Storm's A Coming..

Yep that time of the year again where we have more Rain than we care to have..  Yes it is Summer time and way too hot - so we pray for some rain to cool off a bit - but typhoon???

It is worrisome especially for family and friends in The Philippines...  News reports of so much flooding, even in the main cities filled the news on TV, in the papers, on the Net, and yes, Facebook too!  It really is quite scary..  Chest High flooding  in some cases!!!   One can only hope it will let up soon...

In Taiwan, it started pouring yesterday...  Not too heavy but non - stop..  All night long...  Today it shaped up to be a really Wet Wednesday...  Typhoon is supposed to intensify  in the afternoon hours that

Schools and some work places are close...  Even the Gate to Dajia Riverside is now carefully guarded - people are advised to get their vehicles out - then,the  gates will be closed, as they are during typhoon days...

Still manage to go for a dip at San Ming Pool with Juju last nite though...  Having it close by, we were able to make it there fine for a few hours...  Of course, it was not too crowded..  Only a few peeps braved the rain, and sadly for Juju, not too many kids to play with.

Wonder where we will make it to today???

Monday, Monday

No need for Monday Blues..  It is just a day and it is certain to come once a week...  So let's just roll with it and make the most of the day...  SMILE!!!

No Monday Blues Here!

..But it sure looks like it's gonna be another HOT week...

Babysitting for the week..  With these kind of weather, always have to be creative so as we do not go crazy indoors and not have to go out till when the sun comes down...

Am always THANKFUL that there is plenty of Vinyls Juju can enjoy...  :)

You all have a Great Week!!!

Yingge Ceramics Museum

Tuesday, August 13th - we took a day trip to the Ceramics Capital of Taiwan:  New Taipei City's Yingge.  I have been here many years ago when the Yingge Ceramics Museum first opened... not quite done but operational...   I am so surprised as to how wonderful the place has developed....  the building's architecture itself, is marvelous....  very modern both on the outside, as well as the inside....  the Museum houses a GREAT PERMANENT Exhibition of just about everything one needs to know about Ceramics making...  with lots of interactive areas that demonstrates and teaches one in the art of ceramics making....

Of course, one can revel to the many ceramic arts on display - both permanent and special exhibited ones... at any given time there will be one or two special ones on view for period of times....  The collection exhibited permanently ranges from potteries & vases to GODs and Goddesses figures...  from ceramic art windows to ancient ceramic pillows (these were my favorite).... and everything else in between....  a whole day is not nearly enough to see and take in all that is on display....  the colors... the shapes... the splendours are all amazingly on display here....

The Museum grounds is quite big, as well...  with lots of areas for fun, play and to get educated....   Of course, Juju's fave - as well as all the kids - is the water fun area....  just about ankle deep with lots of colorful ceramic spheres to play with......  Juju took hours playing here....

and scattered all around the grounds are special large ceramic pieces (see photo below) to admire....

After the Museum, we took a walk in the pretty and touristy area called Lao Jie - Old Street - not so old looking anymore as it has been developed very much for the tourists and locals alike....  still, so many of the shops and restaurants are from long ago times so one can still have that old town feel....   And one can revel at the glorious, rows and rows of shops, selling pottery/ceramic pieces....

Happy 1st of August!!!

Could it be that a whole month and a day had passed since i last posted an entry???  Where has the time gone...  This is not like me at all....  Well,  i promise myself, i will try harder... get back to blogging...  Get the writing juices flowing, expand the mind and  catch up even, with all that's gone on...  

Started off the day right...  Put in my time at work, then rewarded my self by taking Juju to the pool nearby to welcome August refreshingly so... 

Just had to include the above quote posted by an FB friend..  I think it is both beautiful and So True!

Have a Great August All!!!

My Day 2013

Well, not much can be said about this year's BDay - it was pretty uneventful with touches of frustrations here and there..  Still, it was a day full of reflecting and being Thankful for surviving another year... 

The day started on a sour note - waking up to a stressful note on FB...  Something that could have been resolved quite easily but ended up with an hour's worth of back and forth... Having to defend myself for things I should not have to..  In the end, i took the high ground to put it to rest..  Just cut my losses and went on..

By the time i finished with this, it was just enough   time to get ready and make my way   to church...  During this Sunday's service, i was a bit put off by something the  Priest said about Karma...  His stance on it totally put me off...  I mean, I have always felt that religions are to be taken for what is good in it and what applies to one, the rest can just be ignored...  But his views on Karma, i just could not shake off.. Almost to a point that I wanted to raise my hand for discussion..  And/or just walk away...  I come from a view of being respectful to all religions..  To embrace CO EXISTENCE amongst all nations and religions but it was obvious this Priest was not...  Anyway, o sat through the whole service with every intention of writing to the Parish later on...

Then, as with most birthdays, I wanted yo do something meaningful in a way of giving back...  And one of the easiest and best I could think of is donate blood...  Went to the local Red Cross, much to my sadness, Blood Donations are no longer accepted from foreign nationals...  I never knee that hiving could have so much red tape around it..  So I walked away, a bit sad...

All of that sadness and frustrations was alleviated by treating myself to a showing of, Now You See Me - a really slick movie that is both trippy, mind boggling and absolutely satisfying!!!

Wanted to top it off by "Having It My Way" at Burger King on Nanjing East Rd.. On the way back home.. Sadly, this particular BK had closed...  Instead I chose to eat at KFC..  Which was not a bad alternate as I git to try their Spicy Chicken Wrap and the oh so yummy, Mango Tart...

Now  capping off my nite, sitting by Dajia Riverside Park...  Admiring the night light.. Watching all the bikers and runners... enjoying the breeze..  And of course, writing this entry - best place to do so, if you ask me...  

So even with the frustrations and disappointments here and there..  Things not going as I would have wanted them to - am still Grateful..  Grateful for making it through another year.,.  Grateful for the highs and even the lows  as they thought me something about life and myself...  

The Day - INSTAGRAM STYLE!!!

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Most of all, Grateful for my family, friends and love ones...  The dearly departed and the ones who have come in and out of my life...  For I believe that each and everyone has come into my life,for one   reason or another, imparting wisdom, beautiful memories,  & love... and even Grateful  for those who have hurt me - as I know that from them I acquired more strength ...  Strength to face more trials, more high and lows, and more of whatever else life has in store for me... 

Here's to another year of living life as best I could and facing all with a SMILE on my Face - Smiles to Share with the World...  

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Thought that was the end of my day but I got one more surprise at the end of the night...  Juju with her Papi were waiting for me at home with a SPECIAL BDAY cake....  Juju, with the help of Papi sang me the "Happy you" song as she calls it... help me blow out the candles - am either 12 or 21...  either way it is fine by me...- and truly put a smile on my face... nice way to end my special day....  sadly, Mami was still at work - catching up from work demands especially after being in JAPAN for a week....  but am thankful as I know she was behind this lovely gesture....  :)

When U care enough to send the very best..

True to their TagLine, Hallmark, has for centuries been bring love, hope, holiday cheers, birthday wishes, condolences and everything else in between - to people of all ages... The world over!!!

A nice little place to hold small exhibitions - adjacent to the Taipei Fine Arts Museum.... 

 to date I have attended three exhibitions here....

 

Yesterday, I was had the pleasure of admiring some of their many greeting cards at Taipei Story House. This quaint museum at the moment, houses "A Century of Greetings". A retrospective of Hallmark Greeting cards.

It was quite a collection... Greeting  Cards past, as old as the Turn of the Century ones... Celebrating Holidays from all over the world, and in many different languages... Fave characters, Pop Ups, various occasion cards...

 

Surprise Getaway

This is that time of the year when Shaun seems to get a few perks from various companies, through his work... All in the name of Happy Chinese New Year, of course.. :)

 

The ride is always a treat....  easy access....  plus the Special Train that takes you from BeiTou to Shin-BeiTou, the actual HAVEN for various luxurious hotels and hot springs is just too CUTE....   the Trains are painted in fun and colorful styles depicting the various activities one can do in the area...  The station are also decorated with Fun Art Installations - also using the theme of relaxation and hot springs....  These fun displays, as well as the view from the leisure walk, are truly eye catching took us a bit of time to actually get to our Hotel....

Always one to share, this time around we get to trek to Beitou for an overnight stay at this luxurious Hot Springs Hotel: Grand View Resort.  What a place it is....  soooo LUXURIOUS and pretty and serene....  Maybe it is because it is a Monday - or the HIGH RATEs for accommodation (About $400US a nite!) - but the place seemed empty....  as if aside from the staff, we were the only other inhabitants at the time.  Makes it even more FUN and RELAXING to be there...   Not only do we get to outdoor Hot Springs - our Suite also have a couple of Private Hot Springs overlooking the mountain scenery and the perfect place to catch the beautiful sunset....

The FUN Ride to BeiTou

Good Thing I can take my work everywhere and anywhere for the most part.... A fine way to start the work week, if I may say so myself!!!

Gorgeous, Gorgeous Suite!

Now this is what I call a Surprise Getaway Break!!!

Complete with a Beautiful Sunset to Boot!

Fun Friday!

Yesterday was break for me from the work week....   got to go to the GYM....  got to do some work....  then had a tasty lunch with Sue - complete with Goodies and Fun Chat!

A bit later, had a nice FRESH BAKED BISCOTTI Surprise courtesy of Mr Wu.... 

plus a Matinee of "Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters" at the MIRAMAR Complex....

...then it was back to work...  and a trek to the Library with Juju in tow....

 

THANKFUL.6

Birthdays & Birthday Cakes!!!

"Happy Birthday, Xiaomei!!!"

Birthdays are always a very nice BREAK from the daily grinds....  

... especially when they are accompanied with Birthday Cakes to Gobble Up!!!  :)

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Fantastic Baby!!!

And Big Bang's ALIVE Concert at the Taipei Arena was, indeed!!!

Am still very much in Heaven and still humming their songs, hours after the midday concert they had today. I have liked their videos very much and they are even better in person... Such showmen!!! All 5 members had their own flares and styles but together, they are phenomenal..

And I was elated to recognized almost all of their songs.,. And was able to sway with the rest of the crowds!!!

So happy that we got these tickets.. Such great seats and worth every penny of the US$200 plus per tix... My only complain was that no one was allowed to snap photos... So all my photos were taken before the concert started... Boo Hoo!!!

Still, am Happy I got to see them... A Dream Concert!!!

 

 

Hump Day Ends

A nice way to end this Hump Day... Took in a show with The Wus, courtesy of Jewel's parents Lyn & Shaun.

The show was entertaining enough.., what you would expect for a cultural show mostly aimed at tourists... Singing, Dancing, Acrobatics, TaiKe entertainment, Chinese Folklore, Naruwan Experience, and yes, even Michael Jackson....

Overall it was entertaining enough... Even Juju was on top of the table, dancing in delight!!!

 

Happy 2nd Birthday, Juju!

Wow....  it is so hard to believe but here it is - Juju's 2nd Birthday!  My how time flies.....Just  matter of time and she will be off to school.... 

Happy Birthday, Lil' Miss!!!

 

JUJU ENJOYS her cake plus HUGS & KISSES from US!!!

More KITTY for her BDay!!!

and even a visit to OPEN!!!

Wonderful Wet Wednesday

Just as promised...  today was a complete turn around from yesterday's events....  just took it a bit easy... did not let anything get to me....  just went about doing my own biz, finishing up what was needed to done...  and packed all that is needed to be ready for tomorrow's PO Pick Up....   and all went as smooth as I could have hoped for....  With everything done for the day, it was time to have a little break...  to get some good vibrations back and have a few smiles - all around.... 

 

Started the the break with a movie....  Johnny and I went to see RESIDENT EVIL 6 : RETRIBUTION ...  in 3D!!!     Forget the plot, it's always FUN to see Milla doing what she does best - shoot the UNDEAD and look great and sexy doing it... since it was 3D, I did find myself at the end of my seat or ducking from all the things flying about, a few times..... LOL...

 

Then we headed back to pick Juju up and though it was a rainy day for the most part, we managed to get to ShinKong Mitsukoshi area in the Nanxi District...  walked around, checked out the latest from Paul Frank, OUTDOOR, DIESEL, CHOCOLATE, STAY REAL, etc....  even got to admire the latest wall Grafitti installations on each floor of the young and hip building....  always a joy to see the new ones up.....  this building caters mostly to the younger crowd so it is always trying to be artsy and hip....  The we  had our dinner and COLDSTONE dessert, of course - last nite treat for Johnny, as he is heading back to KAOHSIUNG tonite...  we ran around the three building till almost 9PM, then it we headed for the bus.....

 

Played with Juju for the rest of the nite, then Johnny took her home to her house, then he took off for the Train Station....  and here I am unwinding and finishing up the day...  actually, past 12 midnite now so it is already a brand new day....  on that note I bid you all a good MorNyt....  am off to bed...  with a BIG SMILE on my face...

OFF WE GO - RAIN AND ALL!

@ Shin Kong Mitsukoshi: Nanxi District

YUMMY DINNER

SWEET  DESSERT TREATS