Our return to reality

We arrived back in Taipei to winter weather again. In fact, it had been gray and rainy (often heavy rain) the entire Chinese New Year holiday in Taipei. Luckily, C had an extra "heavy" robe (that I had given her!) to share with me. Friday night we collapsed in the living room and watched "Sherlock Holmes." Let's just say I "tried" to watch it. I kept drifting in and out, and every time I woke up, someone was dying a horrible death. It was too much for me, and I slunk off to bed. It turns out there were others among us who could not stay awake to watch the ending...something to do on another rainy day.

Saturday was catch-up day...laundry, etc. A went off to play with a friend, C & K went to exercise and grocery shop, and C & I stayed home. He took me to a small restaurant in the neighborhood and taught me how to order the "box lunch." You start with rice in a small, sectioned, cardboard take-away box, then you point to the veggies and salads that you want to go with your meal. All is topped off with the meat of your choice. C chose pork, and I chose "crispy chicken." This is all rubber banded, and put in a sack with a soy drink and off you go. Two lunches cost NT$150 (US$2.50 each) and were absolutely delicious! Saturday night was K & C's "Daddy Date Night." The kids and I had pizza and popcorn. Pizza Hut delivers to your door. You can order all the pizza you want, but they can only deliver one large and one small at a time...another TM. We watched "Up" one more time...I LOVE that movie! C pretended to watch another movie on his lap top, but still laughed in all the appropriate places.

Sunday, the kids and I went down to Taipei 101, the tallest building in Taiwan while K & C got caught up on their financial planning. Two subway trains and a 10 minute walk found us at the best English bookstore in Taipei on the top level of the 101 mall. We all bought books, but I must confess I had already read most of the "top 10" books in the store. I still miss being able to go to Barnes and Noble! We went back down to the basement where there is a huge food court. We had to walk the entire court before we all decided what we were going to eat. We had an international gourmet treat: A chose Italian pasta; C chose Indian curry and naan; and I chose Hainese chicken rice (a favorite from my Singapore days). We stopped at the "Apple" store to pick up some needed ear phones, then hopped the MRT back to Tien Mu.

K made Beef and Tomato Noodles (one of our cooking lesson recipes) and stir fried veggies for supper...what a treat! C told me again that I was welcome to cook, but who needs to when you can get a meal like that???

The trip home on Monday was another adventure. I'm still not sure how it happened, but I got lost going from the MRT to the train station. I ended up walking around the entire MRT station, exiting, then re-entering the city's main train station. This is with a 40 pound suitcase on wheels, two very heavy carry-ons and a hand bag thrown over my shoulder. The luggage served as a reminder of what a fun time I had shopping in Boracay and Tien Mu (some necessities for the dorm room and office, some not, as those of you who have read the vacation adventure will be reminded). When I finally found my turnstyle for the local train, my ticket did not let me go through and the guard began telephoning others to get me some help (no English). His "help" hung up on me when he heard me speak in English...no help there! It turns out my round trip ticket was for one day only (another TM), it had expired and there were no ticket offices on the B3 level. Not wanting to go back up 2 flights of escalators bearing all of my luggage, I approached 2 people with my constant question: "Do you have English?" No response means "I don't understand your question!"...no English. The lady janitor became aware of my plight, and began gesturing and talking in Taiwanese. I also saw a train employee, and asked for help. Between her gesturing and talking, and his limited English, I got change for a ticket, and they walked me through the ticket dispenser on the 3B floor, got me through the turnstyle, and down the final escalator to the local train. Half an hour later I was bound for Neili, and the two flights of stairs down from the platform and the two flights or stairs back up to the exit...no escalator. I think I am going to have to learn to pack more lightly. I will just have to wear beach clothes in Tien Mu and Taipei no matter what the winter weather is! It's tough being prepared for both in one suitcase. Now when it comes to shopping, I think I'd rather leave my clothes behind!

It was pouring rain when I arrived home in Neili, so I took the 3 minute drive to the dorm for $US3...the "expensive" end of a very hard trip! I sorted the suitcases and carry-ons, and decided I needed to do some grocery shopping. I found the "fruit lady," then bought a flower for my red Yingge vase...cheery and just what I needed! Now if I could just turn on the heat in this building and in my office building...I wore 4 layers of clothes to bed, starting with my long underwear! Each night I have been able to reduce one layer as it has started to "warm up." I know I will soon be complaining of the endless heat a la CC, but right now I will continue to have to layer up. That is presenting some challenges when I go to work!

Thus ended the CNY trip....