Wednesday, July 12, 2006
And another month has flown by.
We spent the first few days of July igoring American independence day! Not on purpose, really, just didn't know what to do as foreigners. So we flew to Hong Kong on July 5. No Disney this time. We stayed in Kowloon, which is just across the water from Hong Kong. The view was lovely. That city is alive!
English is a good language to speak. We visited Ocean Park for the dolphin show and the cable car ride, and the acquarium. The acquarium was 4 stories of "atoll reef".
The weekend prior to Xiang Gong (Hong Kong in pinyin) was the yisedoong hike (if I remember correctly) The English hiking guide called it silver stream cave. After about 400 steps, some of them beautifully slimy from the climate and the low use in the heat of the summer, one reaches a temple built into a cave below a waterfall.This is the pot where the incence is burt. Directly behind it is the location for Bai Bai (prayer).
Once through the temple, we are directly below the waterfall. 
Apparently, one can continue up the stairs to an amazing view and on to the teahouses of Muzha, but Sammy was doing some hefty leg lifts up those stairs, and we were bundles of sweat. It is HOT. Our friend Vicky has informed us that it is best to wait until AFTER summer to go hiking! We had our first experience with the small sting of a furry caterpillar (one fell on Paul and gave him a bit of a sting). We saw some teeny tiny butterflies and some monstrous spiders. And then the kids and I swam in a bit of a pond in the stream below the waterfall. (Ask me what the kids liked about the hike!) We also met a woman from the south of Taipei (near the hike) who reminded us that the hikes 15 minutes from our home in the NORTH of Taipei were equally beautiful.
Hoping for an adventure further south before school starts in early august.
Update - yes, Typhoon Bilis is supposed to hit tonight. The kids' camp has been cancelled and I'm wishing I'd purchased the mini trampoline last week. Looks like we'll be riding bikes in the apartment tomorrow!
Also, FYI. There is a group of people trying to oust the Taiwanese President as well. They actually had a vote in their house/senate structure. AND one cannot fly directly to china from Taipei. Must to go through Hong Kong. AND rice cookers work better than boiling rice. This is what I've learned.
Peace to all,
Steph
We spent the first few days of July igoring American independence day! Not on purpose, really, just didn't know what to do as foreigners. So we flew to Hong Kong on July 5. No Disney this time. We stayed in Kowloon, which is just across the water from Hong Kong. The view was lovely. That city is alive!
English is a good language to speak. We visited Ocean Park for the dolphin show and the cable car ride, and the acquarium. The acquarium was 4 stories of "atoll reef".
The weekend prior to Xiang Gong (Hong Kong in pinyin) was the yisedoong hike (if I remember correctly) The English hiking guide called it silver stream cave. After about 400 steps, some of them beautifully slimy from the climate and the low use in the heat of the summer, one reaches a temple built into a cave below a waterfall.This is the pot where the incence is burt. Directly behind it is the location for Bai Bai (prayer).
Once through the temple, we are directly below the waterfall. 
Apparently, one can continue up the stairs to an amazing view and on to the teahouses of Muzha, but Sammy was doing some hefty leg lifts up those stairs, and we were bundles of sweat. It is HOT. Our friend Vicky has informed us that it is best to wait until AFTER summer to go hiking! We had our first experience with the small sting of a furry caterpillar (one fell on Paul and gave him a bit of a sting). We saw some teeny tiny butterflies and some monstrous spiders. And then the kids and I swam in a bit of a pond in the stream below the waterfall. (Ask me what the kids liked about the hike!) We also met a woman from the south of Taipei (near the hike) who reminded us that the hikes 15 minutes from our home in the NORTH of Taipei were equally beautiful. Hoping for an adventure further south before school starts in early august.
Update - yes, Typhoon Bilis is supposed to hit tonight. The kids' camp has been cancelled and I'm wishing I'd purchased the mini trampoline last week. Looks like we'll be riding bikes in the apartment tomorrow!
Also, FYI. There is a group of people trying to oust the Taiwanese President as well. They actually had a vote in their house/senate structure. AND one cannot fly directly to china from Taipei. Must to go through Hong Kong. AND rice cookers work better than boiling rice. This is what I've learned.
Peace to all,
Steph
