summer trip 2013

I spent 4 colorful years going to college in beautiful Hualien. She became one of my favorite cities and has been my must go place in Taiwan. We accomplished the round Taiwan trip with our little ones last summer! I can't stand scorching hot and humid weather, so this summer we traveled the northern half of the island and stayed in the mountains.

June 29

It’s a coincidence that we bumped into 小小肚’s babysitter’s family at 巴陵 Bridge on the way to Lala Mt.

July 5, Fri.

home→老爺大酒店→湯圍溝 Hot Spring Park

accommodation：at my uncle's

July 6

菓風糖果工房→Hualien→液香扁食

accommodation：Blue Sky（$1400, breakfast）

July 7, Sun. 

Li Chuan Aquafarm→Hualien International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta→滿妹豬腳
accommodation：Blue Sky（$1400, breakfast）

July 8

慈濟→Farglory Hotel→七星潭
accommodation：Blue Sky（$1400, breakfast）

July 9, Tue. 

Taroko National Park
（Shakadang Trail→長春祠→Swallow Grotto→Tunnel of Nine Turns）

accommodation：Silks Place（$5329, dinner buffet+breakfast buffet）

July 10

Baiyang Trail→西寶 Elementary School→合歡山
accommodation：松雪樓（$3200, breakfast）

We reached the hotel at an elevation of 3150m at around 18:00 and all of us looked fine. Kids were still energetic till they fall asleep. One by one kids and I got altitude illness 5 hours after arriving at the hotel. I felt sick and kids vomited during sleep. We decided to leave at the temperature of 6℃ at around 2:30 and drove down to the next stop. The next hotel was kind enough to let us check in at 7:00. Before check-in, we stopped by a 7-11 at 2050m and slept in the car. Well, it’s an unforgettable experience!

July 11, Thu.

清境

accommodation：茲心園（$1500, breakfast）

July 12

合歡山→清境→土庫

We left our laptop behind at 松雪樓 yesterday, so we went back to get it and enjoy the majestic mountain scenery today.

July 13, Sat.

土庫

July 14

土庫→Folk Park in Taichung→home

Aug. 26, Mon.

Monster Village

happy birthday, my loves!

小肚 turned 4 today, and 小小肚 is turning 2 this middle Aug. They bring such joy to every day. We celebrated at 陶板屋 this evening. 小肚 is a railroad fan. They got gifts from my old Japanese friend, Yoko. Train pencils, toothbrushes, adhesive bandages and an eraser!

馬光 Elementary School

big campus and low buildings. How relaxing!

Three generations of striped shirts at the Aviation Museum

The museum is located beside the airport. Watching planes taking off made me eager to travel abroad again!

6th wedding anniversary celebration

 
How time flies! We first met in winter 2003, and now we have 2 adorable children.

wedding reception of my senior high classmate

 

I took my 1^st son to the lunch reception yesterday. The program was fun and the dishes were good. My son was happy to get some gifts from the newlyweds.

My 2^nd son was eager to go with us. My hubby told me on the phone my 2^nd son cried a lot because he didn’t go with us. Oh~ my poor baby. He went to the park with his dad in the end.

Lunar New Year holiday

We spent the holiday in Taichung and 雲林 and went to see my grandmother and uncle in 苗栗 on the way home. School started today. Get back into the routine of work after a break!

trip to the sunny south (Kaohsiung→Tainan→土庫→Taichung)

We left for Kaohsiung Jan.25 and came back home yesterday evening. I was happy to see all of my family, Candy（my sister’s 5 month old daughter）, little uncle（who lives in I-Lan）on my mother’s side, my college classmates Dai-Rong（who's having a baby girl very soon）and  虹彣 during the trip!

Relaxing New Year Holiday

We went to 四方 Pasture, 竹南 Sat. afternoon and have spent the holiday in 雲林. We had lunch at McDonald’s in 虎尾 with my mother in law and almost 3-year-old nephew today. I felt like other people look at me, a mother of 3 little boys.

JU percussion lessons

Because Yamaha at 樹林 doesn’t have classes for young kids, 小肚 started music lessons at the head office in downtown Taipei April 18. It takes 1 hour by bus and MRT to get there and another hour ride back. I decided to stop his Yamaha class till next April and start him in JU percussion lessons from this October.

His teacher is 鍾筱丹, a lovely and kind lady. Yamaha and JU Percussion Music School have a similarity. They use puppets and stories in class to attract young kids.

a great start of the day

Some 4th grade girls came to me this morning and one said “teacher, you‘re still beautiful no matter from which side I look at.” She turned and asked her classmates “Right?” How sweet!!! It really made my day like today’s warm sunlight.

School English study group gets together Friday afternoon. I enjoy spending the afternoon relaxing and chatting with my colleagues during working hours. By the way, today's my hubby's birthday and my parents will visit for this weekend. We'll celebrate together tonight. 小肚's excited about the cake and visitors! What a great start of the weekend!

Life of Pi

 

We hadn't been to a movie theater since having kids. We took a leave from work to go watch Life of Pi 3D today. my favorite quote from this movie-All of life is an act of letting go, but what hurts the most is not taking a moment to say goodbye.

Les Misérables will be released in Taiwan next Feb. I'm certainly looking forward to seeing it.