Taiwan 2014 Day 10 Our Last day in Tainan

Today was a memorable day as we explored the lesser-known parts of Tainan, on our final day in this incredible city. Our first stop was Tainan Park, which we were told was

"It's Just A Park" 

But we were pleasantly surprised by its beauty and magnificence. We enjoyed our breakfast in an exquisite pagoda, surrounded by a lotus pond teeming with koi fish and terrapins. The park was filled with the songs of birds, the buzzing of dragonflies, and colorful butterflies fluttering about in the clear blue sky.

 We arrived with our breakfast in a bag and realised it was in fact a beautiful city park, typical of the ones we have visited in China, far removed from the parks in the UK. We ate our breakfast in a very elaborate pagoda, next to an ornate bridge spanning a lotus pond full of koi carp and terrapins. The sky was blue, and all around were amazing things to see.

As we strolled along the paths, we were mesmerized by the colorful flowers, towering banyan trees, and the playful brown squirrels scampering amongst the branches. It was heartwarming to see the older Taiwanese generation enjoying the park, playing chess, sipping tea, practicing tai chi, and engaging in lively badminton games. It was a magical morning that we will always cherish. 

Although we could have easily spent the entire day at

 'It's Just A Park,'

 we decided to visit the ancient streets one last time. This area is filled with historic buildings, such as the old customs building and the soldiers' hostel, which have been beautifully restored and converted into trendy shops or mini-museums. 

To cap off our unforgettable time in Tainan, we headed to the Hayashi Department Store, where we added some gifts to our collection (for ourselves) and savored some delicious Japanese drinks. We returned to our room to pack our bags and prepare for a late-night drink, to soak in the vibrant atmosphere of this fascinating city. We will surely miss Tainan as it has a unique charm that sets it apart from Taipei, not to mention the scorching heat that we will never forget!