It was hard to find a restaurant open last night at 10 pm. We didn’t need much, but we did need something in our tummies to make it through the night. After searching a bit we found a Japanese restaurant with a menu including pictures. Yeah! William ordered a beer and chicken wings (apparently they are desirable in most all cultures). I had an order of deep-fried oysters and some sake. After we order I noticed the name of the restaurant - Dog Japanese Restaurant. Hmmm. Well, our food was hot and good - we’re happy we found the place.
This morning we meander down to the guest area with our electronics to catch up on e-mail and to drink complimentary tea and coffee. Last night when we checked-in they explained that breakfast is not included but every morning they put out hamburgers and sandwiches at 7:30. When they are gone, they’re gone. Sure enough, there are some hamburgers and sandwiches on the counter. After two cups of hot beverages we start to think about breakfast. A Google search doesn’t find anything nearby where we can get an order of eggs. We each grab a hamburger - they will have to do.
It’s raining so an indoor activity is the thing to do today. Taiwan’s National Palace Museum sounds do-able, so we signal a taxi outside our hotel. It’s about a 30 minute drive which takes us near the Fine Arts Museum, the Grand Hotel Taipei and Chaing Kai-Shek’s residence.
In 1949 when the Communists were bearing down on the Nationalists during China’s civil war the decision was made to send some of the most prized possessions from the National Beijing Palace Museum and some other museums to Taiwan for safe keeping. There were almost 3,000 crates shipped. That is how the Taiwan National Palace Museum ended up with so many exquisite Chinese pieces. The People’s Republic of China for years has claimed that the pieces were stolen and legitimately belongs to them. So far Taiwan has been able to fend off the claims.
This morning we meander down to the guest area with our electronics to catch up on e-mail and to drink complimentary tea and coffee. Last night when we checked-in they explained that breakfast is not included but every morning they put out hamburgers and sandwiches at 7:30. When they are gone, they’re gone. Sure enough, there are some hamburgers and sandwiches on the counter. After two cups of hot beverages we start to think about breakfast. A Google search doesn’t find anything nearby where we can get an order of eggs. We each grab a hamburger - they will have to do.
It’s raining so an indoor activity is the thing to do today. Taiwan’s National Palace Museum sounds do-able, so we signal a taxi outside our hotel. It’s about a 30 minute drive which takes us near the Fine Arts Museum, the Grand Hotel Taipei and Chaing Kai-Shek’s residence.
In 1949 when the Communists were bearing down on the Nationalists during China’s civil war the decision was made to send some of the most prized possessions from the National Beijing Palace Museum and some other museums to Taiwan for safe keeping. There were almost 3,000 crates shipped. That is how the Taiwan National Palace Museum ended up with so many exquisite Chinese pieces. The People’s Republic of China for years has claimed that the pieces were stolen and legitimately belongs to them. So far Taiwan has been able to fend off the claims.
We start with a gallery of gorgeous gold and jade pieces. The work is intricate and amazing. In another gallery is a stone called banded jasper which has been carved to look like cooked pork belly. We walk through the floors, utilizing the wide red-carpeted staircases. In one of the second floor galleries there’s an incredible room divider with jade panels. We move along to the bronze and cloisonné treasures. Some of the last galleries contain a large number of Ming vases. Beautiful!
We have the taxi from the museum drop us off at City Mall. Unlike our experience in Jakarta, we do not find many restaurants. We’re starving so we settle for a local cafe. I order a beef soup bowl (I think the beef is tongue) and William has a gratin - basically buttered spaghetti noodles with baked cheese on top. There’re ok and take the hangries away.
We have the taxi from the museum drop us off at City Mall. Unlike our experience in Jakarta, we do not find many restaurants. We’re starving so we settle for a local cafe. I order a beef soup bowl (I think the beef is tongue) and William has a gratin - basically buttered spaghetti noodles with baked cheese on top. There’re ok and take the hangries away.
As we walk through the mall we see a large number of shops with mechanical games (like the claw games where you can win a stuffed animal). There’s also a few video game arcades with the prerequisite 13 year-old boys playing the hottest games. Interesting cultural difference from other places we have been.
On our way back to the hotel we walk through the North Gate (Cheng’en Gate) one of the five old gates to the city. We then walk by a stone building from 1910.
In the evening we are ready for some non-traditional food. TGI Friday’s is in the Ximengdin Walking District, just a 15 minute walk away. We don’t frequent TGI Friday’s when we are in the US, but American food is calling to us. We share an appetizer platter and have happy-hour beer and wine. Our need for food from “home” is temporarily satiated.
In the evening we are ready for some non-traditional food. TGI Friday’s is in the Ximengdin Walking District, just a 15 minute walk away. We don’t frequent TGI Friday’s when we are in the US, but American food is calling to us. We share an appetizer platter and have happy-hour beer and wine. Our need for food from “home” is temporarily satiated.
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