Taipei, Taiwan
Having a nine hour layover in Taipei prompted us to book a "layover tour". Our guide, Warren, picked us up at the airport and because of his efficiency, we were able to visit several places and enjoy a delicious dumpling lunch at Din Tai Fung before he returned us to the airport. Our first stop was Longshan Temple, founded in 1738, and one of Taiwan's largest and oldest temples. While most temples, both throughout the world and here in Taiwan, are usually dedicated to one deity or one religion, Longshan Temple is a mix of Taoist, Buddhist, and Confucian faiths.
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Our next stop was the beautiful and peaceful Botanical Garden where many were out walking or exercising.
We visited the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, built to honor the former President of the Republic of China. The monument stands at the east end of Liberty Square, flanked on the north and south by the National Theater and National Concert Hall.
The Memorial Hall's 89 steps symbolize the 89 years of President Chiang's life. The octagon-shaped white building is covered with blue tiles and red accents, echoing the flag of the Republic of China. The eight sides represent the Chinese cultural symbolism of the number eight, which is traditionally associated with fortune and wealth.
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Warren timed our arrival so we could witness the impressive changing of the guard, occurring at the top of the hour nine times a day beginning at 9:00am. Guard duty rotates among members of the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Military Police.
One of the highlights of the day was our visit to Taipei 101. Completed in 2004, it has 101 stories, is 1,667 ft. high, and was at the time of its construction the tallest man-made structure in the world, a distinction it lost in 2010 to Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The high-speed pressurized elevator was so fast that it only took 37 seconds to arrive at the 89th floor indoor observation deck.
We also ventured out on the 91st floor outdoor observation deck.
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After our lunch, Warren took us to Vigor Kobo to sample their famous traditional pineapple cakes, and then drove us back to the airport with plenty of time for our flight to Singapore.
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