Taiwan '07

I've finally reduced all the pictures I took in Taiwan down to about 250. I'm also trying a flash version of CS2's automated gallery. I'm hoping the download time won't take too long.

If I had to reduce all the pictures I took down to one, it will prob be this one:

Taiwan is all about rice, especially during Chinese New Years. This picture was taken near my grandma's home in Yi-lan. I was only able to spend 2 days here but I got to see grandma. She's still trucking along at 102.

Besides Yi-Lan, we also took a short trip to Wu-Lai for a day. We ate at a restaurant that overlooked the Wu-Lai river. Afterwards we had afternoon tea/coffee at a hot-spring hotel. I ordered a Kahlua Coffee for about $6 USD, which also includes a dessert.

We stay in Taipei for most of the 2 weeks I was there. Not much was going on in Taipei as most business was closed due to Chinese New Year. Sherie's mom cooked us a huge dinner on the second day of New Year, traditionally the day where married women return to their parents home. Sherie's family, like most families enjoy "dry-land swimming" as part of the new year tradition. In front of Sherie's place there's a park with a wide open track. Although signs clearly say no fireworks, there was a show every night from 7pm to 3am.

In anticipation

The whole chen5.1 gang will be taking a trip to Taiwan for Chinese New Year. I will be posting more frequently, so I hope. The furthest we've traveled with Ethan was a 2 hour drive to Monterey. So flying for 14 hours should be an adventure.

There are a few things I'm looking forward to. Introducing Ethan to Sherie and my family. Food. Yi-Lan (grandma Lee's farm is there). The night market and the grocery-market. New year festivities. TV! 7-11 (yeah that's right, 7-Eleven). Buying breakfast.

As giddy as I am, there are also some things i dread and can't avoid. Smokers, especially with Ethan. Smog. Lack of organized/clean sidewalk. The returning trip, it'll be tough since Sherie and Ethan are staying behind for a few weeks longer. Jet lag.

As I write this post, there's a list of things we need to bring back that's been growing exponentially. Vitamins tops this list both in quantity ~and~ importance. I frequently remind family that there IS a Costco in Taiwan... Glucosamine is the same everywhere right? We will be packing lots Ethan's things as well. We're still in the process of deciding what we can/can't get by. Long gone are the days when I can only pack 3 shirts and a jean.

So friends, family, and coworkers, what do you look forward to (or dread) when you go on a vacation? Food? People? Music?

blast from the past

wedding pics - micky D style
jio fen - old town in taiwan
yi-lan - secret to grandma lee's health

that's it for now, more will be up soon