Taiwan

Two days in Taiwan, formerly Formosa.

To the people of Taiwan it is a country. To China it is still a part of China. Confusing for everyone. The tour guides tried to explain but i never got it.

Anyway - Day one.

Being entertained as we leave the port of Keelung

We stop for a very early meal.

& into the countryside where we stop at the top of a hill & are told we will walk down the hill, just a few steps & be met by a shuttle bus that will bring us back to the bus at the top.

We start walking down a slope, nice plants on either side, then steps, then steeper steps.

We are a long way down , pass people selling snacks

& I see a sign saying 'Floral Clock' 1 1/2 KM.

The clock is where we are heading but first this silly little dog wearing boots & sunglasses.

Jenny in white sneaking round to get a better shot....

Eventually we make it to the clock..

Bernard occupies his time taking photos of the tourists..

Quite a bit of colour.. & lots of people...

Jenny's husband, Don, who is going to Everest on the way home, gets a back ache from walking down the irregular steps.

Good job the shuttle was there to get us back up or we would still be looking at the clock.

Then it's off to the mountains to see thermal activity. Sulphur & such...

there is a little video show where I take a photo of the butterfly they are showing & head outside to see what is going on

This lady is simulating falling down the hillside. She had climbed over the barricade to do it....

Not exactly Hawaii or Yellowstone.

& this couple getting ready for their wedding photos... Very pretty dress...

Iceland has a lot of thermal stuff - I may call in there one day on my way to Europe.

In fact I will be there in May 2014

& we head for a spa for the dip in the hot springs...Jenny again...

& this super looking dog.

And some good looking art pieces..

Back to Keelung & a quick walk round the night market.

Lots of stalls on the way selling clothes & then the night market itself, Just about all food....

& some great entertainment...

Lots of food on offer & I tried some but I forget what it was..

& time to get ready for tomorrows offering.

Off to a tea ceremony,

or what I was led to believe is a tea ceremony. Not too far from Keelung, in the hills. Not too many steps!

We pass the Squid boat fleet. All the lights on top are alight at night to attract the squid. Looks very impressive at sea...not so much in dock during the day...

and a decorated train...

We get off the bus right next to very nice temple.....

We go shopping in another market. Do not remember what they were selling here but it looks like fun with the large baby bottles..

Some of us walk up an incredibly steep set of stairs & be brave to try some terrible soup. Actually, taro ball soup but it came out sounding as terrible soup.

Not bad though. Here's the guy preparing the Taro...

This is the view from the back of the restaurant...

And the front..

Since I was already up the hill I went a bit further I found a great temple at the top that no one else found...

& this cat with different coloured eyes....

extremely narrow lanes & you had to be vary careful of the traffic..

I also tried some unusual ice-cream. They take a round flat thing like a fajita wrap & spread crushed peanuts on it. Spread flavoured ice cream on that & roll it like a fajita. Delicious - but a bit of a shock, biting into ice cream.

Then we get the 'tea ceremony' or not...a guy comes to the table & shows us how to prepare tea but it is not a ceremony...warm the pot etc etc.

This is Anna from Croatia, a sommelier from the ship. Nice girl...here she plays mother to the table..

The first time she served me wine on board I asked for a glass of Port to accompany my Stilton .

It's very expensive.

She gives me a glass to "taste".

I take a sip - Very good.

She says have a proper taste.

Another sip.

Have a really proper taste - so I finish the glass.

Is that to your liking sir?

Yes.

So she refills the glass. 2 glasses for the price of one.

A view from the table & another couple inside, It was much nicer inside.

Some art work in & around the tea room...

then a walk back through the narrow alley ways..

& another nice temple on the way back to the ship....

& dockside a real treat. Niki, my favourite bartender, out of uniform for the only time on the cruise. She wears pink braces on her teeth.

Non-alcoholic drinks are free on this cruise & I tried all the various concoctions & the occasional speciality coffee.

Plus a beer now & again if it had an exotic name.

More alcohol on this trip than in the previous 5 years combined.

Back to soda with a splash of cranberry juice since getting home.