We took the day last Thursday to check out the Maokong Gondolas. It was a cold and drizzly day but that kept the crowds down. 
One of the things we are in awe of, is how cheap an all day outing can be.  The gondola ride took about half an hour to ride up to the highest point.  We got off and walked around for about an hour, and then on the return trip we got off on two other stops, walking around for another hour or so.  The entire trip cost about $2.00 each.  I think such a thing would have cost $10-20 in the US. 
Some of the most flower-fully decorated places are around the temples.  We saw several temples from the Gondolas, but only got off at one to take a look.  They are usually built on the mountain side, capturing some of the best lookout places. We hope to ride the gondola again soon, but next time will pick a clear day.  We’ve heard it’s neat to ride at nighttime also to see the nearby city lights.
Afterwards we took the MRT/subway to a famous noodle shop to get warmed up after the cool rainy outing. We both ordered a bowl of Wanton soup with noodles and dumplings. Hao Chi! (delicious)

Click the picture above to go to a few more pictures of the adventure.