Taipei Diaries: Miniatures Museum of Taiwan

Not all who wander are lost. But not us. Over dark skies that loom to pour rain any moment, we were lost in the city of Taipei. This was Day 5 of our vacation. And by this time, we were already pretty confident in our commuting skills. After two station misses, I braved an inquiry with the local information office. 

It seemed that looking for the Taipei Miniature Museum is going to be really interesting. We were getting contrasting directions and locations. And yes, train stops. We've walked blocks and blocks in the inner city streets looking for the museum but instead we saw art galleries, urban gardens and quaint cafes that are apparently the hangout of local yuppies. 

Everyone was so helpful; it was overwhelming. Just when we thought we were at our destination already, we got back right to where our starting point was. It was crazy, tiring, and the hubby and I were already short on patience. I was ready to give up. But we collectively decided to give it one more try. So, we went back to the train station and double-checked the directional signages. That's the beauty of Taipei-- it's super tourist friendly. Tourist spots are marked and have directional signs for tourists to find them easily. Well, apparently except for the miniature museum. We just couldn't find it. 

Tired and cranky, I gave one more push and asked a group of office girls if they've heard of the miniature museum. One of those I inquired from showed me the most beautiful smile in the world and told me that it's just one building away from where we were. Boy, was I relieved. It better be worth it. 

Well, what do we know, the signage is miniature, too! We were looking up at the skyscrapers looking for it when we should have looked down!

Its location? The basement.

The museum is tiny in comparison to the museums in Taipei. But the treasure you'll find here is just short of amazing. Here are some of our finds here. 

The attention to details and the scale of the collection is awe-inspiring. My camera wasn't able to capture the beauty and elaborateness of each frame but being there, seeing everything was enough to compensate the street adventure we had to endure. 

The experience left me breathless with each breathtaking frame we saw as we walked through the museum. Awesome. Just awesome. 

The Miniautes Museum of Taiwan is the first museum to collect miniatures in Asia, gathering artworks from around the world. 

The Miniatures Museum of Taiwan 

Address: No. 96, Section 1, Jianguo North Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 104 Phone: +886 2 2515 0583

For directions, click here. 

Xx

Sheng

A Night at the Ayala Museum

Over the weekend, I injected some culture into my system. I finally had the chance to visit The Ayala Museum. Thanks to the generous offer of my good friend Mara ! She shared her windfall -- complimentary tickets for two!

Being a girl from the barrio, I only know of museums from the books and even magazines. Then, I moved to the big city over five years ago. Visiting a museum was in my bucket list. My friend Zarah and I have been planning for ages but it never seemed to happen. Life took over. 

Mara's offer is heaven sent. Doubly so when our visit coincided with the exhibit of Botong Francisco: A Nation Imagined. How lucky that we get to see the works of one National Artist. A few years back, I saw some of the works of Fernando Amorosolo -- they were very beautiful. 

One of his works. Lifted from The Ayala Museum site. (No photo-taking allowed inside)

Going back to Botong Francisco, I was excited to get acquainted with this dark-skinned painter from Angono, Rizal. We started with the 15-minute film on his life and works directed by Peque Gallaga. I surmised that his works depict historical references of everyday folks and even re-created through his artist's eye the historical events that shaped our country.

His thoughts resonated with me when it was narrated on the film that he chose his medium because it allows him to interpret events, people and places through his perspective. And that it allows him to record them so the next generation can see, appreciate and interpret his interpretation. 

Sigh. Everyone must see art, not just for its beauty but also for its cultural enrichment.

With a few more minutes to spare before the museum closes we breezed through the gold collection on the fourth level and the diorama on the third. I was sidetracked looking for a historical figure (hero or not) that has the same vertical endowment as me. Ha! Me and Carlos Romulo. He he he. 

The Ayala Museum is but one of the few privately-run museums in the country that shows terrific exhibits and is very accessible to the public. So, come, visit and soak in the culture. 

Museum visits should be a one-day affair. We're definitely going back to see, linger and appreciate the art and timeline on display. Soon. 

The Ayala Museum

www.ayalamuseum.org

Greenbelt 4, Makati Avenue corner Dela Rosa Street,

Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines

Museum Hours: Tuesday to Friday, 9:00am - 6:00pm

                       Saturday to Sunday, 10:00am - 7:00pm

                       Monday (Closed)

Museum Fee:  Adult (P225 - Resident; P425 - Non-resident)

                     Child (P75 - Resident; P250 - Non-resident)

 

XX

Sheng