Day 77 + 7: Tapei

Today is a holiday in Taiwan, the Mid-autumn Moon Festival.  It is a harvest festival celebrated for over 3000 years dating back to the Shang Dynasty of China.  It is held on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese calendar, which is in September of October of the Gregorian calendar.  On this date the moon is at its fullest and roundest.   Of course the celebration in Taiwan is surrounded by food.  People used to picnic, but now everyone seems to BBQ or go to restaurants.  We were going to go to an all-you-can eat BBQ place for dinner, but after trying 2 or 3 we gave up as each had a 3-4 hour wait to get a seat.  Just about every restaurant was packed which is amazing since Taipei is filled with restaurants on every corner.   We did get some all-you-can eat for lunch when we went out with Charlotte's friend Evelyn for Japanese food.

From 77 Days in China part 2

Tomato appetizer

From 77 Days in China part 2

Sashimi

From 77 Days in China part 2

Fried chicken

From 77 Days in China part 2

All you can eat beef that is cooked in a pot in front of you

From 77 Days in China part 2

Dessert

After lunch we went to a coffee house while Charlotte and Evelyn caught up talking for a couple hours. When we left we could already see the moon and people were BBQing on small grills on the sidewalks. We then found a restaurant that was only a 10 minute wait to have dinner with Charlotte's mother and family friends.

From 77 Days in China part 2

The moon over Taipei

Also the most important thing to eat today is moon cakes. Charlotte's mother had gotten many different kinds so we had to try multiple moon cakes. They vary quite a bit, some have an egg in them, however the ones she got had mochi in them and were either taro, red been or green been.