Family Reunion Cruise -- 8-Day Roundtrip Keelung, Taiwan on Diamond Princess
Post-cruise -- Taipei, November 28, 2018
This would be our final full day in Taipei on this trip. We decided to visit a couple of sites that we have never been before and find out what they are like. Before our day of adventure, we just have to go back to our favorite breakfast place for a hearty breakfast. Fu Hang Dou Jiang (Soy Milk) is one of the top rated breakfast spot for locals. We have been here a few times before and really enjoyed the food served here. There is always a line if you get there later than 8:00 AM with many tourists and locals. Fortunately, for us, there was just a very short line early that morning. By the way, they do not open on Mondays.
Fu Hang Dou Jiang
Exit 5 of the Shandao Temple station on the Blue Line.
Surprise! No long queue downstairs!
The last time we were here, the line wrapped around the building from the 2nd floor to the ground floor so we just gave up.
Upstairs on the 2nd level of the food court.
Decide on your order before coming up to the counter.
Line passing by the open kitchen.
Savory and sweet soy milk and the pancake with egg.
The pancake was OK. The savory soy milk wonderful as always.
And the fried dough inside the shiao-bing was great!
Everything was pipping hot and delicious!
Fu Hang Dou Jiang
108 Zhongxiao East Road, 2nd Floor
Hua Shan Market, Zhongzheng District, Taipei
Now we are ready for our day of exploration.
This is one of the metro station that we came upon, possibly the Xingtian Temple
(Hsing Tian Kong) station.
Hsing Tian Kong is a famous Taoist temple in Taipei.
Seemed like a very organized set up, with volunteers reciting prayers around the courtyard.
I believe they worship Guan Yu, Guan Gong, or Guan Di.
Poster showing the correct way of worshiping.
Walking along Song Jiang Road looking for our next stop--Lin An Tai Ancestral House which was farther than what we expected.
After a long walk, we finally found this site.
Probably because of the location, there were hardly anyone there on that day.
It's free entry and they provide a beautifully done brochure with detailed description of the buildings.
It almost felt like we had the whole place to ourselves.
This Fukinese style historic house was built by a wealthy merchant about 200 years ago at another location in Taipei. They had to move the group of structures, taking down the pieces one at a time, and rebuilt the 'house' here when the city acquired their land for development.
Some interesting corners of the garden.
The pond
The 'classroom' for young clansmen.
Certainly scenic.
The back part of the garden.
Cute figurines of ancient scholars.
Entrance of the main building.
bedroom
main hall
This is a favorite location for newly weds having their wedding photos.
Another couple posing for their photos even on this rainy day.
Not these two who had their wedding 38 years ago.
Overall, I thought the Lin An Tai Historical House is a hidden gem that is waiting to be discovered. Too bad that not many people are aware of its existence and it's a shame that it is just sitting there not being noticed. It's beautiful, elegant, and authentic. This should be a stop for all tourists, better than many of the temples around.
Yi Fan Di Sukiyaki
After our long walk to the Lin An Tai House, we did not feel that we could walk any more. We decided to take a taxi to the Sukiyaki restaurant near the Taipei Station where we will enjoy an all-you-can-eat lunch. ChC and I had been here two years ago and we wanted MOR to try this place out and this would be the day for it.
Same prices as two years ago, $398 pp for lunch, that's less than $15 USD, not a bad deal!
Nice ambiance.
Good food.
You can order as many times as you want within the 90 minutes.
We are not picky eaters and really enjoyed our meal here.
Lime slices with brown sugar after dinner. Nice touch.
Green tea ice cream with red beans for dessert.
Hot and cold drinks included at the drink station.
Back to the Daan Park metro station after lunch.
This station is right in front of the Daan Park. It's airy and beautiful!
Inside the metro station.
We found all these left on the dining table for us by the owner of the apartment, Christine.
Fresh fruits, snacks, and the famous 'Sun Cakes' from Taichung.
That's hospitality!
With MOR being under the weather, he did not feel like going out for dinner that evening. ChC and I went across the street and brought back some pork chop bento for a quick dinner. We have never tried this place before but apparently this is a chain restaurant and turned out to be a great find.
We all agreed that this pork chop bento was of good quality and value.
For dessert? Christine left three large bowls of Cantonese 'turtle pudding' in the fridge. We only shared one and left the others for the future guests. You need to have an acquired taste for this special treat and it's supposedly good with health benefits.
Tomorrow we will leave Taiwan for home.
"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die." John 11:25
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