Day 2 consisted of a full day tour around the sites of Taipei. Like Hong Kong, daylight starts pretty early. It's bright and sunny by 6am, though it gets dark around 5.30pm.
Our guide for the day was this over-the-hill guy who went by the name of Xiao Lee. He was by no means xiao (small). Lao (old) Lee would have been far more apt, but this man is nothing like our Lao Lee lor! This man mumbled like Sylvester Stallone with a mouthful of marbles.
He informed the group that L-leh Wee (knowned to the rest of the world as LV) and Woochi (aka Gucci) was more expensive in Taiwan compared to Hong Kong on Singapore since import products required higher taxes.
He also nursed this spring-autumn infatuation with Kristabel throughout the tour, taking every chance to talk to her. RA in the making!
For the 1st stop, we went to visit Liberty Square, symbolizing freedom and democracy in Taiwan. Besides the Chiang Kai Shiek Memorial Hall, it is also made up of the National Theatre and the National Concert Hall. Often seen to host large scale events and protests (permits neccesary) due to the vast open nature of the square.
Next, we went to Martyr's Shrine to view the changing of the guards and read up on a little of Taiwan's history. Besides the solemn (and tightly synchronized) ceremonial changing of the guards, the shrine also houses the plaques of many fallen war heroes through Taiwan's quest for independence.
Check out the wildly traditional architecture evident in all the buildings and pagodas!
And of course everyone comes to see the guards!
One even looks like Wang Xi!
Next, the stupid tour guide brought us to Mao's Princess House in hope to earn some commission. A blardy pack of ready to drink Lingzhi tea costs SGD$120+. Each pack makes 30 cups, and you still have to add your own water. It didn't look remotely worth the amount of money they demanded.
They also tried to sell us Royal Jelly and this weird ground up carcass of a fawn. However hard they extolled the virtues of their wonderful traditional herbs and the beauty of their princess, I was not swayed simply because of the ridiculous pricetag that came with each product.
No amount of bullshit or brainwashing could make me part with my already measely budget! Waahaa.. and although I do think lingzhi is good, being happy is a much cheaper (if not the best) method of staying healthy.
We then proceeded to the National Palace Museum, the largest single collection of Chinese artifacts in any location in the world. The amazing array of jade, pottery, ivory carvings seemed to mock modern art with their ingenuity and beauty.
Pity they don't allow us to take pictures inside.
China's answer to the Playboy bunny-
The Lihong Mouseketeer
Our guide continued to rush and mumble through the displays. Sickening fella. Super rush on the stuff I want to see and super leech slow on all the potential blood sucking sites I never agreed upon.
That's the main reason why I never opt for full tours. A day tour is sufficient and the rest should be left to roam according to my own preference.
Lunch was included in this package and we had a steamboat cum korean BBQ with the rest of the people in the tour. We met a couple of policemen (newly weds) and 2 happily retired couples.
Next we went to Jiufen, the quaint old mining town perched on top of a hill. We had to eat the famous Lu Rou Fan and Fishball soup. This shop with the yellow signboard near the top is the most famous of them all. And their Lu Ruo Fan is just super amazing!
Enjoy the cool breeze and the teahouses if you have the time. Our blardy guide left us no time to sip tea! He's heng (lucky) these places are difficult to travel to, else I would have strangled him there and then.
And of course, take pictures of the magnificent view!
After which, the guide sent us to this Fengshui 'Master'. Again, a rouse to squeeze some comission from tourists. I had to waste my time listening to rubbish. I think Fengshui is common sense, like not buying a house facing the afternoon sun, but if you ask me to buy an idol, no matter how auspicious it is, that's just idol worship.
Weigh being rich in this lifetime or an eternity in hell; well, you do the math.
Then he sent us to a bakery to order traditional cakes from. I bought some pineapple cakes with egg yolk, though Hong Kong's Kee Wah bakery is FAR superior!
The local baking industry MUST buck up ok?!
And lastly, the guide sent us to a hot spring. It's something different lah, but clearly on a budget. Next time, I must source out a better bath house. Heeheehee..
A word of advice though, BRING YOUR OWN TOWEL, or end up paying SGD$12.50/pc like us. Goodness! So heart pain leh.
We ended our day with heavenly Mee Sua from Ah Zong (near the junction of Ximending Square), desserts from Meet Fresh and shaker fries from Mac. Yummy..
Yummy Ah Zong!
Go easy on the chilli, it's REALLY spicy, but load up on the vinegar!
Meet Fresh! Mua Chi + Ai Yu Jelly
