Hello again. We had an interesting day. We visited the Confucius and Bao'an Temples (separate but across the road from each other) - they are very nice indeed as can be seen in the photo section.

We also joined another Walking Tour - this one focussed on the historical background to modern day Taiwan. Some Countries are cursed by their geographical or strategic location and are then conquered by others as a result - Vietnam is an example.

Taiwan has variously been ruled by:- The original inhabitants (not much is known of them), the Dutch, the Spanish, the Japanese, the Chinese, the exiled Chinese Government (the current ones) and, if they have their way in the future, the Chinese again. Pretty interesting, but turbulent. It's a real credit to the Taiwanese people that they get along together so well.

We had a very nice dinner with some of the Walking Tour participants and then back to the Hotel to escape the vast crowds out to enjoy the end of the Lantern Festival.

Some other things we learnt on the day:- 1). Don't jaywalk here. It confuses the locals & may result in your near or actual demise. Sorry people!. 2). Don't exit a Taxi on the traffic side of the vehicle - you may destroy either a scooter or a the rear door of a Taxi, or both, and 3). Before you go out, ask the Hotel people to write your destination in Mandarin on a piece of paper to be handed to the Taxi Driver.

Lastly, this text is a repeat, with some changes I think, to my earlier Blog - I accidently deleted the original. I hate this Tablet with a passion.