Well, this is kinda "rortish". After a break for Christmas and our separate but excellent holidays, we've had a torturous three weeks back at work and now we're on another week's holiday! Yes, this is where the non-teaching majority will be baying about the holidays and the breaks and the non-stop relaxation: normally I'd argue, but I can't really muster the willpower nor the ammunition for a successful cutting retort. You win! (or do we.....?!)
We've enjoyed our first real extra day of the holidays today by riding Taipei's increasingly ubiquitous YouBikes through all sorts of backstreets and byways from near our place, across the river into Shilin and the mouthwatering breakfast temptations of 1bite2go. It was fun way to get the hunger going and to wake up before diving into that most decadent of meals out; the weekday, working day, breakfast. This place has a really cool vibe and although we've been there just a couple of times, it is definitely one of our new favourites. Nestled in and around this restaurant are two French boulangerie and from the wide viewing windows to perv on the pastry chefs it seems as if you won't need to travel to France to experience all those delicate flavours anymore.
We docked our Youbikes before breakfast, and I might mention, it cost us zero dollars for the adventure as we made it to the other side of the river within 30 minutes. As registered users, the first 30 minutes of any trip are free, so....gotta love Taipei! Wandering across the Shilin park, we thought we'd take advantage of the stellar weather and have another look/see at the summer residence of Taiwan's former ruler Chiang Kai Chek. The gardens of the house are still maintained quite meticulously and it is a beautiful public park space these days. As on our previous visit, the residence was closed, but I think it's probably the least interesting of the offerings here: it looks from the outside nothing much more than a restored 60's era, slightly too garish and ostentatious Chinese version of "stately" Wayne manor (for you Batman fans out there!). The best part of the gardens were the seemingly endless beds of a dazzling variety of roses, in various states of bloom. Cass saw many she'd never seen before, and some were so rare as to not a bloom be seen!
We wandered down a majestic pathway of rake thin, sky-high palm trees on parade, before heading past the theme garden with strange curved living sculptures which looked to me like vomiting brontosauruses. Onwards an intricate set of criss-crossing paths led inexorably upward to the "Pavillion of Matronly Happiness" built in honour of the big man's mum and a spot where he himself would often contemplate grave matters of state. The view these days is filtered by ever growing trees, but in 1963 when built, must have offered a panoramic 360 degree view of his dominion.
Upon returning to the Youbike station, we were to discover that their increasing popularity meant every one of the 50 at this station were booked out! We decided to walk back home and strolled back through streets and over bridges in the bright, unseasonably warm sunshine. A stop at SOGO to grab some sandwiches for a meal later in the day, a few exotic treats for sometime later in our week of holidays, and we were a little puffed when we eventually rolled into home!
While writing this and fixing the photos, I'm eagerly awaiting the delivery of my first batch of pies which I ordered last week. A Taiwanese/Kiwi guy has started a business called Leo's Tuckshop (it had me at the name!) which delivers his NZ modeled pies island -wide. I'll do the taste test and if they're any good, I'll let every Kiwi and Aussie I know how to order them so we can keep this guy in business...Fingers crossed!!
Photos: Cass with Godiva chocolates (a present from a student) and flowers. Some interesting dog outfits in the pet parlour window. I finally decided to part with my 27 year old ugg boots which have been held together with tape for a few years (so sad!). The rest are from our adventure today!