Taiwan VI: 吉安慶修院

After napping enough for the morning, we visited 吉安慶修院, a Buddhist temple built by the Japanese during their occupation of Taiwan. Unlike Chinese-built temples which are painted in bright auspicious colours and decorated with gold and bronze, this temple gave a very zen feel with its wooden earthly colours..


Statue of a bodhisattva


Wishes are written on wooden tags and put in front of the appropriate bodhisattva


Another statue...


The same statue from a different angle


An un-bloomed water lily in the pond at the temple

Taiwan V: Sunrise at Cisingtan (七星潭)

We woke up at 4am to catch the sunrise at 5am..


The sunrise over the Pacific Ocean..


Ivy picking up stones along the seaside


Jumpshot!


The obligatory group shot


Acting cool


More cool-acting..


Breakfast at the hostel! (We went back to sleep after that)


Acting like a Tai-Tai

Taiwan IV: On to Hualien (花莲)

Happy friends on the train from Taipei to Hualien (花莲)


Happy sister on the train from Taipei to Hualien


The ambient light from the train windows cast interesting shadows..


My sister writing a postcard to send back home


Shot of the setting sun from the train window


Shot of the setting sun from the train window


Our lovely hostel room with 3 queen sized beds (1 bed not in photo..)


Another shot of the bed by the window


Happy friends on the comfy bed in the hostel


Emo shot of Raphael writing letters by the window..


Xiao long baos (小笼包) for dinner! The whole meal cost us less than SGD$2..


Steaming xiao long baos (小笼包)!


The streets of Hualien

Taiwan III: Taipei, Danshuei (淡水)

Ok this is not Danshuei, but the streets of Taipei city center..


Taking the MRT (捷运) to Danshuei. My sis failing at feigning sleep..


Danshuei looks and feels very different from Taipei city center..


The sun was slowly setting as we walked towards the Fisherman's Warf (渔人码头)


The setting sun cast interesting shadows and reflections on the walkways..


Boats parked on Danshuei river


Met this tiny dog on the streets..


Shady green trees..


Sun setting over the Fisherman's Warf (渔人码头)


Lots of shops here


The bridge lit up nicely


Long exposure of the mountain opposite the habour


Another shot of the bridge before we left

Taiwan II: Taipei, National Palace Museum

The National Palace Museum was the first attraction we visited in Taipei. It contains the finest treasures of China, "exported" during the exodus of the KMT. No photography was allowed on the inside, so I only have shots of the exterior.


Avid photographers at the entrance..


Loooong walkway


Almost there..


Blue skies and green grass make me happy..


Happy friends


Calligraphy on the glass windows of the museum


Another happy friends shot


Interestingly-shaped rubbish bin (I'm not referring to Raphael)

Taiwan I: The Flight There

We boarded the Cathay Pacific flight (Singapore-Hong Kong-Taipei) on the 4th of June 2009..


Happy friends on the flight to Taiwan.


View from the flight cabin. The ships look like toys.


View from the flight cabin. Interesting cloud formation.


Sunset viewed from the flight cabin.


Sunset viewed from the flight cabin.


Sunset viewed from the flight cabin.