Taiwan

Arrived in Keelung 6pm on Monday.We all had to go to the terminal with our passports and a photocopy which was stamped.We were told we'd need this to be allowed back into the port.I put mine in a pocket and went to dinner.It must have fallen out because I could't find it at bedtime.My tour was to meet at 7:45am on Tues.so I was able to get the afternoon tour and rhe Purser's office got another photocopy stamped when the Immigration officials were available at 8:30am.This was probably fortuitous as it was raining heavily all morning and while the skies were grey there was no afternoon rain.
The port city of Keelung has grown and there many shops but we didn't stop anywhere.
The buses were double decker and most of us sat on top.The drive to Taipei was about 30 mins.Lots of small cars and TONS of motor scooters which were parked in every crevice available.

Scooters everywhere

A busy street in Taipei

Our first stop was the Sun Yat Sen Memorial in a wide courtyard.
Our next stop was the National Palace Museum,3 floors of paintings,jade,bronze and wood carvings from China's earliest history.When the communists took over Chiang Kai Shek had it all brought to Taiwan.There was one long painting, yards and yards,behind glass that rolled from left to right,depicting life as it was then that was exquisite.The detail was amazing. We saw a jadeite cabbage(the Chinese long one,not our round type) that had a white stem and green leaves.It was magnificent.
A small statue of a woman in a glass case showed the style of beauty of an early dynasty.She was buxom,with tiny full lips,puffy cheeks and a rolled topknot.No photos allowed in the museum.
Our last stop was the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial in a huge courtyard.His statue is seated so high up,approx.100 steps,that I couldn't see it clearly.I climbed only part way.There were two pagodas,one on each side that were so far away I didn't walk to them.The walk to the memorial was enough.

Chiang Kai Shek Memorial

On the way back our bus stopped briefly for us to take a picture of the 101 Tower,which was the tallest building in Asia until the Burj al Khalif (or is it Khalid?)in Dubai.

101 Tower

I thought the tip of the tower didn't show because the picture had to be reduced to upload.The whole thing shows on the original.This is so frustrating.The pictures look dull because the day was dark cold and windy.
We now have two days at sea,our next stop being Korea.

Taipei, Taiwan