Taipei part2

We also had the opportunity to visit Longshan Temple the most famous of Taipei's temples. It was very lively, it bustled with worshippers and had a more spiritual feel than the other temples we had visited. 

front gate

zoom in of part of the roof

temple with gold Budha inside

offerings of food, for the monks, were put on tables in the courtyard 

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corner dragon on roof

We also visited 2 night markets. Taipei is famous for its night markets scattered around the city. Jammed with people nightly they are part carnival, part snaking, and part shopping, stalls include, Taiwan's food specialties, the latest in trendy clothing, and games of skill and chance. 

The Shilin Night Market 

Huaxi Night Market

an assortment of fish

I think pig snouts and hooves and other assorted parts

more fish and lots on noodles and broth

Taipei, Taiwan part 1

ME and I were in Taipei last weekend. We were very interested in seeing the National Palace Museum, widely regarded as the world's greatest collections of Chinese art. To make a very long story short during the Chinese Civil War, 1926-1950, the great treasures collected by the ancient emperors throughout the last 8000 years was crated up from the Palace Museum in the Forbidden City in Beijing and eventually shipped to Taipei for safe keeping. In 1960 funding for a building was received and in 1965 the museum was opened. It houses a collection of 693,507 pieces of ancient Chinese artifacts and artworks making it the largest in the world. Even though I have no pictures from the museum, ME and I spent most of the day walking around the museum with our headsets. It was very interesting. Here is a link to the museum,  http://www.npm.gov.tw/en/home.htm.

Several times throughout our stay in China, Chinese tourists coming in from the country have stopped ME and ask if they could pose with her for a picture. Outside the National Palace Museum she was once again stopped and asked for a picture.

ME being a good international ambassador.  

In late afternoon we visited Taipei 101. It is a 101 story building and was the tallest building in the world from 2004 to 2010. It has the fastest ascending elevator speed taking 37 seconds to the top at a speed of 1010 meters per minute. It was also awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for the tallest and largest green building in the world. Here are several links for more information.

 http://www.taipei-101.com.tw/index_en.htm click on "Tower" and then "Building Information" for more fun facts on the building. This is what Wikipedia says http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taipei_101 lots of interesting facts 

When arriving at the observation deck at the 98th floor you were given a telephone. There were 13 information points located around the edge of the deck which gave you information and history about the view you were looking at and a tidbit about the building, it was very well done.

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A walk in the park

One of the top 5 things to do while in Taipei is to go to Yangmingshan National Park. About a 45 minute bus/taxi ride from the center of town it gives you a good taste of what the rugged and remote areas of Taiwan island is like, craggy peaks, fluorescents fumaroles (sulfur gases) and hot springs plus wonderful views of the city and the ocean.

After taking 2 buses, I arrived at the Yangmingshan National Park Visitor Information Center only to find out that on the last Monday of every month the center closes for the day. My hopes of getting a map of the park and directions for a good walk was reduced to speaking with the few Chinese that also just arrived. Now when I say "speaking" what really happens is, a few hand signals, a little English, and some pointing in different directions. I did take a look at a map on display outside the center before I started off.

After "speaking" again with several groups of people I found a trail head with a sign, in Chinese and English that said, Mt. Qixing 2.4km. I'm thinking 1.5 miles that shouldn't be too bad. When I left Taipei the weather was overcast with very low clouds. When I arrived at the visitor information center I was in the clouds with a slight mist and a lite breeze. Not really a deterrent, I had packed my umbrella.

The trail was like walking on pavers, I walked through a low canopy of trees and it was fairly protected from the weather. The path raised very quickly, most of the time it was like walking up stairs, in some sections you would climb for hundreds of steps up. As I ascended the drops coming off the trees got bigger and more frequent and you could hear and feel the wind picking up as the trail become wet. Markers lined the trail every 1/2 km, so I had a good idea of my progress.

About 2/3rds of the way up I got out my umbrella. Within 300 meters from the top the low canopy gave way to tall grasses and the wind had increased in speed. The mist was very thick and the drizzle had turned to on and off again spells of rain. Being the glutton that I am and sooo close to the top I trudged on. Nearing the top I had become fully exposed to the elements. I had to close my umbrella because the wind had turned it inside out several times. Visibility at the top was about 20 feet.

There were several trails according to the map I had looked at coming off the top so I decided to venture down another trail that took me to a bus top. Unfortunately this trail had a different exposure and pretty much all the way down I was walking in tall grasses and high winds and without the use of my umbrella. I was completely soaked by the time I reached the bus stop. Plus there was no shelter to get out of the weather.

Instead of waiting for the bus, I started walking down the road now able to use my umbrella but at this point it really didn't matter. I put my thumb out to hitch a ride as cars passed. Either I looked way to wet to pick up or the Chinese did not understood what thumbing meant, several folks waved as they went by. Finally after 15 minutes an older Chinese couple stopped and picked me up. Again "speaking" with the couple I asked them to drop me off at either a bus or metro stop, or train station. I sat in the back seat of this nice car dropping on everything.

Once out of the park the rain and wind had stopped and it was just another over cast day. After a 20 minute ride winding through the hills of Taipei the nice couple dropped me off at the National Palace Museum which I had been to the day before, so I knew how to get back to the hotel. A 20 minute bus ride and 15 minute metro ride and a 10 minute walk landed back in our hotel room. I did a little research and found out I walked about 3-1/2 miles and 1664 ft of vertical.

This is a link about the park and some pictures/views that I never saw. http://english.ymsnp.gov.tw/index.php?option=com_content&view=featured&gp=0&Itemid=104

ME and I are currently on a 12 day business/sightseeing trip. We spent the first weekend in Bangkok, flew to Singapore on Wednesday, and Taipei on Saturday and will return to Shanghai next Wednesday. We have been sightseeing over the weekends and during the week ME has meetings with the regional managers and has plant visitations. When she is at work, I find my way around these wonderful cities and have ended up in some interesting places. 

Shanghai Urban Planning Museum

On another hot day this summer, Meredith and I went to the Shanghai Urban Planning Museum in People's Park. It is housed in a striking, modern, five store building made of Microlite glass and compliments the Grand Theatre also in the park. It is one of the world's largest showcases of urban development and is much more interesting than its dry name. The highlight of the exhibit is housed on the third floor where a giant model of what urban Shanghai will like in 2020. The display is a master plan that is full of skyscrapers and housing developments. The clear plastic models/buildings indicate buildings yet to be built.

 
Opened on 2000 this first of its kind exhibit, showcases the cities development, displaying the past, the present and the future. The theme is "City, Human, Environment and Development", and emphasizes the next 20 years of the city development planning. Well worth a visit when you are in the area.

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Shanghai Urban Planning Museum with city skyline  

does not capture the size of the model 

 Pudong on the left side of the river, Puxi on the right 

close up of Pudong and the finical center

Shanghai Ocean Aquarium

Earlier in the summer Meredith and I went to the Shanghai Ocean Aquarium. It was a hot afternoon so we decided to do an indoor activity. A 10 minute bus ride from our apartment, it is situated in the middle of the financial district. It is billed as the biggest and best aquarium in Asia, opening in 2002. It's state-of-the-art facilities boast 28 exhibits areas with more than 10,000 sea creatures from all continents. The centerpiece is the massive, 390 foot, glass-surround observation tunnel, that takes you through a coastal reef, open ocean, a kelp cove, and a coral reef.

At the entrance we had our picture taken doing our best Jimmy Buffett land shark impression  

We really did not know what to expect but after several hours of going through the guided walk, we thoroughly enjoyed our visit and was very impressed with all of the exhibits. Some of these creatures we have never seen up close. I would highly recommend a visit especially for kids.

There were several large tanks of jelly fish with interesting back ground lighting

Meredith with her creative eye took all the pictures

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Penguins in their refrigerated tank

The fabric market

One of the fun things to do when in Shanghai is to go to the South Bund Fabric Market. Three floors with hundreds of stalls claims to have Shanghai's best tailors and seamstresses all under one roof. You can wade through mountains of fabric and pick the perfect material to make your own fashion creation.

Shortly after we arrived we went on our first visit to the market. At first it was a little over whelming. A sales person at every stall was coaxing you to stop and take a look at what they have to offer. After walking through many of the aisles, on all three of the floors, we started to get more serious about looking at specific items. ME had a summer dress in mind, Meredith thought she might want one too, and I was talked into looking for a linen shirt. Each stall has garments either on manikins or hangers around the entrance and bolts upon bolts of material everywhere else. First you pick a stall, decide on the style of the garment, and then find the right material. Then after many rounds of haggling and walking away several time a price is determined. You are then measured every which way, pay a deposit  and come back next week for a final fitting, if needed any adjustments are made and off you walk very happy with your new piece of clothing.

What we found is that this can get very addicting. You are so pleased with your purchase, you are already at the market, why not create another item and see if you can get even a better price. I lost count of how many weeks in a row we went back to the fabric markets.

ME working hard at work

Meredith getting fitted

I do have to say, it is a lot of fun, and I really do not like shopping. So far I had the linen shirt made and several weeks later a summer suite. After many garments the lessons learned is, pick the best quality material and make sure every detail is reviewed. So for those of you who plan to visit start collecting pictures of the items you would like to have made or if you have a favorite item bring it with you. They can copy anything. 

The selection of collars and cuffs available when designing a shirt
  

This stall specializes in suits and dress shirts

We found all the people

We were in People's Park on a late Saturday afternoon and decided to walk to The Bund where we had dinner reservations. Billed as "the No.1 shopping street in China" we walked down the pedestrian street of Nanjing Road which goes from Peoples Park to The Bund. Over a 1/2 mile in length it is the home of hundreds of department stores, fashion and silk  boutiques, and old shops offering time-honored Chinese brands and specialty goods. It is considered the most popular shopping area in Shanghai and attracts a million people every day! The street is known for its historical architecture, the huge variety of commodities and the brilliant neon light night scene.

This is a sax musician playing to a jazz recording on the balcony of one of the department stores with people dancing below.

There is a tram car available for those wishing to ride the length of the road. It reminded me of Wildwood board walk.

It was a beautiful Saturday evening, as we exited the restaurant we found ourselves amongst the million Chinese. With the stunning Shanghai skyline in the background.

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