Tiny Men

Dream

I was in my room. I was getting ready to go out to class. I see two men floating to the right and left of me. They are the size of a pen or pencil. As I move about in the room getting this and that together they were brain washing me telling me not to do this and that. I was late for my photoshop creative suite class. I see all of this from the corner edge of the ceiling. I began to feel like I should drop the class because I had all these reasons to all of a sudden and such doubts came from these two tiny men whispering in my ears.

Thanks Giving Family Portraits

It's been awhile since I photographed my family in any professional work and this was long overdue. Half of the family was missing though, out of the country. But it was the best Thanksgiving week I've had since, I can't remember, I don't ever recalling to be this good.

Lena, my niece, always up to something, always ready for a good laugh.

Ellie my sweet niece always inquisitive, nothing escapes her eyes.

The latest edition to our family, Chiharu-Thousands of Sunshine

My awesome nephews Naoki and Paul

Art.com Gig

Did my friend's company party photos. I had a lot of fun.This is Laura a good friend and a fabulous sister.




These are some photos from the event.

Agent Boy

Dream

I was on a deck in an area of water warehouse homes. I see movements in the water. An attack, a raid was coming out of the ocean to take over the town. A young boy was looking for me. He also come out of the ocean. He is an agent from the raid. He is a shape shifter and shifted into this form to try to override my guard. But I spotted him out anyways regardless of what shape he shifted into.

The movement in water has emerged with a UFO disc. I run and change form to go undetected. A young man on a motorcycle at the end of the dock was waiting for me to give me a ride. I was late and he was ready to leave without me to head into cover for safety. I called him on the cell phone to tell him to wait for me a little longer that I was running as fast as I could. In order to truly reach safety I would need that ride to get away fast enough to disappear. He started to roll off as I came into view. Tears filled my face as I feared I wouldn't make the connection, I did a run jump leap onto my ride and held on tight as he drove us off to safety.

Giant Green Snake

Dream

I was in my room and I saw women coming to my room dumped by my mom. She was overwhelmed and didn't know how to say no. So they came in helping themselves to crash with me. I refused to accept this and I refused to host them. Since I could not kick them out or shake them away, I decided to bomb my room apart. I figured if there is no place for them to reside then they can't exit. I began bombing my room apart. Then underneath the rubbles a giant sleepy green male snake who was awoken and his head surfaced. His head was the size of my room. He did not look happy to be disturbed.

Dan Sui

Went to Dan Sui with 3rd and 4th aunty. I ate black Do Hua with ginger syrup and roasted peanuts. It was so good. Then I had more Taiwanese goodies of cake and slushes. I spent most of my time picking out earrings and hair accessories.

For dinner 4th aunty somehow decided she would host dinner. This was a surprise and a kind offer for my good bye party. She had many tips from other aunties on what to prepare and how to prepare. I made pine nut seaweed rice. Everything was delicious and the conversations were lively. The last time 4th aunty attempted this she hurt her arm cooking noodles and everyone pitched in to help her finish dinner. She's well know as the one in the family to injure herself while picking up a pencil or something really good like that worthy or bringing up to have a good laugh and never let her hear the end of it.

French Twist

Went to check out Taipei 101 Tower and the mall inside and the bookstore. Helen wanted me to buy her children's book for her kids and so I went to see what the possibilities were. I also looked at the travel books. I think travel books here have interesting things like where to go eat and where to go shop that is really on the money. They would also have interesting things like, "here is where they shot the scene for Hero," stuff like that is fun to know and to see too.

For dinner I decided I would go and have cabbage pot stickers, fresh sugar cane juice by Long Shan Si. The sugar cane juice here is from purple sugar cane. It is sweeter than the green ones from Mexico or Hawaii.

Then I went to the underground mall, there are lots of underground mall in Taiwan. I spent my time in shoe hunting and hair accessories. I mainly got things that could hold my French Twist.

Wine and Love

Went to Jin Gua Shi, Golden Gourd Rock. This is the home town of my mom by the sea coast and up in the mountains. There was once a lot of gold to be mined here. It was a booming town when the gold was getting mined and since the coast was near by it was a happening place.

I went to the Prayer temple by my mom's old home and walked on the steep steps that covered the mountain. The ones my mom always complained about and I see what she meant. I think walking like this every day because you have to can keep you in good health and great shape.

I decided to inquire on how to pick out a stick in the temple and ask my uncles and aunties the customs and methods. 2nd uncle and his wife as usual disagreed on how it is done. They are funny because they are famous for disagreeing on almost everything. At least after 30 or 40 years of disagreeing they are less atomic nuclear passionate in their debates.

Then we went to the near by Jio Fen old town to eat and to shop. It was fun. This is one of my favorite places to come to. The food famous in this area is great. I just love all the goodies here. I had fun looking at touristy craft stuff too. Pretty much each place in Taiwan has a few famous delicacies known to the area and they are distinctly different. So it is never boring and makes you feel the distance you travelled for is well worth it.

Went to Jia Le Fu with 3rd uncle and his wife. There was a red wine sale. The last time I was here she was into coffee. Now she's into red wine. 3rd uncle doesn't drink and refuses to buy her wine. But she insists that if he loved her and really cared for her he should buy her a case of red wine. I walked around and checked out what was for sale. I like to walk around and see what is in use in the lifestyle with people in the area I visit.

Then we went to 1st uncle's for dinner and it was filled with good humor and fun conversations. The food was good. I think both our families have similar taste in food and like similar things. 1st aunty in law has a classic Taiwanese touch in her cooking and I like that flavor. It tastes like home.

Run From Cops or Rain

I went to Eslite bookstore and looked books for most of the day. Another thing I enjoy doing is check out publications in the area I visit and see what people value and what is being communicated. I had a dinner gathering with friends at Lien Xiang Zai, another awesome buffet place. I stopped right outside of the metro and there was an illegal stand set up selling red envelopes for Chinese New Years. It was sprinkling when I arrived and I decided to put up my umbrella and shop. This particular stand had fun varieties of red envelopes. I ended up spending lots of money there. I was late to dinner but I didn't want to miss this opportunity. Since they were illegally set up and right in front of the metro they will not be here after dinner. They can't possible stay too long before the cops come to site them a fat ticket. Plus it was raining, they will either have to run from the cops or the rain.

My friends got me lots of gifts of snack munches that are specialities of Taiwan for me to bring back to US. That was sweet of them. They were things I wanted to buy but really didn't know where to go to. Since everyone was late, dinner was done in speed because the place was about to close for the night. We stuffed our mouths the whole time and conversations were muffled. We multi tasked.

No Instant Noodles!

Went to Jia Lu Fu with Chen Chen to mainly buy two luggage to haul all my stuff. I found something workable for 1800 yuan for two pieces. I also bought instant noodles my two favorite kinds. When I arrived with my things, I was prevented from my 4th aunty to carry the instant noodles back to US. She said that stuff is terrible for the health and wouldn't let me pack it into my luggage. Well, as it turned out, they didn't fit into my luggage along with another small carryon worth of stuff. So I had to leave the instant noodles behind. We ate some for midnight snack.

Yang Ming Shan

Went with 4th and 1st uncle to Yang Ming Shan along with their wives and 4th aunty. Yi Je is 4th uncle's son who also joined us. We headed for La Ku for hot spring. The facility had a hot and cold pool option for each room. It was 300 yuan per room. I really like the option of going in and out of each one. It feels great to go back and forth. The window has real bamboo plants for viewing. The facility also runs on A/C so you can be comfortably hot and cool same time.

For lunch we went to Chang Cun for lunch and had the buffet. I like buffets because you can have a variety of things. The trouble is there is just too much to choose from and then it is overwhelming. During lunch the affection of uncles and aunties were upfront. They really take good care of each other and respect one another. I see why they are all still married and have healthy families.

At night a neighboring toddler screamed an cried in the stairway. A passerby stopped to check up on them. Somehow the mother passed out on the way up the stairs to their apartment.

A week ago the top news was from a rising young actress who died in a car accident. She was in the passenger seat and she did not have a seat belt on. The driver was her manager and she had a seat belt on and was fine. The idea of wearing seat belts is still no embedded in people. It really saves lives. I personally knew of a woman who had the same thing happen, she died on sight. She was not wearing a seat belt when her husband drove off the road. Both her 12 year old daughter and her husband were fine and not even hospitalized. Yet she died on the spot all because she didn't wear a seat belt. It was sad and something that could have been avoided. Just gotta click it!

Ying Ge

Went to Ying Ge where it is known as the pottery district. This is where people come to get their ceramic goods from plates to vases. I ended up looking at lots of wonderful tea pots, and cups. I saw tea trays that I would like to get later when I can carry it and have a nice place to put it in my living space. I really like china and all the accessories that goes with it. I was there with 2nd uncle and 4th aunty. #rd uncle and his wife was there too. There were plenty of other shops that were selling hand made goods in crafts and textile. I had fun just looking at everything in detail. We had tea at a shop and sat down to rest it was just a fun outing. I seem to be collecting lots of that these days.

Afterwards we went to a Traditional Chinese Doctor recommended by a family friend who said she was very good. I noticed all her herbs were fresh and top quality. So she must have good resources and has a good turn over rate to keep it all in top quality. I ended up spending a lot of money at that place getting herbs for my body that she prescribed. The only part that was questionable in her diagnosis was she said I lacked fiber in my body. As a vegetarian I really eat a lot of vegetables and fruits. Hum......

This doctor was once with Yi Guan Dao and said she learned from that group all the bad things of other groups and stayed away until one day she came across a book by The Fruit Monk, Ven. Guang Qing and was so inspired that she realized what she was learning at Yi Guan Dao was all bogus. She then opened her mind to study and research to relearn what she had learned was wrong.

I was taken to a shoe shop because 4th aunty needed new shoes. While I was there, I attempted to buy vegan shoes, the owner proudly shoed me off saying,"we only have leather, if you want non leather you have to go to the street and not an official store to buy shoes!" It was funny to me how much pride he took in having leather shoes. In US to get vegan shoes you pay even more money than real leather shoes. Well, it's the opposite here, it's not called vegan it's called cheap.

Dairy Park

We got up for breakfast. It wasn't spectacular. I ended up eating a lot. This means that there would be no lunch and this would be it. As the day went on such intuition to follow was correct.

We went to a Dairy Park. It is owned by the Dairy Industry. I rented a bike and rode all over the garden. I checked out the herbal garden and rose garden. The butterfuly garden was full of beautiful butterflies flying in a large green house area. I had fun looking a the different variety of plants. I also went to the reptile area and it was full of snakes and other things. I discovered I have a fascination towards reptiles. Even so I still don't want to be near one. Some people have snacks for pets etc.. I could never undertand that. Then there was a bird zoo. I had the most fun here looking at different birds and the colors of their coats.

The uncles and aunties all rented a team bikes and couples bikes. They even went on the lake and paddled a boat. We stopped to have ice cream and then fruits at the fruit farm. The fruits were free for eating there. If you want to take home then you have to pay. I ate and ate and ate. I love fuits, especially in troical countries.



For dinner we tried to locate the restaurant in YiLan. 4th aunty was terrible with directions,"in my memory I recall it was this..it was that... or maybe this.... Well I think the worst part was she even got the city wrong. We weren't even in the right city. We finally called the place for directions. We finally found it and made it. We even found parking. Then we were told there was a private event and they were not open to the public. We insisted that we came all this way which we did and when we called for directions, the person on the phone didn't tell us they were closed. Finally the head chef was called for attention to this matter and said he'd serve us food and that we are to eat only what he served and pay a lump sum. We ended up with banquet meal for family group price because they were having a banquet there that night and the entire kitchen was on banquet mode. It turned out even better than we could have planned.

When we returned, 4th aunty for some reason had the stamina to grill me on why I don't own real estate again. I was very tired and was polite to sit through it all.

Taroko National Park

The drive to Taroko was long by everyone's standard. It was quite comfortable for me. We stopped at a MaZu Temple. The 2nd floor had images that were very strong with grounding energy. The whole place was grounded in a powerful way. It felt good to be there. This is a classic roof adornment in FuJian Style for

This is the view from the second floor overlooking the harbor.

This is the street the temple is on.


Here is my 3rd Uncle in Law filming his wife.

We took the scenic view drive and did the seaside route. It was a beautiful ride. I had to keep my eyes open and watch over the window and since I was in the back row, I had to be aware of car sickness on the very windy mountain road.

Upon reaching the park 3rd uncle turned on his video camera and stepped on his seat and stuck his body out the sun roof. Then everyone else decided they wanted to stick their body out the sun roof and feel the wind. I didn't. We stopped in vistas and walked everywhere. I really like being out in the nature. We walked through a tunnel and it wet and dark. On the other sidce was a bridge over a creek and a trail. We walked for a bit 3rd uncle in law headed back to the car for a nap since he drove all the way. He has this thing where he can't sleep if he is to go on a trip the next day. Usually he's the guy who plans it and is in charge. All my uncles and aunties were very tired and didn't walk far.



Here is my 3rd Uncle checking out rocks. He and I have a common interest in rock discovery.

My 4th Aunty and her husband, my Gao Shan Cha supplier.
There was a fancy hotel in the park and a youth hostel nearby. The hotel was voted down by 3rd uncle in law and the youth hostel was voted down by 4th aunty so we will have to go to Hua Lien city to stay at a hotel with a spa service that looked intereseting to everyone to check out.

We had lunch and dinner and by everyone else's standard it was expensive and not very good. I ended up with a hotel room all to myself. It was nice. 3rd uncle in law insisted I felt well taken care of with hotel room. It was very important to him that I really loved my room. He takes great satisfaction in that. I know when he is taking care of my hotel room, I'm all set. This hotel is newly built. My favorite thing about my room was the toilet, it's Japanese and the seat is heated, and full of buttons and functions. My other favorite thing in the room is the control panel, with one touch you can control the lights, A/C, sound system, TV, etc... The Spa set up had a sauna. It was hot. There was no one watching the place, I could like pass out from the heat and died or fallen into the swim size jet pool and died and no one would have known. So I had to be extra careful on my end.

We tried to go for a walk at night to locate the night market that was one of the fun attractions for staying in that hotel in this part of the town. Somehow we got lost and never made it. We just walked round and round and then decided to go back to the hotel.

During the walk, 3rd aunty pulled me aside and inquired about my single status and that she recommend that I get married and start a family that is the ultimate joy in a person's life. That life is hard by yourself. I have so many relatives and they all tell me different depending on what they admire. One tell me to be a monastic. The other tells me I need to stock up on real estate. The other tell me to get married and have kids. The other tells me never to have a family. The good thing is they all don't agreed and that's the humor in all of that is pretty good.

Tapioca Frog Eggs

Chen Chen and his girlfriend took me out for a day trip. We first tracked down a Cafe. His girlfriend gave the directions and it was like one without street names, right or left. It was good Chen Chen was patient or just used to this type of directions from her. I found it funny the whole time. I think there should be a comic show just on how people give directions. The fun part of this Cafe for them was drinks and cheese cake. All of which I was not interested in because I think I come from that world but it was fun for them.

We went to the sea side to Yuan Liuo. It's beautiful there. The water was a beautiful rich blue. I forgot to bring my camera. I'll have to come back a different time to just photograph. Chen Chen's girlfriend came with high heels to walk in the sand with and hike in. She must have a super back and super legs or not because afterwards she was out completely and we had to scratch the Ji Long Night Market idea.

We walked through the tourist shopping area and got drinks. There were these drinks that looked like frog eggs. It was tapioca. But it looked too weird to me. I tried it and it was chewy and crunchy in the center. Completely vegan but still was an acquired taste to me.

I bought a pair of wooden slippers with 2 inch heel, all hand crafted and carved. I like the carving the best. They were from Vietnam. It was 500 yuan which was cheaper than other places.

We headed to Taipei and the girlfriend slept the whole way. I really think she didn't have the right shoes on. But she looked really good in her outfit. The whole ride back Chen Chen kept looking in the rear view mirror make sure I had a good time and was happy. I would look back and smile to let him know I was. We ate at Chang Cun buffet. They insisted this was the best place for me to eat since I was vegetarian and they were not. It was 500 yuan per person. I really would have been fine snacking on the road here and there. But it was important for them to do treat me like this so I accepted in joy.

All For Tea

Got up early for day trip to TaiChung to visit my two cousins who are now Buddhist nuns at Chung Tai Monastery in Tai Chung. 4th aunty drove and 2nd uncle made really strong Pu Er tea. I think it required a bullet proof stomach to handle his tea. I can drink tea, but that was strong stuff. 4th aunty has never driven this far before. It quite scary to be in her car. She would suddenly slam on the breaks on the highway and be at a complete stop so she can think. No, she didn't pull over she just stopped middle of the road on the highway. Or she would stop right at the exit and figure out whether she wants to exit or continue. If we were anywhere else other than Taiwan on a very slow morning where there was hardly any traffic, I'd probably already have had 2 or 3 heart attacks from this. I managed to not get upset or be a back seat driver. I was so proud of myself.

Wei Xiang was in a different car with his fiance. The point of the drive was to introduce the fiance to the sisters. When we arrived there was a meditation retreat going on so the entire monastery was on a meditation schedule. I took a stroll through the garden. Then I was taken through calligraphy gallery to look at various artist's contribution to the monastery. I also went to the Vajra Tower area and then the Trippitaka Tower.

The restaurant is in the hotel. It was comforatble and the food was delicious. I like anything dim sum related, I didn't care for any of the other dishes that looked beautiful but tasted just average.

I finally saw my cousins. They looked happy and good. I was glad to see that. I has been 11 years since I last saw Han Jen and just 6 years since I saw Min Hua, the younger sister. I remembered the last time I saw Min Hua she was sad and worried that she may not be allowed to join the monastery because she's blind in one eye. I remembered when she blinded herself. I was there, I was 5 or 6 years old. It was very traumatic for me, there was blood everywhere.

After lunch we ended up going to the 50 Arhat Hall and the nun that 4th aunty was in contact with encouraged us to put coins in each arhat to increase blessings and affinities. It was fine, but somehow it wasn't. Hard to pin poin what was it that felt not right on.

The same architect who build Taipei 101 Tower also build this monastery. The building looks grey from a far but when you walk up to the granite walls, it's really pink granite. The grey feel really makes it gloomy to look at especially with the weather here.

Then we stopped by 2nd uncle's friend's place. He is a tea maker. He was once a tea judge by profession. He needed superb palet in order to do his job so he had to change his diet to maximize his sensitivity. He went vegetarian and he chucked out garlic, onion, shallots, leeks, chives, and alcohol. All those things interefered with his sensitivity and would interefere with his profession. Then years later, he got into meditation and became a Buddhist. Now he makes his own tea. He goes to China, particularly in the Yunnan Province to personally check out tea trees. He goes only for the organic. And if it is no longer organic then he know right away and he can no longer pick from that batch. He believes in only making and drinking organic. He makes really good Pu Er. I checked out his roasting machines. He poured us a lot of tea. I think I O.D. on tea today. He is a Sagittarian Virgo. I think this makes puts him in the right field of work.

He insisted on treating us to dinner. My 2nd uncle recently in the past few years became best of friends with him. We went to the same restaurant for dinner. He had two daughters the younger one was 7 years old and very mischievious. At the end of dinner she insisted there were ghosts in the restroom and she could not go that one of the adults will have to go with her. I decided to volunteer. She thought it would freak me out. Then I quized; her on what the ghosts looked like and where they were in the restroom, what did they sound like, what were they doing, etc.... I think I spoiled the fun for her. Well, if you are going to have me play this game then play was my opionion.

On the drive back 4th aunty was definitely tired. She wouldn't let anyone else drive her car. She was speeding and in Taiwan there are camera everywhere and they'll just mail you the ticket.

Manga! Manga!

I took bus 226 to the convention center by 101 Tower. After the bus drop off, I went into a narrow side street opposite of where the convention center was. I had a nose for wantons. I kept walking and then these narrow streets behind everything were hot beds for lots of hole in the wall shops that served delicious food for the locals. I found wantons and they were good so I had two bowls of wantons.

I then made my way over to the Annual Taipei Publication Expo. I was amazed at how most of the books were foreign. I found myself at art books. I walked by the Childrens' Book area and an Australian woman was illustrating artwork with pastel live on the spot and she handed me a finished work as a gift. I was really too old but I stood there and waited for one as if I was a child. In fact I had to compete with other children for one. There was one Tarot booth and I flipped through what they had. In the booth a woman was doing computerized Tarot reading for anyone who would pay her to do. I sat there and flipped through the samples of decks but was also multitasking to hear what she was saying and how she was reading. I found myself uninterested in how she read and then I walked away.

I then went to the anime section and entered the world of Manga. The place was packed, full of students all happily grouped around the floor to read the next issue of the particular manga they just bought or gaga over the the overpriced manga trinkets. I thought I'd get into the flow and be a consumer but I walked and walked, I even walked the entire place twice and still made no purchase.

The manga section of the exhibition was in a different building and I had to get directions from people. One of the person I asked told me it was really far and that I should take a shuttle. I walked and it was like 10 minutes away. May be he was most concerned about me getting lost. Walking there was quicker than taking the shuttle because of the lines during the holiday.

Then I came across a Tzu Chi tea house. It was set up for reading and tea. I found it to be peaceful and quiet. I really like it. It's in the midst of busy metropolitan section of the city, how nice to have a tranquil place to be in.

Hot Springs With Waterfalls

Got up this morning for hot spring with 1st and 4th uncle. We went to Do Ke by Yi Lan. With the new tunnel expressway, it takes only 45 minutes to get there. The room I was in was semi outdoor set up. IT costed 500-600 yuan for each room. The pool landscape was set up like a pond and the whole area was lined with rocks and bushes including a mini waterfall where the hot spring water was coming out of. Then there was a mini waterfall where the excess hot spring was flowing out through. The pool was large enough for 4 to 5 people to lay comfortably. I really enjoyed this. I could live like this every day.

We went a restaurant in Yi Lan for food and it was delicious. My favorite was the spicy tofu stew. The we went to a dried fruit shop and 4th aunty in law bought me many things to take home with me as gifts to the family.

Then we stopped by camp sites because my uncles were planning camping trips for the summer. Things that were important to them, access to the river and toilet. The river so the grandkids can play. The toilet because who doesn't care for a nice clean toilet.

I dreamed this morning that I went home and handed out the gifts. It must be time to go home. I should look into a ticket home and book a date for my return.

Bring a Guy, He'll Finish Everything Off

4th and 3rd aunty wanted to go to Guan Yin Shan for a hike along with A Bu La the puppy. I figured it would not be rigorous so I didn't dress for anything aside from a stroll. I ended up taking my turtle neck off and hiked in my camisole. Everyone starred at me because everyone was in windbreakers and I had on a spaghetti string top. Before we even started, 4th aunty wanted to eat noodles at a truck stand. I think it is a bad idea to hike with food undigested in your stomach, but I didn't say anything to comment on it. A Bu La must have had digested intestinal stuff going on because he farted the whole time. They were so loud that no one would know it really came from a 3 pound 3 month old Palamerian puppy.

I then went with Chen Chen and his girlfriend to hang out at SiLin night market. They were so quick in rushing to pay for me that I lost every time. It would be equivalent to a western gun draw. I'd probably would have died over and over again because I drew my guns too slow. His girlfriend told me I was too slow and when I've had enough practice and can beat her then I can pay. Well, we shopped my accessory fetish. The other thing we did the whole night was eat. It was good to have Chen Chen there. It's always good to have a guy there when you are eating from one stall to another. You want a bit of everything but you don't have the stomach room for everything, you bring a guy, he'll help to finish off the food.

Mister Donut a Japanese run chain is the hot spot in Taipei. I really don't get it but the lines are long. Maybe it's just the latest fashionable thing, maybe soon they will realize that it really doesn't taste good at all.

We All Knew She Would Fall

I went to the salon for my appointment on time. The hair dresser was not ready. I ended up sitting and waiting for her to get herself ready. I watched how she was training her daughter to inherit her business while the younger brother was allowed to watch TV and he especially liked horror films. I can't stand horror films, I get can't sleep or stand the dark or traveling at all. So I can't watch horror films. I always tell my friends I can watch it but they are responsible to picking my calls when I can't sleep or is afraid to go to the bathroom at night or do anything at night. I really don't think it's worth the work involved.

Through the salon mirrors we could see a grandma approach on the road. Everyone had attention on her because somehow we could all see she was going to take a fall for no particular reason and she did. She turned out to be the hair dresser's mom.

After the grandma left, my 3rd aunty in law and the hair dresser all talked about the troubles and distress of having a family and in laws and extended families. They both recommend that I do not walk that path and the reason I don't understand what they are really stressing about is because I am single. Well my hair turned out beautiful. The last time I had it done was in Guan Zhou and that was beautiful styled. I really like having my hair done. But if it is not going to be interestingly beautiful to me I'd rather not have it done and totally just keep it as is until I locate someone who I can find satisfaction in doing my hair. You know, it's like when you spend money then make it worthwhile why settle for unsatisfying results.

Afterwards I decided to go to Eastern Section of Taipei and have hotpot. I arrived at 1pm and they closed at 2:30pm. I decided today I would have two salads. They have delicious salads. I had mine with wasabe dressing. It was just right.

Then I went shopping along the Eastern Section. I really enjoy checking out the creativity in the products from functional needs to artistic creativity. I like how there is room for a variety of anything goes. There is room for lots of creativity. The trouble of this can be that anything goes and you can get some horrific looking stuff.

I then wanted to sit in one of the lounge shops. They are beautifully done with interesting fashionable furniture. However they were all cocktail and wine places and here it's not smoke free. So I ended up not stepping into a nice place because of the smoking.

Guan Wu

I had very little rest because I stayed up to watch movies with my cousins after the party. It was the party after the party. I had to get up at 6am to go for another outing and this time was with 3rd uncle, his wife and 4th aunty to Guan Wu. I slept the whole way. I didn't know I was being a party pooper. They were really exited about this outing and really wanted my participation in the car but I was passed out and when they tired to wake me up I was like dying or something and they found me to be offensive. Also my 4th aunty kept physically grabbing my arm every time we passed by a tree or something she was very excited of because she doesn't get out much. I was unhappy about that and told her I didn't like being grabbed. I had no idea I was being rude and a poor guest. I was just exhausted and needed to sleep in the car so I can be awake and functional when we arrived.

I finally woke up when we arrived and there was snow caps on trees. It was beautiful. The snow wasn't thick because most of it melted by now, there is just a nice layer of powered icing on top of trees. It was beautiful.

4th aunty wore her so called tennis shoes with 2 inch heels and she complained of sore feet and inability to hike. Well, I think it was the shoes, it was really heels disguised as tennis shoes, a once fashionable thing to somebody. It really did not equip her with trail hiking. We walked on a very pristine trail.

I really missed nature. As much as I love Taiwan and the fun and convenience of Taipei city, I love nature. I love easy access to nature and I love to hike. I love the smell of pine needles and soil and the scent of wild flowers.

We had simple but abundant lunch at the restaurant. Then we went into a tea room to over look the scenic mountain and sea of clouds blanketing the ridges. It's so beautiful this way. I love to just drink tea and look out into nature and just breath. I am perfectly happy to just park myself somewhere and just do that.

3rd Uncle talked about younger years. He said my mom used to collect coins in a can and one day he broke the can to buy wan gwei because a neighbor would always tease him about how he's too poor to buy it. He basically took my mom's savings and spent it on that. The most memorial part was this, he got an unforgettable beating from his dad afterwards.

The drive out of the park everyone fell asleep including the driver, I noticed this and opened my eyes real wide. Then all of a sudden he slammed on the break when a car raced by him and cut him off. It was a good thing it was the breaks he stepped on and not the gas. He asked me if I missed driving and I said I'd be up for driving any time. He was going to pull over except that one near incident really got his adrenalin rushed up and he woke up. It was better this way because then all the people in the car would be too nervous to have me drive and I would end up with many back seat drivers.

Along the ride I got to notice the aboriginals who live in their house and they would have a portrait of Jesus hanging in their walls. It occurred to me that most of the aboriginals were converted into Christianity. I think my father's ancestors were responsible for that. They were early Presbyterian missionaries of Taiwan and established churches all over Taiwan.

Xue Ba

3rd uncle in law picked me up in his 6 seater Toyota hatchback. I sat in the very last row. I'm actually most comfortable there. Most people don't like to sit in the last row because they somehow feel left out. But I like it because this way I don't have to turn my head around to talk to anyone or to see them. I could see everyone from the back and I can speak loud without a problem. Plus usually it's empty and so I have space to lay down and stretch out. We were out for an outing to central east Taiwan to a national park called Xue Ba.

On the way there we stopped by a rest stop. The rest stops in Taiwan is posh. I love it. The food is good and there are great snacks. I think Taiwan aside from Japan is a great snack country. I haven't been to Korea so I can't figure them in. The rest stop is very comfortable and luxurious in my opinion. The gift snack shop is one of the best attractions. In Taiwan, there is a custom that you don't show up to anyone's house empty handed. So from the packaging to actual product of snack hand goods are pretty good.

Both the 3rd and 4th uncle in laws had good sense of humor and I laughed the entire way. We arrived in the park and walked around the visitors center. The weather there was misty and foggy so we decided it would be best to just hang out at the visitor center. In this center we stepped into the movie room to watch the film on the park trails, mountain peaks, wildlife and fauna. This park alone houses 60 percent of the worlds butterfly species.

I would like to backpack and camp in the national parks in Taiwan. This would have to be a separate trip with all my gear with me. I would just have a great time hiking and looking at butterflies, birds, flowers, trees. Taiwan has one of the vast varieties of butterflies in the world. Plus backpacking isn't that hot of sport here. There are enough people who do it but not enough to ruin the pristine wildlife. I am looking forward to spotting a live phoenix tail butterfly myself.

I remember when I was very young, I went on a butterfly outing with extended families and we caught butterflies in nets. Well, I put my butterflies in a bag somehow and forgot about them. So the suffocated and died. I was very sad when I remembered and found all of them dead. I was very little. What do I know? Not knowing many things and being very forgetful is a toddler child trait. I totally forgot to release them after ooo-ah...... I still feel terrible about it.

After walking around the outskirts of the visitor's center we went walking down a tofu street, another tourist attraction. Our goal was to just snack a bit because it wasn't lunch or dinner but snack time. And we had planned to soak in the nearby hot spring. But,.....we ended up eating the whole way. I had mochi, cake, spicy stewed tofu, fried tofu, and out of this world fruits, etc... I can't remember, I lost track after awhile. I was stuffed.

We went to a hot spring resort hoping to just soak and not stay over night.
When they arrived they found out that it cost 3,000 yuan to stay over night in this resort for basic setup. 3rd aunty's children had given them this place as a weekend resort getaway and they had a great time. How did it go. Well, they found it the studio setup for the place was 3,000 yuan and they only had 2,500 yuan of cash, they were short. They had to go into town and search for an ATM. They ended up having instant noodles for dinner because they didn't have enough money for dinner. They're at this posh resort and they didn't have money for dinner. Fortunately the instant noodles in Taiwan are really delicious. I'd eat it every day if it wasn't bad for you with msg and preservatives and load of sodium and fat to give a triple bypass. Well, they called their kids on this entire escapade and the kids talked it over and said they'd pitch in and set them up with the top suite at 6,000 yuan if they'd be willing to allow themselves to get pampered. It was funny.

This place is known for herbal bath. And herbal bath here in Taiwan means Chinese Medicine Herbal bath. It's not like rose petals with mint or something. No, it's like brown or black in color and smells like Traditional Chinese Medicine. The bath tub for the hotspring in the basic cheapest room was small and only enough for 2 people to squat in. It was 500 per room for the hour. The tub itself really lacked comfort in all our opinions. It was hot spring peak season time and there was no room for negotiations because business was booming. We decided to not soak there. I can't remember why. I think partly it was too expensive for an hour soak and the basic set up was not as good for the price we were given or something. I don't really know exactly. I just know the negotiations took awhile.

On the ride back the conversations in the car was on the stories of my parents. In summery, my mother to everyone is everyone's mom and my father is a generous and fun person. We went to SiLin district for dinner and at YiYuan where 3rd uncle and his wife and 2nd aunty and her husband joined us. Then we went over to 4th aunty's place for tea and talks were attempted for an all aunties sleep over. But that didn't happen, my mom was out of the picture back in US. So Chan Chan decided to call my mom and pretend he was a police officer who was charging her with not being present at a party. It was hilarious. I think it was like 6:30am in US.

Arcade With the Aunties

Today I went with 3rd and 4th aunty to the area of Jin Shan to soak in hot spring. We took a hike at a coastal trail and both of the aunties were panting. I love the nature and I do love hiking on beautiful trails. The coast was beautiful in this part of Taiwan. I can see why Taiwan was called Formosa.

Since 3rd aunty didn't have anything to eat she was hungry so we stopped to eat after the hike. Since we ate we had to walk off the food before soaking. Well, we went into this area of shops that was touristy and we had more food. We were suppose to walk of the food and instead we ate more food. Hmm... how does it work again?

Finally made it to the hot spring and it was 150 yuan to soak for an hour but I only soaked for 30 minutes somehow. Well, I felt soaked! Anyways, what a deal!

Continuing onward on girls day out we went to SiLin Night Market for food and shopping. We ended up not doing any shopping. We just ate and then hung out at the game area and played in the arcade. We had a lot of fun investing coins into machines and played games. The one we got the most kick out of was the basket ball toss. We teamed up to make shots into the basket with the allowed time. We really didn't do very well but had a ton of fun in the process.

We left the night market at 8pm. This was very early because the night market is just starting to run then. It really goes into hot full speed at 10pm at night. But the aunties were tired and wanted to go home. But...but...but... the evening has just started. Oh well,....

Buffets are Dangerous

Went to a shop on San He Ye Si area with 3rd and 4th Aunty. We spent all our time in one shop and all of us had a fun girl time together trying on different clothes. Lunch was no good. I felt with such experiences, it's such a waste of stomach space and digestion energy.

I went to visit some friends and met up with the rest of the group in Dong Qu, Eastern Section a popular hang out area for college students and young professionals. We at a Ruo He all you can eat vegetarian Hot Pot Buffet. Such places are dangerous. The hot pot item selections was good enough then there is appetizer, entree, fruits, dessert, drinks on top of all of that. And there are multi selction of soup stocks for your pot of hot pot. You can have three different ones in one pot.

Yi Chien gave me her YoYo card which is a MRT and bus card that you can top off. It's quite convenient that way you don't have to stand in front of the ticket line every time you want to go somewhere.

I called various people in US and checked in with them to catch up. It was nice of people to offer me a place to stay since I will be homeless when I return. I gave up the apartment in Berkeley when I left. I just didn't want to have anything to worry about when I was away. Did that person pay rent. Is the apartment still intact. Was the PG&E bill paid, etc...

Still Hung Up on Sweat Pants Sweat Shirts

Today 4th Aunty and I took the bus to Long Men Si, an old temple. We stopped by a local vendor and had fresh sugar cane juice and hot and crispy and juicy cabbage buns. It was so simple and so delicious. Then it was more shopping at the underground mall and local nearby shops. Everything 4th aunty went for were all sweat pants or shirt related. She wouldn't let me buy anything outside of that and I didn't want to buy any of those things. It was interesting to go through this so I didn't buy anything. I guess that's fine, save money since I really don't have any.

Chen Chen's girlfriend came over for dinner and we cooked together. Dinner wasn't that interesting somehow but everyone politely ate bits here and there. After sending his girlfriend off, he and I went to local Blockbusters and rented movies and watched till wee hours. There is this silent understanding and agreement that we would watch together all three of us so we'd wait until Chan Chan got back and usually this means some time after 11pm is when we start to hang out together. It's cool by me. I really enjoy their company.

DIY Crafts Store Shopping

4th Aunty took me to a bead shop. I was in craft heaven. I love doing things like this. I spent a lot of money getting crystal beads of sorts to make beads. I had warned her that I can spend all day in places like this that she would get bored and that she should just leave me there. But she really wanted to accompany me so she stayed with me for hours as I check everything out in great detail. This entire area has DIY beading crafts supply.

After DIY beads district, we went to DIY knitting and fabric accessory district. I was in fun heaven. I spent a lot of time in this area going from store to store checking out different types of supplies.

For dinner we were invited to 2nd uncle's place for dinner. I chatted with his son Wei Xiang for a long time about my travels. He said he admired my life and my abilities. Wow! What a nice change. I've been attacked by my 4th aunty on my lifestyle and here is someone else who says the opposite. I guess when you have a large extended family, everyone has an opinion and they are hardly agreeable.

Dinner was delicious. I really like the soup, it had a stock that had body to it. I felt all healed just by drinking it. 2nd aunty in law is a great cook too. I learned in the past few years she studies Wai Dan Gong, a kind of qigong and had trainings in dreams that improved her skill in body. He encouraged her to study Traditional Chinese Medicine to develop the art of healing. Now she unofficial does treatments and healing for friends and neighbors.

Tablespoon Size Tea Cup

Got up at 8am with for a day of hot spring with 1st uncle and 4th uncle. Oh, I went to bed at 3:30am hung out with my cousins Chen Chen and Chan Chan. As tired as I am, I still think it's all worth the fatigue. I can manage and work around it. During the car ride I put my head on my 1st aunty in law's shoulders and rested. She's really sweet and held my hand and hugged me the whole way. I felt quiet nurtured.

I soaked for a long time, taking my time. I have knots and pains in my body and the soaking was really good. Then we attempted to have lunch in 4 separate restaurants but they were all booked with weddings, it must have been an auspicious day for weddings. We ended up having take out from a local place by the apartment. After lunch, guess what we did? We sat around had tea and talked. Topics of conversation ranged from childhood to ghost stories. It was fun.

The tea culture of Taiwan is everyone is poured a tablespoon size of tea in a cup that is about a tablespoon size. It's small so it's one sipper. Plus the caffeine is strong. How is it done, drink one pour another and this goes on and on for hours. There is no rush, and tea is served boiling hot and sipped. When tea is cooled a bit it is dumped and a hot one is poured into your cup. It is often accompanied by lots of snacks like preserved fruits, seeds, nuts, etc.... goodies. And of course, you talk and talk for hours.

A Walk Back in Childhood Lane

We all went out to a vegetarian buffet restaurant at Chang Cun for 350yuan per person. The food was delicious and it was fun to have extended relatives here. It was nice to see more family members I haven't seen in years now all have kids.

Afterward lunch all the uncles and aunties took me to Shen Keng, Deep Tunnel for famous grilled stinky tofu on a stick. It was a fun tourist street full of goodies to eat. Everyone had fun and ate classic Popsicle, cotton candy, and lots of everything else I can't seem to name. For a brief time, all of us including uncles and aunties returned to childhood. I really had fun.

Well, it's not like anyone of us were hungry after the buffet lunch but it was fun to go play and walk and snack every few steps. I was stuffed. I think I can just not eat for a few days and be okay. But I'm in Taiwan, how often am I in Taiwan. It takes me a month in Taipei just to eat the things I want once.

When I returned I saw Chen Chen passed out tired on his brother's bed. I think it's been hard for him to sleep on the floor while I sleep on his bed. But he insists that I sleep on his bed. I really enjoy his company.

Cousins Reunion by the Riverbank over Fireworks

Woke up late again because I went to bed late again. I went with my 4th Aunty to the local open stall market to buy ingredients for hot pot. When we finished we go a call from 3rd aunty to go to her house for lunch because she already finished preparing and she made hot pot. I just hung out with relatives for the rest of the day and waited for my brother Mike and his wife Shelley and their son Dustin and his cousin Bao Bao to show up from Kao Shong southern Taiwan. They took the new train and it only takes something like two hours to get to Taipei.

I haven't seen Bao Bao for a few years, he looks all grown up. After dinner at a local restaurant 4th uncle took Dustin to a buy firework so we can light them off by the river. The only time firework is legal is during new years. New Years is really a month away but we really want to set off fireworks. I love the butterfly one. It's one of my favorite. It spins and flutters as it sparks off fire. There nothing like fireworks to turn everyone into tiny little kids again. It was a cousins reunion by the riverbank over fireworks and totally fun.

Afterward everyone left my 4th aunty interrogated me on my lifestyle. She wanted to know why I don't live with my parents and why I don't have a fat savings accounts or capital assets. I was not at all prepared for this. I was in shock at the aggressiveness from her. In Asia it is a custom and no question that children of parents live with their parents even after marriage along with grandchildren. It is like a form of shame if your children don't live with you. But in America if you still live with your parents after college it's frowned upon. Difference in cultural values and lifestyle.

Jin Hai Chan Si

I woke up this morning and was really really tired still and really really want to cancel the 8am appointment with my 4th uncle to go to the flower market and then Jin Hai Chan Si, Golden Sea Chan Monastery in Jin Shan, Gold Mountain about a 45 minute drive outside of Taipei by the coast. I decided to honor the appointment and got into the minivan and just shut my mouth and closed my eyes and rested. There were plenty of people in the car to chat with each other to keep each other company. I put on my ear plugs so I can power nap while people chatted. It's good to have long hair, it covers the ear plugs in my ear so people won't find me rude to be in a company of others and plug up my ears.

I had fun at the flower market. I love flowers, all the colors, texture, beauty etc... It just makes me happy to be surrounded by flowers. One of the things I love about traveling is to see the different kinds of plants, trees, flowers, herbs, fruits, vegetable on the native land. It's all just so beautiful to me.

We made it in time to the Monastery for lunch. The monastery is a branch of Ven. Master Guan Qing's monastery also known as The Fruit Master. The abbot who recently passed away was Ven. Master Chuan Bin whom I felt really close to even though we only met a few times. I just feel a close connection with him. He became a monk in his fifties and live to his eighties. He was a trained martial artist before he became a Buddhist monk. During the time of his passing I was not informed of the event. However I did dream of him. He came to see me and asked me if I had any questions. I was happy to see him and had questions but somehow they could not be worded in my tongue. He then turned and walked away and that was his parting of good bye with me.

We brought flowers and florists to arrange flowers as offerings. There was no room for me to help out. I was not recognized as a capable florist and I played off that too since I was very tired and one of the women was angry the whole time. Infact her anger made her top over one of her arrangements in the hall when she put it on the alter. So she had to start over and over as it topped over and over because she arranged the flowers in anger and jealousy and pettiness. Her original arrangement was too tall and not in balance like her pride and ego. Then as she went on in redoing her arrangement every time it toppled over after completion she lost more height and fluff. When she finally succeeded in her arrangement the last time, the whole arrangement was half the size she originally started, however it was the right size for the space she was working in and it was structurally stable. It looked a lot more humbling, so maybe she also had a transformation within and was more humbled. Because of the toppling of arrangements, we ended up leaving 3 hours later than we had planned.

It was raining on the ride back. I thought about the angry florist how easy it is to surround yourself with people who will validate your drama. It seems comforting but it's just a masking of fear and continual denial of what really isn't working and is destructive.

Glad the Dog Didn't Have a Say in it!

Weather today-rain. I went with 2nd Aunty and 3rd Aunty and her puppy called A Bu La to shopping in underground mall. We met at the metro station and then took the metro and exited at the underground mall. Ah.. the convenience of a city.

Shopping was fun, I bought 3 skirts and 3 pairs of shoes. It was a successful shopping mission. It was interesting shopping with them because we all have different taste, they wouldn't let me buy things out of their taste. I could only get things when we all agreed on it. Glad the dog didn't have a say. That's how it is with large extended family. There is tons of support and love and in your face in your business and everyone has an opinion. Well, for all that its worth, it's still worth the hassle.

4th Aunty was at a 10 day retreat where a Tibetan Rinpoche lectured and she was there as a volunteer support staff. She decided to cut her retreat short by 9 days and returned to be with me. She really didn't have to but she wanted to. I was not there to disrupt her schedule at all.

We were invited by my 3rd uncle to go have dinner at his place. His wife really makes the best food but somehow dinner was not spectacular tonight. She was missing out on her pilates class and she was not happy that she had to skip her class to host everyone by the request of her husband. Hum... complicated. She left part way for her pilates class. His daughter flew in and then flew out in a dash only slowed down enough to say hi to me.

Conversations were interesting today. I guess my mom has been complaining about how I dress and how I need a make over. Well, as a solo traveler, the last thing I want to do is dress up or lug a luggage. I had to defend myself against all the uncles and aunties' attack.

Also went to a group gathering started by my uncles in one of his apartments now turned into a vihara for small group Buddhist practice. Really with all the relatives we have, we make up a monastery all on our own. It was nice to see the group gathering this way. I think this is a very wholesome thing. But I really wasn't all that interested because I'm on vacation and I really didn't care to be there other than to support their efforts and be of good spirit through it all and be polite. I was so tired, I actually fell asleep meditating.

In the evenings I get to hang out with my two cousins who get in around 11pm after school, work, and girlfriends. So we hang out and watch TV till 1am or later.

Dead Corps All Gutted

Went to bed at 1am in the morning. I got up this morning by phone calls trying to reach me. Everyone wanted to get me out of the bed to start the day. I was so tired, my eyes were so tired, I really could have slept more and I really wanted to. But my 3rd Aunty came over and fixed breakfast for me so I had to get up.

We went to 2nd Aunty's place and I met my cousin, her second son, Hong Ji's second daughter. My 2nd Aunty takes care for her elderly Mother in law in the house. Her husband is the first son and in Chinese customs, if you are able to you take care of your parents in their old age. Senior homes or communities are frowned upon, families take care of families at their homes. I learned my 2nd Aunty is now a vegetarian and has been for 4 years. It has changed her complexion and she looks younger and beautiful. She recited two sutra texts daily: Earth Store Sutra and Medicine Master Sutra.

After watching my cousin Hong Ji interact with his mom, I commented how both our families are alike. My 2nd uncle in law corrected and said,"alike, no! Exactly!" Exactly because all the sisters are exactly alike. It was funny. How are they alike? For one, forgetting where they left their keys. Brings the cell phone but doesn't turn it on. Leaves their wallet somewhere at the store. I think I can go on and on.

I learned Hong Ji has been with his wife since high school. But they got married much later because somehow back then my 2nd aunty did not approve of their relationship. Well, it turns out this daughter in law is closest to her. It's like night and day now. Hong Ji constantly reminds her of those days and all she can do is laugh and apologize that was then this is now and now is better.

On the topic of relationships 3rd Aunty talked about her son Chuan Feng's relationship. He was quite a popular guy and when he went away to the military his girlfriend of a few years left him. He was so heartbroken that it worried everyone. Now he has another girlfriend who is 5 years older than him. Somehow females being older is still not so common and is a big deal. But they are happy and this is more important to her than the age difference, she'd rather see her son happily alive then not.

My 3rd Aunty then took me to a Taoist event at an elementary play ground. It's some kind of ceremony. There are lots of tables with things on it. It took up the entire playground and field. There were plenty of dead corps of pigs with inside cavity all gutted out. This really grossed me out. It's what made me be a vegetarian was such sights of whole dead corps of animals. The liquid from the dead pig was sweating out from the heat and it smelled really bad. I wanted to throw up. I asked to be picked up by Chen Chen and then had to lay for two hours to recover from the whole experience.

I woke up from my nap and met Chan Chan's girlfriend. She has the same sweet and cute smile like him. They have been together for the past 5 years. I think it's different here, you meet someone and stay with the person for the rest of your life. The whole shopping and disposable attitude culture is not as prevalent here. It's nice this way I think.

I then went to My 2nd uncle's place for tea. He's taken a liking to old school back to days of tea and Chinese calligraphy. He has always been a beautiful handwriting now he has gotten into tea and has a tea bar and redecorated his place into qing dynasty era including his attire. Both his daughters have left the home life and are now Buddhist nuns in Chung Tai Monastery. His son Wei Xiang is a day time soap script writer and his fiance is also doing the same thing. Infact they both work on the same scripts out of home.

Conversations about my trips to four holy mountains in China was the topic over tea. Everyone wanted to know what I experienced. I actually didn't know what to say. I feel like I already have a teacher I didn't go looking for a teacher. The actual physical journey was enough. There were no super sci-fi stuff like in the movies or something like that. I grew a lot as a person and learned a lot about myself.

Went to the night market in Shan Chung called San He Ye Si. I couldn't buy anything because my 4th uncle in law was more than ready to pay for it. So I will have to pick a different time to shop on my own and get things that way. It was very kind of him to want to pay for everything.

"We Were Expecting You to Arrive Last Year!"

Barely slept on the plane. I was on Thai Air to Taipei via Bangkok. I like this airline. Pretty tired from all the ride. I was happy to hear Jay Cho on the radio station on the plane.

After exiting the plane right before customs there was an ATM machine and I tried to withdrawal money and I couldn't. I think I totally ran out of money. So, it was time to be in Taiwan. Glad I'm in Taiwan. I have 100 yuan on me and I hoped this was enough to take a bus to somewhere.

So happy to be in Taiwan. Feels like home. I love Taiwan. I boarded a Grey Hound Bus at the airport to go into the city of Taipei. It only took half an hour and 50 yuan. I smiled the whole way on the bus because the bus driver was speaking in distinct Taiwanese Mandarin and he was having fun with delivering an announcement persona over the airwaves.

I was still in my Sarawa when a local woman asked me if I was from mainland China. I was so dusty and grungy and well, not in fashion. I have been traveling nonstop from Pondicherry for the past 24 hours via Thailand to finally arrive in Taipei. I burst out laughing from the humor of it all or I was just extremely tired, and hungry and happy. It was like I was inhaling helium or something. I think this is one of the symptoms when people fast. Now I know why people fast in seclusion.

I somehow decided to get off Xing Tian Gong to go on bus #226 to get off at the elementary school and walk to my relative's house. But I got off on the wrong side of the elementary school and got disoriented and walked far and away from my destination. I was lost. I had no option but to call my cousin Chen Chen to pick my up. I borrowed the cell phone of a vendor to do so. People are really nice and friendly here.

It was so nice to see Chen Chen. I've missed him. He is 24 years old this year and is done with college and is waiting to enlist in the military. It's a mandatory civil service for all men here. He picked me up in his 150cc scooter. I love riding on the scooter with the wind in my hair.

Chen Chen asked me what I wanted to do. The first thing I wanted to do was to take a hot shower. I did. I took two. Then I did all my laundry in the washing machine. 3rd Aunty came over and took me out to lunch. It was 3pm when I was done with laundry and shower. We went to a local food stall called Miao Yin, a noodle shop. I love these mom and pop shops that serves like 10 things and is tiny and a hole in the wall kind of place but has the best food. I love noodles. But most of all in Taiwan at noodle shops, I love the side dishes. Usually there is a special in-house chilli sauce and pickled vegetables at each table. Then there is always fresh veggie greens and a big pot of stewed tofu, gluten etc.. goodies in soy sauce and spices. It's a distinct Taiwanese flavor. I also love fresh young ginger sliced to go with any dish along with fresh cilantro. I sure have missed of of this. I was stuffed at $2.

Did I mention that none of my relatives knew I was coming. I didn't have time to tell them I was coming since I bought my ticket and then got on the plane. So it was a big surprise to them all. Actually according to my relatives, they have been waiting for me to show up since November of last year. Oops! It was really my mom's wish that I end my trip and show up then. But I kept on going. It's like the old days when there was no mail, phone, or vehicle and the only means of transportation was on foot. "Oh we were expecting you to arrive last year and wondered when exactly you'd arrive, so you've finally arrived?" or something like that.

I went over to 3rd Aunty's place and met her new 3 month old Palmamerian puppy. Reminds me of my dog Yoyo. I miss Yoyo he was the best dog anyone could have, ever. I think everyone thinks their dog's the best dog. Kind of like brand new parents with their infant babies and just can't stop talking about how cute the baby poop is and insists it doesn't stink at all.

I then visited my 4th uncle and his family and they poured me tea and served it with dried fruit cured with sugar and other flavorings. I like it. It's quite traditional flavor.

Then I made it back up to 4th floor where I am based out of and my 4th uncle in law was waiting for me. He's as sweet as ever. He poured me Gao Shan Cha, High Mountain Tea. He has the best high mountain tea here. I'm in tea heaven.

The family made a bed for me to sleep on. I would have been satisfied with the wooden floor. I think Chen Chen gave up his bed for me to sleep on. That was sweet of him. His brother Chan Chan is all grown up too. The last time I saw him he was still cuddle-able. Now, I think his girlfriend would probably mind, too bad.

For midnight snack I went out for Fried Stinky tofu topped with kimchi and drenched with light soy sauce at a local push cart vending stall. The traditional kimichi with Fried Stinky Tofu is often served with pickled cabbage with chilli. I'm so used to it that I don't smell the stink everyone complains about.