Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial

We visited the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial on a very hot afternoon.  There were some beautiful buildings in the complex.  Some of the pictures give you an idea of how brilliant the colors actually were when the light hit them just right.

 



 

This is the actually memorial of Chiang Kai-Shek, the first President of Taiwan. 

  
A look from the entrance to the memorial.

A soldier standing guard.  I have video of the changing of the guard and will try to find a way to put that up at another time. 

In the lower part of the building is a museum about Chiang Kai-Shek and the early part of Taiwan.  There was a huge map covering WWII that would light up to show where different events took place.   

I found it interesting to see the atomic bombs going off in Japan.

There were beautiful paintings around as well. 

A replica of the President's office. 

 

After, we met the family for dinner at a hot pot spot.  Basically, you each have a pot of boiling hot water in front of you and you cook your food in that and then eat it when it is ready. 

National Palace Museum

Today was our day to visit the National Palace Museum.  

 

We had to take a bus out to the place which was about 30 minutes away. 

The museum has artifacts from each ancient Chinese dynasty as well as some more modern pieces from ethnic groups today.  We weren't allowed to take any pictures inside, which is too bad.  That really was the only negative thing about the place.  Not many people will get a chance to go visit it, and you can't even share pictures with others.  I'm sure it was in part that the objects were very old and for security reasons.  It was incredible to see pieces from thousands of years ago and all very beautiful. 

The artifacts were taken by the democratic national government when they fled China to come to Taiwan at the time of the communist takeover in China.  Thankfully, they have stayed and now I got a chance to see them all.

While we were there Andy took me to a tea house on the top floor.  Very special. 

I told Andy this was my favorite place to visit on the trip because it thought the hills were beautiful.  Much different then being in the valley. 

 

The two most famous pieces in the museum are the two below.  No, I did not take these photos.  Yes, these are the only two things in the whole museum for which you have to stand in a very long line.  The first is a jade cabbage with a cricket on top.  It is not really the most amazing artifact, but it has become a national treasure for Taiwan and has become according to the public, the most important artifact in the museum.  Andy and I now own a replica.     

 

Next is the meat-shaped stone.  It did look like a piece of meat.  Andy and I do not have a replica. :)  

 

 

Northern Dim Sum

 

Most of these have some sort of meat and soup in them.  You eat them in one bite.  

 



Very spicy Dan Dan noodles, but so good. 

Family: Andy, me, Dad, Uncle CK, Jerry, and Nicole (Jerry and Nicole just got married in June)

After dinner, Andy took me to one of his favorite ice cream places.  It was shaved ice with sherbet on top.  Around the bottom we had mango, strawberries, and kiwi.  Delicious. 

Food Court

Food court seating.

 

Find what you would like to eat.  Noodles or rice are obviously pretty much on every menu. 

My choice was noodles and a type of potato cake, though I don't think it was potato.  It was some other mashed vegetable that was fried up, but Andy didn't know what it was.  Well, I ate it anyway and it was good. 

Andy's choice, which would by the next meal at the hospital become my choice to eat and I pretty much wanted that for every meal from then on.  It was that good.  That is some meat sauce on the rice and greens and it was delicious. 

A bun filled with cheese and it tasted just like grilled cheese.  Yum...had to have that a few more times.

Of course there is dessert of red beans and ginger soup.  Very common to see. 

Of course, if you would like to get something a bit quicker, then head over to 7-11 and get something to go.