Thursday, June 21, 2018

May 23, 2018 Day 2 Taiwan


Our hotel on the 2nd night in an area famous for their hot springs.  Jiaoxi Hot Springs Park Hotel.
The bathroom is where you go when you wake up in the middle of the night and can't go back to sleep.  
Morning walk around town and a foot soak in the natural hot springs.
Of course - Dylan is getting all of our attention!!

Traveling along Suhua Highway (Hwy 9) (Qingshui Cliff).  Beautiful.
Taroko National Park:  known for its abundant supply of marble.  Also known as Marble Gorge.




Suspension bridge...  the 2 little dots are Auntie Seine and Jonathan.


Suspension bridge at the end of the hike.

Our 3rd lodging...  it was a private place.  Dorm like.  Not posh but perfectly fine.  The bathroom was a little strange.  The shower was just in the corner of the bathroom so basically then entire bathroom got wet and could be hosed down to clean.  And...  no conventional towels.  The towels were paper and disposable.  But surprisingly functional.
Marty trying to negotiate some patch making for Cascade Reign.  Turns out that it couldn't be done.
And of course...  always on the lookout for a new but old machine.
Hualien Dongdamen Night Market.  Our guide said this place was famous so of course we had to try it.  Below is what they are famous for.  It's like a little savory french toast with your choice of meat filling.  We also accidentally ate stinky tofu.  Courtney got some tofu fries...  it wasn't advertised as stinky tofu fries.  After eating one, we determined it was rotten.  It wasn't until later in the trip where the smell of stinky tofu was prevalent that we realized it was actually stinky tofu.
Giant corn...  not as good as Mexican corn.

May 22, 2018 Day 1 Taiwan



We left Seattle on Sunday morning and arrived in Taipei, Taiwan on Monday afternoon.  Our hotel:  Taipei City Hotel.
Exercise first thing in the morning keeps you young and strong.  Especially when you ARE young and strong.







Yehliu Geopark.  Also known as Queen's Head.


Temple in the city and burning money:  sending Gods and deceased family members symbolic wealth for use in the spirit world.
Choosing our food for lunch.
Larry getting ready to eat a little fried fish with it's head still on.  Love Courtney and Jonathan's expression.
MMMMM...  Squid.

The protective elbow that brothers and sisters master to keep each other away.  
The whole gang for lunch!
And beer with every meal.
Pingxi - famous for the sky lantern festival.  Sky lanterns, decorated with wishes and pictures relating to the owner, originally released to let others know that the town was safe.
Dylan's paradise:  colorful cheap toys and trinkets.
Dylan chose a white lantern to signify good health and well being.
The King Car Distillery Kavalan Whiskey.  Taiwan's first whisky maker and the nations only family owner whisky distillery.
Orchids love the humidity here.  

Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Reptile man!!

Dylan and Matilda went to the Tualatin Library last night to see Reptile Man and sigh up for the summer reading program. Dylan was all over it... the snakes not the books. Hope she doesn’t start wanting a snake!