We planned to go to the lily flower fields, but found out they were not open on this government holiday. This event is one I am very unhappy to have missed during my stay. Plan B took us via local bus and MRT to Danshui, the northern most stop of the MRT. Ch taught us how to ride the bus to the MRT station, a new experience for me. The ride north was not too crowded as you will see in the pictures. You will also see why I LOVE taking the MRT...I wish we had more public transportation options in the US. The girl next to A on the MRT is wearing glass frames without any glass...we think it is a fashion statement, but we are not sure! I don't believe it would be so much fun to wear them if they held prescriptions lenses required to see!
Danshui has been compared to the "Jersey Beach." I'm not sure how close that describes it, but it was hectic, dirty, crowded, loud, interesting, fun...all of the above. It is "famous" for its seafood, especially the squid prepared in numerous ways as you will see from the pictures. I still am not convinced I want to eat tomatoes on a stick that have been dipped in candy a la a candied apple (see picture). I took pictures as we walked along the water. Please note that a Chinese opera was being performed in the midst of all the activity. Can you see the musicians and helpers? All are on stage and doing their own thing as the performers are working...including smoking and drinking!
Ch ate his way down the beach, A shopped her way down the beach, and we arrived at the ice cream cone store together. A had already told me about the ice cream cones available for NT10 (around 35 cents). I stood in line to get my mango ice cream cone. 3 people sit facing 3 machines...mango and lemon, green tea and vanilla (?), and chocolate and vanilla. You point to one of 3 pumps...in my line mango, lemon, or mixed. The worker never turned around as I placed NT10 in her hand and pointed to the plain mango pump. S/he hands you a cookie cone with ice cream twists that are almost 10 inches high! The ice cream was absolutely delicious...see pictures as we are chowing down.
We boarded a boat to take the round trip to Bali Island across the bay. We walked along the boardwalk to the end, dodging countless bicycle renters of all ages who drove like Taiwanese taxi drivers on learner permits! The boardwalk allowed us some sense of safety as the bicyclists were "supposed" to stay on their path, not ours. Please note the soldier/outerspace statue at the end of the boardwalk. I tried my darnedest to find out what the statue was called, but found nothing. You are invited to use your imagination as I did. I must tell you that C often rides her bike from Tian Mu to Danshui to have lunch with friends at a Mexi-restaurant with good Margaritas! It's a 15 mile ride, and the Ks have also done it as a family. I will stick with the MRT, even though the Ks have 5 bikes, including one that C won.
All in all it was a very fun day, and we ended it with our curry dinner.
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