[Double 10 Day Special] Red Bull, On the House

I thought I could take a few pictures of the performance and military parade in front of the Presidential Building this morning in celebration of Taiwan's national birthday.

I was wrong. The whole area near the Presidential Building, including parks, roads, small shortcuts, was totally blocked and secured by the police. Only those invited could go in.

If you looked at the razor-sharp barbwires, batons, metal shields and the number of police and military police present, you might have thought there might be a riot somewhere nearby. The red-shirt guys who want President Chen Shui-bien to step down?

Probably not. I saw a few of them mobilized outside the railway station, which was actually not very far from the Presidential Building. But I didn't see them doing anything threatening, except giving away flags to passerby.

A lost battle for them.

So the "red tide" was out, but wait, a long line was forming. A couple of girls in red caps were handing something out. I went closer.

Ha. Free drinks, from Red Bull, according to one of the promotional girl.

Just like everyone else, I wandered a bit outside the secured area, and waited.

After a moment, there was a roar and applause. I looked up into the sky. Helicopters, warplanes, and fighter jets flew by in various formations.



↑ A country divided. On one side of the divide, people want Taiwan to be independent.


↑ On the other extreme, people want to keep the Republic of China, and joins China as the ultimate goal.


On Taiwan's national birthday, soldiers stood guard beside a military truck.

↑ Police blocked all the major access into the area surrounding the Presidential Building.


↑ Military police were present to add another layer of security.



↑ Trucks holding barbwires were visible throughout the whole secured area.


↑ Fortunately, you could get a free drink, compliment of an energy drink company called Red Bull.


↑ The promoter would give a you pamphlet before serving you the drink.


↑ This Red Bull girl was all smiles...


↑ She posed cute for the camera when she took a break...

↑ and has a real sense of humor if you look at her in the back.



↑ Military planes swarmed in. Suddenly they were all over the sky.





This is the national flag of Republic of China, a rare display in this year's celebration as it does not represent Taiwan, according to the incumbent Chen administration. But that's OK if you bring one with you.