🇹🇼🇹🇼🇹🇼 JW February 29, 2024 Taipei Zoo and more

 A great day to indulge my love of zoos. Warm and sunny. I must say the theme was birds…

Palowan Peacock-Pheasant

This Eastern Cattle Egret was hanging around where people were eating. An obvious celebrity who posed, scrounged and the subject of much curiosity.

And of course there were other animals …

From my collection of sleeping animal photos 

My entry into the Synchronized Tail-switching competition 

And of course a few flowers

🇹🇼🇹🇼🇹🇼 JW February 28, 2024 Taipei, Taiwan - Shilin Park and Longshan Temple

 My second trip to Taiwan and Taipei. After a 3 hour flight and a trek through the subway and quite a bit of walking ended up at the funky Papa Whale hotel. Great place … some quite different.

The next day started out sunny so went to Shilin Park having their tulip festival. The crowds were incredible so just had the stamina for the first 30% but …

Longshan temple, 300 years plus of history. Well attended today and full of interest!

Across from the temple … playing 

The worlds largest mango smoothie … I had no idea it was that big! 

🇲🇴🇲🇴🇲🇴 JW Macau - February 25, 2024 - Final thoughts and …

 Currency tip: A little bit confusing but interesting. The Macau dollar (Pataca) is currently worth about .1675 CAD and the Hong Kong dollar about .173 CAD. The Hong Kong dollar is permanently fixed at 1.03 to the Macau dollar. The Macao dollar is backed by foreign exchange reserves (The Hong Kong dollar). The Hong Kong dollar is backed by the U.S. dollar. While both Macau and Hong Kong are technically China, both are a special administrative zones. Each has its own currency. The Macau dollar is issued by two different chartered banks. Macau dollars and Hong Kong dollars are acceptable in Macau. In Hong Kong, Macau dollars are not. Coins are interchangeable in both places. To add to the confusion, you must change Macau dollars to Hong Kong dollars to play the machines and purchase casino chips. 

View from Guia Fortress 17th century Portuguese military fort

Caged window treatment with a little class

Huge crowds of picture taking tourists 

Facade ruins of St Paul’s from 17th century 

🇲🇴🇲🇴🇲🇴 JW Macau - February 23, 2024 - Turbojet Ferry to Hong Kong

 Today, a quick Turbojet ride on the Macau ferry to Hong Kong. One hour duration, ultra smooth and CAD $30 per trip. Seniors enjoy a discount ( he he). Going through customs each way is relatively quick. A few pics …

Through the sea spray, film and debris a poor shot is better than none!

Our vessel

Assorted bulk consumables like mushrooms

Friendly Barista

Yummy snacks liked Salted Egg Chips

He was actually sorting Ginseng roots

Double decker buses

Red whiskered Bulbul

Genki Sushi conveyer belt restaurant for lunch. Highly recommended

Price comparison in Hong Kong CAD $220

$258 in CAD $