After staying up late for fireworks on Chinese New Year Eve (a tradition we kind of skipped out on, except for the fireworks Ben and I saw from our bedroom window), the next tradition on Chinese New Year morning is to dawn all new clothes--shoes included--and go pray to ancestors and gods at the local temple. I didn't get my act together enough for everyone to have the new clothes to wear, but we rose bright and early and met up with Amy and her husband at the beautiful 300-yr-old temple near their home.
I've been so shy about taking any photos at temples up until this point, not knowing what would be disrespectful, so it was wonderful to have an escort this time! Since she didn't know either, Amy called the temple in advance to ask about picture taking. The monk simply said to pray and ask the gods first if it was okay with them.
We assumed the same would go for a video:
Amy loves this temple due to its ornate carvings and statues!
The incense smoke was a bit intense and both Ryley and Amy's eyes had troubles with it.
On several walls and columns throughout the temple there were spots to have your name and addresses affixed if you wanted to ask the monks to pray for you. It's especially important for those who's fortune tells them it will be an unlucky year.
Right around the temple was a market with lots of vendors. 
It was so fun to see a little booth where these cute girls were selling punches in a similar game to what the boys had learned the night before. All three boys eagerly paid their NT$10 and with squeals of delight got cooler prizes than what their smaller game board had yielded :)
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