May 26, 2018 Day 5 Taiwan

The mangoes, pineapple, and watermelon were so sweet in Taiwan.  Also pictures above is the wax apple (which looked like an oblong apple and was juicy inside like asian pear) and cherimoya (often referred to as the most delicious fruit known to man - which I disagree with - and tastes like a banana/pineapple).  

We stopped at a mango farm where they also processed them for shipping to other countries.  We purchased dried mangoes here and also freshly pureed and frozen mangoes in bottles.  They cut fresh mangoes for us and they were unbelievable sweet.

David, our guide, is introducing us to the wax apple.  Jonathan and I both had allergic reactions to it.  Fun fact:  he flower of this tree is used in Taiwan to treat fever and halt diarrhea.

Our tour guide had us meet at this temple before starting the days festivities which included the Anping Old Fort, Anping Treehouse, a stop for custard, and shave ice.

Our custard stop.  I wasn't too impressed,  Maybe because we were sitting outside in the heat.

Anping Fort/Fort Zeelandia...  it was a fortress built over 10 years from 1624-1634 by the Dutch East India Company during their 38 year rule over the western part of the island.  

Anping Treehouse was a former warehouse constructed in 1867 in Tainan that stored sugar and camphor before shipment.  In 1911, it was turned into the office and warehouse of Japan Salt Company.  Once it was abandoned, the banyan tree spread its branches and roots around the building creating this "treehouse".

Dylan and her adopted big sis.

Marty is in line to get us some shave ice!!  Couldn't read the menu very well - even with Google translate... but this is what we got and it was yummy.

Hayadashi Department Store.  Originally completed and opened in December 1932 during Japanese rule.  Upon completion, the building was one of two stores with the state of the art features of elevators.  The building was bombed by the US at the end of WWII.  It was restored and reopened on June 14, 2014.