So, it's the final day in Taiwan, and there has been a lot to unpick. Even though we're heading back to Bangkok, an early evening flight means we still have a good part of the day free in the city. It's just as well, as we've hardly touched the downtown area where we've been staying. We put together a breakfast using the facilities around us, both in the hotel and just outside in the street. Things have never been so convenient. We just need to pack our things and leave luggage in reception now. I've commented before on the excellent facilities at City Inn, but I can add to that the excellent friendly service by the hotel staff. It's now time to explore.
So far, we've used the metro a lot, but there are other useful transport services that use the EasyCard system. Government buses can be more convenient in some circumstances if you are at street level. We have a shortlist of city attractions, and the first we can reach by taking bus 265. With this bus, we can get off at Langshan Temple, one of the city's iconic landmarks. It's the first major and probably last religious attraction we will visit in Taiwan. It's worth it to come here and wish for a good life, but the traditional architecture is well worth seeing too.
'Longshan Temple is one of Taipei's oldest landmarks, located in the historic Wanhua District. Founded in 1738 by settlers from Fujian province in China, it's dedicated primarily to Guanyin (the Goddess of Mercy) but blends Buddhism, Taoism, and folk religion with over 100 deities enshrined throughout the complex.
The temple has survived (and been rebuilt after) earthquakes, fires, and even WWII bombing raids, standing as a symbol of resilience and local faith. Its stunning architecture features intricate carvings, dragon pillars, colourful mosaics made from porcelain and glass, and a serene yet vibrant atmosphere filled with worshippers'.
We leave the worshippers in peace and figure out how to get to our next attraction. With some local help we wait for bus 18, but I feel that using the metro would have been a better option.
Unlike the last few days, the weather is cloudy with a few spots of rain. During this spell we arrive at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, or more precisely the Liberty Square Archway, which leads to the memorial. Walking through the archway takes us past the National Concert Hall on the left and the National Theatre on the right. The memorial is at the far end of Liberty Square. I approach the memorial, noting the steps leading to it, but it's not until I get closer that I realise there is a queuing system in place, as there seems to be a limited number of people allowed inside the memorial at any one time. It's not going to happen for me due to the limited time available, but I'm glad I made it here. The point is that anyone who knows something about this region's history will have heard of Chiang Kai-shek, and that includes me.
The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is one of Taipei's most iconic landmarks and a major tourist attraction. Located in Zhongzheng District, it honours the former President of the Republic of China who led Taiwan from 1949 until his death in 1975.
After losing the Chinese Civil War to Mao Zedong's Communists, Chiang Kai-shek and the Nationalist government fled to Taiwan in late 1949. He personally arrived on December 10, 1949, after evacuating from Chengdu, never to return to the mainland. This retreat involved relocating around 1-2 million people (soldiers, officials, and civilians), along with gold reserves, cultural artefacts, and the entire ROC government apparatus. Ever since the evaluation, China has wanted Taipei for itself.
With these two attractions visited, it's the best we could have expected today. We really hadn't focused on the city so far, and of course there are many more options which we've missed, but just one more is necessary both as an attraction in its own right and as a place for shopping. On this occasion, we revert back to the metro for two stops on the Green Line, arriving at Ximending.
Ximending Walking District is one of Taipei's most vibrant and iconic neighbourhoods. Located in the Wanhua District, it's Taiwan's largest pedestrian zone - a bustling, car-free area often called the 'Harajuku of Taipei' for its youthful energy, trendy fashion, and pop culture vibe. Here are some stunning views of the district at night, when the neon lights, crowds, and billboards really come alive. We've come here mainly to buy souvenirs and shop for a friend. We also use this attraction to provide us with lunch. We have spare currency to use up and go for a typical Taiwanese meal. It's something quite different as we order baby lobster. I have to admit the flavours are amazing, quite spicy and certainly different from Thai food.
With the Taiwan experience practically over, it's time to head back to City Inn to collect our luggage. It's just two stops away by bus but only a 10-minute walk. Even though I'm suffering some back pain, there is little other discomfort, and we decide to walk. It won't be the last. Collecting the luggage, we walk over to the train station, where, so typically, the Purple Metro line to the airport is at the far end. The metro trains are so frequent that we practically walk straight onto a train, and we arrive at the airport in plenty of time.
Checking in at Taoyuan International Airport, security and passport control are straightforward. There are a couple of issues, though, with the flight. Firstly, there is a delay in departure and a long hold on the runway, meaning we leave 30 minutes late. The second issue concerns the booking itself. It's standard these days to have to pay more for seat selection on budget airlines and to charge for a meal. We decide to pay for neither. It means that we get to sit apart, but I do get an aisle seat, which I prefer. Finally leaving at 7:00 PM, it will be late arriving in Don Mueang, although we gain an hour time difference.
Once in the air, there are over three and a half hours of boredom, as there is no entertainment on board. Not too many Thai AirAsia flights last this long. I actually find the flight uncomfortable and cannot wait to land. Relief comes around 9:30 PM local time. Luckily there are no queues at immigration, although I get a raised eyebrow as I've stretched to the limit my visa-free stay. We collect luggage and pass through security heading for the drop-off area. Katoon thinks we can jump into a taxi here, but things have changed, and not for the better. There are some taxis prepared to wait for passengers but not on a metered fare. They hope to get a fixed rate inflated for foreigners. I thought that practice had disappeared. Fortunately, we have a backup plan. We still have the Grab app and order transport that way. That works well, and we get a good rate. It's still quite late arriving at the residence, and I will need an hour to wind down for sleep. Luckily, I have a beer in the fridge to help with that.
In terms of writing a conclusion to this tour, there's a lot to unpack. This had been a successful but quite demanding tour.

Source: Visit