An early Christmas

Although Christmas this year involved little more than some Kraft Dinner, a couple drinks with co-workers and a limited selection of downloaded classics, Mark and I still managed to have a fabulous day. My fabulous family had just left so I was okay with having a comparatively quiet Christmas.

The Roberts family took a three week hiatus from work and winter and came to join Mark and I in sunny Asia. It all began in the middle on an unexpected Typhoon late on Friday December 3rd. They were picked up in a van from the airport and we anxiously awaited their arrival. Around 11:30pm the front desk called and I rushed downstairs saying things like 'Crazy - when the elevator doors open my family will be in Taiwan!' To our surprise we found a very wet Mom and our friend Jen. It turned out that they had been dropped off at the wrong apartment. Fourtunately, the other apartment was just a little ways down the street. They were lucky to have had the Taiwanese security guard guess, and call up to the only white people's apartment - which happened to be four teachers from my school. My family had no idea where they were and so arriving this close really made no difference. Luckily Jenn was home and quickly came downstairs to meet my Mom and walk her (in the Typhoon) to our apartment. Fast forward fifteen minutes or so and we were all in my apartment taking off soaked jackets and giving the tour. It didn't take long for Mom and Sarah to notice the presence of my crutches in a corner... I avoided the questions for the first bit but then had to give in and explain that I had been in a small scooter accident 3 months prior and was still on crutches. You'll be happy to know that I am pretty much walking without much trouble today.

In the days that followed, we showed them around Taichung and introduced them to Taiwanese cuisine... which Sar and Mom didn't take to that well - mom especially who was off food for about the first week. On the second day, we went on a day trip with a friend of mine and his family to Lukang and SanYi, two great little towns with lots of shopping. This event started Sarah on what ended up being one of the longest shopping sprees she has been on, and I hope, will ever be on.

The following Friday, we left Taiwan for Thailand, where the weather was hot and the taxi drivers were crazy. We spent two nights in Bangkok and then headed down to HuaHin, a fabulous, Gulf of Thailand town about 3 hours south of Bangkok. We spent 3 days there lying on the beach, exploring, and of course, shopping.

We passed through Bangkok again on our way back to Taiwan where instead of heading straight home, we took the train from Taipei to HuaLien on the East Coast. We rented a car and drove through Taroko Gorge, a place Mark and I had been eager to visit since before we arrived here 4 months ago.

Back in Taichung on Sunday December 19th, we were already packing up the extra 3 suitcases of souveniers to find out how much more room we had to fill in the remaining 3 days. :( A few markets later my family was ready to go again. They left at 4am on Thursday morning and are now back in Canada with the snow and 13 hour time difference... how strange.

It was amazing being able to share our temporary life with them, I am so very happy that you guys came. Thank you so much for everything and hope to see you one more time before I head home... maybe China? Now, everything is pretty much back to normal with us, getting ready to bring in the New Year and then Chinese New Year shortly thereafter.

Chihsingtan Beach

Tempting fate at Chihsingtan.

Close up.

View down Chihsingtan beach.

After the gorge we went to a pebble beach we had heard about. While scouring the beach for the perfect tumbled stones the three of us girls managed to get soaked... I got it the worse as you can see. I fell over, not running b/c of my ankle, while holding the digital camera over my head... opps.

Toroko Gorge

This is the scene that is in The Lonely Planet book when you look up Taroko Gorge.  

A view of the springs from the suspension bridge. The little gray platform where there are some people standing, also served as the change room. 

This looks pretty funny because it is. There was this little square hole dug into the ground and the hotwater from the spring, bubbled up from underneath and then drained out into the river. As you can see, it wasn't quite big enough for two people.

This is us sitting by the river, soaking up the hot water that was draining out of the hotspring behind us. 

Having a little soak - once Allison was brave enough to get in. It was a little hot for her liking.

So this is me in the hot spring. The hot water was coming out from a long (about 3 feet) little slit (about an inch wide) in the marble rock just to my right. It was super hot (i was barely able to get in) and it was just continuously pouring out. The river is going by just behind the person taking the picture. A very nice scene all around.

Heading down to the springs

A view from the suspension bridge on the way down to the natural, mountain hotspring - which was by the way, totally closed off with signs and barbed wire. However, we were not going to let a little barbed wire ruin our soak in the spring.

More rocky gorge. During rainy season, all those big rocks would be covered with water. The tunnel openings you can see to the left is called 'The Tunnel of Nine Turns". You can walk through this part and see some incredible sights, including an amazing waterfall of mountain water that is so clear, and blue that it almost seems unreal.

This is more of the 'gorgy' part. Very rocky and the river snakes through these very big, and deep crevices. The rock walls contain a large amount of marble. Marble was highly visible throughout the whole place, adding to the park's beauty.

From the same spot - loving the great outdoors and fresh air. Much more refreshing than what we're used to in the busy, and slightly smelly city of Taichung.

This is a shot, looking back down towards the damn. We stopped to enjoy the view from here for a while.

This was at a big damn. The water here was beautiful - very blue and clear.

Hard, and lovin life!

This is the entrance to Taroko Gorge. Taroko is one of the most beautiful places we have ever seen. Huge, tree covered mountains, white water rivers, waterfalls and hot springs cover the whole place. Hopefully the pictures will give you a good idea of the beauty and hugeness of it all.

This is on the way to Taroko Gorge. A very large national park on the East Coast of Taiwan. We stayed Friday night in the closest city, Hualien, and drove to Taroko on Saturday morning in a rental car.

Back in Taiwan

Vacationing on a beach for 4 days is tiring stuff. This is on the train ride from Taipei to Hualien back in Taiwan.

The Roberts' final swim in our hotel pool.

Al having a ball!

Excellent form eh?

Allison and I went horseback riding for half an hour up and down the beach. Only cost about $6.00. Good times.

The Roberts family. Taking a breather from all their shopping.

The Hua Hin beach scene in late afternoon.

Dad and his favorite meal... we had to go back to this restaurant after I, Allison, had this kebab a few nights prior so dad could have his.

The last leg of the journey.

Our elephant ride through the mountains.

This was a delicious seafood dinner that we had on the pier. There were all kinds of pier restaurants but we picked this one because it was the busiest. The food was delicious and we were all very full after this meal.

Mom and Dad enjoying the salt water.

The Good Life

Another familiar sight

This was a familiar sight. Us on our lounge chairs sipping on two drinks at once. At this end of the beach, there were all these Thai huts that had beers, drinks and a pretty full menu. They waited on you all day while the waves rushed in underneath your chair.

Hua Hin, Thailand

This is the first place we stayed at in Hua Hin. It was very nice, cheap and right on the water. (the ocean came up right underneath). We thought this was very charming until 5 a.m the next morning, when the tide came in, and we were awoken by the constant crashing of waves onto the hotels support pillars. Needless to say, we found another hotel later that day.

We all took in a little Thai Boxing action. These guys were pretty little but were tough as nails. The action was non-stop and it was an exciting thing to see.

This is in Hua Hin Thailand - a beautiful beach town. There were tons of little restaurants with amazing food and lots of other things to do besides sit and relax on the beach.

Bangkok, Thailand

A ride home by Tuk-tuk after a long night of shopping and drinking at PatPong.

A view of PatPong night Market, where we had our first Thailand shopping spree.

After a long day of sightseeing and shopping we rewarded ourselves with Beers at Patpong night market. A market that took up a long entire street and was lined with many 'questionable' bars.

The gigantic feet of the Buddha... they were decorated with small images made from mother of pearl.

The Roberts fam pausing for a pic.

A view of the 'Reclining Buddha' at Wat Po. This Buddha took up an entire temple and was impossible to get a good shot of.

Getting closer to Wat Arun. Once we had arrived it was too big to get a shot like this.

A view of Wat Arun temple from our boat.