Very last day

We had some time just now before we have to go to the airport, so we decided to go to Longshan temple and check that out.

The place was crazy-sauce!

It's really awesomely decorated and there was some sort of spectacle involving a band and fireworks and creepy guys in costumes. Fun fun!

So, now we are on our way to the airport, via Manila (where folders come from) and then to SFO. Again with the sleeping on the plane. Wish me luck!

The story continues...

So yesterday we went to the Chaing Kai-Sek Memorial and the Taipei Main Station/mall, which was fun. We had, as you probably saw, more Shanghai Buns (and again today) as well as a mango ice! We took it fairly easy in the evening as we were both tired and I wasn't felling 100%.

Today we went to Eslite Bookstore compound, which does house an amazing bookstore, but also a rather snooty selection of other cool shopping opportunities. We did avail ourselves if some if that as well as some if the tea in the tea shop. After, we walked to Taipei 101, which for quite some time was the tallest building in the world. We went to Zara in the mall at the bottom and then proceeded to the top for the obligatory tourist experience. What makes that building so different than other crazy tall buildings that I have been in is that there's NOTHING even remotely close in size in the entire country, so it simply towers above everything. You can see it from everywhere and the view from the top is singularly amazing. Also, instead of a clear glass floor, they have a mirrored one, with signage to assist the ladies in remembering their modesty. Then we went back to the bookstore basement for some chow because they have a gourmet food court at the bottom. I actually managed a very tasty cheese and meat plate!

Tomorrow our journey comes to a close, but we will have find memories of Hong King and Taiwan to take home with us. And one million really cheap face masks. (The skin care here is CRAZY cheap.)

Shanghai pork buns

The last couple of days

Have been super light on pictures because yesterday we went waaaaaay out to the edge of town and went to a public bath hot spring, which was very cool (hot), but no pictures obviously. It was also the one night we did not go to a night market, but ducked out to a really cool little street near us for some Shanghai food.

Today we went to the National museum, which was crazy and amazing and badly curated, but with great tour guides. Sadly, no pictures were allowed, but it was a spectacle to behold China's treasures anyway!

Tomorrow, I think we are going to run around the city and do some things recommended by Nancy and some other friends so hopefully I will have something exciting to show you. In the mean time, here's some tasty, tasty food. The dumplings in the pan are shanghai dumplings which are cooked like a deep fish pizza and crispy on the bottom and sides where they touch the pan. So very very tasty! The things on a stick are cherry tomatoes which have been candied! they were also really wonderful! We also tried roasted water caltrops, which are like 1/2 way between a potato and a macadamia nut in a hard shell - weird, but tasty and very good with fire meat (the meat cooked with a blow torch, which I cannot get enough of)!

Night market Mania!

We are evidently trying to go to as many night markets as possible while here. Last night we went to Shilin night market, which is the largest in Taiwan. Erin ate a sausage stuffed into another sausage, and we both had many tasty things to eat, including the blowtorch steak, which is surprisingly tasty!

Taiwan day 2

Yesterday we went on an 8 hour private taxi tour of the North Eastern coastline of Taiwan. We went to Chuifen, Juifen and Suifen Villiages, saw Nanya rock formations, bat caves, the golden waterfalls, and the Bay of two colors. We lit paper lantern wishes and sent them to the sky and ate a lot of weird stuff in the markets!

Taiwan day 1

So, Taiwan is awesome, as it turns out! Everyone is very friendly, the people are normal-sized and not over-dressed again and the humidity has dropped to a livable level. Yay!

We got here on Monday, and immediately went for dumplings and then to a night market. These pics are some of that goodness.

So long Hong Kong!

Ojo Caliente

I believe the proper translation of the name of this hot spring in Yellowstone is "Hot Spring", which amused me a bunch. The sky was pretty intense, I thought.

Caution: Wildlife On Roadway

Got a chuckle at the site of this bison in Yellowstone yesterday.