Taipei | A very brief stop-over visit
On the way back to Los Angles from Guangzhou, we had a brief ten hour lay-over in Taipei. By the time we found a locker to check out carry-on bags, had asked the information desk about transportation tickets to downtown - they are free for passengers who want to visit the town, we only had a few hours to check out the city. With our hosts Billy and Grace who had accompanied us to Guangdong Province for a photo project, we set out to discover Taipei |
Billy and Grace consult subway routes | we spent a lot of time walking and catching trains in what was essentially an underground city with shops and restaurants and people just hangout out
A quick note | I had bought a tiny camera in mainland China called the Chuzhao for 30 US dollars. I decided to shoot most of the Taipei stop-over visit with this camera. All square images are taken with this camera | Just noticed that written around the lens are the foll0wing motivational inscriptions "Inspiration at Your Fingertips" and "Capture the Essence of Every Moment". The camera shoots in color, black and white and does video |
First stop was the Liberty Square complex where the National Concert Hall, National Theater and the immense Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial are located |
Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial | scenes at Liberty Square | Chuzhao camera photos | Taiwan
The square is quite impressive with its Chinese architecture and immense lay-out and manicured landscaping. The Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial was dramatic - quite a hike up to see the bronze statue of the Chinese nationalist leader. It reminded me of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC with the famous American war-time leader sitting in a similar pose.
Though I have visited China a number of times, I have yet to properly learn about the history and the consolidation of China as a nation in the 20th century. What is intriguing is that the major players in the formation of modern China - Sun Yat-Sen, Mao Zedong and Chiang Kai-Shek all knew each other.
Changing of the Guard | one minute video
National Concert Hall | school group pose for photos | National Theatre | Taipei
While we were visiting, a Taiwanese dance troop of young people were practicing pop music moves |
With the high school dance troupe | National Theater | Taipei
Taiwanese dance troupe | 1 minute 45 secs video
With the sun setting and only a couple of hours left before needing to head back to the airport, we took the subway to the main station and found a food court mall to have a late lunch. I had a whole squid speciality with noodles, soup and a drink for 10 US dollars - delicious |
My squid lunch | woman offers me a moon cake | diners - trying to be creative with Chuzhao camera Taipei
After a quick shopping visit to the underground mall complex, we headed back to the airport for our return flight to LA |
Scenes from underground Taipei | my souvenir key chain featuring a Chiang Kai-Shek coin and the shape of the country of Taiwan
Violinist plays in Taipei's underground subway and mall complex | one minute video
Girls dance as they are reflected in a giant mirror | 30 second video
Parting shot |
