The team visited the Longshan Temple, which is approximately 270 years old and located in one of the oldest areas of Taipei. We learned that Longshan has both Buddhist and Doa altars, and was built for the people. Our visit was on the first day of the lunar calendar, so many people crowed the temple to pray to the various gods represented at the many altars.
We learned that, in the past, residents went to the temple to get prescriptions for ailments; therefore, herb vendors were located nearby. The team visited some shops that carried herbs, and that were just around the corner.
We had lunch at another local Taiwanese restaurant, and preceded to Deihua Street where we visited shops that specialized in dried fruits, vegetables and unique items such as dried shark fins.
Our afternoon visit was at the offices of the Taipei County Building. The team was given a tour of the offices, which includes a kindergarten for the children. The government offices are centralized here to provide one-stop-shopping for the residents of Taipei County.
We made an unscheduled stop at the office of PDG Trading, where we sat in for a demonstration of a new water filtration system. Water purity is as much a concern for the people who live in Taipei as it is for those who live elsewhere.
On the way back to our drop-off point our van died in the middle of the road. Since we weren’t far away we took taxi’s back.
The Members of the 2008 District 7680 GSE Team are:
Team Leader: Rotarian Joni Stanley, a retired bank Vice-President
Team Member: Meredith Alm, Assistant Manager of Extreme Ice Center
Team Member: Jennifer Pearsall, Director of Charlotte Mecklenburg School System's English as a Second Language program
Team Member: Juontonio "JP" Pinckney, Foreign Exchange Analyst at Wachovia Bank
Team Member: Lena Warmack, Reporter for The Charlotte Observer
2 comments:
Hey Meredith!
Your dad just told me today about this blogsite. I've read about your first 4 days, but now it's late. I'll read the rest and see the other pics tomorrow. Yay for you and all that you're learning. Can't wait to see you.
-Aunt Susie
Meredith,
I am catching up on the last few days of your blog! All the places just keep getting prettier, it seems. The roads on the mountains remind me of Costa Rica, though!
Did the deer embryo work for you? And, look out, little blue pill, there are antlers after you!
I think you all look fantastic in your Aboriginal garb, by the way!
I can't wait to hear all about it and I hope you enjoy your last few days. What a trip of a life time! You are a lucky and deserving girl and we love you lots!
- Poppy, Doug, and Forrest
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