Trip to Kaohsiung (Day 3)

The third and final day (Saturday Feb. 28) of the trip started with breakfast in the freezing hotel dining room and then quickly moved on to a big park. The park was located beside a performing arts village thingy that was the intended destination of the little self-guided group. Unfortunately, the performance arts village was closed for renovations so Craig's Mum tried to entertain Craig's cousin Soit-Jade by blowing bubbles!


Craig was far away and can be seen in the background being carried by Aunty Suprana. Craig wanted to play with the "Diamond Geezer".


After giving the children plenty of time on the jungle gym it was time to look for a suitable place for lunch. While walking off in search of such a place, fathers with cameras led the way, followed by children..... and Craig's Aunty Yu-fang.


Craig's Dad had a mango smoothie with lunch that was so good-looking he had to take a picture of it. The hundreds and thousands sprinkled on top must have had something to do with it.


During lunch, Aunty Suprana did a wonderful job of entertaining Soit-Jade by blowing up a balloon and then letting the air blow out into Soit-Jade's face. They both had a really good time with that game.


Lunch was very relaxed and not too short. The restaurant was actually located inside the grounds of a hospital making it very peaceful. Eventually the group moved on to the Love River. Craig was tired and wanted to be picked up all the time but the afternoon ride the previous day had taken its toll on the adults as well.


What Craig and Soit-Jade really needed was a jungle gym with seats all around for adults to sit and watch the children play. And, what do you know, such a place showed up just in time. Craig was pretty happy.


In fact, Craig and Soit-Jade were happy.


With sitting the most popular adult activity that afternoon, a boat cruise along the Love River sounded like a very good idea. Craig enjoyed the scenery.


But could see better from Craig's Dad's lap.


The boat tour was a perfect way to relax and see what was on offer along the riverside.


On the way back to the hotel to retrieve their luggage, Craig was carried by the "Diamond Geezer" Uncle Dean. Craig seemed to like Uncle Dean and his nickname was often heard during the trip.


The group ate sashimi for dinner on some outdoor seats outside of the High Speed Railway station at Zuoying. Craig preferred playing under the seats to eating dinner.


Eventually he came out.


He played with his cousin Soit-Jade for a very short time.


And, played with his mobile phones for a while before boarding the 7:30pm train. He must have been tired though because he slept the whole way on his Dad's lap.

Trip to Kaohsiung (Day 2)

Craig's Dad still doesn't understand why the hotel kept the air-conditioning in its restaurant so cold that normal people needed to wear two-layers of clothing just to feel comfortable. Despite the unnecessary cold, Craig enjoyed the breakfast because there was plenty of milk to drink.


While Uncle Dean and Aunty Suprana finished breakfast, Craig and his cousin Soit-Jade went to a small park near the hotel.


Then, it was time for the long walk over the pedestrian overpass to the MRT station again.


First stop was a large open park the name of which escapes Craig's Dad at the moment.


It had a jungle gym of the type most common in Taiwan.


Although it was hot out in the sun, the little group waited for about half an hour for a "water performance" that was scheduled to begin at 12:30. It never began. The spouts never spouted and the jets didn't do what jets are supposed to do either. It was a bit dull.


In the afternoon, it was decided (after some vigorous suggestions from Craig's Dad) that the little group should hire bicycles and go riding on a bicycle path he had read about. It runs along Cijin Island that forms the outer wall of Kaohsiung Harbor.


Craig's seat on the bike was in between his Mum and Dad. He stayed strapped into his seat on the ferry but had trouble looking at the camera for a picture because there was so much to see.


Once on Cijin the little group rode for hours up as far as they could go and then back again. On the outward leg they stopped at a park to allow the two children to play on a jungle gym.


Craig was bit concerned about this slide despite it looking pretty safe to Craig's Dad.


There was an unusual rocking animal not far away that caught Craig's attention because, as he said several times, it was "blue!"


For a change, Craig was happy to share with Soit-Jade.


At the far end of the island from the ferry terminal was a lookout that doubled as the grandstand for a BMX track. The view toward the ocean was unobstructed and the late-afternoon breeze was pretty fresh.


Sunset was not too far away.


Craig's Dad concentrated on taking pictures of the ocean but, in hindsight, he should have taken a picture or two of Craig's Uncle Dean doing tricks on his bicycle.


The ride back was a long one and the people doing the pedalling had to stop occasionally for a rest. Meanwhile Craig admired the scenery from his perch on the bicycle.


After they finally arrived back at the MRT station, a dog surprised everyone by posing for pictures just outside the station.


Just about the last thing people needed was more exercise. So, some bad advice from an MRT employee about which way to walk to the Love River. Evetually a place to have dinner was found, even if it was just hot dogs, chips and German beer.


Soit-Jade had done enough for one day and was sound asleep on her dad, Uncle Guapo's lap.


And, not long after dinner, Craig was also asleep, albeit somewhere a bit more comfortable.

Trip to Kaohsiung (Day 1)

Last Thursday (Feb. 26) saw Craig head off to Kaohsiung in beeyoottifooll southern Taiwan. The trip down was another ride on the Taiwan High Speed Rail. While Craig was waiting on the platform, he had his favourite drink (Yakult.) Also waiting was Uncle Dean (aka Diamond Geezer, back to camera) and Aunty Jessie (aka Yu-fang) who was feeding Craig's Cousin Soit-Jade.


Craig had plenty to look at while he sat. He likes trains.


Craig kept his parents pretty busy on the train so the next time a picture was taken, the train ride was over, luggage had been taken to the hotel and it was time to go sight-seeing. Unfortunately, there was a very big bridge and overpass between the hotel and nearest MRT station.


The first stop was to look at the very special design of the roof on Formosa Boulevard Station.


Craig liked it, but then again, Craig likes anything that is blue.


Craig is also reasonably patient when it comes to having his picture taken a number of times.


After a short ride on the MRT and an even shorter bus trip they arrived at the former British Consulate which the local government claims was the "first Western style building in Taiwan".


It's at the top of a hill so there was more stairs to climb. Soit-Jade didn't care, she was asleep.


The back garden of the consulate has a little coffee shop and lots of seats so people can sit and enjoy a view of Kaoshiung Harbor.


Craig wanted to climb on this little protective wall without assistance.


That's why Aunty Suprana kept a close eye on him.


Inside the consulate are some almost interesting wax figures.


Craig spent a lot of time just running around like a mad thing. When his batteries finally ran out he decided to just rest, right there and then.


Dineer was had at a harbourside restaurant that Craig's Dad had noticed when the little group was on a bus travelling to the consulate. Unfortuately, a nearby temple began letting of fireworks every few minutes and Craig still hates fireworks.


Craig had plenty to eat in between bursts of rockets and other noisemaking but he spent plenty of time on Craig's Dad's lap being hugged and comforted.


Just outside of the MRT station was an outdoor movie screen that was showing a Taiwanese opera performance. It sounded pretty bad to Craig's Dad and he wasn't at all surprised that the audience consisted of one elderly couple. But the good news was, it didn't scare Craig! :>

Balancing Act

Just a quick picture of Craig being proud of himself because he stood a pen on its end! Sometimes he thinks he is very clever.

A Crowded Park Can Still Be Fun

On a warm, sunny Tuesday Craig was taken to the park in the company of a second cousin who lives on the ground/first floor. This second cousin not only has very cool sunglasses, her Chinese name sounds very, very similar to Craig's Mum's name, Lee Ying-chi.


At the park, Ying-chi took Craig towards the slide. At first, unwillingly.....


but then not so unwillingly.


Then he started to have fun.


It was so crowded at the top of the slide Aunty Suprana (recently returned from two weeks in sunny Thailand) got involved in directing traffic.


People in Taiwan are sometimes a bit unconcerned about others and might walk right in front of someone trying to take a photo. Most of the time they would never even know that they'd done such a thing, as well.

Meanwhile, it really was very crowded at the top of the slide because Craig had sat there not moving for too long!


Away from the crowd Ying-chi was taking care of Craig very well.


She even helped him try on her sunglasses.


When it was time to leave, Ying-chi put her backpack on Craig!


Then, she carried Craig's Mum's big backpack.


It's always good to know that Craig is being taken care of.