Day 3 was the 'tour' package that we had booked with the agency when we planned our trip. The 'tour' was originally scheduled on day 2, but it was rescheduled by the tour guide as there was a 'bigger' group on Sunday. Such a pity though, as Saturday had much better weather. It was drizzling most of Sunday, and the weather was really not condusive to taking photos.
First stop, The CKS memorial to see the opening of the gates and mounting of the guard. We almost missed this because the other couple on the tour were 20 minutes late for their pickup (I REALLY HATE GOING ON TOUR GROUPS WHERE YOU HAVE TO DEPEND ON INCONSIDERATE STRANGERS)
The Guard Mounting ceremony was so-so. Short and sweet, with a couple of twirls of the rifle and a little fancy footwork. Considering they do this everyday, they didn't seem as polished as I would have expected. Then again, the fancy rifle drills don't really impress me that much.
Next stop was to this 'Aboriginal' museum. Turns out, the actual location was under repair from the last earthquake, so they used this basement hall instead. It was a sham to sell stuff. Uber expensive stuff. I would have probably bought something if it just weren't so goddamned expensive. A bag of herbs or a bottle of Royal Jelly cost more than my entire planned budget for the trip. No way could I afford it. They also sold deer fetuses. Yup, where's Peta when you need them.
We need a few of these signs on our walkways. Especially in Mandarin.
After getting stuck in traffic for about 40minutes (there was some Taipei marathon going on), we got to YehLiu. This is some tourist spot where the sea has eroded the rocks to form fantastical shapes. It was quite interesting as the different densities of the rock formations caused the erosion to happen at different rates, creating the unique shapes.
Opposite the geopark was the seaworld. We did not go in, but it looked mightily rundown.
The 'mushroom' formation.
'Warning! Do not Cross'
Sea Candles
The Queen's Head
The Fairy's slipper
The Pig's snout
The Clenched Fist
After Yehliu, we were brought to another tourist destination, JiuFen (nine parts), a gold mining town outside Taipei. Lunch was taken here at a famous fishball soup place. 'Look at the size of them fish balls. Must have been mighty big fish'
This was one of my favourite dishes in Taiwan, stewed beef rice and giant fishballs. They use a japanese style short-grain rice which I like and then pour a ladle full of stewed minced beef on top, served with a bowl of giant fishballs and soup.
By this time, it was pouring. And there was no shelter. You have shophouses on the left and right with a narrow uncovered passageway in-between. In the rain, this uncovered passageway becomes umbrella city. People with no sense of space shouldn't be allowed to use umbrellas. That's how eyes get poked out.
Grilled mushrooms. This was incredible. Supremely delicious.
Those are potatoes. There's a machine that strips it down into one twirly piece, then its deep fried. Kinda like one immensely long crisp. I didn't try it, but it looked too good not to take a photo.
More Giant Fishballs.
The Martyrs Memorial. Another tourist stop. This time, the changing of the guard was more elaborate and also longer than the CKS one. The guards come out of the guard room, march down this long courtyard, twirling their rifles as they go, and replace the guard inside the memorial. Those brown lines you see on the ground, are the boot marks of thousands of soldiers who have performed this ceremony over the last several years. It was difficult to photograph as there was a swarm of mad tourists following the procession up and down the courtyard.
Another gratuitous Flower photo. 2nd shot is the macro taken with the extension lens.
Pretty flowers lining the courtyard.
That's the guard outside the shrine. After the guards inside the shrine are changed, the procession marches out to replace this set of guards. All three armed services take part in the 'protection' of the shrine, taking turns hourly to perform guard duty.
Signboard outside the Martyr's shrine. I can't read it.
More pretty flowers. This time outside the 'Hot Spring' resort that we were scheduled to visit.
I have no clue as to the name of the place, but we were brought to a Hot Spring resort to get in a soak. According to the tour guide, this place had particularly good water as it was directly downhill from the volcano. The water was sulfurous and chokeful of minerals.
Back to Shihlin market for dinner. This time, we had to have the steak. It had looked so tempting (and smelled so good) on the first day, but we were too full to eat. Now, we had our chance. I only wish I could have gone back to have more. It was wonderful, totally reminding me of the chinese-style beef steaks I had growing up during family dinners. oh well, something to look forward to when I come back to Taiwan.
First stop, The CKS memorial to see the opening of the gates and mounting of the guard. We almost missed this because the other couple on the tour were 20 minutes late for their pickup (I REALLY HATE GOING ON TOUR GROUPS WHERE YOU HAVE TO DEPEND ON INCONSIDERATE STRANGERS)
The Guard Mounting ceremony was so-so. Short and sweet, with a couple of twirls of the rifle and a little fancy footwork. Considering they do this everyday, they didn't seem as polished as I would have expected. Then again, the fancy rifle drills don't really impress me that much.
Next stop was to this 'Aboriginal' museum. Turns out, the actual location was under repair from the last earthquake, so they used this basement hall instead. It was a sham to sell stuff. Uber expensive stuff. I would have probably bought something if it just weren't so goddamned expensive. A bag of herbs or a bottle of Royal Jelly cost more than my entire planned budget for the trip. No way could I afford it. They also sold deer fetuses. Yup, where's Peta when you need them.
We need a few of these signs on our walkways. Especially in Mandarin.
After getting stuck in traffic for about 40minutes (there was some Taipei marathon going on), we got to YehLiu. This is some tourist spot where the sea has eroded the rocks to form fantastical shapes. It was quite interesting as the different densities of the rock formations caused the erosion to happen at different rates, creating the unique shapes.
Opposite the geopark was the seaworld. We did not go in, but it looked mightily rundown.
The 'mushroom' formation.
'Warning! Do not Cross'
Sea Candles
The Queen's Head
The Fairy's slipper
The Pig's snout
The Clenched Fist
After Yehliu, we were brought to another tourist destination, JiuFen (nine parts), a gold mining town outside Taipei. Lunch was taken here at a famous fishball soup place. 'Look at the size of them fish balls. Must have been mighty big fish'
This was one of my favourite dishes in Taiwan, stewed beef rice and giant fishballs. They use a japanese style short-grain rice which I like and then pour a ladle full of stewed minced beef on top, served with a bowl of giant fishballs and soup.
By this time, it was pouring. And there was no shelter. You have shophouses on the left and right with a narrow uncovered passageway in-between. In the rain, this uncovered passageway becomes umbrella city. People with no sense of space shouldn't be allowed to use umbrellas. That's how eyes get poked out.
Grilled mushrooms. This was incredible. Supremely delicious.
Those are potatoes. There's a machine that strips it down into one twirly piece, then its deep fried. Kinda like one immensely long crisp. I didn't try it, but it looked too good not to take a photo.
More Giant Fishballs.
The Martyrs Memorial. Another tourist stop. This time, the changing of the guard was more elaborate and also longer than the CKS one. The guards come out of the guard room, march down this long courtyard, twirling their rifles as they go, and replace the guard inside the memorial. Those brown lines you see on the ground, are the boot marks of thousands of soldiers who have performed this ceremony over the last several years. It was difficult to photograph as there was a swarm of mad tourists following the procession up and down the courtyard.
Another gratuitous Flower photo. 2nd shot is the macro taken with the extension lens.
Pretty flowers lining the courtyard.
That's the guard outside the shrine. After the guards inside the shrine are changed, the procession marches out to replace this set of guards. All three armed services take part in the 'protection' of the shrine, taking turns hourly to perform guard duty.
Signboard outside the Martyr's shrine. I can't read it.
More pretty flowers. This time outside the 'Hot Spring' resort that we were scheduled to visit.
I have no clue as to the name of the place, but we were brought to a Hot Spring resort to get in a soak. According to the tour guide, this place had particularly good water as it was directly downhill from the volcano. The water was sulfurous and chokeful of minerals.
Back to Shihlin market for dinner. This time, we had to have the steak. It had looked so tempting (and smelled so good) on the first day, but we were too full to eat. Now, we had our chance. I only wish I could have gone back to have more. It was wonderful, totally reminding me of the chinese-style beef steaks I had growing up during family dinners. oh well, something to look forward to when I come back to Taiwan.
