Weekend Trip
This weekend, we decided we needed to get out of the city and do something touristy. We didn’t plan far enough in advance to actually take a train or a plane somewhere else on the island, since it’s considered a holiday weekend and everything is booked weeks in advance. So, on Saturday, we decided to take the Northern MRT route to the end, to an area called DanShui in Taipei County, on the coast. The MRT ride took about an hour to get there and it had been raining when we left, but we were hopeful that it might clear up for our journey. It didn’t. We arrived in DanShui and it was pouring. So, we sucked it up and basically got wet, decided we’d come all this way, we might as well see it. We started out walking along the edge of the river/ocean inlet (we think), where there are little boardwalk type shops and game areas set up for tourists. We ate lunch at a sea food place, which had fairly good food (although all of us feel a little off today – Sunday – so maybe it wasn’t so good after all). It was here in the restaurant that Ashley made a truly momentous comment:
I read a label out loud that was on Liz’s onesie she was wearing that said “keep away from fire”. Anthony and I were talking about it and laughing since we thought it was funny that they have to make labels like that on clothing. Minutes later, after we are all eating, having moved entirely aware from that conversation, suddenly, for no apparent reason, Ashley stops what she’s doing, eyes wide and blurts out “Mommy, Daddy, don’t put Liz in the fire, I like her!”. Very sad, but cute, funny, and nice to hear one of the only unsolicited comments of true affection that Ashley has ever made about Liz (it actually might be the ONLY fully unsolicited comment we’ve ever heard from her).
After lunch, we walked again along the boardwalk, going into little shops and trying to stay dry in the off and on again rainy day. We went into one shop and looked around for awhile – it appears they import African tribal stuff here, very interesting, not something you’d think to see here. I was buying some little trinkets, when Anthony picked up something to show me, and broke it – dropped the glass on the floor and it shattered everywhere – OOPS. We ended up having to buy it, although for a discount since the shop didn’t have glass to replace what was broken.
We found out that they have ferry rides across the river/ocean inlet to the other side, called Bali. We decided to check that out and got on board. It started pouring down rain, but luckily they had a covered deck area so we could move inside and not get completely soaked. They have a nice wooden boardwalk down the entire side of the “coast” on Bali side. We walked down that a ways until we came upon a play area. We let Ashley run around a bit, getting totally wet in the rain. They also had pony rides, so Ashley got to ride a pony for a short bit, too. Probably would have been longer, but it started pouring down rain again. We found a building to go into and wait out the rain. It was some sort of look out building with a little history of the area – all in Chinese, so I’m not positive that’s what it was, but I think so. Once the rain slowed, we headed back on the boardwalk to the ferry. We let Liz walk most of the way and she really enjoyed splashing in the water and getting lots of attention from the onlookers calling her cute. We had a few minutes waiting for the ferry, so we watched all the crabs run around in the mud next to the shore. They were EVERYWHERE, THOUSANDS of them, about 1 – 2 inch crabs, looked like the mud was moving, but it was the crabs. Ashley had fun checking them out.
Once we got back to DanShui, we walked along the boardwalk again, and found a really interesting place that had a snake, parrot and iguana on display. They had an entrance fee, so we paid and went inside. They had some interesting animals on display – two other yellow and white snakes – one was HUGE, looks like it was either extremely fat or had just eaten something the size of a dog. There were piranhas and other sea creatures, some turtles, insects and a komodo dragon – yes, a komodo dragon, with smears of blood in it’s cage nonetheless – EWWW! Check out the pics on our picture site to see some fun ones Anthony took of Ashley in there.
At this point, we decided to head back to the MRT station and head home. We walked back through a market street, with vendors and little shops to look in. We stopped in a traditional Chinese dress store and picked up a cute dress for Ashley and a shirt for me. I tried on a traditional dress, which Anthony would love to see me in, but those things are made for stick women, not for anyone with any sort of hips whatsoever, so unless I can get one handmade to fit, that won’t be happening.
We started our long journey back on the MRT with both girls exhausted, since Liz had only taken a small nap during our walks around. Liz got very cranky, so I ended up having to stand up, with her strapped on in the sling. She finally fell asleep once we arrived back near home. We had decided to eat dinner at Chili’s, so walked there from the MRT line. Liz slept through the walk and through the wait for dinner and through about ½ the meal, she was pretty tired.
We stopped on the way home and bought a movie for Anthony and I to watch. “Somethings Gotta Give” with Jack Nicholson. Pretty cute movie, had some funny parts. It was nice and relaxing though after our long day out.
Liz didn’t sleep well, woke up around 4:30 and then again at 6:30 and then slept until about 8:30. Anthony woke up feeling ill to his stomach and I didn’t feel very well either. We ate breakfast, hoping that would help, but it didn’t really. We ventured out of the hotel only for lunch and dinner and because the girls were driving us insane inside. Liz ended up throwing up at dinner, so it’s either what we ate yesterday, or she’s teething, or she’s just plain sick. I feel better this evening and I think Anthony does too. After a pretty miserable evening of alternately between the sick Liz and the cranky Ashley (who kept having time out after time out), we finally have them both asleep and are ready to call it a night for ourselves.
We may be getting our apartment keys tomorrow! That’s the good news. We won’t move our stuff from hotel until Tuesday and then our stuff from home that’s been in storage will arrive on Wednesday. I am so excited and although I will miss the daily maid service and the help from the staff, I will be so happy to have a kitchen!!! It will be so wonderful. The bad news is that a typhoon is headed our way again, expected to hit tomorrow or Tuesday, so that may put a damper on our plans. There is a chance that it will head north and just clip us, which would be better. Although I could do without the rain, since it’s been rainy everyday here for what seems like weeks. Wish us luck with the move. I also have no idea when we’ll be able to get internet access set up at the apartment, so it may be awhile before I’m able to post again or get online.
I read a label out loud that was on Liz’s onesie she was wearing that said “keep away from fire”. Anthony and I were talking about it and laughing since we thought it was funny that they have to make labels like that on clothing. Minutes later, after we are all eating, having moved entirely aware from that conversation, suddenly, for no apparent reason, Ashley stops what she’s doing, eyes wide and blurts out “Mommy, Daddy, don’t put Liz in the fire, I like her!”. Very sad, but cute, funny, and nice to hear one of the only unsolicited comments of true affection that Ashley has ever made about Liz (it actually might be the ONLY fully unsolicited comment we’ve ever heard from her).
After lunch, we walked again along the boardwalk, going into little shops and trying to stay dry in the off and on again rainy day. We went into one shop and looked around for awhile – it appears they import African tribal stuff here, very interesting, not something you’d think to see here. I was buying some little trinkets, when Anthony picked up something to show me, and broke it – dropped the glass on the floor and it shattered everywhere – OOPS. We ended up having to buy it, although for a discount since the shop didn’t have glass to replace what was broken.
We found out that they have ferry rides across the river/ocean inlet to the other side, called Bali. We decided to check that out and got on board. It started pouring down rain, but luckily they had a covered deck area so we could move inside and not get completely soaked. They have a nice wooden boardwalk down the entire side of the “coast” on Bali side. We walked down that a ways until we came upon a play area. We let Ashley run around a bit, getting totally wet in the rain. They also had pony rides, so Ashley got to ride a pony for a short bit, too. Probably would have been longer, but it started pouring down rain again. We found a building to go into and wait out the rain. It was some sort of look out building with a little history of the area – all in Chinese, so I’m not positive that’s what it was, but I think so. Once the rain slowed, we headed back on the boardwalk to the ferry. We let Liz walk most of the way and she really enjoyed splashing in the water and getting lots of attention from the onlookers calling her cute. We had a few minutes waiting for the ferry, so we watched all the crabs run around in the mud next to the shore. They were EVERYWHERE, THOUSANDS of them, about 1 – 2 inch crabs, looked like the mud was moving, but it was the crabs. Ashley had fun checking them out.
Once we got back to DanShui, we walked along the boardwalk again, and found a really interesting place that had a snake, parrot and iguana on display. They had an entrance fee, so we paid and went inside. They had some interesting animals on display – two other yellow and white snakes – one was HUGE, looks like it was either extremely fat or had just eaten something the size of a dog. There were piranhas and other sea creatures, some turtles, insects and a komodo dragon – yes, a komodo dragon, with smears of blood in it’s cage nonetheless – EWWW! Check out the pics on our picture site to see some fun ones Anthony took of Ashley in there.
At this point, we decided to head back to the MRT station and head home. We walked back through a market street, with vendors and little shops to look in. We stopped in a traditional Chinese dress store and picked up a cute dress for Ashley and a shirt for me. I tried on a traditional dress, which Anthony would love to see me in, but those things are made for stick women, not for anyone with any sort of hips whatsoever, so unless I can get one handmade to fit, that won’t be happening.
We started our long journey back on the MRT with both girls exhausted, since Liz had only taken a small nap during our walks around. Liz got very cranky, so I ended up having to stand up, with her strapped on in the sling. She finally fell asleep once we arrived back near home. We had decided to eat dinner at Chili’s, so walked there from the MRT line. Liz slept through the walk and through the wait for dinner and through about ½ the meal, she was pretty tired.
We stopped on the way home and bought a movie for Anthony and I to watch. “Somethings Gotta Give” with Jack Nicholson. Pretty cute movie, had some funny parts. It was nice and relaxing though after our long day out.
Liz didn’t sleep well, woke up around 4:30 and then again at 6:30 and then slept until about 8:30. Anthony woke up feeling ill to his stomach and I didn’t feel very well either. We ate breakfast, hoping that would help, but it didn’t really. We ventured out of the hotel only for lunch and dinner and because the girls were driving us insane inside. Liz ended up throwing up at dinner, so it’s either what we ate yesterday, or she’s teething, or she’s just plain sick. I feel better this evening and I think Anthony does too. After a pretty miserable evening of alternately between the sick Liz and the cranky Ashley (who kept having time out after time out), we finally have them both asleep and are ready to call it a night for ourselves.
We may be getting our apartment keys tomorrow! That’s the good news. We won’t move our stuff from hotel until Tuesday and then our stuff from home that’s been in storage will arrive on Wednesday. I am so excited and although I will miss the daily maid service and the help from the staff, I will be so happy to have a kitchen!!! It will be so wonderful. The bad news is that a typhoon is headed our way again, expected to hit tomorrow or Tuesday, so that may put a damper on our plans. There is a chance that it will head north and just clip us, which would be better. Although I could do without the rain, since it’s been rainy everyday here for what seems like weeks. Wish us luck with the move. I also have no idea when we’ll be able to get internet access set up at the apartment, so it may be awhile before I’m able to post again or get online.
posted by The Armstrongs at
9/26/2004
