Taiwan 2025 - Chiang-Kai-Shek Memorial, Ceiling Shot of Basement Museum

As stated in yesterday's post, it was very sunny and hot the day we took our friends to visit the Memorial.  We didn't know about this on any of our previous visits, but there are several basement floors underneath the statue that are AIR CONDITIONED.  Naturally we gravitated to this reprieve from the heat, and at the same time saw some pretty good exhibits.  Wasn't in the exact center for this ceiling shot, but pretty close.

Taiwan 2025 - Chiang-Kai-Shek Memorial, Changing of the Guard

...and what are all these people waiting for?  Why, it's the Changing of the Guard, similar to what you'd see at the Buckingham in London or Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the U.S.:

It was hot, hot, hot that day; don't see how they did it in those uniforms without fainting dead away.

Taiwan 2025 - Chiang-Kai-Shek Memorial, Outside View of Memorial Hall

This is a view of the Memorial Hall itself, which contains a Lincolnesque statue inside, per below.  Dwarfs anything seen in Washington...

Taiwan 2025 - Chiang-Kai-Shek Memorial, Macro-view of Complex

This is a view of same from the Memorial Hall at one end of the venue.  The buildings to the left and right are museums and administrative offices:

It's something that this entire complex is a dedication to the one man credited with the birth and development of Taiwan as we know it today.  He truly was the George Washington of their place and time.

Taiwan 2025 - Chiang-Kai-Shek Memorial, Liberty Square Arch

Now that we've been to Chiang-Kai-Shek's residence, let's have a look at his memorial, which is truly massive.  This is one of the entrances, called the Liberty Square Arch; looking at the people gives an idea on just how big it is.

Taiwan 2025 - Chiang-Kai-Shek Residence, Radiant Flower at Entrance

The last shot of the Residence series, captured at the entrance/exit on the way out.

While we're doing Chiang things, think we'll go to his Memorial Hall next...

Taiwan 2025 - Chiang-Kai-Shek Residence, Rose Garden Sign

Caught this sign for the Rose Garden on our way out, which I hadn't noticed before...

Full pic below:

Taiwan 2025 - Chiang-Kai-Shek Residence, Backlit Purple Bloom

Our time was growing short, so we headed toward the exit in time to grab a bite to eat.  I lost the group in stopping to snap off a few such as this guy.  Spent a bit of time in post-capture separating the plant into its own layer so the background could be desaturated to black-and-white, which I think turned out OK.  Original pic below:

Taiwan 2025 - Chiang-Kai-Shek Residence, Cradle Shot #2

Looking in another direction yields another cradle shot...

Taiwan 2025 - Chiang-Kai-Shek Residence, Cradle Shot #1

After some 150 steps to the top we found ourselves on a platform with views far into the city of Taipei itself.  I zoomed in and captured the first of what I'll call cradle shots; zoomed out perspective of same below: