A Tree

This tree was in the garden of Marty's Shrine. It is interesting how even in Taipai they are using Japanese influences with the shaping of their trees.

The Changing of The Guards

We were at Marty's Shrine for only a little while, but we were lucky enough to see the changing of the guards. Black boots with white laces, gold braids and trims, white uniforms an white metal hats. These marching guards were to replace the guards that we had seen on duty back at the gate.

I believe the changing of the guards is done on the hour by active military personnel. Standing for an hour and not moving would be terribly boring, though I guess they get to look at all us tourists walking past.

Marty's Shrine Gateway

This is the view of the Marty's Shrine Gateway from inside the grounds. Certainly very impressive.

As a stitcher and lace maker, I can see all kinds of inspiration here.

Marty's Shrine - A Closer View

This was about as close as we got to the shrine at the end of the roadway. If we look closely, we can see the guards that were marching down. We were about to witness the changing of the guards at the gateway

Pattern

As an embroiderer and stitcher, pattern has always fascinated me. The thing that I found in Japan was that there was so much pattern in the decorating of the structures. These patterns were found at the base of the gateway to Marty's Shrine

The Long View

This was the view through the gateway up the roadway to the shrine. We had very little time here, so we only walked a little way up towards the shrine. Besides, something biggish was about to happen and we would have been in the way.

The lady in the yellow dress (whose face I have blotted out), is one of the reasons that we only had a short amount of time here.

A Guard

Life has been getting in the way and I've been neglecting my holiday pics so I will try to start again. There are still more to come.

This is one of the guards that was on duty at Marty's Shrine. Standing very still, on his post in the gateway, I wonder what he would have done if one of us had done something we were not supposed to.

Marty's Shrine

Marty's Shrine was the next stop on our shortened tour, and this was the impressive gateway into the grounds. We were only here for a short while, so we were going to make the most of out time.