THE ASIAN TRAVELER

TAIPEI ASTRONOMICAL MUSEUM

2008-12-02T06:35:00.002+08:00

Very close in proximity to National Taiwan Science Education Center is the Taipei Astronomical Museum that covers an area of 1.8 hectares. The first thing you'll notice from afar is the museum's golden aluminum dome that houses a planetarium.

We paid our NT$ 40 (per head, rate as of 2008) entrance fee for Exhibit Halls only at the sales ticket counter located outside the main entrance. The two theaters and the cosmic ride require a separate admission fees.

Jihen Road entrance and the sales ticket counter on the right side

The main features of the museum are the Exhibit Halls, Cosmic Adventure Ride, an IMAX Theater, a 3D Theater (both presenting movies on aerospace and other scientific topics), telescopes and observatories.

inside the museum

We proceeded to the Exhibit Halls that covers mainly nine themes. Out first stop was the Ancient Astronomy and the Earth theme depicting the early years of astronomy. The first thing we saw was a giant statue of one of China's famous astronomers of ancient times, Jiang Heng. Shown also here are many scale models of ancient Chinese and Western astronomical instruments.

Jiang Heng statue

The Space Technology is also on the ground floor, which has a display area with a realistic astronomical world. One of the highlights here is an Astronaut Full Space Suit Replica. There's a cool device that transmit the reflection of your image to the space helmet visor. It looks like you're the one inside the Astronaut's space suit. It was fun!

There's another display of life-size Astronaut's suit where you can pop-in your head into the hole of the space suit helmet.

Here we are feeling like one of the astronauts and NASA flight crews

Then we wandered to the second floor that concentrates on the Celestial Sphere and Constellation exhibit, the Solar system and Telescope and Observatory area.

The third floor covers Stars area, the Galaxies, and Cosmology exhibits.

The fourth floor is the Cosmic Adventure Facility where visitors will have a ten-minute long educational and amusement adventure ride through the cosmos, a 3-D live environment with special effects and audio / visual equipment. It is said that the seat tilts at 45-degree angle. There's a separate admittance fee of NT$ 70. I felt like I am ready for the ride but hb was still suffering from bad cold and headache, so we never really had the chance to experience the cosmos adventure.

entrance to the Cosmic Adventure Ride

We finished our tour of the museum for about an hour, learning the wonders and secrets of astronomy where exhibition galleries feature a variety of displays, scale models and interactive activities.

The Taipei Astronomical Museum is located at 363 Jihe Road, Shilin Taipei, Taiwan. It opens weekdays from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Saturday up to 8:00 pm. Closed on Monday.

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NATIONAL TAIWAN SCIENCE EDUCATION CENTER

2008-11-26T07:47:00.000+08:00

From CKS Shilin Residence Park, we hopped into a cab and told the driver to drop us at National Taiwan Science Education Center. There was a modest-sized crowd, but mostly throngs of families and kids that surrounded every corner of the center.

NTSEC building

We went straight to the counter and purchased two admission tickets- NT$ 100 per head (2008 rate) for the "Permanent Exhibition" only. They also offer a value combo tickets (NT$ 299) that gets you admission to the Permanent Exhibits, 3D Iwerks Turbo Ride Theater, 4D Virtual Reality Simulation Theater and Bouncy Town, which is an indoor inflatable play area.

Ticket Counter
Starbucks Coffee on the 2nd floor

We started to explore the science center after we had a quick lunch at the food court that occupies the entire second floor. Some of the tenants are Starbucks, Burger King and a few Chinese food stalls. There's 7-Eleven convenience store (near the gift shop) located on the ground level.

The Permanent Exhibits are located on the 3rd floor up to the 6th floor only. While the 7th and 8th floors houses temporary "Special Exhibitions". Most of these hands-on science exhibits are highly interactive, user friendly and fun science booth. We felt like we were kids able to benefit a new remarkable experience. As we kept our childlike wonder, we took pleasure of exploring science by going through practical operations and exciting interactions.

Some of the permanent exhibits

The center is huge with a variety of interesting features such as the Science Circus, The Amazing World of Physics / Chemistry / Mathematics and Earth Science. There's also the Mysteries of Life and Human Body, Exploration of the Earth, and Human Environment.

One thing that really caught our attention is the SkyCycle or the Counterbalanced High-Wire Bike located on the 5th floor, where visitors can take an invigorating and thrilling bicycle ride on a cable wire hanging about 75 feet high above the ground. Some of the kids who got off were delighted with their ride, but some looked terrified and disappointed for not able to make it. Hb wanted to try it but he wasn't feeling well that day.

SkyCycle

One round ride per ticket cost NT$ 80 per person (2008 rate). Parental agreement is required for persons under 13 years old. No person should weigh more than 250 lbs / 113 kgs.

Overall, National Taiwan Science Education Center (NTSEC) is a fun place for young and old sharing the joy of discovery and hands-on exploration. It is located at No. 189 Shishang Road, Shihlin, Taipei, Taiwan.

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C.K.S. SHILIN RESIDENCE PARK

2008-11-24T07:08:00.002+08:00

Our day had begun at the Chiang Kai Shek Shilin Residence Park around 10:00 in the morning. Our cab driver dropped us off at the back of the entrance of the park and we were admitted free of charge. This place was originally one of Chiang Kai Shek's homes but it was abandoned by Mrs. Chiang when her husband died. It remained closed until 1996 and later the residence and park was opened to the public and often used as a place for exhibitions showcasing the flowers at their colorful best.

Entering into the huge complex, there were very few people around the park some young and old couples seating on the garden bench and a number of tour groups. As we made our way through the cement trails there are green houses, pavilions, and beautiful gardens which are the highlights of the park.

I'm quite impressed by the tranquil environment, the formal Western and Chinese gardens, the interspersed meandering walkways, the lushly landscaped with expansive green vegetation, and the nicely laid out plant sculptures. I was awed by this giant ornamental face of Mother Earth that has been shaped artistically.

Mother Earth face
Mother Earth viewed from afar

We didn't try the "Madame's Breakfast" that has become the best advertisement to attract the tourist. This meal which consists only of toast, coffee and celery salad is offered at the Youth Cafe near the main entrance.

All in all, we were there only for about 25 minutes and our experience wasn't that exciting since there were no exhibits presented at that time and many of the flowers are not yet in full bloom. :( If you're planning to stop by here, it would be best to call ahead and inquire if they have flower exhibitions for that day just to make sure that your visit will be more interesting. I only recommend this place for those who are seeking a delightful walk, a nice relaxation in a laid back quiet atmosphere, and for those who are interested in CKS history.

The C.K.S. Shilin Residence Park is located at the triangle of Fulin Road and Zhongshan North Road, Section 5, Taipei, Taiwan. The garden is open from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Entry is free.

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A DELICIOUS TREAT FROM COLD STONE CREAMERY

2008-11-21T08:12:00.001+08:00

We saw a large poster of tempting delectable ice cream dessert treats at New York New York Shopping Center in Taipei, Taiwan. So we looked over quickly and found the ice cream parlor on the ground level. The Cold Stone Creamery was teeming with people but we managed to take a seat on the side bench.

You may frequently find here an extremely long line reaching all the way outside the front door of the store. Despite that HB got pretty serious colds, he still stood in a long line with oodles of ice cream aficionados who wanted to get a taste of the ultimate ice cream experience. I was truly touched by his selfless acts and at the same time worried about his condition. The ordeal of waiting in such long line is pretty insane here so heed my words and be ready.

the crazy long line outside the ice cream parlor

While waiting in line, HB texted me if I wanted a waffle but I declined the offer since I was still feeling full. I thought he was offering me a "pancake batter baked". But I was wrong; he meant a waffle bowl and cone for the ice cream. haaay... Anyways, since it was our first time here, we settled on the Signature Creations. I had the Mint Mint Chocolate Chocolate Chip (NT$ 110) , a mint ice cream with chocolate chips, brownie and fudge.

my Mint Mint Chocolate Chocolate Chip without the waffle

While he had the Coffee Lovers Only (NT$110), a coffee ice cream with roasted almonds, heath bar and caramel. Both were placed on medium wide-sized cup. It was rich, creamy and flavorful ice cream. From time to time, one of the staffs roamed around the area offering us a free hot tea.

Coffee Lovers Only

Aside from the Signature Creations, Cold Stone also has "Custom Creations" where you can order and create your own ice cream by combining a variety of mix-ins such as candies, nuts, fruits, cakes and cookies on a frozen granite stone. Moreover, they also have other kinds of treats like smoothies, shakes, sorbet and signature cakes.

Overall, it was a delightful treat for both of us. But I just hope they'll have adequate numbers of staffs and change their system to avoid long lines outside. The cashier / order taker is also the one who takes care of your order, which in my opinion is a time-consuming headache for diners. They should follow the normal system where there's one person who takes your order and another staff who gets your food. Just my two cents worth.

The prices are quite high especially for Asian standard but it's a good treat even if it means spending a little more than usual once in a while.

Cold Stone Creamery is an American ice cream parlor chain based in Arizona. They offer super premium ice cream that is made fresh daily in the store.

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NEW YORK NEW YORK SHOPPING CENTER

2008-11-19T07:07:00.004+08:00

The New York New York Shopping Center is connected by pedestrian from Taipei 101 mall on the second level. The building has mainly large glass windows and from the overpass you'll definitely notice the huge sign "New York New York".

Roaming around the area we chanced upon a small food court at the basement level of the shopping center, but we never really tried their offerings since we were still full at that time. Here, you can find products mainly from the US with many casual brands such as Guess, Miss Sixty, Replay, Polo Jeans, Hanes and many others. There's nothing really unique about the stores but this is a fun place to go if you're looking for great outdoor coffee and snack bars. It also features a replica of the Statue of Liberty placed outside near the Cold Stone Creamery and Starbucks.

New York New York Shopping Center is located in the center of Xinyi Circle, Songshou Road, Taipei. The nearest station is Taipei City Hall, a 15-minute walk to Songzhi Rd., Songshou Rd. entrance.

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GRAND MARKET

2008-11-12T07:18:00.014+08:00

After sauntering the upmarket mall of Taipei 101, hb and I were both starving so we looked for a restaurant. We proceeded to the basement 1 of the tower which is the Grand Market. It is a 22,810 square-meter size comprises mainly of food courts, fast-food restaurants and a supermarket. The place has plenty of room to sit down and the food booths offer a pretty wide array of nouveau cuisine in a very casual atmosphere.

They do have a great selection of combo meals. Ordering food here is a bit confusing and a daunting task to some beginners especially if you don't speak their language. We ordered based on the picture menu on display just by pointing it out (prices range from NT 100 to 145).

one of the food stalls at the Grand Market

It came out pretty fast after we ordered it. Our combo meals were served with steamed rice, soup and side dishes. Fortunately, the foods were virtually as superior as they appeared in the pictures. So, we eagerly started to devour even it was still a little hot.

combo meals

In summary, this was the best set meal we've found in Taipei. The food was pretty exceptional at a very reasonable price. I'm pretty sure this place attracts people even with a more discerning taste in food.

Before heading out, we decided to dawdle a bit in the area. Luckily, we spotted this refined and upscale supermarket called "Jason's Market Place". As soon as we stepped inside, the bakeshop caught my attention. You'll see an excellent range from traditional "every day" loaves to more quirky bread like the one in the photo below.

Squid Garlic Bread

When I saw this, I was tempted right away to take a nice shot. But one of the workers, a middle-aged woman spoke to me in Chinese; I presumed she was telling me not to take photos. So, I stopped and responded apologetically. I felt a bit embarrassed at that time since it was my first time to be admonished but I got over it quickly (this is the risk when you're taking photographs).

Jason's Market Place

The market is divided into eight major sections. A number of goods offered here are fresh produce, meat delicatessen, and unconventional salad bar, large collection of wines, health foods, spices / condiments and grocery items. The market concentrates mostly on Western food products but there are also goods from Japan and China.

Jason's Market Place is located in Taipei 101's first basement level.

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TAIPEI 101: THE WORLD'S TALLEST TOWER

2008-11-06T07:25:00.006+08:00

Our original plan was to book for a City Night Tour that includes a visit to Taipei 101, but after having second thoughts we decided to do it on our own. So, hb and I hailed a taxi cab for a short drive to Taipei 101 Tower, which is currently the official tallest building in the world. (Burj Dubai, the upcoming world's tallest tower is still under construction). It has a total height of 508 meters and 101 floors. The exterior design of the building is based on the appearance of a bamboo combined with modern technologies.

the first two photographs were taken from a moving car

The tower is divided into two sections, the Wing (Taipei 101 Shopping Center) which is the entrance to Taipei 101 Observatories, and the Tower that house company offices (visitors are not permitted to enter here).

main entrance of Taipei 101 Shopping Center (Wing)
main entrance of Taipei 101 Tower

We proceeded to the 5th floor where the ticketing booth to the Taipei 101 Observatory is located. Admission fee is NT 400 for adults, NT 370 for children under 12 and, complimentary for children under 110 cm. (rate as of 2008)

ticketing booth

For security and visitors convenience, there are lockers near the elevator that are provided for temporary storage. As soon as we got our tickets, we stood in line to ride the world's fastest elevator. As we ascend, the lights went out but the display of scintillating heavenly bodies on the ceiling lit up the place. The lady operator welcomed us in three different languages (Chinese, English and Japanese). If you're facing the door, there's a digital video on the wall located on the right hand side that show your ascent to the top. With top speeds of 1,010 meters per minute, we were whizzed up to 89th floor in just 39 seconds.

replica display model
of the world's fastest elevator

We arrived on the 89th floor which is the Indoor Observation deck. Here you can choose to have a recorded voice tours which is offered in eight languages (admission tickets stubs can be exchanged or a passport is required) or just do it on your own. There are huge glass windows for viewing, high power binoculars, informative displays and exhibits, snack bars and a souvenir gift shop in this area.

indoor observation deck

display model of cute damper babies
Cool Black and Lucky Red

Oh, and don't miss the giant "Damper Baby" that is located between the 87th and the 91st floor. There's a stair that led to the 88th floor where you can visit this 550 cm. tall and weighting 660-metric tons steel pendulum that serves as a tuned mass damper. This was built to protect Taipei 101 tower from typhoons and earthquakes where it enhances safety and comfort by vibration isolating and energy dissipating.

on the way to the 88th floor
you'll pass by this multimedia experience
( walk outer space / walk above clouds)

damper baby on 88th floor at the closest distance
photo taken from 89th floor
(world's largest and heaviest wind damper)

We took two more flights of staircase from 88th floor to the Outdoor Observatory located on 91st floor. The observatory terrace is surrounded by fence and this section offers a magnificent 360-degree view. We stood staring down the sweeping vista of the city of Taipei. No wonder it is the world's second highest outdoor observation deck. Please take note this is only open on certain occasions and weather permitted. If you want to know more about the history of Taipei 101, there's a documentary film at the indoor theater shown every 15 minutes.

outdoor observatory
the dazzling view of the city

After enjoying the view, we rode the elevator back down to the fifth floor that houses numerous banks, brokerages and the Sony's flagship store. Then we took the escalator down to the fourth floor which is called the City Square. This area is the most striking space for music, art, fashion, and entertainment. There are international restaurants offering a grand dining experience here. Hb decided to peruse the Page One Bookstore (that has a largest number of English-language titles in Taipei), while I spent my time (casually seated on a bench) just observing the activities of the square.

City Square on the fourth floor

Then we wandered around the remaining floors that carry top luxury brands from around the world in all-new flagship stores such as Lacoste, DKNY, Armani Exchange, Valentino, Nautica, Bulgari, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany and many others. So, if you're hankering after high-end fashion or hottest trends in fashion, accessories, and cosmetics this place will surely excite you.

Overall, Taipei 101 Tower and the amazing view is worth a visit. The Observation decks are open daily from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm, and tickets are sold till 9:15 pm. Taipei 101 is located at Hsin-Yi Road, Sec. 5, Taipei 110. The nearest MRT station is City Hall.

GUANG HUA DIGITAL PLAZA

2008-11-03T07:23:00.002+08:00

Computers. Laptops. Videos. Mobile Phones. These are just some of the electronics and gadgets that you will find in Guanghua Hua Digital Plaza, located on the corner of Xinsheng North Road and Shimin Highway. We happened to drop by to this place since it was just near the San-Pu Antiques Market.

the Guang Hua Digital Plaza
cute inflatable giant e-doll on the main door
people outside the mall waiting for the doors to open

The well-known and old Guang Hua Market was demolished last 2006, and all the shops have moved to the new Guang Hua Digital Plaza. This plaza is an indoor six-story building that has a wide range of technological and electronics. They sell everything you can think of with selection of the latest and greatest products.

exhibition area on the ground floor
electronic and gadget stores on the upper floors

First floor is an exhibition area and food court. Second to Fifth floors are the myriad of shops queue up to sell you electronics and gadget items. The Sixth floor houses product repair centers.

So, if you're a computer and gadget buff then look no further. There are aplenty to explore at Guang Hua Digital Plaza in Taipei, Taiwan. For the lucky ones, who knows you might find fabulous deals and special offers here.

SAN-PU ANTIQUES MARKET

2008-10-30T07:09:00.002+08:00

Venturing out on our own around the city of Taipei, we stumbled upon the San-Pu Antiques Plaza / Market at the corner of Xinsheng and Bade Roads. As the name suggests, this is the place for the antiquarians and collectors. There are at least 30 antique shops / stalls in the basement of the Sanpu building, situated close to the Kuanghua Bridge.

This market is visited mostly by locals and tourists alike browsing the many shops stretching from indoor to sidewalks. It has a flea market ambiance with cluttered display of statuettes, ornaments, jade pieces, porcelain vases, bowls, coins and mixed chinoiserie.

You may take your time to mosey around the stalls as they offer a dizzying array of items. And for the assiduous scavenger you can probably unearthed unexpected interesting collectibles here. Just remember to bargain and, time permitting, go on weekends as more vendors congregate at this antique market.

TRADITIONAL CHINESE TEMPLE

2008-10-27T07:27:00.007+08:00

Another tourist landmark that we visited was a traditional Chinese Temple, which is surrounded by buildings situated in a park-like setting. The temple, majority of us knows is primarily a place of worship, sanctuaries for the gods and the very core of local communities. These Chinese temples are to be seen everywhere in Taipei and some are noted for its long history and refined artistry. It is said that locals continue worshiping a variety of Buddhist, Taoist, and folk deities in a single temple.

the Chinese Temple

Since we have visited several Chinese temples in Asia, I was looking forward for a grand and majestic one. However, it was noticeable that the temple is quite small, just a one-story detached unit. It has no main gate, halls and archways. I guess we were simply brought there to get acquainted with Taiwan's rich religious heritage / folk religion and to observe a quintessential temple experience.

Nevertheless, I just contented myself doing a few clicks whatever it was that captured my attention. The place was simple but upon closer inspection, I noticed the highly ornate colorful roof decorations with gracefully curved eaves, the intricate carvings of dragon and warriors on columns, and some exquisite sculptures.

the highly ornate roof decoration
lion temple guardian on the front door
imposing dragon columns
a stunning sculpted wall beside the door

As we stepped through the door, there was only a caretaker - an old Chinese man. I just gave him a nod and my ever-ready smile. Soon our tour guide provided us some basic information about the beliefs and regular activities of the temple such as the divinatory practices. We also had a brief glimpsed of the elaborate decorative pieces. One interesting to note are the altars designed each with highly crafted large dragons frames on the wall and some statuettes of the gods and goddesses.

the altars

an interesting paraphernalia inside the temple

After a few minutes in the Chinese temple, we had an obligatory visit to a jewelry shop and a handicraft center. Frankly, I won't be blogging about these two shops since I found it a tad boring. We just don't like to be with a high pressure sales personnel who is repetitive and persistent trying to sell you something. :(

NATIONAL PALACE MUSEUM

2008-10-23T15:10:00.003+08:00

After we had seen the ceremonial change of Guard held at Martyr's Shrine, our group went to the National Palace Museum that houses the world's largest collection of Chinese art treasures. National Palace Museum covers almost the entire five thousand-old Chinese history. Most of the 650,000 art objects were part of the Chinese Imperial collection making it one of the largest and finest collections of its kind in the world.

Eventually we got our tickets and our tour guide provided us a quick tour to some important parts of the museum. Then, he allocated us some free time to explore the rest of the galleries on our own. The exhibits range from Chinese earthen ware like pottery to porcelain, as well as bronze, jade ware, sculpture, embroidery, rare books, curios, documents, calligraphy and paintings. It is said that the collection is too large to be displayed at one time. While many popular pieces remain on permanent display, other items are rotated regularly, making each visit unique. We observed that the poor lighting and design of the exhibit halls results in more than poor presentation. It does not complement with the magnificence of the collection. In addition, most of the halls were jampacked with people and sometimes there wasn't enough elbow-room for viewing. However, this museum is still one of the must visit places in Taipei especially if you're into historical and artistic value.

Please keep in mind that all forms of photography and filming in the exhibition areas are prohibited.

entrance to the Exhibition Area (Main Building)
Admission Booth

After admiring the treasures from the ancient imperial collection, I decided to go to the large open paved area adjacent to the exhibit hall while hb waited for the rest of the group. From the huge terrace I was stunned by the magnificent view of lush tropical gardens surrounding and adding to the charm of the museum.

huge terrace from the main hall
the main entrance gate to the main hall

Administration Building 1, Creative Workshop
and Exhibition area II (Library Building) on the right side

the Chih-shan Garden on the left side

Our visit to the place ended at the Museum Gift Shop located at the Exhibition Area 1 on the ground floor. It has reproductions of museum pieces, apparels, books, postcards, key chains and many other interesting items.

one of the pieces I bought
from the museum gift shop

The museum has no fixed path through the galleries but you can start at the Orientation Gallery 102 for an interactive introduction to the museum's history and a preview of the collection and "what's in the galleries".

If you are not in a group tour, I suggest you register in advance at Exhibition Area 1 First Floor Information Desk to join the free daily tours that are available in Mandarin and in English. If you want to have a tour at your own pace, you can rent an audio guide available in English, Chinese, Japanese and Korean for NT$100 (rate as of 2008) at the Audio Guide Center.

Audio Guide Booth

Apart from the exhibit halls and gift shops, there are also some available resources such as children gallery, multimedia kiosks, library, traditional Chinese gardens and auditoriums. The place also has restaurants and cafes that allow visitors to enjoy a casual and quick snack service.

National Palace Museum is located at No. 221, Chih-Shan Road, Taipei 11143, Taiwan. Exhibition building is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Regular admission to general audiences is NT$160.00 per person.

THE MEN IN UNIFORM AT MARTYR'S SHRINE

2008-10-20T14:05:00.003+08:00

After Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall, we proceeded to Martyr's Shrine, a place built in 1969 dedicated to the fallen heroes who fought courageously in the War for the Republic of China. As soon as we alighted from the car, we saw these two military officers armed with bayoneted rifles standing motionless at the front gate.

the front archway

I presumed they were stationed for almost an hour under the scorching sun as great beads of perspiration stood out on their faces and with sweat-stained on their uniforms. But fortunately there was an invaluable assistant who constantly wiped the rivulets of sweat on their faces.

Going further into the shrine, we chanced upon this group of marching soldiers. Crowds of spectators including us congregated round the scene. It was exciting and fun watching these men in uniform who showed indefatigable spirit as they executed their military drill with painstaking precision. We found out later that it was the "Change of Guard Ceremony" that took place.

The Martyr's Shrine complex covers a huge area. The Main gate and its terrace sit against the backdrop of the mountain that creates a rich natural serenity and inviting ambiance.

the main gate and its terrace

a beautiful structure inside the complex
inside view of the archway

the huge open area

In front of the main gate is a pair of carved marble lions, weighing 8 tons each. The one which step on a ball is a male while the other which embraces a lionet, a female.

male lion

The Main gate and its terrace have a total area of 386 square meters (256 square meters for the terrace). The structure is reinforced concrete with a glazed tiled roof and a ceiling covered with Chinese color painting. It has three shrines, a shrine for general, for civilians and for military personnel. The buildings are replica after the palaces of Ming Dynasty with its vermilion pillars and gates.

the main shrine

Another two soldiers in white uniform guarding the main shrine
inside the main shrine

The main gate has four hexagonal objects which are called lintels of the gate, a symbol representing the social and caste position of the resident in ancient China.

the main gate

a huge wall-mounted plate near the gate depicting the brave and loyal martyrs

It is said that the president of Taiwan arrives every year in a great show of regalia to honor the nation's martyr.

Martyr's Shrine is located at 139 Bei-An Road, Taipei 104 Taiwan. It opens at 9:00 am and closes at 5:00 pm, Sundays to Fridays. I'm not sure about the admission because our tour guide was the one who took care of all our needs. But I guess it is free as I had not seen any ticket booths there.