Family Weekend at Fort Rucker + a stop in Meridian

It was family weekend for the Army aviation school at Fort Rucker, AL and we were invited to go and check out what our guy does. We drove the 13 hours to Enterprise, Alabama with a stop on the way. Here's what happened.

We decided to break up the drive on the way so we stopped in Meridian, Mississippi. It was a little more than halfway.

 

It's a really cool little town that was once the largest city in Mississippi. It was founded in 1831 and there were two main guys that were considered the founding fathers: John T. Ball and Louis Ragsdale. They both had different ideas about how things should go. Ball wanted to name the town Meridian and he wanted the city to be laid out in a grid parallel to the railroad. Ragsdale wanted to name the town Sowashee and use true compass headings to lay out the streets. Ball put up his town name sign at the railroad station and the next day, Ragsdale would take it down and put up his sign. Everyday, back and forth. Finally, the railroad guys were like, "Enough! The sign that's there, stays!" I'm paraphrasing, of course but the town's name is Meridian.

This is the hotel that we stayed at. Threefoot Hotel. It was built in 1929 by a German settler as an office building. For a long time it was the tallest building in Mississippi. Unfortunately, right after the building was erected, the Great Depression hit and the family lost all their money. The office building survived for a while but then by the 1990s was abandoned. Marriott renovated it and opened the Threefoot Hotel in 2021. It's named for the original owners of the building. Their name in German was Dreyfus which translated to English as Threefoot. It was a cool hotel.

This is Merrehope. It started as a small cottage in 1858 and was added on to over the years. During the Civil War it was used as a Confederate HQ for a while. Then General Sherman came to town and the Battle of Merridian ensued. Sherman's soldiers took shelter here during that time. It's only one of 6 homes that Sherman spared during that battle. In the 1930s, it became apartments. Then in the 1960s it was a boarding house. When we were there, they were decorating for Christmas. There were so many Christmas trees in that house it looked like a forest! The name came from the foundation that restored it. It's a combination of Meridian and hope - I guess in hopes they could raise the money to restore it? It's worth a visit.

In this lot used to stand the E.F. Young, Jr. Hotel. In the 1960s, there weren't many places African American citizens could stay while traveling through the south. This hotel was the only hotel within 90 miles where they were welcome. There was a thing called the "Green Book" which was a list of hotels in the south that were for African Americans. There's a movie called "The Green Book". It's quite good and interesting. This hotel was in the Green Book. 

According to what I've read, it was quite a showplace. It had a barbershop and beauty salon on the first floor and was considered the premier place to stay. I found this photo on the internet of the actual hotel. It opened in 1946. By 1978, it ceased operating as a hotel. For a while it was used as an office building but then the upkeep was just too much. It was torn down in 2023 even though it was on the National Register of Historical Places as the owners couldn't afford the cost to renovate it.

This is a view of downtown Meridian at night from the rooftop bar of our hotel. We enjoyed out visit and if you're in the area, it's worth a stop. 

When we got to Enterprise the next day we got to have dinner with James, which was a nice treat. The next day was family day so we all went to Fort Rucker to see the types of helicopters that James is learning to fly. This is a Lakota. 

James was originally in this photo but I didn't want it to ever be used against him if he was ever captured in enemy territory so I cropped him out.

They were supposed to fly that morning but the fog was crazy! James said it was the first time since he'd been there that they hadn't been able to fly. This is a medical helicopter but you can barely see the marking because of the fog. I felt bad for the guys because I know they were disappointed.

John wearing James's headgear.

Mark in the vest they have to wear with all their gear.

Later we went to a park to walk. This is Donaldson Park in Enterprise, Alabama. It's a cute little town. 

It was so pretty and peaceful at this park! There were also tons of geese so we had to watch our step.

This is the Army Aviation museum at Fort Rucker. It's really cool. They have all the different types of planes and helicopters the Army has used over the years.

This is the Boeing Vertol CH-47 which is used as a transport helicopter.

This is Mark giving us a demonstration on how his other son, Brendan, has to run and jump out of helicopters like this. To be clear, Brendan is also in the Army. He's not just some nut that jumps out of planes. 

While in Enterprise, John, Mom and I did a little sightseeing in downtown. This is the Enterprise Depot. The Alabama Midland Railroad came through here in 1898 and the people needed a stopping place so the Depot was built in 1903. It has since become a museum but it's only open until noon. Next time, we'll get up early...

This is a mural downtown of a boll weevil. It's a thing here.

This memorial (that's right! It's a memorial!) to the boll weevil is in the middle of an intersection downtown. So here's the scoop. Enterprise's main crop was cotton. In 1915, they had a serious boll weevil infestation that decimated the crops. They were forced to rethink what they planted. They decided on peanuts and within two years, they were leading producer of peanuts in the United States. So, in 1919, they erected this memorial to the boll weevil for making them a prosperous.

I love these city murals. This one isn't a painted mural but still.

I get that Enterprise is grateful to the boll weevil for helping them see the light of diversification in their agricultural crops but a boll weevil wearing a dentist coat holding a toothbrush is too much. It's funny but too much.

We had a fun time hanging out with James and seeing what he does all day. I'm glad we got to go along. Next time, I hope we get to see him fly.

Grand Adventure, Part 3: Taipei, Taiwan

Our flight from Tokyo to Taipei City was an easy few hours.

Arriving in Taipei. We flew out of Haneda airport in Tokyo to Songshan airport in Taipei.

A view of the park outside out hotel at night.

First - it rained all week. Luckily, it was mostly a constant light drizzle vs. a storm. But the rain didn't discourage us from going out and having fun. We went to this place called a creative market. It's a cluster of old warehouses that have been repurposed as small shops. As we were walking around, I saw this tree that looked like it was growing right out of that building.

Huashan 1914 Creative park was built during the Japanese colonial rule. It was a distillery that produced sake, wine, etc. After WWII, Republic of China took over. In 1987, the place was abandoned . In the 90’s, artists would come and display their works. 

In 2003, it was revived and officially became the creative park. This is a random painting on the building that I thought looked cool. Very "out of place".

This is the Lunshan Temple. It was established in 1738 by settlers who came from China during the Qing dynasty. This is the main entrance into the temple.

In the courtyard, there is a wall of lanterns (on the right) and this beautiful waterfall. Despite the rain, the temple was pretty busy.

This is the main gate to the temple. The carvings on the building (similar to those at the top of the gate) are very intricate and quite lovely.

This is Bopiliao Historical Block which is a group of buildings that are over 200 years old. It's the oldest commercial district in Taiwan. Inside this building are plaques describing the various businesses that were here for several generations. Now these buildings are used as artist's galleries, restaurants. 

Some of the buildings along the block were just open for you to walk through so we did. May said that she remembered being at her grandmother's house and it had stairs like this leading up to another floor. I wonder if this was a shop on the first floor and perhaps the family lived upstairs? This looks like it could be a cool place to live now.

Another look at the buildings along this block. In the late 1990s the buildings were restored. Then in 2010, they were designated a historic site. But back in the Qing Dynasty, the shops contained craftsmen that made things like the bamboo baskets that you steam dumplings in, there were tea shops, tapestries and herbs among other things. I'm glad the city didn't just tear them down.

This is the National Taiwan Museum. On the lower level, the had an exhibit about rhino fossils found in the country. It was interesting but not really my thing. Then we went upstairs...

That whole floor was dedicated to the history of Taiwan. This is Koxinga. He was a Chinese warlord who kicked the Dutch out back in 1661. He died shortly after the victory but his regime lasted about 25 years. Then the Qing Dynasty in China came in and ruled from 1683-1895. 

As a result of the Sino-Japanese war in 1895, China ceded Taiwan to the Japanese. The gentry quickly formed the Republic of Formosa and created their yellow tiger flag. They were expecting some help from western countries so their republic didn't last long. The Japanese took over. I never knew that the Japanese once ruled Taiwan!

The museum building itself is gorgeous! This is the main hall. Behind those columns are the doors that lead out. That's a group of school kids that are there for a field trip.

Tsui Hang Pagoda located in the 228 Peace Memorial Park. The pagoda commemorates the birthplace of Dr. Sun Yat Sen who was the President of the Republic of China which was formed in 1928 in mainland China. When China and Japan fought again in the second Sino-Japanese War that ended in 1945, the KMT (who represented the Republic of China) fled to Taiwan and set up shop here.

This is the Chang Kai-Shek Memorial. He was the successor to Sun Yat Sen and the person who brought the ROC over to Taiwan. The party left on the mainland was the People's Republic of China.

There is one step leading to the top of the memorial for every year that Chang Kai-Shek lived. 89. There are 89 steps and as we were climbing, I was thinking...well, I was thinking it was a lot of steps. This is looking out onto the plaza from the top of the memorial. The building on the left is the National Theater, the building on the right is the National Concert Hall and the structure at the other end of the plaza is the Liberty Square Archway. 

Next to the memorial is a beautiful water garden. I would have enjoyed just sitting out there and people watching but it was raining.

This is Taipei 101, a shopping mall and office tower that is 101 stories high. From 2004 to 2010 it had the honor of being the tallest building in the world. It's designed to resemble a bamboo stalk, the symbol of Chinese prosperity. There's an observation deck at the top. 

This is Fort San Domingo in the district of Tamsui. Before the Dutch arrived, the Spanish were here. They built this fort in 1628. The Dutch arrived in 1641 kicked the Spanish out. They rebuilt the fortress in 1644 - the one you see here. 

The cannons are from the Dutch. From 1683-1867, the Qing Dynasty had control of the fort.

In 1868, the British leased the fort for their consulate who lived here in this house. The buildings had been previously painted white. It was the British who painted them red.

Behind the fort is Aletheia University which was started back in 1872 by a Canadian Presbyterian named George Mackay. It's kind of hidden back there. There's a beautiful garden with a pond. It's very peaceful though I'm sure on days when school is in session, it's chaotic like any college campus.

The first building erected on the campus was called Oxford College named for...Oxford County in Ontario! You thought was I gonna say the university in England. I thought that too but no.

This is the Tamsui Customs House. In 1858, after Second Opium War, the Qing Dynasty signed the Treaty of Tianjin, it was agreed that Hobe (old name for Tamsui) would be the first trading port opened to international markets in Taiwan. In 1862, the Hobe New Customs was established to collect taxes and facilitate foreign trade. It's the only pier left from that time.

Looking out to the ocean from the Tamsui River. I believe that is the Love Bridge but I'm not sure 100% sure. Our visit to Tamsui was enjoyable. Lots of history in that port city.

The food in Taiwan is delicious. Our friends took us to places that the locals go. Here we are standing in line for a street vendor to make us a green onion pancake.

The green onion pancake was delicious and well worth the wait! 

We also tried Peking duck that is ordered in advance. The waiter brought the duck to the table to show us. Then he sliced off some skin for us to taste. And finally, he sliced the duck so that each piece had a little bit of skin on it. It was so yummy!

We also tried ramen while in Taiwan. It was a little bit different but equally as tasty.

We had beef noodle soup that was fantastic. 

At this place, there's a guy standing outside with a large ball of pasta in one hand and a razor in another. He stood over a boiling vat of water just slicing chunks of pasta into the water to make the noodles for the soup. You can see him standing where May is but you can't see the ball of pasta. Meanwhile, I thoroughly enjoyed the soup. This was definitely a place for locals.

We went out for a "local breakfast" a couple of times. This is dan bing which is a cross between a tortilla and a crepe. It's filled with egg and served with a sauce that's kind of like oyster sauce and soy sauce. I could eat this every day. It was so good. 

This little breakfast place was a food stall that was underneath an apartment building. The line was long and it was also all locals.

Another night we went to the Shilin Night Market. The last time we were here, all the food stalls were upstairs. Since then, they've opened a food court where you can sit and eat your food of choice.

Our food of choice was what Chris called "train station chicken". It's basically a chicken breast pounded flat, breaded and then fried. It was so good. John and I shared as it was quite big and there were tons of food stalls that we wanted to try. This was better than any fried chicken you'd get here.

After Taiwan, it was time to come home. We had an amazing time touring Honolulu, Tokyo and Taipei with our friends. We ate some fantastic food, trying things we'd never had tasted on our own. We saw some fantastic sites and toured neighborhoods that we'd never even knew about.

It was most certainly a grand adventure, one that we'll never forget!