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.

FTV Lunch and Dinner with Family

Craig went to lunch with Craig's Dad and his colleagues from work on Friday (Feb 20). When he first arrived Craig was bit shy and wouldn't talk to Craig's Dad's co-worker Grace.


But some food made him feel better and eventually he became friendlier. He allowed Grace to take him for a walk, which was something of a first. Then, just before it was time to leave, he allowed Craig's Dad's Boss Jinny to pick him up! He immediately began the forehead-to-forehead pushing game beloved of some little boys.


Craig then did a great job of turning his head at the last second to spoil the photo when Grace and Jinny had lined up and smiled nicely!


Craig was more cooperative the second time. Perhaps because Grace was holding his head still.


Craig's Dad had to go to work in the afternoon but Craig and his Mum had dinner with a large group of relatives that night. Craig spent some time playing with the mobile phone of one of Craig's Mum's cousins.


He also got up to dance at one stage, where he was soon joined by his very chubby second-cousin who lives upstairs on the fourth floor.


They were soon joined by a bunch of kids.


Craig's second cousin became very friendly. Perhaps the dancing helped him lose an ounce or two of weight and he wanted to express some gratitude.


When Craig returned to his seat he became the subject for picture takers old and young!


Craig also managed to take one picture of his Craig's Mum with her camera.


Then, it was time to look at the pictures taken on Craig's Mum's Cousin's phone. He's pretty good at staying busy no matter where he goes.

Bicycle Riding Again

Craig insisted on having yoghurt for breakfast on Thursday! So Craig's Dad took a picture of the boy's yoghurt moustache!


It doesn't look much better when you get up close either.


Because it was Craig's Dad's day off and the weather was good, the bicycles were taken downstairs for a ride along the river. The first stop was at a parkside cafe for some lunch.


Craig sat on a rocking duck (he likes them because they are blue) while Craig's Mum waited for the food at a table nearby.


Soon Craig went to find his Mum. He had originally thought she would come over to play with him.


The owner of the cafe had a beautiful dog that loved being scratched.


The dog had originally encouraged the throwing of a ball for him to chase but after just two or three chases he stopped and attempted to distract Craig's Dad by lying on his back to be scratched. That trick worked well. The dog then moved his head so that he could receive some scratching behind the ears and OOOHHH didn't he like that!


But Craig started to get bored with not being the centre of attention. He first thought about playing in the dog's water.


But decided to just run away instead. Craig's Dad had to chase him and bring the boy back several times.


He really likes this game.


After riding across the river Craig went to same little park that he likes. Not many pictures were taken because Craig and his parents had too much fun.