4th March 07

Today, I was so excited. I woke up, got dressed, met up with one of my friends and headed into Taipei. The lantern festival was on and I was told that thousands of lanterns and fireworks get set off at the Chiang Kia Shek memorial and it's really a sight to see. Potentially a personal once in a life time photographic opportunity. We were aware we would have to leave early (since it's a 2 hour journey and I have a 11pm curfew, grr) but figured, since it gets dark at around 6 there would still be plenty to see.
So we arrive, and I am so not disappointed. the Chiang Kia Shek memorial is amazingly beautiful. It has a big open tiled centre area with two big traditional old Chinese style red buildings flanking it. At the head is I big white pyramidal style building with steps leading up to a massive room on top holding a hugely impressive statue of Chiang Kia Shek. (He looks lovely and smiley.) And on either side of the white building are beautiful gardens with large fish ponds.
I got a beautiful new walk-around lens for my camera before I left and was really looking forward to putting it to the test. So I find a perfect point to get a lovely shot of the first red building. I was like a kid in a sweet shop, savouring the first bite, since it's always the most exciting. I look to down to see what I got and there it was... big and red... so emotion provoking I almost cried... the words - 'no cf card'.
I may never fully recover.