A DAY OUT - GAUGUIN & OTHERS

Paul Gauguin, "Conversation in the Pasture, Pont Aven"

Cecilia and I bought the tickets for the "Gauguin - Elsewhere" exhibition (11.27.2010 - 02.20-2011) back in November 2010, but only managed to go, finally, on Feb. 7, 2011 (yup, two weeks before it ends). It was the last day of the Chinese New Year holidays, and we decided to take the MRT because we know it would be extremely difficult to find parking spaces. To be honest, I don't remember much about the exhibition, so that's when postcards/cards come in handy, haha!

Paul Gauguin, "Landscapes from Arles"

Claude Monet, "Woman in the Garden. Sainte-Adresse"

The highlight of this exhibition is that we bought a bottle of red wine. Well, big deal...It is, actually. One side of the bottle is carved with Vincent Van Gogh's "Cafe Terrace at Night", limited to 1,000 bottles, and we bought bottle No. 1!



Left Taipie Fine Art Museum around 3:30pm, happy with our trophies, we did another "crazy" thing that afternoon - we waited in line for 90 mins to take a sweet bite of waffles which came highly recommended on the internet at Melange Cafe. When we arrived at 4pm, the number counter was at 351, and the ticket we got was 439! At the end, because it was just two of us and we were willing to sit outdoors, we got the seat quicker than expected and were not charged 10% service fee. Well, as nice the waffles were, I will probably not do this again! BUT...it was a fun day - a perfect note to end the holidays!

WHEN EAST MEETS WEST

Travelled to Beijing for the 2nd time in late November - both times for business. While I didn't get to do any sightseeing during my first visit two years ago, I managed to do a little this time around. I had the good fortune of travelling with a colleague who had lived in Beijing for two years - he became our "tour guide" for half a day.

So we visited the Palace Museum and was surprised to see Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihe dian), the biggest building in the Forbidden City, not under renovation. Our "tour guide" said he has been there four times and this is the first time he gets to see the building in its entirety.

What I want to mention, however, is the clash of eastern and western cultures in Beijing. Once a Communist society, China has gradually been influenced by capitalism. The Swatch and Starbucks stores located in a very Chinese looking commercial area is definitely a sight to see.

Also got to taste some good food. Have to thank our "tour guide" again for that. Nothing fancy, but food which I usually ate in Taiwan but prepared differently gave me a pleasant experience.



However, despite what nice things I might have said about Beijing, I won't want to pay another visit any time soon because it is just too damn cold...