The Hsu Times: December 2009

For the winter break, we did the Japan tour and have kids visit Taiwan for the first time!

Took ANA airlines to Japan. The flight was very smooth (11 hours), we had 2 meals in the airplane. There is always a snack mix before a meal. And the T.V. had so many channels. I watched 3 movies :) The time travels wife, 500 days of summer, and Julie and Julia. Everyone is so friendly. Arrived in Japan and checked in to Hilton Narita.

Signet tour is wonderful. We liked our guide right away. Our breakfast include American and Japanese style. All the portion are small which allow you eat lots of variety. Tokyo has lots of traffic and people.

Our agenda today...
Imperial Palace- current home to the Emperor and his family. check out the double bridge.

We visit Asakusa - Senso-ji, Tokyo's oldest temple, shop and ate sashimi. Had fish cake for snack.

Meiji Shrine - Learn the tradition hand washing techniques in Japan.

People wear mask in Japan -- H1N1 flu pandemic

Keio Plaza Hotel in Tokyo, the hotel is very easy access to the city's shops, restaurants. We ate udon that night. Timothy fell asleep. We walk around the subway.. It was crazy, so many people.

We went to observatory to check out the view of Tokyo.

The view on top of our hotel the next morning.

Check out Keio Plaza Hotel.

Kamakura

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine

Lunch on our own. We pick a local place that served us udon and tempura. Yum! They didn't speak

English though.

We had ice cream and rice sake for snack.

Visit Budda.

So many dogs in Japan.. miss Charlie...
After views of ocean..

We arrived at Odawara Castle- climb 109 stairs.

Arrived at Atami- New Akao Hotel, everyone changed into some kind of Japanese robe. After hot springs...

We had Kaiseki (traditional Japanese banquet dinner) with karaoke.

Bed is made. Kids not used to sleeping in Tatami.

Watched to ceremony of rice cake ponding to celebrate the coming of New Year.

As usual, all the hotel has teapot in the room.

Morning view of the ocean is peaceful and serene.

Breakfast is served by many people.

Mount Fuji time!

Took the boat and the ropeway (the world's busiest gondola lift) to the top.

Climb to the top where the smoke (from the sulfur) and ate black egg there.

Mount Fuji followed us all day. The day is beautfiful, we could view Mt Fuji really clear.
Wash hands and mouth before enter shrine.

Ice cream everywhere, there were taro, wasabi ice cream as well!
Buffet lunch at Hakone hotel was really good.

Mega Web- theme park for Toyota Motors

Ginza St.- up-scale shopping district in Japan.

Shabu shabu for dinner.

Last night in Japan...
Check in the Hotel Narita again.
Run into Paul's ex-coworker at NASA here! Tony and family.

I find these airline stewardess all look the same :)

Took ANA to Taiwan. The food is excellent on the plane.

Arrived at Taipei, Taiwan!

Uncle Jeff took us to Din Tai Fung, the world's best fried rice and dumplings!

Taipei 101

The world's second-tallest building.. Timothy is not happy about that at all. He wants Dubai's building to fall down :)

It's also the world's fastest passenger elevators. Took 37 seconds to get to observatory. We learned about

the architectual element of the building.

See coral exhibit.

Then Jeff told Timothy about the parashute jumper....Timothy got all excited and check out the story. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8U-z-SnbJU

We visit the food court. Stop by Jason's

Thai food for dinner. The kids fell asleep.. so tired! We took a picture with Uncle Jeff and family afterwards.

Citizen Hotel's breakfast is excellent! both Chinese and American.

Uncle Jeff took us to visit Ah-ma's sister.

Gold ecological park. It was raining and misty. Paul enjoyed the atmosphere very much.

Loved the bento lunch and the tea!

We went into the tunnel where gold miner digs for gold.

Then the story about the gold that got Timothy even more interested.. Whoever can pick up this gold can take it home! Unfortuntely he tries hard and did not succeed.

We loved this beagle. He listens to "sit" commend in chinese.

Jioufen

Dinner with Ah-be at Keelung.

As usual, we had breakfast at hotel this morning
Agenda today
took taxi to youth park, find the foot stone path as shown in Amazing Race.

hoop on MRT to Taipei Main Station. to Jiantan to check out Shilin night market

We had oyster omelet and minced pork rice and an orange we brought earlier.

MRT to a station to walk to park.

I would love to live in Taiwan if there is no pollution or smog. We ask a local how to get to Daan Park, he replied," It's far, 15 minutes toward the north" I didn't think 15 minutes is far.. Then I realized Taiwan has too much pollution, it's not a good idea to walk too long.
Back to visit Daan park

took taxi to taipei 101 again. This time, we ate at food court. We had japanese katudon and korean bi bim bop.

We shopped 2 hours after lunch. Taxi and mopeds everywhere in Taipei.

We are going to Yongkang street at night to eat the famous beef noodle soup.

12/27/2009
Today we had breakfast at our hotel again.

Then we explore our hotel area in the morning. Paul brought some wax apple--> yummy!

Daan Park again- this time we discover there is an annual flower show going on, very pretty. Can you find Van Gogh's "starry night" in the picture?

We brought egg custard for Timothy.

Then we waited for Dr. Tsai to take us to lunch.

Lunch was excellent.
Afterwards we took taxi to Simen Ding.. Lots of shopping area. Monica brought shoe and hair pin.
The smoke and smog was giving us a headache. We almost lost Paul, and then walked quite a bit to the hotel we stayed 6 years ago. Very close to Taipei Main Station.

We took taxi back to our hotel. Rest for couple hours, then Uncle Jeff picked us up to go to Grand Hotel with Uncle Timo and his wife and his brother and family. That was a great experience.

Afterwards, Uncle Jeff brought us shaved ice from Ice Monster- It has strawberry, melon, 2 scoop of mango ice cream cover with ice, sugar and cream syrup--- Yum!

Monday- We went to Kaoshiung with 6th aunt. 4th Aunt had brought a house in Kaoshiung and wanted us to visit. We took High Speed Rail from Taipei station (It took us 90 minutes) in the old days, it would take over 6 hours of train to get down there.

There were food in the cart that comes by. 6th aunt is so nice, she brought everyone snacks!
When we arrived Kaoshiung, 4th aunt and uncle took us to a famous lake.