Museum Hopping in Taipei
Taipei's National Palace Museum is world famous for its collection of Chinese art. Both print and television media have stated that the museum has such a massive inventory, it is unable to display them all at the same time and it takes years to display them on a rotational basis. Needless to say, we were excited to see it. The site alone was imposing and impressive.
Of all its artifacts and exhibits, the ones that stood out in my mind were the tiny slab of pork made of agate stone as well as the lettuce made of jade. They were simply so intricate and so life like, they could have fooled me had I not read the accompanying info. They certainly were some of the most famous pieces here and they had the biggest crowds and admirers.
The National Palace Museum of Taipei
As always, my photo op in front of the museum
The traditional Chinese gate to the museum
From the National Palace Museum we visited the Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigenes. I never realized the local indigenous people of Southern Taiwan formed such a great part of Taiwanese culture. What struck me most was the similarity of their tools and art to the Filipino tribal folk in Northern Philippines.
Some indigenous totem poles in the park directly in front of the Shug Ye Museum
By the gated residence of the late General and Madame Chiang Kai-Shek in Shilin. Normally open to the public for free, the residence closed on the day of our planned visit. Just as Marc often tells me during our travels when we miss out on something, it just gives us more to see when we return.
General and Madame Chiang Kai Shek's residence
A side view of the residence the powerful Taiwanese first couple once lived in
A topiary in the shape of a face at the Chiang Kai Shek residence gardens
Another topiary, this time, in the shape of an insect
At the Sun Yat Sen House very close to the Taipei Main Station
Sun Yat Sen's House
A gazebo on the grounds where the Sun Yat Sen house was located
The garden in the compound
