August 1, 2004
For dinner this evening, we decided to walk over to the Neo 19 building, about 2 blocks from the hotel, and eat Chinese food at a recommended place called The Dining Room (http://www.diningroom.cc/). (Neo 19 is also home to Chili’s, which is Ashley’s favorite place to eat here and in the States.) Ashley sat down and immediately told the waitress “I’m hungry, I want chicken”. I don’t think she understood English, but she laughed anyway. The food was delicious – the best Chinese food we’ve had so far. We had shrimp balls, fried chicken and beef with onion stir fry. Too much food, but that means I get leftovers at the hotel and can skip going out for a lunch meal. On the way back to the hotel, two girls stopped at the stroller to get a picture taken with Liz. They thought she was very cute.
I am looking forward to this week, hoping that we find an apartment or that the landlord can be talked down for the one across the street from the National Palace Museum. The grounds are beautiful with nice rock water formations in the huge courtyard entrance. There is a small river that flows on the back side of the property (which backs up to a mountain) and a small pool, with kids area, is near the river. Only downside is the hours are from 2pm – 10pm during the week. They also have a huge basement common area, with couch areas for reading and relaxing (all carpeted), basketball courts (also volleyball, badminton), chess/card playing rooms, karaoke rooms (of course!) and the best part, a HUGE kids playroom, completely covered in foam with kids tables/chairs, a kids playscape with slide and tunnels, a ball area and little cars to ride around in. Completely perfect for us, especially with how icky it gets outside. It would be about 15 minutes to Anthony’s work, which is perfect, and about 15 – 20 minutes to both Tien Mu (the expat area where many foreigners live) and downtown for shopping and entertainment. The nearest supermarket is within walking distance and Costco is about 10 minutes away. It would be perfect for us, I think, and not being right in the heart of downtown would be nice for the girls and the air quality. The actual apartment is small compared to what we are used to. But three bedrooms so the girls would have thier own rooms. We'll see what happens.
Yesterday, we managed to find IKEA – exactly the same as in the US, of course. We are looking forward to getting our apartment so we can shop more there and do some organizing. We did buy a stool for Ashley since she can’t really reach the sinks here in the hotel and some kids cups. In the same shopping mall as IKEA is TOYS R US! Although the prices are a bit higher, and the store is small and completely jam packed full of stuff, it’s much the same as in the US, with the giraffe everywhere. We got Liz a great little ride along/push toy which she likes very much. She’s walking around pushing it, and she took 1 step by herself this evening, so maybe it will help her learn how to walk alone.
In our walking around today, we stopped at Page One bookstore in Taipei 101. This is a wonderful bookstore, with books in both Chinese and English. We got Ashley her second Alfie Bear story, Be Gentle, Alfie Bear. We bought her first one last week sometime, Time to Sleep, Alfie Bear. This book series is in both Chinese and English and comes with a video CD in both languages. She loves the books and knows the difference between English and Chinese writing. She’s started asking what things mean in Chinese or how to say something in Chinese, which is pretty cool. Yesterday, she asked Anthony what “toilet paper” is in Chinese, he didn’t know that one.
We were in an elevator at Taipei 101 today, which was packed full of people, at a group of girls were looking at Liz and talking to her, Anthony told them they could touch her and they just squealed in delight! They all touched her, tickled her and tried to get her to laugh. It’s so funny to see a group of girls get so excited over a baby. When we got out of the elevator, the entire group of people were waving goodbye and they all laughed as Liz waved bye back to them. I know it’s because she white, but it’s so cute how she can make so many people here smile.
I am looking forward to this week, hoping that we find an apartment or that the landlord can be talked down for the one across the street from the National Palace Museum. The grounds are beautiful with nice rock water formations in the huge courtyard entrance. There is a small river that flows on the back side of the property (which backs up to a mountain) and a small pool, with kids area, is near the river. Only downside is the hours are from 2pm – 10pm during the week. They also have a huge basement common area, with couch areas for reading and relaxing (all carpeted), basketball courts (also volleyball, badminton), chess/card playing rooms, karaoke rooms (of course!) and the best part, a HUGE kids playroom, completely covered in foam with kids tables/chairs, a kids playscape with slide and tunnels, a ball area and little cars to ride around in. Completely perfect for us, especially with how icky it gets outside. It would be about 15 minutes to Anthony’s work, which is perfect, and about 15 – 20 minutes to both Tien Mu (the expat area where many foreigners live) and downtown for shopping and entertainment. The nearest supermarket is within walking distance and Costco is about 10 minutes away. It would be perfect for us, I think, and not being right in the heart of downtown would be nice for the girls and the air quality. The actual apartment is small compared to what we are used to. But three bedrooms so the girls would have thier own rooms. We'll see what happens.
Yesterday, we managed to find IKEA – exactly the same as in the US, of course. We are looking forward to getting our apartment so we can shop more there and do some organizing. We did buy a stool for Ashley since she can’t really reach the sinks here in the hotel and some kids cups. In the same shopping mall as IKEA is TOYS R US! Although the prices are a bit higher, and the store is small and completely jam packed full of stuff, it’s much the same as in the US, with the giraffe everywhere. We got Liz a great little ride along/push toy which she likes very much. She’s walking around pushing it, and she took 1 step by herself this evening, so maybe it will help her learn how to walk alone.
In our walking around today, we stopped at Page One bookstore in Taipei 101. This is a wonderful bookstore, with books in both Chinese and English. We got Ashley her second Alfie Bear story, Be Gentle, Alfie Bear. We bought her first one last week sometime, Time to Sleep, Alfie Bear. This book series is in both Chinese and English and comes with a video CD in both languages. She loves the books and knows the difference between English and Chinese writing. She’s started asking what things mean in Chinese or how to say something in Chinese, which is pretty cool. Yesterday, she asked Anthony what “toilet paper” is in Chinese, he didn’t know that one.
We were in an elevator at Taipei 101 today, which was packed full of people, at a group of girls were looking at Liz and talking to her, Anthony told them they could touch her and they just squealed in delight! They all touched her, tickled her and tried to get her to laugh. It’s so funny to see a group of girls get so excited over a baby. When we got out of the elevator, the entire group of people were waving goodbye and they all laughed as Liz waved bye back to them. I know it’s because she white, but it’s so cute how she can make so many people here smile.
posted by The Armstrongs at
8/02/2004
