33B33/25 - pin another country

I got a chance to join a very special tour to Taiwan last week. Took 5 hours flight from Jakarta to Taoyuan International Airport (CKS). And because this was suppose to be a Pilgrim tour, all served food were vegetarian food started in the plane - not very nice tho, steamed cabbage roll with mushroom and fake meat inside, vermicelli, and some cold salad. Most of the people politely made a small bite and pushed the tray aside while chatting or continue their sleep. 

After the long hour of waiting in the airport and sitting on the bus we finally get in to our hotel room - which was awesome! 3 beds for 2 people, and eat yummy dinner in a paper box.

A day after that we directly went to Emei Lake. Half way to the Lake I could see there were a long queue of buses. This is definitely not any ordinary tour,  it was a Pilgrim tour together with the rest of 3000 people from everywhere in Indonesia alone and some hundreds people from other Asian country such as Malaysia, Singapore, Korea and Japan. They came in the same day on the 5th of March to take part in the Official Opening Ceremony of Nature Loving Wonderland. It's too bad I couldn't post any picture from the ceremony, that's because taking picture were not allowed at that time and anywhere inside the building.  Feeling so bad at that time because couldn't take picture, Mr Chai was one of the official, he stood in line wearing very nice white traditional suite clapping his hands together with hundreds of youth from Asian Country. He was standing at end part of the line near the main door of the building, I guess that's because he was one of the most handsome guy there. 

Being an official, Mr Chai was in the separate group of tour - I will not going to see him anymore in Taiwan after that day.  And for the building it self, I'll probably will write another post about it. 

After the ceremony there was a little bit performance from some youth groups from Indonesia. Stayed there for a while before the tour leader called us back to the bus. Made a quick stop at the night market and didn't buy anything.

The 3rd day was a full day, we had a Taipei City Tour. Woke up early in the morning and successfully took picture in the driver seat and said hello to an old dog in front of the hotel. We went to Shillin Official Residence - not very impressed with the garden because I've seen better, but I love the cafe there. Took the first group photo in front of the garden. Continue to CKS Memorial Hall where they had a big ceremony celebrating 100 years of the ROC. We saw Mr President there.
Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall was a great place where you could find lots of teenager practicing their hiphop move on the Terrace and young family with babies or dogs. Visited Taipei 101 - the world's tallest building today, didn't managed to climb up because we didn't have time. Went to Ximending Night Market - where I considered it as one of the shopping heaven in the world.
Slept with tired eyes...

4th day was quite loose, we went to Taizhong district. Went to Sun Moon Lake and crossed the lake with a yacht. Have you ever see any chinese painting which showing a water body with some branches around it and a cotton like mist hovering above the water? Yes, that the best I could describe about this place. Took some pictures with lots of owls in Te Hua Village - another shopping heaven here.. Climbed up to Wen Wu Temple, looking at lots of people burnt chinese incense, successfully threw coins into the pots in front of the Gods of Health, Love, and Wealth - yes, all the 3 of them, hopefully I will have a good health, love and wealth in the future. Eat chinese tea eggs - yummy! before we went back to the bus heading back to the hotel. Sitting in the bus listening the ladies singing karaoke while keep asking my self how come the actor look like Mr Chai - did I miss him or it's just a coincidence.

We revisited the temple at Emei Lake at the last day, had a proper tour inside the massive building and the statue, but still not allowed to take any pictures. We had a gala dinner at that night, together with all the tour member around 800 people - and this was the 3rd gala dinner - yep, a lot!

We flew back to Jakarta in the morning and touched down just after lunch time. I hugged all the people I know before saying good bye.
So... YAY!! I can cross 1 item from my (unfinished) 33B33 list.