Taiwan Trip--Taiwan Storyland

[March 28] We had a short visit at Taiwan Storyland right before my college reunion. Even though there was not much to see, it was a nice place to take pictures.

[三月廿八] 在大學同學會之前, 我們到台灣故事館走走. 雖然沒有太多東西可看, 但拍照留念還蠻不錯的.

It took us an hour on the train from home to Taipei (I used to take a train to Taipei every day in HS)
我們花了一個小時坐火車從楊梅到台北(高中時我每天搭火車到台北上學)
This is what a small street in Taiwan looked like back to year 1965.
這是50年代台灣小巷的模樣
A police station--someone is on duty! (I was quite shocked when a friend, who was 10 years younger than me, told me she didn't know it was police station. I felt so old :'(
古早警察局--有人在值勤ㄟ! (當小我十歲的朋友跟我說她不知到這是警察局時, 我覺得自己真的老了 :'(

Old-time water pump
古早抽水管

















Old-time game
套圈圈










I remember this rocker!
我記得這木馬!

Another "Now And Then"

Here's another picture (left) from San Diego Zoo. I thought it would be a good idea to put these 2 pictures together. To daddy: keep up the arm workout routine!

另一張在聖地牙哥動物園拍的照片(左邊). 我想把這兩張照片放在一起應該是不錯的構想吧. 給爸爸: 要持續鍛鍊臂力喔!

16 months vs. 5 (click here for the previous "Now And Then" )

16個月和5個月(點閱此處看前一個"今昔相較")

San Diego Zoo

Thanks to Danny's friend for giving us free tickets to San Diego Zoo, so we could enjoy God's creation (and creativity too). Besides, Noah should get to know the passengers on "Noah's Ark."

感謝凱旭的朋友送我們聖地牙哥動物園的門票, 使我們可以欣賞神的創造. 此外, "挪亞"應該認識挪亞方舟上的乘客.

This cute little girl kept offering Noah her cookies (okay, I know Noah is charming). It turned out she was born only one day later than he.
這個小女孩一直要拿餅乾給嘉信吃(好啦, 我知道嘉信很迷人). 沒想到妹妹只比嘉信晚一天出生.
"Flamingopeacock" (vs. sheepdog)
"牧鶴孔雀"(vs. 牧羊犬)

Give me a break #1 (Why did I keep taking pictures of someone's rear end?)
"可以讓我休息一下嗎?"之一 (為何我老是拍人家的屁股ㄌㄟ?)
Give me a break #2
"可以讓我休息一下嗎?"之二
Noah was more interested with the kids than the goats.
嘉信覺得小朋友比羊咩咩有趣多了.
A beautiful and quiet place to end the visit.
好一美麗寂靜之處來結束遊園.

Cute Overload!

Check out this bog. Caution to animal lovers: it's addictive!
請看這部落格. 喜愛動物者小心: 會上癮的喔!

Taiwan Trip--Traditional Arts Center

[March 24] The next stop in Yi-Lan was National Center for Traditional Arts. This place is awesome! Too bad we arrived there one hour before its closing time, so we could only have a glance around it.

[三月廿四] 宜蘭之行的下一站是國立傳統藝術中心. 這地方真棒! 只可惜我們在關閉前一小時才到達, 所以我們只能夠走馬看花.

"Folk Arts Boulevard"
"民藝街坊"
These candies are part of my childhood memories--cookies with malt sugar filling (the one in front of Noah) and tomatoes covered with malt sugar (the red one). When I was little, my parents took me with them to vote by shuttle bus every year, and they would buy me a red candy to eat on the way back. (It also tastes good with strawberries or pear preserves inside.)
這些糖果佔我兒時記憶的一部分--麥芽糖餅乾和葫蘆糖(記得小時候每年我爸媽帶我坐交通車去投票, 他們會買葫蘆糖給我在車上吃).

Traditional Opera Stage
臨水劇場

Ballroom Dancing

Noah learned how to dance by watching "Dancing with The Stars." Have I mentioned my parents are very good at ballroom dancing?

嘉信邊看"與明星共舞"邊跳舞. 我有沒有提過我爸媽很會跳國標舞?

Taiwan Trip--Green Expo

[March 24] Our second stop in Yi-Lan was 2007 Green Expo at Wo-Lao Keng Scenic Area. This yearly event was so successful that it was reported 400,000 visitors every year! Hope the following pictures can tell you a little bit why it's so popular.

[三月廿四] 宜蘭之行的第二站是在武荖坑的2007綠色博覽會. 這一年一度的活動辦的很成功, 每年吸引四十萬遊客. 希望以下的照片能多少讓你看到為何它如此成功.

This picture, taken by Danny, is my favorite. (I would send this picture for a kid picture contest if there was one)
這張凱旭照的相片是我最喜歡的一張. (如果有兒童攝影比賽, 我會送這張參賽)
Did you see the steam out of teapot?
有看到水蒸氣從茶壺裡冒出來嗎?
Pig cap
豬帽帽
Beautiful scenery
美麗的風景
Big kid
大小孩
This ride is environmental friendly--it's powered by "dads"
這個遊樂設施非常環保--動力來自於爸爸們
Too many things to show so I combine some of the pictures for you.
太多東西無法和你一一分享, 就把一些照片合併起來給你看吧.

Nice to See You Again

It's been six months since last time we had some fun at the beach, and we were so happy to spend a splendid afternoon with Charles' family at Corona del Mar last Saturday. This time we let Noah walk on the beach (with the socks--just to be safe...) and he couldn't stop walking--even after we got home, he still walked like he was in sand :)

離上次我們去海灘玩已有六個月了. 真高興上星期六我們和Charles一家到Corona del Mar度過一個愜意的下午. 這次我們讓嘉信在沙灘上走(為了安全穿著襪子), 他高興地走個不停--即使我們已回到家, 他還像走在沙子上 :)


"No-wa-wa" ("wa-wa" means doll in Chinese) is how Nathan calls Noah. Isn't it cute?
永霖叫Noah"ㄋㄡ娃娃"

Best playmates
最佳拍檔
With Charles, Teresa, and Nathan
和長平, 淑芬, 永霖合照

Where is Noah's wife?

"Where is your wife?"--this is the question we ask Noah quite often.

Here is the story: Noah has a Noah's Ark playset. His favorite character is Noah's wife. He would hold her and walk around the house, and sometimes he left her somewhere we couldn't find. That's the reason why we ask him, "Where is your wife?"

"你的太太呢?"--這個問題我們常問嘉信.

由來是嘉信有一組挪亞方舟的玩具, 而他最喜歡的是挪亞的太太. 他常帶著她通處走, 有時就掉在連我們也找不到的地方. 這就是為何我們常問他: "你的太太呢?"

Beautiful wife
嬌妻
Do you see Noah?
你有看到挪亞嗎?
btw, panda is the 2nd choice. (because it's Chinese?)
雄貓是他第二喜歡的. (因他是來自中國的?)

Taiwan Trip--Tidal Park

[March 23~25] Our church friends in Taiwan invited us to a 2-day/2-night trip in Yi-Lan, which is in northeastern Taiwan. It's a shame that I'd never been to Yi-Lan before (and I lived in Taiwan for 24 years!)--it is known not only for the beautiful natural vistas but also for the cuisine that makes the area a favorite with gourmands! Our first stop was Pei-Kuan Tidal Park.

[三月廿三~廿五] 在台灣的教會朋友帶我們去宜蘭玩兩天兩夜. 真不好意思, 雖我曾住在台灣24年, 但我從來沒去過. 宜蘭不只是有名在美麗的自然景觀, 也是老饕們的美食天堂! 宜蘭行的第一站是北關潮海公園.

"Pei-Kuan" (north checkpoint)
北關


"One Line Sky"
一線天
Noah was in charge of entertaining us during the break
嘉信是我們的康樂股長
On the east coast, the mountains fall away steeply to the Pacific and make the landscape looks dramatic.
台灣東岸由於山脈直入太平洋, 形成引人入勝的海岸景觀.


Was Noah thinking "What a beautiful view!" or "What to eat for dinner?"
不知嘉信在想"風景真漂亮"還是"晚上要吃什麼?"














We were very lucky to stay at the new guesthouse in Yi-Lan University because one of our friends works there. It's so cozy!
由於朋友在宜蘭大學工作, 因此我們能住在學校新的招待所. 真是享受!

Taiwan Trip--Salon Haircut

[March 22] For the first time, we brought Noah to a salon to get a haircut. It was fast, stylish, and cheap (about US$3)! That's why we always have our hairs done when we are back to Taiwan. I can't believe I forgot to get myself a haircut this time...

[三月廿二] 我們第一次帶嘉信到理髮廳剪頭髮. 不但快速, 有型, 而且便宜(台幣100元)! 這是為何回台灣總是要修剪頭髮, 但沒想到這次我自己卻忘了...

Noah sat still, looking serious...
嘉信坐著不動, 看起來神情凝重...
Danny gave Bobby (the barber's dog) a massage while Noah was having the haircut.

當嘉信在剪頭髮時, 凱旭忙著幫Bobby(理髮師的狗)馬殺雞.

Who's this handsome boy?
這是誰家的帥弟?
Since we told Noah the dog's name is Bobby, he's kept saying "Bobby" all the time (but not having any luck to make him say "Ba-Ba"-daddy). I tempted Danny to tell people Noah was calling him, but he refused. Poor daddy...

自從我們告訴嘉信狗狗的名字叫Bobby, 他就不停地說"Bobby"(但仍無法使他叫"爸爸"). 我建議凱旭告訴人家嘉信是在叫他, 但他拒絕了. 可憐的爸爸...

Taiwan Trip--Visiting A Ranch

[March 22] We visited Wei Chuan Pushin Ranch, which is only couple miles away from my parents' house. I went there quite often when I was in the elementary school, mostly swimming, bbqing, and camping. The ranch, compared with the one in my childhood memories, is much smaller...

[三月廿二] 我們到離爸媽家很近的味全埔心牧場走走. 國小時我常常去那兒游泳, 烤肉, 露營. 沒想到牧場比起我兒時所記憶的小很多...


The cow at left was having a milking demon-stration to a group of kinder-garteners.
最左邊的乳牛正在給一群幼稚園小朋友示範擠奶.

"Something smells weird..."
"有怪怪的味道..."
Japanese Garden
日式花園
The Green Path is full of history
充滿歷史痕跡的"綠色隧道"