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:

Taiwan 2025 - Chiang-Kai-Shek Residence, Millipede

On the way back from Chiang's residence we spied some stone stairs leading a ways up to something.  No restrictions or barriers, so up we went, seeing lots of these critters on the way.  Such an amazing variety of creatures we have on this planet...

Taiwan 2025 - Chiang-Kai-Shek Residence, Sitting Room

Thought this sitting room was significant because of the picture of Christ front and center, an obvious display of where their faith stood.  And if there was any doubt among visitors, a full explanation was provided in nearby signage:

Near the end of our self-guided tour, we told a couple of the docents that a friend of ours at church in Texas (a white Caucasian) actually knew and befriended Madame Chiang (pictured above) after Madame moved to the U.S. following the death of Chiang.  Our friend's husband minded the financial affairs of retired Heads of State, and Madame Chiang was one of his clients.  They visited one another both in California and later in New York.  These docents got pretty excited about that, saying "Wow, that's pretty sacred to us...please give her this on our behalf!", then handed us a brochure with Madame's picture on it.  We didn't give our friend the brochure when we got back to Houston, but told her about what they said, to which she waved it off and replied, "No big deal."

Taiwan 2025 - Chiang-Kai-Shek Residence, Porthole View

Porthole looking out into the front garden, complete with pond and fountain.