Taipei City Zoo

It had been raining all weekend since we arrived in Taipei. The first break of sun on Monday brought us to the Taipei City Zoo. Fresh air and outdoors, we were like birds out of the cage. Even the boxed lunch, sold by vendors outside the Zoo gate tasted delicious. It turned out to be a perfect day to take a walk up the main road then zigzag your way down through the many different habitats. We spent about three hours there. Among the animals, the camels and the local oxen made the day. We took the Mu Tsar Line Rapid Transit to and from the Zoo. This line is above ground instead of under so we got to see all the hills that used to separate Mu Tsar from Taipei. It's a short fifteen minute ride from Chung Hsiao Fu Hsin Station. 

Tien Mu Playground

The next break from rain, we visited the Tien Mu Park. I grew up not far from the park and have fond and vivid memories of a playground in the park. The playground was kept with an updated appearance. I was glad to see the maze, the swings, the seesaws, the stone camels and the skating ring from my childhood, even though they may have been resurfaced, painted or replaced. My daughter felt right at home in "Mommy's Playground" and had a good time there. The park borders a creek and has trails led up to the Grass Mountain (Yang Min Shan). I knew because I had taken many trips up the creek and over the backwoods when I was little when the area was not populated at all. The park is locate at the end of Chung San North Road and ten minute walk to the east.

Window on China

We took a trip outside of Taipei to Window on China amusement park with Samantha's grandfather and his neighbors. Samantha took a few kiddy rides there and we adults enjoyed the miniature duplications of many familiar landscapes and many more unfamiliar ones. The park is about  a one and a half hour one way bus ride from Taipei.

Changing of Guards at Sun Yat-sen Memorial

Everyday, from ten in the morning till five in the afternoon, on the hour, you could catch the changing of guards show at Sun Yat-sen Memorial. Many school children had field trips there. They all enjoyed the robotic motions and the acrobatic gun twirling skills demonstrated by the guards.

Aladdin's Playground

One rainy day, we found this indoor playground right outside the gate of the Chinese Cinematic Studio. It's a lot of jumping and climbing. Sliding down a giant rubber slide and flying on a chair over a safety net seemed very exiting that even I wanted to try but was not allowed. This place is about ten minute's bus ride away from the Shi Lin Rapid Transit Station.

Gardens in Shi Lin Presidential Residence

There are a rose garden, an English garden and a Suchou garden. What children would enjoy most is the big pond preserved to be an insect habitat. It's an impressively big place for strolling and about 20 minute's walk from the Rapid Transit Yuen San Station. 

Children's Cultural Villages in Yuen Shan

We were looking for the old children's rides by the Gee Long River.  It was flooded. Instead we found this gem on the old zoo site. Its many villages house a rich collection of folk crafts and artifacts. There are puppet shows and hands-on folk toy demonstration. The little shop inside sells retro toys like a twirling hand drum, a bamboo dragonfly and a magic flower. We filled our bags with these toys to bring back to the States to impress our neighbors and friends. 

Hsin Tien Gong Temple

The bright red doors and the big stone lions would caught anybody's attention. The guards politely asked us down the stone lions after we had taken a couple of snapshots. The smoke of incense mists the air. The candles burn bright even in broad daylight. The majestic dragon carvings perch on the roof. What Samantha enjoyed most was throwing the three wooden crescents on the floor to see if her  wish had been granted. The temple is at the corner of Hsin Shen North Road and Min Chung East Road.