) compact sedan.
Howard Hotel: Taipei City
DAY 1 – HOWARD HOTEL – NIGHT
We arrive at the Howard Hotel (A: 30, Sec. 3, Xinsheng South Road, Taipei, Taiwan 10660. P: 886-2-8369. W: howard-hotels.com.tw). The exterior with its gray brick gives the impression of a nice office building. The décor is modern with some Asian influences incorporated. Butch provides gifts to Bella’s parents and Cindy.
DAY 2 – GARDEN RESTAURANT — HOWARD HOTEL – MORNING
Butch, Bella and I enjoy a large Taiwanese/Western breakfast buffet with items such as papaya salad, sausage, toast with peanut butter and jelly, congee, stir-fried veggies and noodles with pork. They have a fancy coffee machine whose brand is pretty popular in Taiwan. Whole beans are visible via a clear plastic container attached on top. The java is nice tasting and will be a regular companion at our numerous complimentary breakfasts here.
Mirrored Cone Bldg @ Howard Hotel
DAY 2 – STREETS – TAIPEI — MORNING
Butch, Bella and I venture to her parent’s “city house” (owned apartment) which is a five minute walk from our hotel.
DAY 2 — CITY APARTMENT – DAAN DISTRICT — MORNING
We hang out briefly.
DAY 2 – TOYOTA VIOS SEDAN – HIGHWAY — MORNING
We pile into the car and hit the road. We pass through the “8 Mile Tunnel” which brings the drive to Yilan County from what used to be two hours down to one hour.
DAY 2 – NATIONAL CENTER FOR TRADITIONAL ARTS — DAY
We arrive at NCTA (A: 201, Wubin Road, Sec. 2, Wujie, Yilan County. P: 03-9507711. W: ncfta.gov.tw). The NCTA provides visitors with a window to traditional Taiwanese culture. The center promotes historical arts, theater, music, dance and aerobatics. They have re-created a traditional Taiwanese town and there are vendors selling mostly traditional wares.
Traditional Taiwanese Town Re-Creation
It’s a warm day here and I could have easily worn shorts…bummer. Butch and I overheat when the “wind blows” so he’s feeling a little “greasy” as well.
NCTA: Grounds & Bridge
We peruse a few shops before Bella’s dad begins purchasing and handing Butch and me food. The first is what I will call a “sesame peanut burrito”. It is pretty tasty and mildly sweet with peanut dust and sesame shavings (looked like cigarette ash but tasted much better) packed in this ultra-thin traditional “sugar onion” edible wrapper (the process involves stretching it out via an archaic contraption). The second item is a rose colored powdery, crumbly dried plum cake. The texture is similar to Taiwanese pineapple cakes which have a tasty pineapple center but this is drier and lacks the sugary crystallized fruit-filled interior.
“Sesame Peanut Burrito”
Bella’s dad buys us a couple of super tasty garlicky bean sprout and pork dishes in small paper containers and bamboo rice. We find a table in the shade under an observation tower along the inland waterway which leads to the Dong-shan River. Afterwards a worker gives us a Taiwanese history lesson via translation at the Wengchang Temple.
NCTA: Temple
A few minutes later we watch part of a dramatization at an adjacent stage involving a “dragon under the sea” (similar to the Loch Ness Monster?) with characters in costumes such as clams, shrimps, a princess, a prince, a general, a seahorse and a dragon.
Garlicky Bean Sprout and Pork
“Dragon Under the Sea” Play
DAY 2 – TAIPEI CITY – AFTERNOON
Butch, Bella and I kill some time walking through a portion of Daan Park.
“No Urinating” in Daan Park
DAY 2 – 7-11 CONVENIENCE STORE – TAIPEI – AFTERNOON
We buy a Japanese style caramel pudding and some iced coffee drinks.
DAY 2 – SILVER WING RESTAURANT — TAIPEI – EVENING
Our first big meal is at the 2nd highest rated Taiwanese restaurant in Taipei. Bella’s grandma, parents, Cindy, friend Jessie and a couple of uncles are in attendance. I met Jessie back in 2004 when I first met Cindy.
Silver Wing Restaurant: Jellyfish
Silver Wing: Egg & Jalapeno Pancake
It is Taiwanese custom to have elders or special guests sit at inner most seats. The reason is to avoid having servers reach around you to set dishes on the table. And given that the average Taiwanese group dinner consists of 13-18 dishes this makes perfect sense.
Silver Wing Restaurant: Pig Knuckles
Bella’s dad presents ice wine (sweet wine from Canada) and her uncle offers Butch and me Johnny Walker “Green” label whiskey. Butch and I aren’t whiskey drinkers so we opt for the ice wine. Some in attendance are getting “saucy” and eventually one gent practically forces a shot of Johnny W down our throats. So much for my acid reflux — bottom’s up!
Silver Wing Restaurant: Sea Cucumber
The dishes we eat include:
Jellyfish; sea cucumber with bok choy; bitter melon; two different types of bean curd; shrimp with fava beans; spicy noodles and pork; spicy veggies; garlic cucumbers; thin pancake with red bean paste; whole fish; duck; pig knuckles; gyoza; egg pancake with hot peppers; chicken and clam soup; cubed pork; gyoza.
Silver Wing: Chicken & Clam Soup
Silver Wing Restaurant: Gyoza
Butch has received a lightning quick education in regards to the Taiwanese winning the “food wars” over the Italians in quantity and variety of dishes served at dinners. As we exit the restaurant, Jessie and I discuss jazz music and Taiwanese food on the way back to our hotel.
DAY 3 — GARDEN RESTAURANT — HOWARD HOTEL – MORNING
We’re up early and begin the day with a Taiwanese/Western breakfast. Unfortunately Butch has acquired a cold. My hunch is it was due to a weakened immune system after not getting enough sleep. But then I’m only a recovering hypochondriac and amateur MD so take it for what it’s worth.
DAY 3 – TAXI CAB — MORNING
Butch, Bella and I grab a taxi in order to meet Bella’s parents at the Taipei Railway Station to catch a train to Hualien and Taroko Gorge. A gent puts his car in park and exits the vehicle. In Taipei City the signal lights have timers with digital displays showing how many seconds until the light turns green. This chap had 73 seconds and it appears he bought a newspaper at a convenience store and re-entered his vehicle with 52 seconds to spare.
In addition, pedestrian walkways have “running man” display lights that activate once time gets tight (oftentimes around 30 seconds) whereupon a “running man” will begin “running” feverishly indicating you had better — “kuài ydin” (a.k.a. hurry up).
Taipei Railway Station
DAY 3 – TAIPEI RAILWAY STATION – MORNING
I take some photos of some interesting metal bird sculptures.
Taipei Railway Station: Bird Sculptures
Female Safety (allows camera capture)
DAY 3 – HUALIEN TRAIN – MORNING
The seats on the Hualien train are less comfortable (not ergonomic) than I recall but then again I have newly acquired back problems since our 2008 trip. There is an annoying foot pedal inhibiting you from stretching your legs out.
DAY 3 – HUALIEN TRAIN STATION – DAY
Two and a half hours later we arrive in Hualien. Bella’s dad negotiates taxi services for the day with a female taxi driver and we’re off to the 7-11 around the corner.
DAY 3 – 7-11 CONVENIENCE STORE – DAY
We pick up some pork gyoza, xiao long bao (pork buns with soup inside) and iced coffee and iced tea drinks.
Taroko Gorge
DAY 3 – TAROKO GORGE – DAY
We do more driving than walking but we get some exercise. Also, we re-visit our hotel from our 2008 trip which was called Formosa Hotel and is now Silks Place (http://taroko.silksplace.com.tw/en/aboutus.html).
Taroko Gorge
Taroko Gorge: Bridge
The name is slightly odd and given it is common to see “signage” in Asian cultures which contain humorous misspellings I wonder if they didn’t intend to select “palace”. Regardless, the interior has been upgraded with a modern Asian look.
Taroko Gorge: Giant Blue Fly
Taroko Gorge
DAY 3 – TAXI — AFTERNOON
Around the corner we see construction crews working to repair roadways. Also, Bella’s father advises us that certain trails we hiked in 2008 were washed away due to more recent flooding.
DAY 3 – HUALIEN DISTILLERY – DAY
Bella’s dad buys Butch and I Taiwanese sausage and Taiwanese beers before we check out the gift shop. My “Oniony Cabernet Sauvignon” wine is still here. Outside there is a young couple participating in lawn bowling.
Youngsters Lawn Bowling
DAY 3 – AMI CULTURAL VILLAGE – EVENING
Our taxi driver takes us to a traditional cultural dance under a big circus tent.
Hualien: Traditional Dance
DAY 3 – RESTAURANT – HUALIEN – EVENING
Our taxi driver drops us off at a local restaurant. We eat cold chicken, bamboo in a milky sauce, squash in a tasty broth and another soup with spinach-like greens and ostrich sautéed with chopped red peppers and black pepper. This ostrich was much tastier than the sample size I had in Banff, Canada.
Spicy Sauteed Ostrich with Peppers
DAY 3 – TSENG MOCHI – NIGHT
The worker prepares our mochi balls. The coconut one is excellent with fresh coconut and sticky rice.
DAY 3 – TAXI – NIGHT
Our taxi driver drops us off and we say goodbye.
DAY 3 – TAROKO TRAIN – NIGHT
Bella says that the total fee for the taxi driver’s services rendered from 12pm-8pm was $80.00 (American). Try getting that rate in any major city or rural town in the United States. Nice try! Butch and I had a snoring contest on the way back to Taipei.
DAY 3 – TAXI – TAIPEI – NIGHT
Back in Taipei Bella, Butch and I take a taxi to our hotel. Bella’s parents take the subway home.
DAY 4 – GARDEN RESTAURANT — HOWARD HOTEL — MORNING
We begin the day with a Taiwanese/Western breakfast.
Taipei City: Condemned Housing
DAY 4 – CHANG KAI SHEK MEMORIAL – MORNING
We walk the grounds and watch the changing of the guard (Air Force) and buy souvenirs. I purchase an Air Force bobble-head toy.
Butch @ Chang Kai Shek Memorial
Butch and I think the guards look very similar. Bella jokes and says “all Asians look the same to you guys”. I retort “and how many classic movies have we watched on TCM and you can’t tell one whitey actor from another?” Yes, five years of marriage and “it is what it is” my friends.
Shek Memorial: Changing of the Guards
DAY 4 – TAIPEI MILK KING – MORNING
Across the street from the memorial we buy papaya milk (smoothies) for Butch and me. This is still my favorite place to buy these, chain store or not.
DAY 4 – COSME DRUGSTORE – MORNING
We pick up cough drops, tissues and cold meds for Butch. I get some menthol cold and hot patches for my nagging sports injury.
DAY 4 — SNOW KING ICE CREAM PROVIDE CTR – XIMENDING – DAY
Bella takes Butch and me to Snow King Ice Cream Provide Center (A: 65, Wuchang Street Sec 1, Taipei City. T: 02-2331-8415) which serves “exotic” flavors of ice cream. The ice cream here has a smooth texture and a nice balance of iciness and creaminess. Dad ate pig knuckle ice cream whereas Bella had taro flavor. I opt for one scoop of Taiwanese basil and another of walnut.
Taiwanese Basil & Walnut Ice Cream
Some of their “interesting” flavors include (but are not limited to):
Bitter melon; brandy; carrot; chili pepper; Chinese Angelica; chrysanthemum tea; curry; custard apple; date paste; egg; ginger; kidney bean; green tea; guava; honey; jasmine tea; kaoliang wine; Korean ginseng; longan; lotus seed; mung bean; oolong tea; osmanthus; pig knuckle; pork floss; plum; plum wine; red bean; rose; sesame; sesame oil chicken; soybean curd; sticky rice; sugar cane; sweet corn; Taiwanese basil (superior to basil available in the United States); Taiwanese beer; Taiwanese green tea; Taiwanese vodka; tofu; taro; tomato; wasabi; white grape wine.
DAY 4 – STREETS — XIMENDING — DAY
Ximending is an area where youngsters like to hang out, shop and eat. Bella, Butch and I shop and peruse shops. In 2008 Bella and I ate at an Asian/Italian fusion restaurant here. We see the sign for it so we head upstairs. Upstairs we notice the restaurant is now called Saizeriya and is much nicer and larger inside.
DAY 4 – SAIZERIYA RISTORANTE & CAFFE – XIMENDING — DAY
The food at Saizeriya (P: 02-2314-2237: W: saizeriya.co.jp) is more fun than delicious as this area is all about “youth quake” (a.k.a. youngsters) eating on a dime. I order a pizza which has a cream sauce, corn and crab meat (or faux crab). Bella eats black squid ink pasta and Butch gets the spicy tomato pasta. We ordered some “tiny” clams as well.
DAY 4 — THP CENTER – ZHONGZHENG DISTRICT – DAY
The Taiwan Handicraft Promotion Center (A: 1, Hsu Chow Rd., Taipei, Taiwan, 10055. T: 886-2-23933655. W: handicraft.org.tw) was established in 1958 as a non-profit business aimed at promoting hand crafts. We shop for traditional Taiwanese and Chinese souvenirs.
DAY 4 – BUS – TAIPEI – DAY
We take a bus to our hotel.
DAY 4 – HOWARD HOTEL – TAIPEI – DAY
We meet Cindy and drop our souvenirs off.
DAY 4 – TAXI – TAIPEI — EVENING
The weather was wet, misty and this guy is — “fired up”. He tailgates everyone and their dog, veers around everyone and accelerates like a “wildebeest in heat”. I think his car has an allergy to coming to a complete stop.
On a very narrow street (similar to an American alley but smaller) he’s “climbing the corn” of a city worker on a scooter who is pushing a bicyclist loaded with recyclables towards a nearby recycling center. He is “up this scooter’s business” more proficiently than a Harvard trained proctologist.
DAY 4 – TAIPEI 101 – EVENING
Bella, Cindy, Butch and I buy tickets for the ride to the upper levels of the Taipei 101 tower (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taipei_101), the 2nd tallest building in the world. It is misty and foggy outside but we get some decent fleeting views of the city after dark. Butch buys Cindy and Bella “Damper Baby” robotic toys in various colors (images available via Yahoo search).
Elfie and “Damper Baby”
DAY 4 – SHIN KONG MITSUKOSHI COMPLEX — NIGHT
Afterwards, we eat dinner at the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Complex food hall (A: No.66, Sec. 1, Zhongxiao W. Road, Xinyi District, Taipei City. T: 886-2-2388-5552). We “window shop” a variety of food court vendors.
I order a moist and delicious fried breaded pork chop and soup with seaweed. It comes with pork rice (little pieces of pork sprinkled on top). Our meals include a shared veggie variety plate. Lunch boxes here cost about $3.00-$4.00 per person. Butch opts for the beef noodle soup which he says is good.
Interesting Architecture Near Taipei 101
DAY 4 – TONGHWA NIGHT MARKET – NIGHT
I’ve been to three different night markets in my three trips to Taiwan but I’ve never visited this one.
Night Market: “Interesting” Organ Meats
Jessie shows us around before she brings me to a vendor who has a cart that looks like an ice cream sandwich novelty cart. The vendor opens a pull-up stainless steel door and smoke billows out similar to London fog. I snap off photographs before Jessie offers me a bite of one of her favorite Taiwanese snacks. She claims this stand has been in business for at least 35 years.
Pig’s Blood Cake with Cilantro
The item in question is on a stick and has a shape similar to ice cream on a stick. However, it is actually a pig’s blood cake with cilantro and dusted in peanut powder. It is a tad too spicy for this GERD patient but tastes good. The spices were delicious even though the texture and appearance are a bit strange even for this adventurous chap. Afterwards, I buy a $12.00 charcoal gray watch with a unique looking triangle shaped watch interior and a clear glass backing.
Night Market Vendor
Taipei is “All About the Scooter”
DAY 5 — GARDEN RESTAURANT — HOWARD HOTEL – MORNING
It’s New Year’s Eve and we begin the day with a Taiwanese/Western breakfast.
DAY 5 – BUS – TAIPEI — MORNING
We leave Butch behind to rest his cold while we take a bus to a fancy bookstore. This bus driver must be categorically insane. We barely get our hooves inside when the door slams on our cheeks and he begins accelerating or shifting like he is driving a sports bike motorcycle. My body is launched forward and I inadvertently brace myself with my injured arm. “Nice driving ass face”. Bella says some bus drivers in Taiwan appear to dislike their jobs and drive accordingly.
“Driving in Taipei is something else. Forget the several thousand motor scooters that weave in and out of traffic, it seems that if there are three left turn lanes, the cars will be four-wide in making the turns. The drivers are very aggressive, but I didn’t see any accidents in 10 days, so I guess they also keep their eyes on everything around them.” – Butch Evangelisti
We come upon two stopped cars due to a car accident. They are off to the side in a circular intersection. For some odd reason this jack hole bus driver squeezes his Orca-sized bus between the two cars involved versus going around them on the left. How he avoids scraping paint or going up the curb is beyond me. Way to go whale bait!
DAY 5 – ESLITE BOOKSTORE — MORNING
Bella shops for stationary and teaching supplies. This is one of the few times Bella leaves her “tom boy” persona in the dust and as a result my hooves are left screaming after 90 minutes of staring at books I am unable to read (nobody’s fault but my own). At least they sell more products than books so that keeps me occupied for a modest portion of the time.
DAY 5 – MISTER DONUT – DAY
At Mister Donut (P: 02-2705-1775. W: misterdonut.com.tw) we grab a couple of green tea cake donuts to-go.
DAY 5 – WATSONS DRUGSTORE – DAY
We pick up cold medications for Butch.
DAY 5 – ROOM — HOWARD HOTEL – DAY
Butch ate some funky sushi from 7-11 and did his laundry in our absence. Bella’s dad is kind enough to bring chicken soup and electrolyte sports beverages for Butch. Afterwards, Butch returns to his room, Bella’s parents depart and we relax in our room. A few hours later we wait for Butch’s snoring to stop, wake him and we head with Cindy to a night market next to their city apartment.
DAY 5 – SHIDA NIGHT MARKET – DAAN DISTRICT – NIGHT
It’s fairly cold tonight and the market is packed given its New Year’s Eve. Thankfully we vetoed attending the extremely congested Shilin Night Market. It was recently renovated, moved indoors and would be a “dis-ASS-ter” tonight.
Night Market: Greek Restaurant
Once again I’m reminded how much better the Taiwanese are at combining shopping and eating. Even smaller night markets like this one are really nice. There are fancy cafes which feel like temporary structures but aren’t. Fashion stores have chandeliers hanging inside and fancy décor. Bear in mind this is essentially a “swap meet” type atmosphere.
When I was growing up we had the dumpy Saugus swap meet where vendors packed card tables full of jewelry, furnishings, home goods, rugs, music, movies, leather goods, fashion and they served up lousy carnival food (i.e. hot dogs, popcorn, hamburgers and pizza). The focus at California (and likely most American) swap meets is much more on products versus food.
I went to the Orange County Swap Meet once in 1988 and that was a lot better but it wasn’t close to any Taiwanese night market. In Taiwan, at the majority of the night markets they do food and shopping equally well. You can find trendy inexpensive fashion, jewelry, trendy or fancy watches and a wide variety of really good tasting food.
“Each neighborhood has its night market which serves not only as a place of commerce, but also a social gathering.” – Butch Evangelisti
I order a delicious piece of Thai BBQ chicken. Bella and Cindy take a half hour to enjoy some “stanky” tofu and duck blood (gelatin form). Next Butch and I get some beef noodle soup to-go and we walk back to the hotel while the girls do some clothes shopping.
Night Market: Thai BBQ Chicken
DAY 5 – HOWARD HOTEL – BUTCH’S ROOM — NIGHT
Butch and I slurp away on the tasty beef broth and noodles. It is spicy and fantastic! This is simple, inexpensive and delicious Taiwanese eating. Butch calls it a night when Bella arrives and we head back to our room.
DAY 5 – ROOM — HOWARD HOTEL – NIGHT
Bella and I watch various New Year’s celebration parties on TV for cities throughout Taiwan. The Taipei 101 celebration seems to be the best. Bella is essentially snoring at midnight but I peer out our window to catch some fireworks in the distance and the reflection of the Taipei 101 fireworks blast-off. I close the night watching the Taiwan celebration programs on TV. Such is married life…
DAY 6 – GARDEN RESTAURANT — HOWARD HOTEL – MORNING
We begin the day with a Taiwanese/Western breakfast.
DAY 6 – NISSAN VAN — MORNING
Bella’s parents and Cindy pick us up in a rental van and we’re on our way to Sitou Forest.
DAY 6 – CHINGSHUI SERVICE AREA — DAY
We hit several rest areas along the way. Still the biggest and the best is the Chingshui Service Area (P: 04-26201378. F: 04-26202429). Inside this large structure is a food hall with vendors selling food, gifts, souvenirs and snack foods to-go. We pick up a box of our favorite brand of taro mochi cakes (Shan Mai Food Co. Ltd., T: 04-2682-2188, W: smai.com.tw).
Taro Mochi Cake
DAY 6 – POT CHICKEN RESTAURANT – MOUNTAIN ROAD – DAY
We stop at the Pot Chicken Restaurant (P: 49-2754271) from our 2009 trip. The restaurant is crowded as we caught them at prime lunch hours. The clay ovens look like oil barrels with stacks of firewood nearby and there is open-air seating.
Cook Preparing to Cook the Chicken
The structure includes a long rectangular-shaped floor-plan with plastic tables and chairs with vinyl table cloths. The view into the ravine is blocked with new tree leaf growth so I take pictures from the rear of the restaurant.
Pot Chicken Restaurant: View
We order chicken, fried pumpkin dumplings, soup, veggie, bamboo and bamboo rice. The chicken is “smiling at me” and everything tastes as good as I recalled.
Clay Pot Chicken
The pumpkin is very fresh and the cake portion seems to be made of thin strands of noodles. Bella’s dad puts on the provided gardening gloves and plastic gloves and begins to “disassemble” the chicken. Butch loves this place nearly as much as I do.
Dad Prepares to “Separate” the Chicken
Fried Pumpkin Dumplings
DAY 6 – 7-11 CONVENIENCE STORE – MOUNTAIN ROAD — DAY
We pick up some sports drinks for Butch before heading up the mountain.
DAY 6 – SITOU FOREST – AFTERNOON
We drive into the forest and park at the Sitou Youth Activity Center (A: 15 Sen Lin Lane, Nei Hu Village, Lu Ku Hsiang, Nantou County, Taiwan. P: 49-2612160-3. W: ctoac.com.tw/). It is located deeper in the forest than our 2009 accommodations.
Our rooms are located in a dormitory style cabin. The rooms have full bathrooms, vanity, refrigerator and a flat-screen TV with cable channels. My impression is that these were predominantly or solely utilized as youth center housing until more recent years.
Sitou: Toilet Warning in our Bathroom
Taiwan National University has an experimental forest here. Highlights include “University Lake and bridge”, “the walk above the trees”, “the bamboo house” and “the giant tree”. We rest for a half hour before taking a walk.
Fog on University Lake Bridge
Reflection on University Lake
DAY 6 – SITOU FOREST – AFTERNOON
It is less foggy (bummer) than our previous trip which takes away from the mystery of this forest but fortunately the huge and noisy youth groups aren’t in attendance this year which adds to the feeling of solitude. We visit “university bridge and lake” (more like a pond) and trek past the lodge where we stayed in 2009.
Sitou: Fog in River Bed
Sitou: One Disgusting Spider
DAY 6 – DINING HALL — SITOU YOUTH ACTIVITY CENTER – EVENING
We pre-ordered bento boxes for dinner. I eat pork rice whereas others went with chicken rice. It is rather fun and reminds me of the dining halls from summer camp. After dinner we walk along dimly lit paths around the youth center to see other cabins.
Bella confirms my earlier thought as she indicates that these “youth centers” in Taiwan were largely created for China Youth Corps. Bella was involved with this boy scouts or girl scouts type organization when she was young. This organization was “prep” for military service but many kids went there for camping, hiking, activities and general outdoor fun. Of course most kids today would rather engage in “technology activities” versus “getting in touch with nature”.
See more info @: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China_Youth_Corps.
DAY 7 – DINING HALL — SITOU YOUTH ACTIVITY CENTER – MORNING
We begin with a predominantly Taiwanese breakfast.
DAY 7 – SITOU FOREST – MORNING
The weather is cool and Bella’s dad has booked us a tour in a golf cart with a young military personnel guide. Youths that enlist in the military typically are assigned to one year stints of this sort. We visit the “bamboo house” (former residence of Chang Kai Shek’s son), “the walk above the trees” and the “giant tree”.
Everyone Outside Youth Center
Sitou: The Bamboo House
The visibility was better for “the walk above the trees” this year but I prefer – “more fog”. Similar to Christopher Walken’s philosophy on cow bell, in my world, you can almost never have too much fog.
The “giant tree” would be larger but lightning split it down the middle. Nearby, I take a photograph of a tree growing within a tree. This occurs when a bird plants a seed in a tree and another tree forms from there. It is truly a surreal sight.
David, Butch, Bella and Cindy @ Giant Tree
Sitou: “Tree Within a Tree”
DAY 7 – NISSAN VAN – MORNING
We grab our bags, load the van and are on our way to Kenting (south Taiwan).
DAY 7 – REST AREA – DAY
Bella’s mom picks up some custard egg tarts and soft salty cheese rolls from a bakery for me and Butch.
Rest Stop Bakery: Egg Tarts
DAY 7 – NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MARINE BIOLOGY & AQUARIUM – DAY
We arrive in the Kenting area and immediately drive to the National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium (A: 2 Houwan Road, Checheng, Pingtung, 944, Taiwan. P: 8-882-5678. W: nmmba.gov.tw/English/index.aspx). This place is located on the ocean, is enormous and houses a wide variety of sea life.
Diver Cleaning the Tank
Marine Biology and Aquarium: Eels
Butch, Bella and I “touch a turd” (as Butch describes them) when we touch a sea cucumber. A female staff member advises us that it feels like memory foam which is dead-on. The penguin exhibit houses an impressive array of adelies, kings, chinstrap, macaroni and gentoos.
Sea Cucumber (a.k.a. “turds”)
DAY 7 – SNACK BAR — MARINE BIOLOGY & AQUARIUM – AFTERNOON
Bella and Cindy share a mango shaved snow ice dessert. It has condensed milk and fresh fruit in it.
DAY 7 – KENTING YOUTH ACTIVITY CENTER – AFTERNOON
We check into our accommodations at The Kenting Youth Activity Center (A: No. 17, Kenting Road, Hegechun Town, Pingtung County 946, Taiwan. P: 08-886-1221-4. W: cyh.org.tw/eng/). There are 17 traditional Chinese mini-courtyards with traditional Fujen style buildings with red gates, white walls and red tile roofs. The property shows some definite wear but this is a cool experience.
Kenting Youth Center Courtyard
These were designed to house one family in four separate units (i.e. mother and father, sons and daughters and spouses, grandchildren etc.). A large courtyard is in the center and small courtyards with tables separate each unit.
DAY 7 – STREETS — KENTING ROAD – EVENING
We drive around the corner to the night market of shops, street vendors, restaurants and clubs. We park and meet our host, Mr. David Chen and his wife. He is a friend to Bella’s father’s family and has chosen a seafood restaurant for us. He works as a researcher at the agricultural research center where we parked our car.
DAY 7 – CHIACHEN SEAFOOD RESTAURANT — EVENING
Chiachen Seafood Restaurant (P: 08-886-1017 or 08-886-1632) is pretty fancy inside and has fresh fish and seafood in tanks out front. There is a photo on the wall of the owner’s large fishing boat which is used for daily catches. Once seated, Mr. Chen reveals a bottle of Johnny Walker Black whiskey and Taiwanese beer. He asks what we prefer and Butch and I quickly respond — “beer”. You could tell Mr. Chen was a little disappointed that he couldn’t provide us with the more quality beverage as being a generous host is very much revered in Taiwan.
Host David Chen & Butch
Chiachen Seafood Restaurant: Oysters
The menu included items such as: fried rolled taro rolls; lobster with garlic and onions; scrambled eggs and ocean mushrooms; fried seafood cakes; sashimi boat platter; nine-hole clams; snow crab legs, shrimp, green veggie, shrimp fried rice, soup, oysters in the shell, abalone with mayo, whole fish in soy sauce, tofu seafood with sardines, cold chicken etc. Butch is a big sashimi fan so the sashimi boat (i.e. salmon, tuna, white fish) and this meal were chosen due to him turning seventy tomorrow.
Chiachen Seafood Restaurant: Lobster
“Dancing” Nine Hole Clams
The nine-hole clams are brought to the table “alive and kicking” in their half-shells. The burner is then turned on and the clams began doing circular “squirming” motions in their shells. We have a dish of scrambled eggs and rare ocean mushrooms that apparently only grow after the rain (per Bella). The fried taro rolls were sweet and tasty. All in all, this meal was un-be-lieve-a-ble!
Fried Taro Rolls & Fried Seafood Cakes
DAY 7 – STREETS – KENTING NIGHT MARKET – NIGHT
Butch, Bella, Cindy and I walk the streets to check out the shops and street vendors. A tranny strip club is promoting itself via some tall ladies with protruding Adam’s apples. Afterwards, we walk back to our accommodations.
DAY 7 – KENTING YOUTH ACTIVITY CTR — NIGHT
Bella, Cindy, Dad and I hang out in our mini-courtyard until we have had an ass-full of the mosquitoes falling off the light above and gravitating to our skin. I imagine that twenty years ago people were playing cards on this table. Today, my fellow travelers are “gaming”, “surfing” or fidgeting with their hand-held organizer apps.
DAY 8 – DRAGON GATE RESTAURANT – KENTING YOUTH ACTIVITY CTR – NIGHT
Today is Butch’s 70th birthday and we start the day with a predominantly Taiwanese breakfast.
DAY 8 – GROUNDS – KENTING YOUTH ACTIVITY CENTER – MORNING
We walk through a walkway to the ocean behind our property. The wooden plank walkways and paths offer stunning views of the ocean and rocks along the beach.
Kenting: Ocean Wooden Walkway
Beach Near Youth Center
DAY 8 – ELUANBI LIGHTHOUSE – KENTING NATIONAL PARK — DAY
Dad drives us to the stunning and well-maintained Eluanbi Lighthouse. The park in which it is located is huge and leads down to the ocean where you are at the southernmost tip of Taiwan.
A Splendid Sign Indeed…
Per Wikipedia, the Eluanbi Lighthouse is a lighthouse located on the Cape Eluanbi, which is also the southernmost point of Taiwan, to the south of Hengchun in Pingtung County, Taiwan. Eluanbi Lighthouse is managed by the Directorate General of Customs, Ministry of Finance, Taiwan. The lighthouse is built between the Pacific Ocean and the Taiwan Strait, facing toward the Luzon Strait. Thus, the lighthouse has a splendid panorama. The lighthouse is open to the public all year around. Today, the Eluanbi Lighthouse is called “The Light of East Asia”, because its intensity is the most powerful among Taiwan lighthouses.
Eluanbi Lighthouse
The Eluanbi Lighthouse was built during the Qing Dynasty in 1888. Accidents in the area were quite often due to hidden reefs. In 1888, an English architect W. F. Spindey, a member of Royal Geographical Society, was hired to construct this lighthouse as a guide for nearby ships. The lighthouse is the only armed lighthouse in the world, with a trench surrounding it and many gun holes on the wall. The extra fortifications were required at the time it was built because of frequent raids by local aboriginal tribes.
Eluanbi Lighthouse: “Do Not Spit Sign”
DAY 8 – COASTAL HIGHWAY – DAY
We see what locals call the “Sail Stone”. When viewed from a long distance it appears to be a ship about to set sail. Interestingly, many say that when you view it from the front, the stone looks remarkably like former President Richard Nixon, who by coincidence visited Taiwan when he was vice president in the 1950s.
DAY 8 – BEACH — JIALESHUI SCENIC AREA – DAY
The area’s popularity grew when people said that rocks around the beach resembled various animals, landmarks or famous people. Here we meet one of Bella’s dad’s former students. Bella’s dad is 69 years old and his former student is 62 years old. His student works as a tour guide at this beach. We take a tram with him and he points out interesting rock formations.
Rock in Shape of a Shoe
Virgo Female Anatomy Rock
Many of these are easily seen with only a moderate imagination. There are rocks that resemble a frog, part of the female anatomy, a three-legged pig inverted, a boot and the topography of Taiwan. Butch and I drink coconut juice out of a coconut.
Rock of a Pig’s Head
“Not surprisingly, there is a lot of beautiful coastline, especially in the southern part of Taiwan. There are not many sandy beaches, but the rocky coastline is similar to Maine and is quite beautiful.” – Butch Evangelisti
Butch Drinks Coconut Juice @ the Beach
Rock in the Shape of Taiwan
DAY 8 – BEACH RESTAURANT – JIALESHUI SCENIC AREA – DAY
We sit down to lunch with dad’s former student and he proceeds to utilize his Popeye-like forearms to remove one bottle cap off a Heineken beer utilizing another bottle of Heineken. This is one of those divey looking restaurants like I recall from visiting Mexico in the 90s’. The location is priceless being directly across from the beach.
Who Needs a Bottle Opener?
Barnacles and Chopped Garlic
There is a local congressman getting “lit like a Christmas tree” at a table across from us. I could only hope that wouldn’t soon be Butch and I as the toasting and drinking at our table was pretty relentless. Thankfully the Taiwanese use small glasses which house about three shot glasses worth of beer.
Pork Balls with Strips of Shark Fin
The dishes we eat include: giant sea snails; fried fish (pieces); uni (sea urchin) scrambled eggs; pork and noodles; shrimp; abalone; green veggie; spicy mountain pork (wild boar); fried pork balls wrapped in shark fin; whole fish; miso lobster soup; barnacles in chopped garlic.
Giant Sea Snail
Giant Sea Snail
I am all in on the giant sea snails although I am less enthusiastic once I de-shell them. They are olive green and yellow (the color of snot), clearly “giant” and have a finely detailed bulls-eye design on their bodies. The “mountain pork” tastes similar to a sautéed Thai dish with spicy peppers. The uni scrambled eggs are surprisingly delicious considering I dislike uni.
Elfie Loves Giant Sea Snails
DAY 8 – NISSAN VAN – HIGHWAY 26 – DAY
We bid farewell to dad’s former student before piling into the van. As we pull out of the lot we see his student sit down and begin drinking with the congressman’s table. We drive along making periodic stops to take photos of the coast.
Highway: Beach View
DAY 8 – SHEDING NATURE PARK — AFTERNOON
Sheding Nature Park is a reservation of local aborigine with a total of 318 acres, is right beside the Kenting National Forest Recreation Area which occupies 350 acres. Sheding Nature Park encompasses coral forests, grasslands, shrub forests, limestone caves, and nearly 300 species of plants. This is also a great place for watching birds during the autumn migration season.
Sheding Park: One Good Looking Insect
Sheding Nature Park: Caterpillar
Sheding Park: Observation Tower View
We visit two different observation towers, the “major gorge”, nearly the “minor gorge” (apparently a rock fall filled it in partially). “Good times”. Butch is not a huge fan of the “major gorge” as he mentions Taiwan’s history of earthquakes. The major gorge consists of going down, then up in one seriously narrow crevice with rough terrain under our hooves. It takes us about 10-12 minutes to pass through it due to slow and careful treading.
Sheding Nature Park: Major Gorge
Sheding Nature Park: Major Gorge
The maps throughout the park “blow doors”. We continuously get lost and eventually I wonder if we will find the parking lot before darkness sets in. What type of snakes live in this park again? Fortunately, lady luck is on our side and we make it out in a mere two and a half hours. Butch and I powerwalk to a vendor who is closing up shop in order to buy sports drinks for the gang. We gulp down our beverages like parched alligators which were temporarily transplanted to the Mojave.
DAY 8 – DRAGON GATE RESTAURANT — KENTING YOUTH ACTIVITY CTR – NIGHT
We eat a satisfactory Taiwanese dinner.
DAY 8 – STREETS — KENTING NIGHT MARKET – NIGHT
Butch, Bella, Cindy and I walk to the night market. We make an appointment to get our hooves massaged at an indoor/outdoor spa. Minutes later we run into Bella’s parents who guide us through some back streets which house fancy and boutique hotels.
One very large hotel in a prime location across from the ocean was dark inside. It looks like it has a dining room occupying the top floor. Bella’s dad tells us that a major flood filled the basement, a staff member died and the hotel closed down soon after. Trying to sell real estate to the Taiwanese where someone died is about as easy as selling snow to an Eskimo. The Taiwanese often have serious superstitions and strong beliefs in regards to luck…and death is not typically deemed lucky.
Back at the night market, we pass a club with three young pretty Taiwanese girls scantily clad in tight-fitting shorts and half tops dancing on the edge of the street. I do my best to avoid eye contact (as a married man with Butch and in-laws in tow) but the girls smile as they can sense my “inner struggle”.
DAY 8 – TEACHER DENG FOOT MASSAGE SPA – NIGHT MARKET — NIGHT
Bella’s parents head back to our residence and we begin our one hour hoof massage ($21.00 per person). We decide to have our hooves rubbed outdoors since it’s a nice night. Butch has only had one prior professional massage in his life and we quickly were reminded that “deep tissue” is not his thing. Bella asks his therapist to “lighten his touch”.
I’ll confess my therapist was strong as well and I normally like “deep tissue”. I’m sure the excessive walking and my jacked up feet (plantar fasciitis and a neuroma surgery) had something to do with it. A light mist comes down and a woman lowers an awning to cover the customers but purposely leaves the workers “out in the cold”.
The four of us react with surprise before the woman makes a humorous comment which elicits laughter from Bella, Cindy and the four therapists. “All in good fun” it appears. On the way back to the hotel I grab a fresh papaya milk drink from a street vendor at the night market.
DAY 9 – DRAGON GATE RESTAURANT – KENTING YOUTH ACTIVITY CTR – NIGHT
We eat a Taiwanese breakfast before checking out.
DAY 9 – NISSAN VAN – MORNING
As we leave town we spot a guy driving a motorized morph of a wheelchair and a scooter. The wheelchair is on the right side and the scooter is on the left. It has the big wheelchair wheels and smaller scooter wheels toward the front.
DAY 9 – “FLAMING FIELD” — HENGCHUN – MORNING
Dad parks the car near what appears to be a wooden lookout deck. We walk across the deck, down some stairs and stop when the path splits in two directions. We go left and come upon a small field of rocks. The rocks cover a pile of mud that can be seen bubbling due to a natural geothermal heat emitted from deep below. Occasional small flames are visible bursting out from underneath. There is a friendly toothless man who has tan and leathery skin and a dog in tow. He is cooking sweet potatoes wrapped in aluminum-foil in the rocks. Yes, my friends, you can get food nearly anywhere in Taiwan.
DAY 9 – NISSAN VAN – MORNING
We’re back in the van and headed for Kaohsiung.
DAY 9 – ZUOYING TRAIN STATION — KAOHSIUNG – DAY
I take a picture of a funny “kiss and ride” sign outside while dad turns in our rental van.
Zuoying Train Station: Kiss & Ride Sign
DAY 9 – ZUOYING TRAIN STATION — KAOHSIUNG – DAY
We hang out in the station eating the sweet potatoes baked by the friendly toothless man from the flaming field.
Captain America: Proper Defecation
DAY 9 – TAIWAN HIGH SPEED RAIL CAR – DAY
The accommodations inside are similar to the regular train but the seats are slightly more ergonomic, the legroom is better and the bathrooms are bigger. Also, there are food vending machines near the bathroom area. Yes, my friends you can get food nearly anywhere in Taiwan. The train takes a few minutes to get plugging along but soon you feel the smoother ride and velocity difference from the regular train.
DAY 9 – TAIPEI RAILWAY STATION – DAY
Bella and I buy three dozen Shan Mai taro mochi cakes. The automatic door opens as we exit the station and the weather has clearly gotten even colder since we departed. The wind is strong and it is raining. Quite a contrast from the warm, sunny tropical south we just came from. Butch, Bella and I take a cab back to the Howard Hotel.
DAY 9 – HOWARD HOTEL – DAY
We check in, get our suitcases out of storage and we head to our rooms. Then, we head to Ximending to get a snack and do some shopping for watches.
DAY 9 – STREETS – XIMENDING – AFTERNOON
I buy Butch a chrome watch with a blue face. He needed a watch that at least appeared fancy enough to accessorize the new showy money clip we got him for Christmas. Sorry Pops but the sports watch only accessorizes with a Velcro wallet. I photograph a sign of a penis pastry which has creamy custard inside.
Delicious Pastry Anyone?
DAY 9 – JI GUANG DELICIOUS FRIED CHICKEN – XIMENDING — AFTERNOON
I pick up a passable cheese roll at a bakery while Butch and Bella stop at Ji Guang Delicious Fried Chicken (P: 04-23958081) for some fried chicken pieces and fried mushrooms. Both are quite tasty.
DAY 9 – DANTE COFFEE SHOP – XIMENDING – EVENING
We stop for coffee, milk tea and hot chocolate at Dante Coffee Shop (P: 02-2370-0990. W: dante.com.tw). We relax on a comfy couch for a while before heading to catch a bus to dinner with Bella’s family, aunt, uncle and cousins.
DAY 9 – BUS – TAIPEI – EVENING
We traverse to dinner. Fortunately Dale Unser Junior is not our bus driver tonight.
DAY 9 – LIU-CHU RESTAURANT – EVENING
The Liu-Chu Restaurant (P: 02-2703-5468) is new to the three of us. Bella’s cousins who played musical instruments at our wedding reception in 2008 are here. Their father is a painter (artist).
Liu-Chu Restaurant: Bella’s Cousins
Liu-Chu Restaurant: Tomato Scrambled Eggs
We eat a variety of dishes including:
Salt fried calamari; tomato and pepper scrambled eggs; spicy bean curd; sautéed pork; fried fish pieces; fried lettuce; green veggie soup; chicken soup; honey walnut shrimp (they may have ordered this for the whiteys); pea sprout veggie; red bean soup dessert.
Butch acknowledges to the table that he doesn’t think he’s had a better fried calamari…and being full-blooded Italian, he’s had a few winners in his life.
DAY 9 – TOYOTA VIOS SEDAN — NIGHT
We drive to a nearby grocery store where they sell nearly everything except pianos and cars. Yes, scooters are sold here.
DAY 9 — RT-MART GROCERY – NIGHT
Bella shops for items she can’t find in the states while Butch and I peruse the aisles for fun. This store is good sized for a major city but probably not as big as a Wal-Mart.
DAY 9 – TOYOTA VIOS SEDAN — NIGHT
Her dad drops us off at our hotel.
DAY 10 – GARDEN CAFÉ – HOWARD HOTEL – MORNING
We have a quick breakfast before checking out. The café has the most whiteys I’ve seen since we’ve been here. Given the large number of young females I’m guessing they’re here on some sort of college or organized group trip. We place our luggage back in the hotel’s storage.
DAY 10 – TOYOTA VIOS SEDAN — MORNING
Bella’s mom and dad take us to the National Palace Museum while Bella finishes up some last minute socializing and shopping.
DAY 10 — THP CENTER – ZHONGZHENG DISTRICT — MORNING
Bella’s dad drops us off for last-minute souvenir shopping.
DAY 10 – SHILIN CHIANG KAI SHEK RESIDENCE – MORNING
We arrive at the Shilin Chiang Kai Shek Official Residence (A: No. 60, Fulin Road, Shilin District, Taipei, Taiwan. P: 886-2-2881-2512). We spend a brief time perusing the grounds, checking out his wife’s Cadillac and seeing the exterior of the house. Reservations are required to view the home so we head to the Palace Museum. I take a photograph of a moat that leads from the house. A Chinese tour guide stated that it was designed in case Chiang Kai Shek needed to escape at a moment’s notice.
Chiang Kai Shek Residence: Moat
DAY 10 – NATIONAL PALACE MUSEUM – DAY
We meet a friend of Bella’s parents who works as a volunteer at the National Palace Museum (A: No. 221, Sec. 2, Zhishan Road, Shilin District, Taipei City, 1143, Taiwan. P: 886-2-2881-2021. W: http://www.npm.gov.tw/en/home.htm).
National Palace Museum: Butch
DAY 10 – SAN-HIS T’ANG TEAHOUSE – NAT’L PALACE MUSEUM — DAY
We have lunch at the San-His T’ang Teahouse (P: 886-2-28812021, x2330). We eat a variety of gyoza, pork soup dumplings, spicy beef noodle soup or fried caramelized spicy beef noodles. In addition, we drink oolong tea and eat some Cantonese style pine nut and berry cakes. The cakes were yellow colored, soft, delicate, moderately sweet and delicious.
DAY 10 – NATIONAL PALACE MUSEUM – DAY
Bella’s parents insisted we have an English speaking tour guide. It works out well as we don’t have to read every tag at each exhibit and we can target the key pieces. Ironically, our guide attended college at UCLA in the 80s’. Of course Butch has to jokingly mention that Bella earned her doctorate from USC. We see these unreal pieces made of wood with the tiniest of details (i.e. tiny people, tiny animals, tiny houses, etc.). Unfortunately, picture taking isn’t allowed so I won’t bother to try and describe how amazing these were.
DAY 10 – NATIONAL PALACE MUSEUM – GIFT STORE – AFTERNOON
I buy a couple of souvenirs.
DAY 10 – CAFÉ – NATIONAL PALACE MUSEUM – AFTERNOON
I order a blueberry panna cotta and Bella’s mom drinks hot kumquat tea (delicious!). The tea has a great citrus smell and the taste has a perfect level of sweetness.
DAY 10 – TOYOTA VIOS SEDAN — AFTERNOON
Bella’s dad drives us back to the city apartment where we eat fruit and drink 3 in 1 coffee (coffee, powdered cream, sugar in one packet). The balcony slider is open and I think it is colder inside than outside as the thermometer reads 60 degrees.
DAY 10 – TSENG CITY APARTMENT – DAAN DISTRICT — EVENING
Bella and Cindy arrive home and the family walks to an area with fancy shops and restaurants. There are lots of trendy first floor businesses with housing above them. This area reminds me of hip New York City neighborhoods.
DAY 10 –SIT FUN RESTAURANT – EVENING
This modern nicely decorated restaurant serves traditional Taiwanese food. That being said I must clarify that while the Taiwanese deem “function more important than form” it is clear from seeing various retail stores and restaurants that many still deem form pretty important.
The volunteer friend from the museum told Bella’s parents they needed to take us out for authentic Taiwanese food on our final night. She said we’ve had too much Cantonese and Shaghainese food over the past few days. Our dishes tonight included items such as: pumpkin tofu stew, salt and pepper fried squid, pork, green veggie, etc. The food really tastes good.
DAY 10 – STREETS – TAIPEI — NIGHT
We walk back to the city apartment.
DAY 10 – TSENG CITY APARTMENT – DAAN DISTRICT – NIGHT
We grab our backpacks and leave for our hotel.
DAY 10 – TOYOTA VIOS SEDAN — NIGHT
Bella’s parents drive us to our hotel to pick up the rest of our luggage.
DAY 10 – HOWARD HOTEL – NIGHT
We load our luggage into the cars.
DAY 10 – NISSAN LIVINA CUV — NIGHT
Cindy drives Bella and me to the airport. Butch drives with her parents.
DAY 10 — TAOYUAN INT’L AIRPORT – TAOYUAN, TAIWAN – NIGHT
We check in before hanging out with the family at a Russian owned ice cream establishment. After eating and hanging out Bella’s family walks us to the security check where we say thank you and good-bye.
DAY 10 – EVA AIR – NIGHT
I watch a few movies before taking a snore. The airline food is pretty good but not as good as the Japanese airline we took back in 2009. About eleven and a half hours later we’re back in LA.
DAY 10 – EASY-PARK SHUTTLE — NIGHT
The Easy-Park shuttle takes us back to the Elf’s car.
DAY 10 – BELLA’S TOYOTA RAV4 – NIGHT
The Elf drives us back to South OC.
DAY 10 – OUR APARTMENT — NIGHT
A power un-packing job and it’s time to snore. I can’t believe I’m working tomorrow. A one-day work week prior to the weekend seemed like a grand idea…until now.
“Anyplace worth its salt has a ‘parking problem’”. — James Castle
David J. Evangelisti, II 