Christmas with Mum and Dad!

Michael's Mum and Dad came from New Zealand to spend 10 days with us in Taiwan (from 23rd December '05 - 3rd January '06). I took this time off work to show them around Taipei, while Christine earned the money. Here is the break-down for posterity and some photos. Enjoy!

• 23rd December 2005. Arrival at CKS airport. Home to San Chong. Then all into Taipei to meet our Canadian friends Daniel and Kimberly (who were on a stopover from Japan).
• 24th. Christmas Eve. Jade and Flower Market, and went to Sun-Yat Sen Memorial Hall. Then to a Christmas Eve service at our Church, Friendship Presbyterian.

We had a great time shopping at a Jade and Flower Market

• 25th. Christmas Day. Christmas dinner and Secret Santa with church and other friends, up in the hills in Southern Taipei. Hosted by our friend Becki from the States.
• 26th. Boxing Day. Shopping in San Chong and bought train tickets for our trip to Hualien. We also visited Chiang Kai Shek Memorial and our school. Also to one of our favourite food-joints in San Chong.

Enjoying our favourite meal - Teppanyaki!

• 27th. We went to this place called Jiufen, a 30 min train ride away. It was a very wet day, but we had fun popping into some neat craft shops and walking up a covered cobblestoned alley. That evening, back home in San Chong, we went to see the film 'King Kong'. The theatre operator made sure the cinema was icy cold.
  

In Jiufen, on Jishan Street, a lane filled with craft shops

• 28th. In the morning walked along by the Danshui River in San Chong, and in the afternoon went to the National Palace Museum where we had an English tour. Our tour was the guide's last as it was his last day of military service!

The big trip away for Mum, Dad and I (Christine had to work) was to the city of Hualien, on the East Coast, 3 hours away by train.

• 29th. 1.15pm - 4.15pm - travelled by train to Hualien, and booked into our hotel.
• 30th. 7.30am. We did a bus tour of Taroko Gorge, one of the most spectacular sights in Taiwan. The tour guide spoke Chinese, English and Japanese. It was part bus tour and part walking tour. We also spent some time in a marble factory and store, which is the price you pay for convenience.

Taroko Gorge

Walking along Taroko Gorge

• 5.30-6.30pm.That evening we went to see a performance at the Ami Cultural Village. It was superb. The Ami are the largest of the 9 Taiwanese aboriginal groups, numbering about 140,000 people. (The total indigeneous population is 433,689 - 2% of the total population). During the performance they spoke Chinese and Japanese. No English translation this time, though we could still appreciate the beauty and gracefulness of their dancing and singing.
  

A performance at the Ami Cultural Village in Hualien

• 31st. New Years Eve. McD's brekkie, and a nice walk along the Hualien Riverside Walk before our 2-4.30pm train ride back to Taipei.

On the Hualien Riverside Walk

That evening we went with our American friend from Japan, Erin Speidel (& her friend Stasia) to the Taipei 101, along with the rest of Taipei. Mum and Dad stayed home and rested.

Yes folks, 2006 will be brought to you by Sony.

• 1st January 2006. New Years Day. Church at Friendship PC, then out for lunch with good folk from church, Jack, May and Lisa Chang (Lisa was home on holiday, she is a student at Otago), and Jason and Sharon Kang.

(L-R): M, Mum, Dad, C, Lisa Chang, Jason Kang, Jack Chang (behind), Sharon Kang and May Chang

• 2nd. Northern Taipei, Danshui and the Fisherman's Wharf and Longshan Temple. Then back into Taipei to the 101 for their last opportunity to go to the top of the tallest building in the world.

On the board walk in Danshui

Fisherman's Wharf

• 3rd. Took Mum and Dad back to the airport.
  

We were really impressed with their adaptibility, enthusiasm, energy, and willingness to try some new thing- considering different foods, language barriers and new public transport systems - and especially as this was their first time in a non-English speaking country. We had fun showing them around and giving them some idea of our life here. It was another treat to have family come and be with us at Christmas time while we are overseas, and it was so good to see them. Thanks Mum and Dad!