Day 1: Exploring Taipei

It's about 7:30am here on Tuesday. I've been up since 5:30, when I opened my phone to find out I got an A+ in my grad school class. I couldn't be happier (and now also can't sleep)! Yesterday was jammed packed with activities, so I have a lot to write about.

It was difficult sleeping Sunday night due to jet lag, so I was up early on Monday ready to get going. I should mention that it was and will be pouring all day. It rains a lot here, so I geared up with a rain jacket, umbrella, and boots. First stop was to go get 3G data so I could communicate when I was out and about by myself. I went over to a small cell phone shop and bought a SIM card and a week's worth of data for a phone that Tyler had bought off a girl at work, since my iPhone won't take a SIM. The shop didn't open until 11am (must be nice), so I wandered next door into Milk House Bakery, where I bought two delicious and fresh sugared donuts. Then I swung by a 7/11 for an iced coffee. Shortly after, I was set up with my Taiwanese phone number.

Let me put a few things into perspective. A lot of things here are really cheap. 1 USD equals ~30 NT or New Taiwan Dollars. My two donuts were 30 NT. My week of cell phone data was less than 10 USD. Another thing-7/11 convenient stores are a big thing. You can get almost anything you need: lunch platters, whiskey, ice cream, you name it. A big bottle of Coke is 30 NT. And they have awesome iced coffees for only 10 NT.

Alright, next stop for me was the MRT, or Taiwan's metro system. The MRT shows up every mass-transit system I've ever used. It's so great that I feel the need to make a list to tell you why.

1. It's so easy to navigate around. All bus routes are color-coded and stops are written both in English and Chinese. There are also maps outside each station showing nearby points of interest.
2. They utilize waiting lines. No, not a big line to stand behind so you don't fall into the tracks. The MRT has actual painted lanes for people to stand in while they wait for a train. So, no shoving or line cutting.
3. They are energy efficient. One example, the escalators move slower when no one is riding them. 
4. Priority seats are left for priority passengers. Even if only standing room if left, no one sits in the handicapped seats. They are left for those who need them.
5. It is dirt cheap! The farthest ride you can take, over an hour long, only costs 35 NT.

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

I took the MRT to the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Station. Right off of this stop is Liberty Square, comprised of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial, the National Concert Hall, and the National Theater. The Memorial Hall was built in 1980 and is named in honor of Chiang Kai-shek, who ruled the Republic of China from 1928-1975. The building is breathtaking, with white marble walls and blue glass roof tiles, and surrounded by flower gardens. There was a large museum inside, detailing the history of Chiang's life and his presidency. All exhibitions seemed to portray Chiang in a positive light, even though he lost a civil war to the Communists in 1949. Very interesting. On the top floor was a large statue hall, set up similar to the Lincoln Memorial. Two guards stood watch of the president. They stood perfectly still and did not even blink! I got to witness the hourly changing of the guards, a 15-minute strict military ceremony. That's when I realized how disrespectful some people over here can be. Instead of standing quietly in respect, they were jumping behind the guards, throwing up peace signs and getting pictures. Not to be stereotypical, but I've noticed a lot of Asians over here who seem to be more worried about taking a picture than actually experiencing something.

Here are some pictures of the rest of Liberty Square: the National Concert Hall, National Theater, and the Gate of Great Centrality and Perfect Uprightness. I'll be attending a Christmas concert this Sunday at the National Concert Hall.

Museum Entrance

Next, I took a 10-minute walk to the National Museum of History. At only 15 NT for a ticket, this was a steal. The museum contained artifacts from the Neolithic period and the ancient Chinese dynasties Shang, Zhou, Han, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing. I couldn't take pictures inside, but one of my favorite exhibits was a display of painted Chinese snuff bottles. Snuff is powdered tobacco, and was used as a nose therapy (maybe it will cure my allergies?). It was a fashionable practice imported from the West. You could say that having a beautiful snuff bottle was like toting around a Chanel bag. The intricacy on the bottles was amazing. My favorite bottle was of course one of a tiny black-and-white Shih Tzu playing with a butterfly. Since these bottles were very expensive, many people gifted them on special occasions. One particular bottle had a portrait of a couple on their 10-year wedding anniversary. I'll take a Chanel bag instead...

I walked out of the museum and stumbled upon a real treat: a Claude Monet art exhibit! For 280 NT, I gained access to Monet: Landscapes of Mind, which displayed 55 pieces from the collection of Musée Marmottan Monet in Paris. The exhibit consisted of five themes: Monet's Friends and Portraits, Caricatures, Monet's Voyage, Monet's Garden, and The Ultimate Works. Who else knew that Monet started out as a sketch artist? The art was beautiful, and even contained the famous Waterlilies painting. My favorites were the nautical scenes.

Adjacent to the Museum was the Taipei Botanical Garden, which had spent months cultivating specific plants to mimic those featured in the Monet exhibit. It was peaceful walking through the rain and exploring the garden. I ran into a sweet old man doing what appeared to be a Buddhist ritual by the lotus pond. He laughed as I struggled to juggle my umbrella and my camera to take pictures.

I left the garden and found a small cafe, where I had a hot mocha (remember how I said jet lag sucks?). At that point, I was exhausted and ready to relax a little before dinner. On the way to the nearest MRT station, I strolled through the Nanmen Market, which had 3 floors crammed with open-air meat, live (soon to be dead) animals, and all sorts of dried foods. This was as authentic as it gets. I started to wait in a line to buy some jerky for Tyler, but I didn't have the stomach for some of the smells, so I scooted out to the metro.

Later that night, I met up with Tyler for dinner. We took a 15-minute walk to the Merlot Cafe & Bistro, a quaint Italian-style restaurant that was highly recommended online. And a huge plus - they spoke English! Both of us had wine, of course. I had a fantastic Australian steak, skewers of shrimp in a balsamic/honey marinade, and a side of penne in a bolognese sauce. For the first time ever, Tyler's meal was slightly better than mine (it's about time!). He had shrimp and scallops over a Parmesan cream risotto. Yum!

Thanks for staying through this long post. I'm excited for whatever is in store for today!