Catching up: Spring break trip to Taiwan

I took a week-long trip this Spring to Taiwan, going to the cities of Taipei and Kaohsiong. Here are some pics from the trip...

We started off in Taipei at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall...

Upon arrival, I didn't know if I was going to be able to enter... but fortunately "In-N-Out Burger" T-shirts are not considered "slovenly dress."

Statue of Chiang Kai-shek, who moved his government from mainland China to Taiwan in 1949.

We ate lunch at the food court under Taipei 101, the world's second tallest sky-scraper (surpassed two years ago). I enjoyed the following sign at one of the restaurants:

There is a trade dispute between the U.S. and Taiwan over American beef exports to Taiwan. This restaurant proudly shows that it doesn't serve American beef.

Here's a sign you don't see everyday in the States: No eating/chewing Betel nut, a popular mild stimulant throughout Southeast Asia (and also severely rots teeth)

Possibly the best part of life in Asia in general... night markets!

We passed on some of the offerings...

Not that I can write Chinese characters very well (ok, my Chinese writing stinks), but it still is funny to see some of the mistakes in English, such as corn vs com... the "rn" is similar to "m"... Com dogs anyone?

Now this is the good stuff... fresh fruit slushies!

I could eat these every night -- oh wait, I did!

We had a field trip out to the harbor in Kaohsiung... wondering how your HTC cell phone or Acer computers got to you?

That's a lot of trucks...

Hanging out with Steve, Denny and Thy on the waterfront by our hotel

Our hotel, all 85 stories of it...

Fun times, great memories (and lots of work too -- just not pictured)