luxury birthday month

I’ve enjoyed tasty food. We had dinner with my hubby’s family at a seafood restaurant on the 2nd and had lunch with my high school classmate 玟君 and her kids at Watami Japanese restaurant the next day.

小肚 and I had afternoon tea with a friend who I’ve known since I started teaching in Taipei in 2003 and her daughter at Perfume Dance on the 4th.

Last time my hubby and I went to the movies was last Dec. and saw Life of Pi, which was awesome. Nov. 5 afternoon, 11 months later, we went to see Thor: The Dark World with my father in law (and McDonald's. Yum~) Next, I look forward to seeing Captain Phillips, which will be released in Taiwan this middle Nov.

We went to Bali and lunched at Sailboat yesterday. Kids enjoyed playing in the sand.

Today is my birthday. We had lunch at 陶板屋. Thank my sweet college classmate Yali for giving me a special cake which came by truck today. What a nice surprise! Besides, my parents and brother came to celebrate this evening. I was much moved.

enjoy hot springs in 礁溪

After lunch at 甕窯雞, we left for 礁溪 Hot Spring Park. It's my kids' second time to soak feet in hot springs. The first experience was at 湯圍溝 Hot Spring Park this summer.

小小肚 couldn't wait to take off his sandals to go into the water as soon as we reached our destination. Afterward, 小肚 went to nude hot springs with his dad and grandpa who'd never visited a hot spring before. 小小肚 and I went back to enjoy our foot soak again. Street music performances made this hot spring town more attractive and relaxing.

my 2 year 2 month old

Breezy 小小肚's way easier than his shy brother. When he's almost 2, he's toilet trained during the day, except for naps. And, he can put his own sandals on and put them on right. It's amazing his diaper was dry Oct. 11 morning! His older brother still needs a diaper during the night. 小小肚 woke up in the middle of this night around 4am and told his daddy "pee pee." After going to the bathroom, he went back to sleep. Hooray!!!

trip to Leofoo Village Theme Park

After picking up my brother, we went to Leofoo Village Theme Park and met my parents there yesterday. My mom invited my aunt whom I hadn't seen for years to go together. It's a nice surprise to see her when we just arrived at the park.

National Day 2013

We went for an outing at Taipei Uni. campus after lunch at Noble Family Steak House.

family party

We cleaned the apartment to welcome our visitors. My sister and her family arrived yesterday and will leave tomorrow. Typhoon Fitow has come. I was happy my brother, cousin and his family came on this dark rainy day.

We look forward to a trip to Leofoo Village Theme Park with my brother Oct.19.

Monet Cafe - 十分 - 九份



I've enjoyed walking on suspension bridges since I was a kid. But, my kids were scared to walk across the bridge at 十分. Rainy in 九份. I felt contented when eating one of my favorite snacks 芋圓!

trip to the Aviation Museum

We visited this museum for the second time within 3.5 months. It's located beside the airport. Watching planes taking off made me eager to travel abroad again!

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