Taiwan on

Only joking, but I did find a vodka Margherita in the 7/11 for about 2 bucks.

This way of getting to Childcare looks exciting but not sure if it is, especially on rainy days

Went to Chaing Kai sek memorial this morning which is about the same size as the great pyramid by my reckoning, but I didn't take a tape measure

I did check for photo bombing octogenarians before shooting though.

A short walk from the memorial was the botanical gardens and the national museum. The museum had one floor of museumy stuff and three floors of art. My kind of museum.  Most of the art was quirky but I liked this one

After a swim and a rest I went to Taipei 101 the former (briefly) tallest building in the world.

 Couldn't be bothered waiting in the queue to go up.

Went to another night market for dinner. This one was mixed with food and lots of other stuff.

Got some grilled scallops, a grilled giant mushroom (small size) and a grilled corn cob. The corn is white by the way. These night markets are great. You just get something and eat it. Then when you want to you get something else. The best thing is you can actually eat the food when and where you like - which is not normally the case.

I got an ice cream yesterday in IKEA (don't ask) and had to stand in the corner facing the wall to eat it with the other customers.

Taiwan 2016

First proper day. Wonderful. 

Arrived yesterday, got upgraded to a suite (two rooms, guest bathroom etc)

Went to Longshan temple 

Hoping this ain't what my house looks like when I get back!

It was in an old area of Taiwan with alley ways and all sorts. I went through the herbal medicine laneway and found an old Qing dynasty school which has displays and stuff.

Went to the Taipei zoo afterwards. It had some beautiful animals

Was supposed to be a non-cage zoo I thought.  Sadly it wasn't 

Still, most of the animals had plenty of room. Feel really sad for the birds though.

Going to the Ningxia night markets tonight. This is a food speciality market.

LATER THAT VERY NIGHT

Yep, Ningxia market was definitely good value. I got off at the wrong station but still got there (no comments from the cheap seats please)

Had the famous stinky tofu

There were these old wooden non electric or mechanical poker machines. Kids and all were playing on them.  Earlier in the day I saw some really old pinball machines as well, all wood and hand operated.

PD

Post Dubai that is.  Back home now with mixed feelings naturally.  Holiday is over but it is good to see the children and have the comforts of home.  School holidays now so we can ease our way back in. (let's not talk about the work that needs doing in the house and garden - except to say that Isabel did very well for an 18 yr old).

Dubai was interesting and hot.  I went on a city tour in the morning to the old town,

the museum and some of the highlights of the new town - like the artificial islands and huge buildings,

In the evening we went on a desert adventure with various attractions including falconry

In the toilet

Despite how wonderful Istanbul and Greece are it is an appreciable pleasure to put toilet paper in the toilet.

No picture obviously.

After visiting the Topkapi palace on Wednesday we met up with Bryan and two of his workmates for dinner at the BBC at Gayreteppe. Good to stray a bit further afield.

Thursday was Bosphorous cruise 

and swim for me in Black Sea. Not wussy though, he sat on the shore and took photos.

Yesterday, last morning in wonderful Istanbul then flight to Dubai where we have one full day and the two nights book ending it. Then home to reality.

Amazing Istanbul

Finished a relaxing six days in Kusadasi.  Very enjoyable with lots of swimming and eating. 

 I do seem to have torn or sprained a muscle in my upper arm at the water park, (coupled with having a tumble last night makes me wonder if I am in my 80s rather than my fifties- mind you, I have always fallen over etc, just recovered quicker).

We are now in amazing Istanbul. We arrived last night. Taxi driver couldn't find hotel so dumped us in the general vicinity and wanted an extra 20 lira for his trouble.

  It is such a beautiful city.  Frantic, noisy, chaotic - but beautiful.

Today is rainy and stormy but it should be fine for the rest of our stay.  Planning to buy some crap for Christmas stockings while we are here.

Ephesus

Isn't that a grest word?  Ephesus!  Ephesus, Ephesus, Ephesus.

Went there yesterday.  Very interesting and special.  Went from here on a tour.  The guide was very skilled at turning one and a half hours of interest into five hours of "get me the f*# out of here".  He spoke to the monuments and structures instead of to the people so me and another age inflicted tourist had to constantly manouver to be between him and the monument in question.  As he spoke to several monuments from each standing position it became a dance as intricate as the samba but nowhere near as erotic.

The Greek/Roman/Byzantine ruins are very interesting and the guide to his credit was very knowledgable.

The library is the best known but not so "hot" in its day I guess.

Today we went to Adalan water park.  A different type of attraction but certainly fun.
Now very tired after all the exertions of the day and looking forward to a wee nap before dinner.

Turkey's Surfer's Paradise

Staying in Kusadasi just across the way from Samos.  This is Turkey's tourist beach destination so not much in the way of history or culture but a nice sandy beach.  Lots of glitz and crap just like the gold coast but much cheaper.

In another "Surfers" parallel there have been waves each of the three afternoons we have been here so far.  A combination of the strong onshore winds and the tides etc, I believe waves of any description are rare in the Agean.

The only thing that really says you are in Turkey is the call to prayer five times a day.  It really is a beautiful sound.  There are also mosques instead of churches and the odd bazaar and castle or two.

Another three and a half days here (can't help bad luck).  Off to Ephesus tomorrow for a bit of culcha, and going to a waterpark (Gold Coast anyone) the next day.