I didn't know much about Taipei before I went there. I do know that Taiwan broke away from Mainland China and set up its own government. I also heard names like Chiang Kai Shek and Sun Yat Sen associated with the island nation. As for my images of the country, they were limited to the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial and much more recently, the Taipei 101 skyscraper.

When our friends found out that we were going there over the Christmas holidays, many asked us why when it was not a main tourist destination. Another friend, this time a native of Taipei, even told us that his homeland was not really a pretty country. Nothing the people we knew could sway us though. Our hearts were set on visiting Taiwan and deep down we knew we would like it and we did.

My fondest memory of Taipei was the food. It was exquisite and so different from all the Chinese food that I have ever, ever eaten. I do hope to return one day and shop to my heart's content in Shatzy Chen's very posh boutique, eat in Taipei 101 many times again, visit the Sun Moon Lake and likewise go south to explore Kaoshung.

This was definitely high up in my list of must sees in Taipei as soon as we arrived. We did visit it many times and even visited the museum at the monument's base. Unfortunately, we did not get to see the Chiang Kai Shek statue as it was closed to the public the entire time we were there.