(Updated 8 June)
Morning, and we are off to Taipei. 1st stop, 228 peace park. Resembles Central park in NYC. Built as a memorial for an incident similar to peristiwa 513 in Malaysia. Parts of the park were built at different eras. Eg. a private building now turned museum was built during Japanese occupation of Taiwan, and several Chinese structures during the Qing dynasty.
The park features a dense array of trees, man-made ponds; ancient artifacts, steam locomotives number 1 & 9 and also of course, various user friendly structures to name but a few.
The surroundings on bird's eye, the city planning runs on a grid pattern very similar to U.S. style(NYC). This is due to Japan's policy of Expansionism & Industrialization picked up during her sending of students abroad. Besides importing architectural & urban planning styles from the U.S. Japan also introduced modern efficient infrastructure to Taiwan as a step towards modernization. As Japan's occupation showed no mercy to Qing fortress walls, we could not help but notice that the Mayor of the time 'rocks from city blocks'.
Taiwan, after numerous attempts from mainland China to annex it had to have a stronger national identity, as well as an unwavering patriotic fervour. Therefore several plans were drawn up to preserve buildings & structures which were older than 80 years old. And this happened decades ago.
Then we came across the National Taiwan University Hospital. You know, a picture is worth (more than) a thousand words. Queen Anne style, verandah etc. Will add on more once i can upload the pix.
Next stop, endless rows of, interestingly, shophouses! These buildings had had their technology 'borrowed' from Malaysia & S'pore, refined, adapted and put to good use.
Seemingly different from their Jamek mosque-Petaling st. counterpart, these Taipei shophouses accomodates an even wider '5-ft-way' to allow the ground floor entrance to shy away from sun penetration. They are normally a couple of stories higher than our own version at home, allowed by better technology and obliged by a denser population quota around specific areas of Taipei.
Had beef(AGAIN!!!) noodles for lunch. Got milk?
And then... the Taiwanese 'White house' or President's building, guarded by dozens of rifle wielding guards. (no photo shooting or they shoot you)
Lastly some breath-taking space. Looks like Hyde park. (will update) very very brutalism.
Guten nacht.
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