Formosa Express Train Part 1

6 hours on the Formosa Express train ride, we arrived at Taitung~ Southern East part of Taiwan. This special train circles around the coast of Taiwan with spectacular mountain, ocean views, but 80% of the time was spent snoozing. Since it was a trial ticket, unlimited drinks were served by aboriginal dressed train attendants. Full service tickets would have included entertainment: such as KTV, hotel catered meals. By the time we arrived, it was already mid afternoon~ Charlie, our trip planner drove the rental car to our 1st destination "Lu-Yeh" moo moo ranch!
Baby cows with duper long tongues! Drinking off from a "milk carton clock"

Happy Cows living by the mountains~
With Charlie & Kira @ the Hot springs hotel for some afternoon tea~ caramel pudding is made out of eggs from "roaming" mountain chickens.

Part 2 is yet to come~ stay tuned!~

Girl Talk

Living far out from the city makes me city-sick. Finally gathered up with the girls i miss hanging out with at Casa Del Cacao for afternoon tea. A walk into an aqua blue walled loft with crystal chandeliers hung above resembled the elegance of tea at Tiffany's. Cakes & chocolates are also boxed in aqua blue boxes, wrapped in white ribbons~ 3 hours of gal gossip was filled with chocolates, sandwiches, petit fruit tarts, earl grey & choco latte.

Before we part, Sunnnny who!, Yinchen & I pose for a picture, to be sent to others who didn't make it that day ~:P

Lady in Red

My new look with a scottish flair~

Ta-daa! I wasn't used to walking to in my new dress initially, but i fell in love with the hood!

Flying Red Lanterns

15th day on the lunar calendar is the day when we write our wishes on the lantern, and let it fly off to the moon. After taking a year's break from the extreme crowds to Taipei county: "Pingxi" in '08, we gathered a different group and headed uphills last Saturday despite the drizzle. Six people took turns and wrote on a multi-colored lantern: each color had a significant representation: yellow for health, pink for love, etc.. We bought a string of firecrackers for a little variation that was lit as a tail off the lantern as it flew up into the sky. Everyone sprung off from the lantern as firecrackers cracked. With more experiences flying lanterns, I would rather try attaching sparkling fairy-wand crackers off the lantern which will last longer as it flies into the air.

Taking turns to write our "work" related wishes.

Hot air lantern is all heated up & ready to take off!! Guys have to be quick to light up the string of fire crackers before the lantern flies off.

Sky Full of lanterns~

To the South: Simply Food

1) 7kg Doggy who laid in our arms all day long during our simply food trip.

2) Waiting in line at the famous Chou's

3) Short Stop-by for fruits-in-the-ice-shave during a "hot" winter season with the relatives.4) Tainan is in the southern part of taiwan, near the ports whereby fish is considered fresh
5) Flower Night market for more food with Tony's company6) More food brought back to Tony's dining room.

To the South: Open your eyes

Here's what we found interesting during our trip down South: Tainan & Kaoshiung
1) Huge Banyan Tree that grew and covered up an entire house.

2) You've got to be skinny to pass through the narrowest little alley leading to a " Narrow Door" cafe on 2F.
3) Look closer: restaurant with tables and chairs made out of card board papers

4)Moo Kitty Moo5) Moo themed lantern festival along the Love River in Kaoshiung~

6) Pet dogs were everywhere, at night markets, restaurants, subway stations (mostly hung right in front of mum/dad's tummy).

Year of Moo Moo-meadows

2nd Day of Chinese Lunar New Year is when "married" daughters return home home, back to her parents. Not like " married" daughters never get to see her parents often, but women were traditionally married off, and will only have the opportunity to visit home during NY's. To celebrate CNY, our party poodle blinked her eyes while wishing everyone a happy MOO MOO year!!

Since it was rainy and cold, we spent the past few days racing down Moo moo-meadows with our Mario karts while getting foot Usqueeze massages. After eating non-stop, Wii Fit was a good indicator of how many Kilo's we've gained, argh! Check out our Wii Mii : my cousin Olivia, Jasmine, and my little cousin Aki's asleep... while my dad (in green) is so ready for a workout.
Check out Ivan's tummy ^_^. Opps, the conversation cliff & i are such a bore that Jasmine & Aki fell asleep..