Two Night Trip With Mum

Craig went for a trip with his Mum to Hsinchu last week on Wednesday. They traveled on the Taiwan High Speed Rail. It looks like he didn't really notice that he was traveling at almost 300 km/hr.


After arriving at Craig's Mum's friend's home, Craig got down to the important business of playing with Craig's Mum's Friend's two kids.


Craig's Mum said that they got on together very well.


Craig preferred to play with the little boy more than the girl who was a bit bigger than him.


The next day, they went swimming. Everyone must wear a swimming cap when they swim in a pool in Taiwan.


Back at Craig's Mum's Friend's home the boys began making music together.


Having other kids around to play with is pretty exciting and there's not much chance of Craig sleeping early. So it's no surprise that they were out shopping at 9:00pm in the evening.


It's easier to keep Craig a good distance from the TV if there are other kids being kept at the same distance.


Then, there was dinner at a restaurant before another trip on the High Speed Rail to come home.

Bike Riding on a Hot Day

Last Saturday was a very warm summer day and Craig was set to accompany his parents on a bicycle ride. Craig's Mum had dressed appropriately for the very warm weather.


Craig was ready as well. His helmet needed a bit of adjustment before they left.


After riding for about 30 minutes they met up with Craig's Dad's co-worker Sam. He had been waiting in the shade under a bridge.


Craig had some fun there playing with water that was dripping down from the roadway above.


Craig's parents thought it might be a good idea to go somewhere else. A convenience store not far away has a big plaza outside. So, the adults took turns running around with Craig one at a time so the other two could sit in the shade and have a cold drink.


Craig's Mum did a lot of the early running around.


And then Craig played with his ball by himself.


And, after a while even Craig needed a rest.


Then, when his parents had fed him lunch and were just starting the journey home Craig began falling asleep in his chair on the back of the bike. So, his parents quickly retreated to a motel not far away where Craig slept very peacefully for two whole hours!


While Craig slept, the bikes were safe in the garage that comes with each room.


On the second attempt to return home, they stopped to allow Craig a chance to walk around on the grass.


The park is truly huge.


But Craig likes to stay close to his Mum.


Craig was pretty hungry and was a little impatient when waiting dinner at TGI Fridays.


After Craig had taken such a long nap in the afternoon, Craig's Mum and Dad thought the boy needed some exercise, otherwise it would be very difficult for him to sleep.


Craig likes to stamp on the lights that they put in the sidewalk/footpath in some places in Taipei.


He can run around stamping on the lights for quite some time.


And when he goes indoors, he heads straight for the elevators as fast as he can. Craig really likes elevators.


But when he went back outside, one department store had laid a rubber mat outside its doors because it had been raining and it didn't want people slipping over. Unfortunately, the edge of the mat covered half of one light. Craig found this extremely vexing. He didn't stamp on it but he did have a lot to say about the situation.

Return to TGI Fridays

Craig was back in his favourite restaurant last Thursday.


He insisted on using a spoon to feed himself. Craig's Mum provided some necessary assistance.


Craig's Mum also had a really big margarita with her dinner! Yoohoo!


Meanwhile, Craig wanted to make sure that all the fries from the children's meal went to their rightful owner, Craig.


So, he busied himself with putting them in his bowl away from his Mum and Dad to try and keep them for himself. Craig really likes his fries.

The Beach

Last Saturday was a big day! The plan was for Craig to go to the beach at Bai Sha Wan (White Sand Bay, if translated word for word) on Taiwan's north-east coast. He's been there just once before:

http://craigalexandersworld.blogspot.com/2007/09/to-beach.html

First, there was packing to do. Craig helped by trying on his cap.


After an omelette breakfast at the breakfast shop nearest to home, Craig was ready to go.


So it was off to the MRT station.


After an hour and a half of traveling Craig was very happy to have arrived at the hotel. Uncle Amitha and Aunty Bess stayed in this same room but it seemed to have been renovated since then.


Within minutes of arriving Craig was on the beach.


Craig's parents rented a little tent-like arrangement that was right near the water.


Craig sat with his Mum enjoying the view for a few minutes.


And then it was time to hit the water.


Craig's Dad was a bit sneaky. While Craig played happily, Craig's Dad kept digging sand out from right in front of the boy. Inch-by-inch Craig slid into the hole that stayed pleasingly full of water.


It was a very warm day and the water temperature was pleasantly cool. Craig's Dad was surprised at how many people wanted to take Craig's picture or sit beside him and have their picture taken. He really should be famous by now.


After an hour or so, Craig's toes were very wrinkled so his Mum took him back to the safety of their tent. Very soon, three bigger boys came to play in Craig's private swimming pool.


Craig hung out in the tent while his Dad tried to nap.


But then, a man in the next tent offered junk food to Craig! He very happily accepted. The man was very generous and so long as Craig kept eating, the man kept supplying snacks.


Then, Craig began to throw sand! The man and his friends reacted by piling sand up on top of Craig's legs. He liked it at first.


But soon he couldn't move his legs and that made things a bit scary.


The men were very nice and pulled him out straight away. So, what better way to wash off the sand than to get back into his private swimming pool under the watchful eye of Mum.

Outdoor Dinner at Danshuei (Again)

Last Thursday Craig traveled with his Mum and Dad to the outdoor restaurant that they went to not long ago. Craig once again fell asleep.


So his parents left him to nap in his pram.


Craig sleeping through dinner allowed Craig's Mum to enjoy her chicken.


While Craig's Dad had seafood.


Craig woke up just before dessert. At first he wasn't too happy about being awake.


He brightened up after he'd had something to eat.


He continued to munch away on crackers while enjoying the sea air and the live saxophone music.


While walking back to the MRT, Craig munched on cracker after cracker even when a video-game took his fancy.


It was a very ordinary video-game but Craig seemed to like watching it and his parents were in no rush to get home.