TAIWAN - Week One

We've been here a week and are finally getting climatized (not really), but at least we're sleeping when we should be and awake, for the most part, when we should be. Nikki is every grandparent's dream child. She is so cute and sweet-natured! She does have a temper, but it really only surfaces when she's extremely tired and just can't figure out how to settle down. She's perfect!

We started our journey last Saturday around noon. We were packed and ready to go, so we decided we couldn't just sit around waiting. On the way to Oakville, we stopped at a few stores trying to find a t-shirt for Bern that had CANADA on it. He didn't want to be mistaken for an American, I think! We did find one, finally, when we got to Oakville at the mall just a couple blocks from James' apartment. After grabbing a couple of Tim Horton's coffees for James and Steph, we went to their apartment and had a lovely visit until it was time to go out for supper. We went to Trader Jack's (I remembered the name!) and Bern had a big order of wings, Steph and I shared an order and James had fish and chips.

Once we dropped them off, we went to Jan and Paul's. Bern took the luggage out of our car and drove it around the corner to leave it at Fran and Mike's while we are in Taiwan. We had a lovely cup of tea with them before the taxi showed up to take us to the airport. Of course, we were very early and got checked in in plenty of time, so we waited and waited and waited.

We boarded at around 1:20 a.m., got settled in with pillows and blankets ready for the long, long trip to Hong Kong! And, long it was! You really know you're getting old when your knees start locking up in pain after only a few hours of sitting in one position! Let's just say, we're not looking forward to the trip home.

We had interesting food choices on the plane and got caught up on some movies - my favourite one was "The Croods" - really funny. We actually watched it again in Taiwan with Brent and Tammy. We arrived in Hong Kong at 4:30 a.m. Of course nothing was open until 7:00 a.m. so we made our way to the next gate at Dragonair, which included a shuttle service to a different terminal for the last leg of our journey to Kaoishung International Airport. We had lots of time since our flight wasn't scheduled to leave until 8:05 which was good, but coming back we only have just over an hour to get from our Dragonair flight to our Cathay Pacific flight - and that includes going through immigration and customs - yikes! So pray for us that day, please!

Well, the moment we'd been waiting for finally arrived! Brent and Nikki were waiting for us at the airport. Nikki was still in her jammies and looked as cute as a little button. She was all smiles! My heart melted and Bern got quite emotional at the sight of her!

I sat in the backseat with Nikki and she just giggled and talked and sang all the way home, which was almost an hour! Loved it! I stayed up for awhile just admiring this little girl and when she went for her nap, so did I. Tammy had to work until around 1:30, so when I heard her come in, I got up - too much excitement! I don't really remember too much about that first day - I know I went to bed around 8:00 and slept all night, and foolishly thought I had beaten jet-lag!

Tuesday morning, we got up early, had a cup of tea and a bagel and just waited for Brent and baby girl to wake up. Tammy was already up and out to work. When she came home, she, Brent and I took Nikki out for lunch to a beef noodle restaurant close by the Carefore store (groceries & sundries) where we had to go to pick up a few groceries. The beef noodle soup was delicious! Apparently, the owner was waiting to meet the parents from Canada, but unfortunately, he wasn't there that day. However, we were given special treatment and a few extra items free. So sweet. Our little girl was an angel, as usual, and got to try out a high chair.

 

When we got back home, Nikki got to spend some quality time with Grandpa before her bath, feeding and bedtime.

On Wednesday, we went to Costco. It was much like the Costco's everywhere - crowded and big. Their friend, Diego (another lovely young man) let us use his card. It was fun looking around at everything. We wanted to get a little teapot, but decided to use their electric water heater thing-y for making our tea. It works great, by the way. Before we left to come home, Brent and Tammy decided to have a hotdog - we'd already had lunch before we came out.

Diego

Just hanging out with Grandpa

Brent is more tuckered out than Nikki but she's happy just to let him sleep!

Gone!

Brent had taken Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday off work - Thursday was the start of the Moon Festival long weekend holiday. I'd say it was a quiet day, but in fact Brent had scheduled me as part of his in-home English tutoring session by having me supervise the making of Snickerdoodle cookies for his class of two delightful young ladies. We had a great time and, at the end of class, had cookies!

 

Meanwhile, Nikki played and played. Everybody is in love with her little face!

Thursday night, we were invited to a Moon Festival BBQ at friends of Brent and Tammy. Forrest owns a motorcycle helmet shop and Brent got to know him a few years ago. Just a great young man! His Grandmother, Mother and sister were there as well. They all live above the helmet store, which has been completely gutted and renovated - really well done! The BBQ was done out on the sidewalk in front of the store (we noticed many, many people doing the same thing all along our route. The food was wonderful and Grandma and Mama made sure we were comfortable by providing us with plates and cutlery - and even set up a table and chairs for our comfort. Forrest's sister speaks very good English, but the G'ma and Mama, none, but we were able to communicate enough to know we liked each other - and of course they loved Nikki! We had a very nice time!

First, a little nap with Grandma

Love this picture!

This is Forrest on the right. We had a drive-by audience all evening!

Chinese sausage (very good!), prawns and squid

Pork strips, chops and hamburgers

Forrest's delightful sister and Grandmother

Thumbs up, Grandma!

Where's the beef????

Found it!

Risked life and limb to get this picture!

Ice cream tea - I drank it and enjoyed it, but don't think I would have it again. Probably because I don't usually drink sweet tea.

Forrest's Mom in the pink, kept ducking out of pictures so I had to sneak up on her to get this one.

On Friday, after a lovely lunch - I had a rice burger (rice patties with grilled pork, tomato and lettuce - sooooo good) we went shopping!

Rice burger - great!

Like an omelet with cheese and drizzled with maple syrup!

Fish sticks and home fries

We went to a gigantic department store that has to be seen to be believed right here in the middle of Tainan - well, maybe not the middle, but never mind. We were on a mission to find Nikki a portable bed/playpen. We found just the right one! It's made by Peter Rabbit - that's the brand name. It's beautiful and she seems to like it a lot.

We needed to go back to this store so Tammy could buy a birthday gift for her friend's surprise birthday party Saturday night. She found a beautiful black sparkly evening bag with a silver chain - really nice. So, while we were there, Bern bought me a new watch - mine was starting to slowly break down and when the battery died a couple of days ago, he said it was time for a new one. Since we were buying one for me, he decided he'd like a new one, too! Thank you, Master Card!!!

On Sunday, we had a gorgeous lunch at a spaghetti place where Tammy and Brent go almost every Sunday. The food was wonderful!!! Bern is happy, so far, and I don't think he's losing any weight. I know I'm not! Oh well, winter's coming! Take a look at these entrees!

After lunch, we went to a baby store to "look at" a bouncy-chair activity center and ended up buying that, too! It will be delivered on Wednesday. We put Nikki in it and she LOVED IT! She is so strong and active and she loves being upright, so it's the perfect thing for her and it's made by Fisher Price. Grandpa is having the time of his life! When the guys get it put together I'll put more pictures on here. While they were working out the finances, Brent and Nikki tried on backpacks and hats.

 

I've been taking videos, too, but will have to upload them in the next edition of the Taiwan Chronicles!