40 seconds to the top - May 2015

Our method of choosing a holiday spot largely depends upon the number of people in the family who have or have not been to the destination. With Taiwan being stamped in NO ONE's passport and being a mere 500 nautical miles from HK (I think), this was a no-brainer for the long weekend in early May.

Taiwan is small and has loads to offer, but we opted to stay in one spot for this short trip - Taipei. I was a bit nervous we would be bored with just another city, but two things prevented this: Krispy Kreme and Taipei 101, which is sadly the correct order (we actually bought three dozen doughnuts, ate one dozen in one sitting and brought home two dozen on the plane - embarrassing). I find it interesting that I have no photos of our entire family standing in line to enter Krispy Kreme. Of course, this could go back to the embarrassing comment.

Taipei 101 according to Lonely Planet (I had to lift the photo from the internet):
Towering above the city like the gigantic bamboo stalk it was designed to resemble, Taipei 101 is impossible to miss. At 508m, Taipei 101 held the title of 'world's tallest building' for a number of years, though it now must be content with the world's tallest green building (as in eco-friendly, not envious).
it takes a mere 40 seconds to get from ground level to the 89th-floor observation deck. Observation decks are on the 88th and 89th floors, with an outdoor deck on the 91st floor opened on some occasions, weather permitting. Don't miss the massive gold-coloured iron wind damper that keeps the tower stable through typhoons and earthquakes.

From the top

 The coffee pot lights!!!

So, we could only rent three bikes at a time and it took us almost an hour to do that! The concept is fabulous if you can get the credit card to work and remove the bikes from the locks. Next time:/

 Beitou Hot Springs museum (specifically, the Taiwan cinema history room)

 I have to wonder what these strangers do with the photos of Ellis on their phones. We are occasionally stopped in another Asian country, other than HK, and asked if Ellis can pose for a picture WITH the people who ask.  Ellis is such a good sport and always agrees.