Taiwan Day 7 - Chiang Kai Shek & Pineapple Tarts
Aikido in Taipei. AWESOME!
I hooked up with some aikidokas before leaving Singapore and they were kind enough to let me join their 7am class! *OMG they start so early*
By the time I got back from class, the gang was just starting to get ready for the day.
The next monument we headed to was a famous landmark in Taipei - Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall (國立中正紀念堂). We reached the National Concert Hall first. Preparations for an international cultural night event was underway as we saw performers from Bali, India and other countries put on last minute practice at any open space they could find. The path leading to the Memorial Hall was full of people for another exhibition. Sad to say, this deterred us from fighting through the crowds to reach the Memorial Hall.
As silly as this may sound, I wanted to count the steps to see whether there are really 89 steps on the white stairs leading up the main entrance. It was said that 89 steps were built commemorate the age he passed on at. It also houses one of the largest statutes of the Generalissimo as there was a movement by the past Taiwanese president, Chen Shui Bian to remove all of CKS's statutes as it was claimed that CKS represented the authoritarian rule and not the current representative democracy.
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| National Concert Hall |
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| Gates to Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall |
The Memorial Hall also houses a museum documenting Chiang Kai Shek's life. However when we asked the security guards at the Concert Hall, we were informed that part of the Memorial was undergoing renovation, so not all exhibits were available. Sigh, next trip then...
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See the fiesta and renovation that was going on? Sigh the crowd was amazing.
After touring, we headed to the original Din Tai Fung. Many people has informed me that it is one of the must try things to do. You may think that it is an uber touristy thing to do but I was curious, would the original shop be better than their branches throughout the world?
According the kind aunties we met on bus, there is always a queue in front of Din Tai Fung (鼎泰豐) regardless of the time of the day. The best time, according to them, is to wait just before the shop open and then
When we reached the shop on Xinyi Road, there was a huge crowd! There were waitresses with name tags denoting the languages they could speak to attend to these crowds! Talk about service! Din Tai Fung is synonomous with xiao long bao or little dragon dumplings. Its basically steamed soup dumplings. I would say that the dumplings there tastes better than the ones I have tried in HK, Malaysia and Singapore. The soup had just the right meaty taste and the flavour pops when you dip it into the soy sauce and ginger. There are even instructions on how to eat the xiao long baos the right way.
   What I really loved was the beef broth. I was feeling under the weather that afternoon but the soup hperked me up. I was too busy drinking the soup...with beef that melts in your mouth and pieces of spring onion.... and by the time I remembered about it, there was none left for a photo. Nom noms.... By the way, if you have the Taiwan Youth Travel Card, remember to present it when you are paying your bill. A little Din Tai Fung souvenir will be given. Since it was the day before we flew off, we had to run errands for family and friends. One of the main things we have been reminded to bring back again and again is Pineapple Tarts and Tai Yang Bing aka 'sun cakes' (太阳饼). After scouting around online on pineapple tart reviews online, we headed to Taipei Leechi Cake Shop (梨记饼店). It was one of those errands you go on where you have no idea as to your location but by wondering around, you somehow find it. No photos though as our hands were full carrying bags of tarts to bring home. I could almost hear Smeagol going "My precioussssss" as he paws the boxes of tarts. I'm not much of a pineapple tart fan but I do love their yummy sun cakes. However I'm not sure if the guys want to walk that far again. Estimated time from Metro Station to Taipei Leechi store + getting lost time = 30 minutes. It's coming to 2am. I'm hungry after blogging. If only Din Tai Fung opened 24/7.. Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall (國立中正紀念堂) Address: No. 21 Zhongzheng District Taipei City, Taiwan 100 Tel:+886 2 2343 1100 Opening Hours: 9am - 6pm Getting there: Red Line Cheng Kai Shek Memorial Hall
Din Tai Fung 鼎泰豐
Address: No. 194, Xinyi Road, Sec.2 (entrance of Yong Kang Street)
Tel: +886 2 2321 8928
Opening Hours: 10am-9pm (Mon-Fri) 9am-9pm (Saturday & Holidays) Taipei Leechi Cake Shop (梨记饼店) Address:No. 73 Chang An E Rd Sec 2, Taipei City Tel:+886 2 2506 2255 Web: http://www.taipeileechi.com.tw/Web/Index.aspx Opening Hours: 9am-9pm Getting there: Blue/Brown MRT to Zhongxiao Xinsheng station, Exit 4 ► turn right and walk all the way straight till you come to Song Jiang Road which will be horizontally across from the direction you are coming from ► to the right there is a Starbucks ► walk further down same row ►orange neon Taipei Leechi signboard. |
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