[Travel Log 3-2] First Trip to Taiwan: Jiufen & Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

This is a continuation of [Travel Log 3-1].

Day 3: Eslite Bookstore & Jiufen

It was incredibly hot again on the third day.
So, we decided to spend the morning shopping at the Eslite Bookstore, a shopping mall near our hotel.

Despite the name Eslite Bookstore, it houses a variety of shops, including general goods stores and food outlets. The Eslite Bookstore near Zhongshan Station is huge, so I highly recommend it if you want to do some shopping💞

After that, we moved to Ximending and took a bus to Jiufen!!
It takes about an hour by bus from Ximending to Jiufen.
The road became quite mountainous halfway through, which was pretty thrilling😅

When I think of Jiufen, I think of night views and lanterns! But actually, the ocean and mountain scenery there are also incredibly beautiful✨️

Since we went on a Sunday, it was extremely crowded, but it was a truly wonderful place with a uniquely Taiwanese atmosphere!

What was especially great was A-Mei Tea House! It's rumored to be the inspiration for Spirited Away, and it was a place I absolutely wanted to visit this time!
It seems to be crowded usually, but we were able to get in easily when we went around 8:00 PM! Plus, we were seated on the terrace with a night view right in front of us, and the atmosphere was amazing✨️

The night view was beautiful, the tea was delicious, and the breeze was cool and refreshing. It was such a happy time. We spent about an hour relaxing there, saying we didn't want to leave. It was the best place I visited on this trip👍

We caught a bus around 9:00 PM, and since we were a little hungry, we stopped by the Raohe Night Market on our way back.
It was a huge night market! Besides food, they sold lots of clothes and general goods, which was fun!

I forgot to take a picture, but the pepper bun near the entrance was juicy and had a flavor I really loved😋
And with that, we enjoyed ourselves until night, and Day 3 came to an end!

Day 4: Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

Since we had to leave Taipei before noon on our final day, we only had a few hours for sightseeing. We stopped by the classic tourist spot, the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, at the very end!

As soon as I exited Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Station, a gate towered over me. It was incredibly huge.
Overwhelmed by its presence, I walked straight ahead and arrived at this building.

And when I climbed the stairs in front of it...

It was a beauty so orderly that I couldn't help but whisper, 'How beautiful.'
White stairs, green plants, orange buildings (the National Concert Hall and National Theater), and a blue sky.
While moved by the beauty, I also felt a bit nervous, realizing I had come to such a truly magnificent place.

Inside the building, there was also a statue of Chiang Kai-shek. It made me realize once again that this is a place that symbolizes Taiwan.

Whether I was walking outside or inside the building, everything was grand and on a massive scale. I felt as if I had been shrunk by a 'small light'.

I was able to feel 'Taiwan' right up until the very end, and it was a truly meaningful time.
Even as I write this now, it was such a fun trip that I want to go back. I will definitely go again. 🇹🇼
The only downside was that it was too hot this time, so I think I'll go in a season other than summer next time! Haha