Reached Taipei and after checking, we proceed to Miramar Entertainment and Shopping Complex > it houses the biggest Ferris Wheel but we did not get a ride on it coz we were starving and can't wait to eat!! After lunch, we browsed ard the counters and shops in the complex. Hmm... Taiwan has fabulous shopping! Many varieties, many house brands and of coz, lotsa stuff! I will write more about shopping in a separate blog later :)
Some pics of us at Miramar, in front of the gigantic Ferris Wheel (pardon our sleepy faces, we were tired after the early flight and hungry too...*growl growl*):
We proceed to Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall and the compound is huge, with lotsa flowers in the front garden. Of coz..we had to take pics there! Esp Mom, who is very fascinated with flowers!! :)
Next, we were in time for the guard-changing ceremony at Marty's Shrine and took pics with the two guards outside the shrine. These 2 guards stood very still and straight, no movement, even with sweat dripping off their foreheads, they cannot move. We are allowed to take pics with them, anything > except to touch them! There is a bodyguard ard them, who will stop anyone who tries to touch them, and to help them wipe their sweat, arrange their rifles, belts etc. Haha :) Which guard looks better?
That night, we went to Shihlin Night Market, a very famous night bazaar and a must-go tourist destination, even locals flock there to eat and shop for bargains. The bazaar is divided into two portions > food and clothes/accessories. Of coz we had to go to the food area first!
The chicken chop there is famous (see above) coz it comes in big pieces (abt A4 size), and its UNCUT. The queue is never ending, and i did a tally while i was there: the boss can sell 6-8 pieces of chicken per min. Hmm...Each piece is NT45 (~S$2.20), so he can earn at least S$15 in a min! Hmmm... Too bad i never try it, coz its too huge for me to finish alone! The fruits are great too and the most popular drink there is white bitter gourd juice (mixed with honey and if u like, pineapple or apple). Its cooling and at first taste, sweet. However when you drink it, it leaves a bitter taste in your mouth. Very indescrible, and I love it. A plus is that your pimples will clear if u drink coz its so cooling!
The shopping section is fantastic, but we din get to shop ard the open area, coz our group has many little kids and the guide feared that they would get lost in the open market (wat a lazy guide, coz he cant be bothered to look when they do get lost). He gave us only 45 mins to shop, but being a competent and smart shopper, i managed to get a pair of shoes, two pairs earrings and some nail polish from there! Wow! Start of my spree!
We were tired after an early flight and a long day, hence back to the hotel to sleep...it was said that the hotel/rooms have good view of the Danshui river..being pitch dark certainly does not help, hence we fell asleep w/o admiring any scenery...zzzzz....
