Day 3: Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall, Martyr's Shrine, National Palace Museum, Mao Princess, Jiu Fen, Beitou

Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall

CKS was the first President of Taiwan (I think), and this Hall is built in memorial of him. The above is supposed to be a theatre which only world-class stars perform in it. By 'world-class', it means not only Chinese must know you and your songs, the Thais, the Caucasians must also learnt about your fame eg. Michael Jackson. The only Taiwanese star who ever performed in this Hall was Teresa Tseng.

Martyr's Shrine

Martyr's Shrine, as its name suggests, is a temple-like place to remember the glorious dead who sacrificed themselves for the stability and peace of Taiwan.

The exchange of guards

Before the new guards formally take the positions of the guards who have been standing guard for 1 hour, they would showcase how savvy they are with their long, heavy bayonets by spinning them this and that way in front of an audience, usually the tourists like us. We are not allowed to get near the guards. Some men in black jackets would act as a human boundary to indicate the distance we are supposed to keep from these guards.

A guard standing upright, not supposed to smile or have any bit of expression.

Beitou Hotspring

We were somewhat disappointed at what we saw when we were led to this hot spring villa at Beitou. We were expecting some big hot springs that allow all of us to get in, male and female alike. But we were greeted by a bathroom cubicle with a rudimentary form of bathtub. My sister, Coco and I sat on the mosiac seat in the bathtub and we turned on the taps, one for cold, plain water, one for hot spring water, till they filled up the tub.

Nothing much. Except that we felt rather thirsty after the bath. The tourguide said that someone once said a hotspring bath is equivalent to a jog. It releases alot of water from your body. So right after that, we were led to Shihlin Night Market to eat.

Mao's House

We spent the most money at this place. They sell lingzhi, deer foetus powder (which they said is effective in curing asthma), honey and royal jelly (made from honeycomb I think).

We bought the deer foetus powder. 2 liang for more than $400. They had 'advised' me to buy 6 liang, which would come up to more than $1000. So far, the effect has not been obvious. Coco hasn't had a relapse of asthma for a long time, so I wouldn't give credit to the powder.

The Maos became a royal family when Chiang Kai Shek's wife, Song Meiling, who had asthma took the deer foetus powder and had her life 'saved'. CKS bestowed the title of Prince and Princesses to this aboriginal family. They displayed photos that the village head had taken with MM Lee's ... mother I think, who was supposed to have visited the Maos on a constant basis and they claimed that they were good friends.

Jiu Fen

Heard so much about this place, but it turns out to be a very long, narrow alley of food and tourist goods.

Coco bought a milk bottle 6-hole recorder here. Very cute. My mother had wanted to buy the car recorders for my nephews when we returned to this shop later on, but she forgot about it as we had to hurry back to the meeting point to meet the tour guide.

A bird's eye view from Jiu Fen at the top