Sunshiney day and the chickens look so happy!! There was a surprising number of artworks around the lane where I stay. I think it was because we’re really close to the Museum of Contemporary Art (which I didn’t visit because I don’t like museums). But Mr R is definitely checking out this museum when we come back and I have a feeling I might like all the artwork there if the chickens are any indication of how quirky their collections are.
There is a direct lift when I get out of my hotel into an underground mall… (the lift is just to my left of the picture, hence the tiled walkway) and they also have some cool exhibitions on the walls of the mall too!! It makes you feel like you’re living in the best place ever!! I’ll show you more artwork later!
I went for a walk around my area today just to check things out. Tea house???
Pink flowers in an alleyway.
Taipei’s Confucious Temple
I realised when you’re travelling too that you’re usually rewarded in a big way when you step out of the must-see zones. Those places are usually crammed with people and no matter what time of the year you go or the time of day, it will always be a few dozen people not including the tour bus groups that will share the space with you. But when you choose to visit something not as popular, they are just as beautiful, if not, even more so and you might be so lucky to have the place entirely to yourself.
Like this place. Compared to Long Shan, I think this is an even more grand temple. I spent a few hours snapping away taking pictures, walking around marveling at the handiwork and reading various excerpts on the history of the place and apart from two young Japanese tourists and one batch of tour bus group that came and when in a genie rub, the place was all mine. It was so calming and peaceful walking around like that. I love it!!
Bao An Temple
A part of Bao An Temple. This temple was expansive…. and I had the place almost to myself too, except for some locals.
Sights while exploring
Stumbled on a small wet market while I was searching for food so I took a wander. It eventually thinned out into other shops and stalls selling various things so it wasn’t a proper wet market per se but I was glad to get out of there. I think I’ve been acclimatised to buying my food all cleaned and packaged in a supermarket. Here, I saw live chickens in cages waiting to be slaughtered while their compatriots lay dead and slaughtered just above them. It was horrifying to see!! Imagined sitting in a cage and smelling/hearing your dead friends above you. I didn’t like it one bit!! I keep having to tell myself that this is the way of life in this part of the world and it is the way of life. I eat chicken in Australia. Just because I don’t see the way they are being slaughtered and packaged before they end up on my supermarket shelf doesn’t mean that they died any differently. 🙁
I went shopping and bought a load of dresses. Felt soooo guilty as I wasn’t meant to be spending at all!! Arrggghhh… not showing you my purchases!! Lolz…
Here are the artwork in the laneways near where I stay. Mosaic on the walls!! This was all done with tiles!! Imagine the time one would have to take planning this out and then constructing it. Patience is virtue!!
Another mosaic!
Cafe Booday
Last meal with my aunt. I’m glad I found this place because I had a list of places I wanted to sample but the laneways and alleyways are sooooo confusing! There are nights where I would spent an hour walking trying to find that lane but never actually finding it. Arrggghhh…. I found a food review on potatomato’s blog and it was just down the lane from me. Yippeee!! It was such a cute hangout cafe… very different to all the other street stalls I’ve been to.
I had rice and the balls are chicken meat with onions and some spices. They were actually quite good, if not a lil plain. A very healthy meal to end the night. 🙂
Location: No.18-1,Alley 25 Nanjing West Road, Taipei, Taiwan
See what else I got up to while in Taipei:
Solo in Taipei: Day 1
Solo in Taipei: Day 2
Solo in Taipei: Day 3
Solo in Taipei: Day 4
Solo in Taipei: Day 5
Solo in Taipei: Day 7
