LET'S UNCOVER WHAT'S AT THE NATIONAL SHIANG KAI SHEK MEMORIAL HALL

Location: No. 21號, Zhongshan South Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan

The National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is a famous national monument, landmark and tourist attraction erected in memory of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, former President of the Republic of China. It is located in Zhongzheng District, Taipei, Republic of China. This memorial edifice was opened in 1980 with Yang Cho-cheng as the architect. Its gates closes at 6:00 P.M. (Wikipedia)

There is no entrance fee to access this memorial hall.







Its main gate

The interior of the main hall











Exhibit of flower arrangement display

Exhibit of flower arrangement display

EXPLORING XIMENDING BY FOOT ON TAIWAN TRIP THIRD DAY

Location: Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan

Ximending at night

We woke up in the morning disappointed because there was rain and it was pouring hard. With this, we did not obliged ourselves to wake up early. We walked to a 7-Eleven four our breakfast just two blocks away from our accommodation. This is where we usually take our breakfast since early in the early in the morning, no establishments are open where we can buy food.

The Nishi Honganji Square

Despite of heavy rains where we just equipped ourselves with locally bought rain coats at NT$10 or P20.41, we walked to Carrefour for shopping, but along the way, we happened to pass by the Nishi Honganji Square. I am reminded when I was still working in Qatar where we also shop on its Carrefour Department Store and Supermarket.

Waiting for the rain to subside

Since it was really raining, we stayed longer at the Nishi Honganji while we were alternating taking pictures. This is just five blocks away from our accommodation.

Putting on our raincoats ready to leave Carrefour

We were obviously soaked in rain when we arrived at the Carryfour. However, my shoppaholic friends are unstoppable to have their shopping and they were equipped with ecobags because wherever you buy in Taipei, they would not give you a bag. You will pay for the small bag at NT$4 or NT$5 for the bigger one.

Approaching Carrefour

The following are the pictures I have captured while were inside Carrefour. I only bought chocolates for "pasalubong" and no more no less. But really, I find their items cheaper compared when you buy back home in the Philippines.











Hungry after three hours of shopping

Though I did not go on extensive shopping, I also felt hungry because by the time my companions finished their shopping, it was already lunch time and so we decided to go to the fourth level of Carrefour to look for a good restaurant to eat.

The restaurant where we decided to have our lunch

It is a funny thing that some establishments when asked about their English name, the staff or even the manager cannot translate their Chinese name to English. This is the reason whey I just posted the name of the restaurant we dined in for lunch.

The Sunmerry Bakery

Sunmerry Bakery sells Taiwanese traditional pineapple short cakes individually packed or also in boxes with different flavors which are good as giveaways back home or "pasalubong". The staff gave us something to taste on so that we will know how delicious their product was. My companions bought some so that they can bring them back to the Philippines to give to their families and friends. Surprisingly, these products are not expensive.

The Sunmerry Bakery products on display

After buying some items in Sunmerry Bakery, we went back to our accommodation to unload our shopped items and be ready for the afternoon's trip at the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and the Taipei 101 where both has separate posts.

In the evening, I went to the Red House. I noticed that during the evening, it is always open and so I went their alone while my companions where busy shopping some items in the shopping row of Ximending.

As a background, the Red House was constructed in 1908 by Japanese architect Kondo Juro, which was the first government-built public market in Taiwan and also the most well-preserved Class III historic building in the nation. It consists of "Bagua" shaped Octagonal Display Hall as the grand entrance for it's meaning - people visiting from all around the world, a characteristic Cruciform Building as main construction and adjacent South and North squares. (Source: The Red House brochure)

Something that you will see inside the Red House

Inside The Red House you will find he perfect place for a relaxing teatime "The Red House Tea Shop", a Taiwanese style craft shop with goodies selected from all over Taiwan "The Red House Select Shop", "Creative Boutique" is an exhibiting and sales space which is also dedicated to promoting small business in Cultural and Creative Industry and a professionally equipped performance space with retro and elegant decoration. The Red House also has events promoting different cultural experiences such as regular-scheduled guided tours, creative seminars, craft workshops, weekend handicraft market, theatrical performances from time to time and special exhibition in Central Display Area. (Source: The Red House brochure)

The Red House Reception Area

The following are my captured photos of what you will inside the Red House.

















The Art Exhibit Area









The Theater

The Cityscape from The Red House door

The Red House has been through few functions, shifted from public market, storytelling saloon, cinema, to a theater. More than a decade has passed since 2007 when Department of Cultural Affairs entrusted Taipei Culture Foundation to manage The Red House as a platform to promote Cultural and Creative Industry in the goal of reviving Ximending's community. After gathering years of cultural and creative energies, The Red House is now considered as the most iconic location of Cultural and Creative Industry in not only Taipei, but all around Taiwan.(Source: The Red House brochure)

WATER FALLS TRIP AND LANTERN FLYING IN SHIFEN OF NEW TAIPEI CITY

Location: Pingxi District, New Taipei City, Taiwan

Shifen tour was the highlight of my day tour. I was completely in commune with nature when we had a delightful and leisurely walk to the water falls. In contrast with the water falls in the Philippines where I am a citizen of, this water falls is quite accessible. How could you expect an exquisite beauty of nature just 10-15 minutes walk along a verdant trail.

The magical Shifen Water Falls

Shifen Water Falls is just 40 minutes drive from Jiufen, our second destination of the day tour. We arrived there at 1:50 P.M. We were only given 50 minutes to enjoy the water falls coming from the bus parking lot. The water falls has a total height of 20 meters and 40 meters in width, making it the broadest waterfall in Taiwan where on the upper reaches of the Keelung River.

Passing thru this bridge of typical Chinese design

It is a trek-worth moment going to the water falls for you will pass through a modern cafe, then the bridge as shown above and a hanging bridge. Everything looks cool since it has varied flora along our way.

The hanging bridge

Cross the hanging bridge reminds me of the hanging bridges I normally cross wayback home in the Philippines. Though, it has a very high elevation, one may not be scared because it is quite secured and stable not to mention that is quite scenic.

A hanging bridge of very high elevation

The hanging bridge may not be PWD-friendly because on its end is a very stiff stairs going down to the water falls park. Those who are using wheelchair are not advisable to try going to the falls.

The park right after descending the hanging bridge

There is so much green as you step at the water falls park. It is quite relaxing to be there. The place was really developed to blend with the natural beauty of the place.

They look real which blends with nature

I was very excited to see the water falls but I can not resist to roam around first and feast on what its green park has to offer. They are worth capturing sights.

A place to offer something in Chinese religion

Still a part of place to worship for Chinese

Still a part of the falls park

The Upper Observatory Deck

From the Upper Observatory Deck, one will be able to capture the aerial view of the water falls. But one may opt to stay below this deck to capture another angle of the water falls.

The angle shot from the Observatory Deck

The trail going to the midpoint and lower point observatory deck

Some tourists are contented to capture photos at the Upper Observatory Deck but there is a better angle to get a better angle of the water falls.

Taken from the Midpoint Observatory Deck

Taken from the Lower Observatory Deck

After taking photos from the midpoint and lower Observatory Decks, I decided to go back. What followed then was treating myself with the countless snacks and refreshments in the park.

What follows next are pictures of are food stalls within the park. You will surely feast on a variety of food, snacks and refreshments that you will see around.

Shifen Lantern Flying

As we boarded the bus coming from Shifen Water Falls, we just drove back for around 3 minutes on a crossing leading to Shifen Old Road where the rail station of Pingxi is located. So, it is really very accessible. From the bus stop, we just walked uphill towards the railroad where we bought lantern.

The crossing where we disembarked the bus

Why is Pingxi (in Shifen) Lantern Festival celebrated?

In 1990 the Tourism Bureau devised a plan to hold an event that would help celebrate local folklore. They decided to hold a major lantern festival to coincide with age-old customs such as the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival and the Yanshui Fireworks Festival.

The scene we have seen when we arrived the railroad

We also bought our own lantern. One lantern costs NT$200 or about P408, but five of us had contributed NT$40 for one lantern. Each lantern has four sides with different colors. Each color has its own meaning representing a different new year’s wish for yourself. Each color costs NT$50. The following are the meaning of the color it represents:

*Red: Good fortune
*Pink: Romance
< *Peach-red: Decisions and opportunities
*Orange: Money
*Yellow: Success in school and/or job
*White: Health
*Light Green: Growth
*Light Blue: Hoping something comes true
*Light Purple: Idealism

Writing our wishes in all sides of the lantern

Each of us five wrote our wishes in all four sides of the lantern but we did not following the meaning of colors. We were provided by Chinese ink pens. We did it by side. We put the lantern on the railroad grills while we were writing our wishes on it.

Alternating to write our wishes (Model: Louella Conde)

It took us time to finish writing our wishes on all four sides of the lantern. Each lantern has an assigned staff to assist us if we are done so that he will be the one to take photos and video when we are ready to fly the lantern.

Alternating to write our wishes (Model: Louella Conde)

At long last! We were done writing our wishes on our lantern. However, our assisting staff was busy assisting others. We can not proceed because he will be the one to light the lantern inside it.

The railroad was cleared upon the warning of the train arrival

We were almost ready together with the assisting staff when the warning signal of the train arrival sounded. The crowded railroad was suddenly cleared and the train rushed its way along the railroad.

And the balloon was finally launched!

Lantern flying may not be a part of my culture and tradition, but doing such sent me a sort of fulfillment along with some other nationalities who did the activity.

The last thing I did was to have this shot on the railroad

My expenses for this specific destination are as follows:

SN	Particulars	Amount
1.	Portion of the P1,060 Klook tour package as there are four destinations of this day tour	P530.00
2.	Snacks and refreshments	448.98
3.	Share in lantern flying	81.63
	TOTAL	P1,060.61

My expenses as summarized for the second day are as follows:

SN	Particulars	Amount
1.	Klook day tour booked package	P1,060.00
2.	Meals, Snacks and refreshments during the day tour	959.19
3.	Breakfast in 7-Eleven	181.63
4.	Share in 3-day accommodation for the second day	761.67
5.	Entrance fee at Yeuliu Geopark	163.27
6.	Share in lantern flying	81.63
7.	Dinner while at Ximending	448.98
8.	Bread for day tour	P102.04
9.	Bottled drinking water for dinner	57.14
10.	Share in Wi-Fi connection for the second day	22.40
	TOTAL	P3,837.95

NOTE: All amounts has been converted to peso currency.

HOW TO GET THERE

For Klook online booking for this day tour, use this link Klook Day Tour Booking for four destinations.

For those who wanted it to be a DIY trip to Jiufen, You can board from Taipei Main Station any northbound train except a Keelung-bound train to Ruifang (the express trains are called Tzechiang) where the single journey ticket costs NT$82 or about P167. Thus, the round trip train fare is NT$164 or P334. At Ruifang, transfer to the Pingxi line and ride that all the way to the end. Best is to buy a day pass for the separate Pingxi line, which costs NT$52 single journey or about P106.00. The Pingxi line can be quite crowded and you may have to stand – but try to look out the window as you go because you’ll cross some really beautiful scenery!