Taipei Zoo

On our last day we visited Taipei Zoo, smaller than Toronto’s Metro Zoo but the largest zoo in Asia. Too bad the Maokong Gondola is closed but the zoo is still worth a visit. We finished the day with dinner at the famous Din Tai Fung, more expensive and with long lineups, but wanted to see if they live up to their reputation. It’s pretty good, but I still prefer Cantonese over northern food.

There are many beautiful places to visit in Taiwan, such as Taroko Gorge National Park in the east, Kenting National Park in the south etc., but that would have to await another time.

Taipei Zoo

Resting on a tortoise

Mimicking a penguin

Fake cage

That’s as close as we can get to a wood duck before it flew away

Hippo

???

Noah’s Ark

Xiaolongbao at famed Din Tai Fung

Spicy beef noodle

Two Memorial Halls

We visited two memorial halls, Sun Yat-sen, Father of the Nation, and Chiang Kai-shek, former president of Republic of China. Of the two, the latter is a better known landmark sitting in Liberty Square together with the National Concert Hall and the National Theater. Sun overthrew the Qing Dynasty and introduced democracy to China. Chiang fought the regional warlords, the Japanese during WWII, and then the Chinese Communist Party.

Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall

West entrance mural

Statute in main hall

Statute in west garden

National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

Statute in main hall

National Theatre

Yilan

Our friends took us to Yilan (宜蘭) on the Taiwan’s north-east coast. En-route we visited Gold Waterfall, so-called because the minerals in the water gleamed in the sunlight. We stopped at Nanya Peculiar Stones, so named because wind and water eroded the sandstone to peculiar shapes of rich color. Next we passed by Nanyang Museum, then visited National Center for Traditional Arts, which was quite interesting with shops and displays of the old way of life, plus music performance. The day ended with a sumptuous 9-course Japanese fusion meal for about C$35/person, taxes and tips included. Beautiful scenery, enjoyable company, nice weather, good food – what more can one ask for? Thank God for His goodness!

Gold Waterfall near Gold Ecological Park

Nanya Peculiar Stones

Without our friends as guides we would have missed a very scenic place.

Rocks with rich color along the coast

The golden hue is due to the iron within the rock oxidizing – fool’s gold, not real gold.

Nanyang Museum exhibits Yilan’s history

National Center for Traditional Arts

Sweet tooth? (NT$100=C$4)

Making dragon whiskers candy