This morning we went to a temple session in Taipei - all in Mandarin. It's been a while, but it wasn't too far off from what we 'normally' do.
Then Sister Huang met us and treated us to lunch with her 3 kids in tow. They are amazing and delightful. So wonderful to see them again. Sister Bao came with her husband and 2 little monkeys to pick us up after that and wisked us through the world's coolest and longest tunnel over to the east side of the island. Only an hour's drive from Taipei ~ a drive that used to take 3.5 hrs! Crazy....Ilan, the town we visited was Erin's last area on her mission and she was kinda trippin' out being back there. We spent most of our time at the Taiwan Cultural Arts Center browsing little shops that displayed crafts and art trade from Taiwan. So! nicely done and a lot of fun. There was a sculpture museum there that was amazing ~ white people just can't do stuff like that.
After eating our way through all the shops there we headed into town to find a potsticker shop that has been in operation for 30 years and is famous all over Taiwan. Erin used to eat there often back in the day. It was the BEST Chinese food I think I've ever had. Sister Bao, thinking that we have the stomachs of 20 year American men kept ordering food and putting it in front of us. The Chinese won't take "I'm completely full and cannot eat another bite" for an answer when you don't want any more food. Normally, I really would have refused, but it was all so good! But there did come a point when I told Bao straight up, I truly can't eat anymore please stop ordering. She looked at me and just said the common Chinese phrase "Eat a little slower (and you can finish)." I started laughing, but it hurt my stomach so I couldn't laugh too much for fear of throwing up.
After eating there we went down the street and got some more Taiwan specific food - onion pancakes, and a great treat of chocolate ice milk (which was supposed to have coffee in it. when we requested to leave out the coffee there was a long discussion with the owner about how that was unusual and kinda weird, and that it just wouldn't taste the same ~ we assured the shop owner that we were already weird Americans so it didn't matter.)
As we were driving back we were talking about food (of course) and Bao mentioned that she loved living in Seattle several years ago. The best part was that when she went down to the pier the fisherman would give her bags of salmon fish heads free. She was thrilled to discover this as Bao loves fish head, especially the eyes and in Taiwan, she informed us, fish heads are really expensive. She uses them to make fish head soup. Before we drove back home (through the world's longest tunnel), Sister Bao had to stop and buy some chicken innards for her kids to snack on. (see photos photos of kids below from last 2 days). I love Bao ~ she is so wonderful, but I was reminded how truly Chinese she is. It was wonderful to be with her and her family for an evening.
What a great time we have had!!! Will write more later and post more photos, it's just kinda late right now. Would love to hear from anyone of you who is watching our adventures.
julie & erin (卓和達)
3 comments:
Cool photos! Great to see you with Sarah K. Neat to be able to follow you on your adventures. I will be checking back often!!! Lynn
Julie! Sounds and looks like you are having a great time. I think the spiderman outfit would work great for Dad when he goes to the beach! :) Has Sarah been living in Taiwan all these years?? Kathy
Julie, how exciting to see all these people and visit with them. And I am soooo jealous that your eating such yummy, AUTHENTIC foods. Not the watered down versions we get here.
Sue
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