Surviving and Thriving in Taipei, Day 2 & 3

Sorry for the long gap in my posting, everyone. The kids and I have all been laid flat by an awful stomach bug--an ugly reminder that illness and regular life still happens no matter where you are. But, before I forget, I really want to record the last couple of days we enjoyed in Taipei last week. So here goes . . . 
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Thursday morning promised lovely sunshine as we headed out to explore another section of the city. As we walked out of our hotel, however, we noticed a lovely, large cockroach lying dead on the step outside. The kids were fascinated, staring aghast at its horrid appearance. (They, too, agree with my own personal assessment of cockroaches.) As if this initial encounter wasn't interesting enough, however, I stepped downward onto the marble stair and inadvertently landed on one of the creatures small legs, causing it to suddenly kick like crazy. Spontaneously, the four older kids erupted into high-pitched screams that surprised everyone. Immediately, shopowners and others came outside to see what in the world was going on. We tried to explain that the kids had seen a cockroach, but between my laughter, trying to calm down the kids, and it being such a commonplace occurrence, it was clear these people could not understand. It was funny!

Choosing to move forward quickly, we headed out to the MRT (new rapid transit) to head into the center of the city where I had served as a missionary for five months. I ran off to the LDS Temple to do a session there, while everyone else walked over the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial. 

For those of you unfamiliar with Taiwanese history, Chiang Kai-Shek was the leader of the Nationalist Party who fought against the Communist party in China, only to flee across the waters to Taiwan and establish what was to become modern Taiwan. The memorial itself is gorgeous, and made even more graceful by the amazing concert halls that flank each side, as well as all the beautiful landscaping. As a missionary I spent many wonderful moments there, ranging from my very first opportunity to contact, to seeing cultural performances there, to seeing the most amazing fireworks show of my life on Taiwan's independence day. It holds many wonderful memories for me. To make it even more special, however, when we were in town the memorial had a visiting art exhibition of thousands of paper pandas that have recently traveled round the world throughout different major cities. (Click here to learn more if you're curious). Needless to say, we knew the kids definitely needed to check out their little black and white friends.

Unfortunately, all great photo opps can be undermined, and this time a new sunscreen combined with the Taiwanese heat made for a bad combination. The kids were beyond frustrated as the sunscreen literally melted into their eyes. Hen zaogao! 

Afterwards the kids met up with me over at the temple grounds, another place that means so much to me, for many different reasons. Every month of my mission I was allowed to attend the temple once, and I walked past it every day for five months of my time in Taiwan, and I was thrilled to see how it has been improved with an accompanying new chapel/visitor's center. It was so lovely, and I felt moved to see how the work has progressed since I was here before, and to consider that I had played a small part in it. Even more special, I was so happy to listen to the temple ceremony in Mandarin again, and feel all the familiar emotions I felt the last time I had been there. It brought me a renewed sense of peace and joy. 

Poor Mr. O is still frustrated with the bright light and sunscreen in the eyes. Another photo op foiled . . . Sigh.

This was taken outside the temple before the sunscreen foibles. 

Following a bit of needed air conditioning and rest, we decided to go search out one of my favorite food stops in the neighborhood, the Golden Chicken, which also happened to be the very first restaurant I had ever eaten at on the island. Happily, it was still there after all these years, and still looked exactly the same!

I love watching them in the kitchen. You can always directly see how they work their magic.

It's amazing how fast they put these out. 

As we walked into the dining area upstairs, I was thrilled as they gave us the very table I had first eaten at as a new missionary. I couldn't stop smiling--especially when their delicious food showed up.

The baby especially loved the Golden Chicken's chicken. He inhaled it, skin and all. 

I absolutely love this photo. I took it without them even being aware. For those of you unfamiliar with Chinese culture, they're covering their teeth while they pick food out of them. It's considered very rude amongst the Chinese to pick your teeth in public. . . Something akin to picking your nose. This photo is proof that the kids are picking up on cultural nuances without even being aware of it. 

After our happy lunch, we headed back to the hotel for some necessary napping, since we would be heading to the famous Shilin Night Market later to join up with the kids' former Chinese teachers. As always, the subway ride over was half the appeal. (Notice the pandas advertising the exhibition at Chiang Kai-Shek).

Then, as we arrived in Shilin, we met up with the kids' previous Chinese teachers, two of whom we hadn't seen for well over a year. It was a joyous reunion!

A full circle moment for all of us . . . All of my kids' Taiwanese teachers together--and in Taiwan!

Night markets are the best! Seriously, the street food is amazing, and so fun. :)

Think Big-O is eating a plant? Think again. That's ice cream, with a cookie topping and mint sprig on top. Clever, no?

Sassy sports her new waffle gun. The only thing missing is syrup.

Banana Nutella Roti -- I could have one of these every day for the rest of my life!

Can you see how happy Sassy is to be back with her favorite teacher, Lee Laoshi?

Taiwan's fruit is seriously the best!

All the kids with their respective teachers. 

Getting to spend time with the teachers that had been so good to my kids really was the perfect way to end a wonderful day. We went home completely exhausted--especially the baby--but it was so worth it.

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After much effort to awake from our Shilin night market hangover, pack up five kids, and get breakfast, we finally headed back to Shilin via the MRT towards the National Palace Museum, the location for the largest collection of Chinese art in the world. Only a tiny fraction of it is on display at any one time, while the rest is locked away in the mountain vaults behind the museum. 

By way of background, this palace was built to house all of the national treasures that had accumulated over 1000+ years and had eventually found their home in Beijing's Forbidden City. Chiang Kai-Shek had taken these items with him to Taiwan when he fled China, and it was a good thing, too, since Mao ZeDong later destroyed all remnants of Chinese art or treasures on the mainland in an effort to eradicate all reminders of imperialism in China. 

The sun was so hot that day, and Coco was completely beside herself. We all were dying to get indie the air-conditioned building. 

We had been forewarned before about the fact that there would be many mainland Chinese tourists to contend with once we got there, but we were not even remotely prepared for the swarms when we got there! It was craziness! (I wish I'd taken photos). We could barely navigate in some places, and avoided them as much as possible, but it drove everyone absolutely nuts since they have a completely different sense of personal space and had no qualms shoving us out of their way. That being said, we still enjoyed the gorgeous treasures that we did get to see, and left impressed again with the incredible scope of Chinese history. 

As we collapsed in our seats on the bus, then the MRT, then the high speed train back to YuanLin, our feet were so sore, but we felt an accompanying self satisfaction at all we had pulled off in just a few days. On the whole, it was a jubilant experience to be back in my old stomping grounds of Taipei, even if part of it had changed so much. Seeing the city this time through my kids' eyes, though, was that much more gratifying.