5th Day Taiwan

 This is our 5th and last day of our Taiwan package tour by Parlo of KL and Polo of Taiwan

 

 We woke up late and I gobbled my brekkie and I have never ate so little in my life!!

I always have a hearty hotel breakfast!

After 3 hours drive we arrive at this bakery house: Vigor Kobo

 Street Address:
YongKang Venue: No.2, Lane 13, Yongkang St., Daan Dist., Taipei

 jam packed with Chinese tourists and you can buy all sorts of pastries here, the most popular being their pineapple cakes.

 lots of tasting before you buy...so many varieties, I do not know what to choose

 our group doing tasting and choosing and they bought a whole box of goodies

 next up is lunch at this place for a heavy lunch!!!

This must be "Ah Mei's Restaurant" the famous Taiwanese Alishan aborigine singer Ah Mei

 so much food, plus individual bowls of egg noodles

 

 cold duck and sausages

 rice crisps cereal salt baked prawns

 fish rolls

 yummy egg noodles

 fragrant rice with minced pork

the most delicious lala soup that only me and the other boy took

Next stop is MARTYRS' SHRINE

Martyr’s Shrine ~ to view an elaborate ceremony of changing guards hourly.

 We are now at Martyrs" Shrine, recreating our pose of 30 years ago!

hahaha!!! we were so young and so skinny!

  

so much has changed in 30 years

 

 and I don't mean just me, the scenery too!

 

The Martyrs’ Shrine is situated in Taipei City near The Grand Hotel. The shrine was built in 1969 to commemorate the brave soldiers and heroes who sacrificed their lives for the country. The Martyrs’ Shrine is a solemn tourist spot that features traditional Chinese architectures and noble events. .“Remembrance” is a crucial part of Chinese culture. Thus, every year the president of Taiwan will visit The Martyr’s Shrine accompanied by national officials to pay their respects during spring and autumn. Another special event at The Martyr’s Shrine is the connection ceremony performed by honored guards during the first five to ten minutes of every hour. Tourists from all around the world wait at the front of The Martyr’s Shrine during the beginning of every hour to see this noble performance. For some people, visiting The Martyr’s Shrine was one of the major reasons of their Taiwan travel.
 It is best to visit the shrine so as to catch the changing of the guard. This ceremony occurs on the hour between 9:00 in the morning and 4:00 in the afternoon. There is no fee for visitors.

 changing of the guards ceremony

 

Soldiers stand guard in front ofThe Martyr’s Shrine stand as still as wax statues, no matter how you try to tease them or mock them, their serious facial expression remain unchanged

BUT I SAW HIM LOOKING AT ME TAKING HIS PHOTO! HAHAHA!

 

 

 Golden Garden Hotel

 Our next exciting destination was the IOI Tower

 and shopping Mall

 and 101 Shopping Mall (Observatory on own expenses)
~ enjoy your shopping in the tallest building in the world.
The building was officially classified as the world's tallest in 2004, and remained such until the opening of Burj Khalifa in Dubai in 2010. Taiwan’s premier international shopping destination, featuring luxury goods, fashions, and fine dining.

 
In the evening, tour to Raohe Street Tourist Night Market ~ great place of local handicrafts, clothes, toys, tasty local snacks and souvenirs.
However, with the development of transportation, Raohe Street has become a secondary road and the business has also declined. Therefore, the government set up a night market in 1987. It is the second tourist night market in Taipei. Various products and local foods are sold in the night market.
Raohe Street Tourist Night Market is 600 meters in length, near Shongshan Railway Station. There is a decorated-archway in front of the entrance. There are various shops and stands in the night market. It presents Taiwanese characteristic and is definitely a place worth visiting.

 Raohe Street Tourist Night Market is located on Raohe Street, Taipei, 600 meters in length. This area was called Xikou and was a business center because of its location and transportation.

 

 lots of exotic food at the night market

We have finally reached Taipei

and we have come full circle

We will next transfer to Just Sleep NTC for our Rotary Club events.