First Day in Taipei
While I have always preferred leaving San Francisco during the day every time I travel, what I least liked about it is that we always arrived in our Southeast Asian destination late at night. Our trip to Taipei was no different. Our United flight touched down so late at Chiang Kai Shek Airport, the entire facility was closing down and all the shuttles that transported visitors to hotels downtown had stopped operating for the day. Thanks to the lone staff at the Information desk in the airport, she advised us how to travel to our hotel. Turns out we had to take a bus which even the locals took from the airport to Taipei's Railway Station then cab it to Ximending where we were going to stay during our entire stay.
I remember us waking up early the following morning. Breakfast was supposedly included with our room but skipped it anyway everyday. The hotel breakfast was rather unappetizing.
It was drizzling when we set out for the day and the rain just got stronger and stronger. That morning Marc and I went to a McDonald's in Ximending and asked one employee if it was a holiday in Taipei given that it was already late in the morning and no one was in sight. The young lady mentioned that it was still early. True enough, everything opened shortly after we ate breakfast in the Golden Arches.
In front of the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall in pouring down rain
The majestic Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall. I was so anxious to see the monument inside. Unfortunately, it was closed to the public the whole time we were there.
The Presidential Palace
The façade of a bar in Ximending
In Ximending, the hang out for Taipei's young and hip
A risqué billboard. I was surprised to see this. Taiwan must not be that conservative and prudish.
Located close to Ximending, we often passed by this Red Brick Playhouse also simply known as the Red Pavilion Theater.
Ximending, Taipei's version of Seoul's Myong Dong and Tokyo's Shibuya
More of Ximending
In Ximending
The Tianhou Temple
The Longshan Temple
Another Statue of Liberty. I never realized it was everywhere. There is one in Paris and Tokyo.
At Taipei's iconic Taipei 101 Building, one of the world's tallest
Taipei 101 at night