Macau

Macau is a beautiful and interesting island, combining Chinese and Portuguese cultures (or at least embracing both). It is definitely a touristy area. Casinos are being built all over. It makes me wonder if there will be enough gamblers to go around when they get finished. There is also the obvious presence of prostitution, despite the practice being illegal. I was surprised to see young women approaching men right on the casino floor in the Venetian, one of the most popular and modern casinos in Macau. Cabs are cheap and the food is great. We went and tried some of the famed Portuguese Egg Tarts, and they are not overrated in the least. I wish I could bring some home. There are many old Catholic churches and Buddhist temples to see here and you can immediately sense the historical links to religion that the community is linked to. We also walked through some of the old Chinese neighborhoods and immediately drew looks from locals. I am guessing that this is because I stood out like a sore thumb. It seems strange that so many tourists stick to the casinos and fanfare. Perhaps this is because the area is more of a destination for vacationing Chinese mainlanders than for Westerners. Mainlanders are less likely to visit neighborhoods that remind them of home.

Chih Nan Temple

Chih Nan Temple is an amazing a beautifully kept temple that has a fantastic view of the city of Taipei. You can get there by taking the Maokong Gondola (closed on Mondays for maintenance). Before going you should try and take someone with you who knows the 'rules'. There are some actions that can be considered disrespectful to the gods. Also, don't take your girlfrind or boyfriend to the temple with you. It is rumored that this location is where singles go to see visions of their future, including future loves. There is some kind of cosmic redundancy in taking your significant other there, so be careful!

National Palace Museum

Stopped by the National Palace Museum for a historical perspective on Taiwan. They have many amazing exhibits there, but unfortunately no photos are allowed. I took some out side the museum and museum and in the Chih-shan Garden on the adjacent property. Quite a good value at 10 Taiwanese Dollars (roughly $3.12 US). The most famous item on displays was of a jade carving of cabbage with insects on its leaves. Click here for a picture. I also fed some ferocious fish in the Chih-shan Garden. You can see a video on the uploaded to the video area.

Maokong

Today we took the Maokong Gondola to the highlands Southeast of Taipei (yes, I am afraid of heights). The cable car makes stops at the Taipei Zoo and the Chih Nan Temple before arriving at the small town of Maokong. We headed straight for Maokong. Maokong is famous for their production of quality, high mountain Oolong Tea. We meandered around the streets for a bit before finding a beautiful spot have a tea service. It was a bit cloudy, but still a great view of the city of Taipei.