I paid $20. for toilet paper!

Actually, it's not as bad as it sounds.  $20. NT is about $.50 U.S.  Toilet paper is normally provided, but in some cases, you need to provide your own.  $20. NT bought me 2 pocket kleenex size packets:-)  WORTH IT!!!

Changing of the guard at the Sun Yat-Sen memorial:

Used my camera, so they are not terribly clear, but this was really an awesome sight!

Here I am with my post-toilet paper glow!!

Dumplings and monsoons!

Cathy and Olivia arrive to rain, but cooler weather (for one day anyway)!

We went to the famous Xiao Long Bao restaurant to enjoy their wonderful dumplings!

What makes the whole trip worthwhile to Olivia?

Shoes!!!

Exploring

The Taiwan Museum of History

Fun outing on my own, but got completely lost!  A nice lady came to my rescue and told me I had walked 5 blocks the wrong way!  I wasn't lost as much as I was trying to explore the area.  Yeah, that's it.  Explore the area:-)

More shots of the area I explored ON PURPOSE!

Ok, I was a little lost.

Train Travel Taiwan Style!

There are several modes of mass transit here, all wonderful!  They have an MRT (subway) that gets you around Taipei.  Then there are buses (I am working on that, but Bruce and I got really lost the other day!  Luckily a kind soul got us turned the right way)!  There are trains that travel all over Taiwan that are inexpensive and very clean and there is a Bullet Train.  We haven't taken that one yet!  Here are some great pictures of and from the train to Taroko!

A great way to travel!

Taroko Gorge

The water in the gorge is this unique blue because the rock it travels over is white marble.  This picture is as close to what it looks like in person as you can get! 

This says "Taroko Gorge" and something about "we have lots of marble and you can't have any for you kitchen Pam!" 

It was beautiful!  We hiked two trails up into the mountain and along the water.  On one thin trail we were hiking along, watching for falling rocks (the signs told us this was our job) when suddenly:

a guy came flying by on the path on this!  Motor scooters are everywhere here!  I have no idea how it got to this remote path that we had to walk down 200 stairs to get to!!  Amazing!

Women's work

Sometimes when we travel we get to have one of those moments in time where we stop the rushing and picture taking to discover that this, this one thing, is why we travel.  I had one of those moments yesterday!

Here on the other side of the world I had a "discussion" with a woman who proudly explained that this was women's work.  I do not speak her language and she does not speak mine.   This, above other skills was most prized by her people the Taroko People, indigenous to Taiwan.  She had hoped, as a child, to receive her forehead tattoo at 15 and the earn one later on her chin.  You earned the chin tattoo by becoming skilled at a job.  She is a skilled weaver and would have received a tattoo that would have surrounded her lips and spread to her earlobes, indicating a "master weaver".  She was not to have this honor, though.  The Japanese, during their occupation of Taiwan from 1912 - 1943 outlawed all aboriginal practices and "resettled" the tribes away from their homes, away from the rich natural resources they craved.

As I chose a shawl made over the course of 3 days by this amazing woman, she smiled and touched her heart and reached forward, palm up.  I reached forward, palm up and brought my had to my heart.  We understood each other, we are women and I took with me not only a piece of her art, but a piece of her heart!

One fish, two fishes!

Ordering food here has been a challenge!  We have been greatful to have so many restaurants have english subtitles for their menus and even pictures.  Sometimes, though, things get lost in translation!

In this case, "river fishes" turned out to be breaded/deep fried minnows!  Bruce made a gallant try, but declare that they tasted like "bait"!

The Maokong Gondola

We rode the Gondola (with the glass bottom) up into the mountains!  It was beautiful!

At the top we visited a tea shop and had some locally grown tea (and river fishes)!

Pictures from the top!

Taipei 101 is the second tallest building in the world with the fastest elevator in the world!  It is a whopping 30 second ride from ground to 110 stories up!!  Whooooosh!  Luckily it is a pressurized cabin! 

The Taipei 101 is like the nose on the face of Taipei.  Unlike the Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) in Chicago, which is surrounded by other tall buildings, the 101 stands alone!  You actually begin to think it isn't that tall, because the only thing to compare it to are the mountains in the distance. 

Bruce, looking for naked ladies. 

We could see Steve's office from here and although we waved, he could not spot us!!

This is part of the stabalizing system that offsets the sway due to wind!  Fascinating technology based on a pendulum. 

Yingga

Went to visit the town of Yingga (pronounced "Inga") where they are famous for their ceramics/pottery!  Walked up "old street" and really had a great time!

Here I am hanging with my peeps.  You know me, never met a stranger in my life!

I wanted to buy this really cool pot, but Steve said that no, he would not pay for a seat on the plane for it!  Dang it!

busy weekend in sunny Taipei

Uncle Bruce arrives!  We toured Longshan Temple.  There is a Deity there to whom you pray for safe successful voyages to China for fun and business!!  I gave him a wink in hopes that it would help!

Even ancient temples sometimes need tech help:-)

People bring offering of food (everything from fruit to bags of Cheetos).  These are placed in the courtyards of the temple.  They then spend time praying, reflecting and/or meditating.  Before they leave to go home, they retrieve the offerings because now they are blessed by the Deity.  They take the offerings home to share the blessings in the form of food with their families!  Cool, right?