Taipei - Saturday Saunter

Saturday was a day of wandering around and exploring Taipei. Misia, Mel, Lauren, and I headed out of the hotel with only one objective: to wander around Taipei.

Misia, Lauren, and Mel

We headed to a ritzier part of town to look for Misia's dream purse. When we didn't find what we were looking for, we just started to wander. I walked into a shoe store with one pair of flip flops on and walked out with a new pair of sandals on (much needed exchange). Eventually we stumbled upon a garden, of which I have forgotten the name (Aroma Gardens??). I was like a little child when I discovered this egg-sculpture. I think it was actually a part of the children's garden.

Correction: This garden is actually an expo venue. It is the fine arts venue and a section is called the Pavilion of Aroma of Flowers (I knew it had something to do with Aroma). The egg was still in the children's section.

Mel, Lauren and Misia poking their
heads out to say hello!

There was also a concert hall in the park, similar to the concert area in Chicago's Millennium Park. There was some loud instrumental music wafting our way, so we decided to explore. We just happened to be in the park at the same time they were rehearsing for some sort of Taipei beauty pageant or model contest.

We were intrigued for all of 5 seconds and then decided it was time to move onto the next thing. Before hopping into a cab to out next destination, a couple of us had to use the ladies room. The issue was where to find on. While walking along the side of the concert hall, I noticed a sign for a bathroom, however there was a fence in our way. A little further down was the gate, and while it was shut, the lock was not latched, so we decided to open it. When you have to go, you have to go. The bathroom was extremely dark, and while in search of a light switch, an alarm went off. Imagine the panic of four girls in a dark bathroom in a foreign country with a burglary-like alarm going off. We sprinted out of there. About 30 feet away, we found another bathroom.

We took a cab to another part of town. After wandering around for a bit, we happened upon a biergarten and decided it was a good place for lunch. We ended up spending the next three hours there eating and drinking. We figured out how to say "that's what she said" and "your mom" in Mandarin. I can't wait to show off my new-found language skills once I get back home :-) Some pics from our fun lunch.

Wellll...I guess I was having such a good time at lunch, this was the only picture I took. After lunch, we headed back to the hotel to get ready for the alumni dinner that night.

That's about it from Saturday. The next post will be about my weekend trip to the east coast of Taiwan!