Mom and Dad's Trip to Taiwan Part 5

Day 5 - December 21, 2006

Sun Moon Lake

We woke up this morning and decided to go on the boat cruise around the Lake. The first stop was a floating Island. Due to a dam upstream, the floating island is quite a bit smaller than it was before. Most of it is now floating on a man made dock-like structure. There is one very small non-floating part. The next stop was the other side of the island where there is a tourist trap street where one can get some shopping done.

Morning Lake view from the Hotel

Sun Moon Lake Blues

Waiting for our Cruise to Begin

Christmas Scenes Around Sun Moon Lake

On the Floating Island

After the boat cruise, which really was only for an hour and a half, including the two stops, we drove up to the Tsen Pagoda, that overlooks the lake. The pagoda was built by Chiang Kai Shek, or at least at his request, for his wife. To get there one must first hike up steps for 600 metres and then seven flights of stairs to get to the top of the Pagoda. At the top the view is quite nice and you can ring the bell.

Tsen Pagoda

Mom, Anting, and Ryan outside the Pagoda

Scenes from the Top

Where's the Elevator?

Too Much Exercise

Inside a Chinese painting

Climbing Back Down the Mountain

Sun Moon Lake

After Hanging out at Sun Moon Lake for most of the day, we hit the road again, heading further south to Tainan. There, after driving around for a while, we found a hotel run by Eva Airlines.

We Interrupt this Regularly Scheduled Program for Some Ryan Photos

"Go Long!"

Mom and Christmas Baby

Trying on New Clothes

"More Milk Dammit!"

" Who's That Watching Me Burp?"

Grandparents Looking On

More Fun with Signs

I think they meant "Booty"

Ass; Telling it like it is since 1978. Come down for a piece.

Well I guess... if you like your ipod that much. But, any damage is
not covered under the warranty.

Mom and Dad's Trip to Taiwan Part 4

Day 4 - December 20, 2006

Road Trip

In the morning of December 20th we started out on our road trip down south. Our planned destination was Sun Moon Lake. Anting and I had been in there in the summer and it was quite beautiful, so we decided to take Mom and Dad there to see what it's like in the winter. Driving on the Highways in Taiwan is quite the joy. Several lanes of very well maintained roadway, usually elevated, help you get from North to South with no problems.

My Dad likes to take pictures while traveling 100km/h. Surprisingly some turn out OK

Our first stop was at the rest stop. Taiwan takes the idea of the highway rest stop to a whole new level. At this rest stop, built as an overpass, several stores, restaurants, and arcades all do quite a good business.

Outside the rest stop

Some scenes from inside the rest stop

Mom and I try out one of Taiwan's national pastimes

I tried to prepare Mom and Dad with the fact that as we went south the Western - style restaurants would become fewer and fewer. Unfortunately I was proven wrong; We stayed at the Hotel Del Lago at Sun Moon Lake and had a nice steak dinner.

At the Hotel Restaurant

Impressed with the facilities