Last weekend after we finished our tour of Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, we visited a couple of markets they have here every weekend in Da'an district (part of Taipei City), called the Jade Market and the Flower Market.  Both were pretty overwhelming - a lot more than either of us expected to see.

First the Flower Market - this place sells everything from freshly cut beautiful flowers to potted plants, herbs, vegetables, and even huge trees.  It's also a place you can get potting soil, seeds, pots and vases, and pretty much anything else related to plants.  It was literally dizzying to look at everything in the market.  At least it was under a covering so we didn't have to walk through the rain.

The Jade Market was equally overwhelming.  It was a huge room full of vendors that sold all sorts of jewelry, jade, and beads, as well as some pottery, paintings and carvings.  I'm amazed that they have these markets every weekend.  After a while everything started looking the same so we decided to leave.  I think I'm going to have to go back before we leave Taiwan and get some things to take home with me.

In other news, we experienced our first earthquake here on Tuesday morning.  It wasn't a huge one (5.6 and centered in the east of Taipei - read about it here), but still strange.  I think it's weird how the body reacts - you feel like you are getting really dizzy and that you are the one moving.  It's a really disorienting feeling; you feel like you're swaying and might fall over.  Then you realize things around you are moving - light fixtures, curtains, cupboard doors - and your body starts to readjust and feel the room moving.

1 Comment

1. Anonymous on June 17, 2010 at 4:51 PM

   I feel dizzy just by reading your description about the earthquake...
   Yes,you have to go back to the markets before you leave Taiwan to get something for us.I want that tree!!!Ha.
   --Li