I started 2016 with a quick trip to Hong Kong and Taipei, Taiwan. The airfare was a bargain and I needed to do some clothes shopping anyway. Do I need an excuse to travel?
The weather was cold and rainy for most of the trip. I'm glad I had been to Hong Kong before otherwise I would have been very disappointed. The only new site I saw, through the rain and fog, was the new Wheel which was close to the Star Ferry.
I bought six beautiful shirts that I like even better then the ones I purchased two years ago. It was fun to mix and match the fabric.
One evening after dinner I visited the Temple Street Night Market. They seem to be selling the same junk year after year.
Another day I went to the Woman's Market, which is in Mong Kok, the most densely populated city in the world.
I flew to Taipei to be greeted with the same cold and rainy weather. Records were being broken daily and it was the coldest day in the last 50 years, but still above freezing. I did see some snow flurries one day.
A friend of mine gave me a list of sites to see in Taipei. On the first day I met him for lunch at the Grand Hotel, and it did its name justice. While not as popular now, I'm sure in its day it was the place to be and be seen. We had a nice dim sum lunch at the Golden Dragon Restaurant, overlooking the city. We also went to the Mitsui Fish Market, an old market converted into a modern eatery. They still sold fresh fish in one section of the market.
I visited the Longshan Temple and the shopping district.
2016 will be the Year of the Monkey
The weather was cold and rainy for most of the trip. I'm glad I had been to Hong Kong before otherwise I would have been very disappointed. The only new site I saw, through the rain and fog, was the new Wheel which was close to the Star Ferry.
The Star Ferry to Hong Kong from Kowloon
The Hong Kong Wheel
I bought six beautiful shirts that I like even better then the ones I purchased two years ago. It was fun to mix and match the fabric.
Four of my six new shirts
One evening after dinner I visited the Temple Street Night Market. They seem to be selling the same junk year after year.
Double Decker Tram in Hong Kong
Street signs near the night market
Another day I went to the Woman's Market, which is in Mong Kok, the most densely populated city in the world.
Woman's Market - New and improved junk
T-shirt I passed on
I flew to Taipei to be greeted with the same cold and rainy weather. Records were being broken daily and it was the coldest day in the last 50 years, but still above freezing. I did see some snow flurries one day.
A friend of mine gave me a list of sites to see in Taipei. On the first day I met him for lunch at the Grand Hotel, and it did its name justice. While not as popular now, I'm sure in its day it was the place to be and be seen. We had a nice dim sum lunch at the Golden Dragon Restaurant, overlooking the city. We also went to the Mitsui Fish Market, an old market converted into a modern eatery. They still sold fresh fish in one section of the market.
Grand Hotel, Taipei
Fresh crab at the market
I visited the Longshan Temple and the shopping district.
Longshan Temple
Offerings
Another smaller temple
Shopping district
Presidential Office
The following day I went to Taipei 101, the second largest building in the world. I had a great lunch at Ding Tai Fung the famous Michelin starred restaurant located in the basement. I also stopped to visit the Chiang Kai Shek memorial hall, which was on the way to the 101 Tower.
National Concert Hall
Me at entrance to memorial
Chiang Kai Shek memorial hall
101 Tower
Freshly made dumplings at the Ding Tai Fung restaurant
The line for Garrett's Popcorn was as long as it is in Chicago.
The next day I went to lunch with my friend and then visited the Eslite Department Store, where I purchased the most expensive T-shirt I have every bought. I also visited the Sun Yet Sen memorial hall.
Sculpture outside the Eslite Department Store
Youths dancing outside the Sun Yet Sen memorial
Sun Yet Sen
Sun Yet Sen memorial hall
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