KHH for CNY 2014: Part 2

The rest of the time in Kaohsiung for the Chibese New Year Holiday was quite relaxing...  Especially with the Boys working and away in Military duties...  Still, we sure made the most of our time..... 

Mornings were spent on loooong walks with Liya and the doggies...  

Afternoons having coffee...  And evenings just relaxing...   

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Visited some FAVE haunts, Dream Mall - of course!!!

Thursday the 30th was extra fun as Both Todd and Johnny starts their CNY holidays..  So we get 2 days with them... Running around..  Helping prepare for the Chinese New Year's Eve....  Then the celebration itself...

Welcoming Johnny Wu Home with our versions of the Military Salute...  LOL!!!

Paper Offerings!

WHAT A FEAST!!!  Am still full just by looking at the photos!!!

Our last day, the 31st, was spent going to a couple of Temples...  Hanging out at the park with the whole Wu Clan...  And in the evening, going to Love River to see some Lanterns already on display...  And a boat ride around the river....

Gangs All Here!!!

 

BOAT CRUISE around Love River

Sunday in the Park with the Doggies...

Spent a relaxing and therapeutic afternoon today playing with not one, not two, but three dogs.... yes, three dogs... meet the newest addition to the Wu Clan's brood of doggies, Little Pearl....Such a cutie... only 2 months old and as playful as they come... spent the afternoon running around after us and the other grown up doggies, Laifu and Ah-Bao... Not quite sure as to what breed she is, but none of that matters... she is just cute as a button... would love to have taken him home already but really would feel so GUILTY having to leave her behind - as most of the time no one is home... not to mention the once a month travel abroad... boo hoo.... so for now, will just visit her as often as I could....Lala is still as mischievous as ever.... and Ah Bao has come a long way and have become as healthy as any dog could be... all thanks to Liya... such patience and care for the doggies....

Lala: Lost & Found

Here's another story to be filed in the : "Believe it Or Not" section.

You all pretty much are acquainted with LALA the Dog already.... I have rambled about him quite a few times on this blog... not the brightest of dogs but certainly one of the sweetest....

Anyway, so the story is that recently he's gone missing for a few days... I mean, really missing... he has this habit of walking away from the house and not finding his way back home... he's done it a few times and he would be found a few hours later at a neighbor's house, the closest 7-11 (catching some needed air conditioning am sure!); or at a park where he usually plays... This last time though, he was nowhere to be found... and days went on... it was looking hopeless and the search was pretty much abandoned...
SIDE STORY:
I was talking to Liya on the phone (still living it up as a THEATRE DIRECTOR in ENGLAND) - and knowing how much she loves Lala, I thought for sure she would have been informed already.... WRONG!!! I was the bearer of BAD NEWS - felt bad but at the same time good that she was told... and here's why:

The following day, Todd, the oldest nephew was walking home from work... he heard a familiar bark at the neighborhood pet store, turned around and looked and was delighted to see Lala!!! It seems that someone has found him and brought him in at the Pet Store to keep for a while - even bought some food for him to eat while he was there.... Todd had to make Lala do the BIANG BIANG trick, to PROVE that he truly was their dog and was able to bring him home... much to everyone's delight...

So I was none too happy (and quickly) told Liya - to which she told me - after getting off the phone with me that nite - she prayed to the GOD's and PROMISED to come home if Lala would be found.... and Guess What? She is coming home tonite to fulfill her promise...Liya with Lala last Chinese New Year

Photos from the latest visit with Lala - PLS CLICK HERE.

Random Happiness in Pictures

A few Shots of TOTAL JOYs as demonstrated by a few people, and a doggie, while in Manila...Aaaaah Youth! BEA: One Happy Little Girl!Nanay (Cousin Rounette) and Ace - finding their instruments of Happiness!!!Personally delivering to a couple of HAPPY SUSIE & DOLLS Lovers (Joan & Pole) and witnessing their total JOY in getting their SUSIE Dolls! And Shaq reunited with his Master Ace, after being separated for 4 months while Ace does his OJT in the US.

mini Pleasures : Part II

Meet the HIGHLIGHT of our last trip down to KAOHSIUNG: Humbao!!!

Humbao is Chinese for Hamburger and he is Todd's newly adopted, 3 month old Schnauzer... Todd loves Hamburgers, hence, the name.... Just the cutest little puppy... playful and loving... i smile seeing at the way he runs like a rabbit, walk sideways, his tiny barks, and most especially, how he eats sitting down...

hays, having these cute little doggies really makes me long for my very own... alas, still not in the works for me now.... just glad that for the weekend, Humbao was mine to play and love....LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT!HEAVEN IS A PLACE WITH DOGGIES!!!
More Photos of Humbao PLS Click Here

An Afternoon with the Rimandos....

2nd Visit to the Rimando's new home -- close family friends, but a lot more like, family...

As David did not get to go the last time, we decided to get together again for lunch so David can admire the beauty of the Rimandos' new abode.... and since the kiddies are all on vacation still for the Holidays, it was a GREAT time for an afternoon of lunch and just hanging out....

The house is just beautiful... a work in progress, as The Rimndos' put it... a TRUE Labour of Love, as it is their hard work, sweat and time spent on renovating the place.... one look around and I could not help but feel a sense of envy -- not just for the TRULY SPACIOUS HOME, but knowing that it is all done to their liking -- by themselves!!! Even the children Nico & Tricia had their inputs.... a WHOLE FAMILY AFFAIR!!!

David of course, spent most of his time with Sandy in the kitchen -- preparing our lunch... and mostly admiring the space and all the kitchen gadgets... the rest of us chatted and hung out, as we waited to be fed....

Also loved being able to see their 4 year old Lab, WACKY... and TRUE to his name, he is quite WACKY indeed... sooooo playful, friendly and smart... I mean, how many dogs do you know that barks when someone gives a FINGER! and he can do quite a few tricks, too... as far as the Rimnados are concerned, he is the third and youngest child in the house.... and I could not agree more!!!

Doggie Love 3: Mitten : Russian Cartoon

Last one on Doggies for a while - I PROMISE!!!

Last nite, my family and I were visiting a very good friend, Sandy and her family, in their newly purchased and renovated home - will save that story for another time - there we got to meet her 4 year old LAB, WACKY... he was BIIG but sooo much fun and so lovable.... am sad I did not get to snap a photo of him... much too busy chatting, and eating and Wacky was as well, playing and jumping on everyone and anyone he can....

Anyway, you already know about my LOVE for DOGGIES (see DOGGIE LOVE)and how lately I have been thinking soooo much about them.... all these thoughts of having one for a companion reminded me of this beautiful animation I first saw in JAPAN, years ago, the Russian Classic, MITTEN!!!

It is an awesome clay animation film--from Russia--about an only child, her single mom, and the red mitten that she pretends is a puppy. Made by Soyuzmult Film in 1967.
(Above Photo: Vinyl Toy Figures of the Girl and Mitten was issued and purchased in JAPAN)

...almost....

...but almost doesn't count!!...met this cutie over the weekend... this BEAGLE PUP is only 2 months old!!!
HE WAS SOOOOO PLAYFUL....
i was able to play with him for half an hour - till we had to leave.... I think he could sense that I was really into him, so he just kept playing and licking me....

how I wish I could have taken him home with me....

Spur Of The Moment Part 2

Saturday, Oct 11th
With a WONDERFUL nite, came restful sleep -- needless to say we got up early Saturday morning feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.... David and I , while our company still sleeps, decided to take a walk around the neighborhood and take in the FRESH air... what a great idea as we were able to enjoy the FRESH MORNING AIR.... walking around to complete silence and no cars or scooters for a couple of hours... happen upon fields and fields of all sorts of fruits... -- Dragon Eyes, Papayas, lemons, Lycees, & Grapes...
Later on we were joined by Lyn, Shaun & his family and we drove about and visited the surrounding towns and got to see so much more of what's around Nantou County... in particular, JIJI County... a quaint little town that's been used to some of Taiwan's popular soap operas... one of them I even watched - so it was a treat to see where it was filmed... of course, we ate some more and tried all the local delicacies.. relaxed for a bit... played badminton with Xiao Pang... hung out... and just totally relaxed....

Later that nite, we all went to the town's hottest and biggest nite market for some food and a bit of fun... Xiao Pang's wishes finally came true as we all had MONGOLIAN BBQ -- the only thing he kept telling us to try all weekend long.... though very oily, it was not a bad recommendation at all... it was tasty and filling.... after that we walked around some more and enjoyed the different booths offering a variety of things... played some games - and even did the BUMP car thing with Xiao Pang - mind you, no one was allowed to bump other cars... if you do, you get kicked out... hmmmm - wonder why they still called it Bump Cars???

Over all it was a great get-away weekend -- we enjoyed everything and everyone's company so much that we are already planning our next visit... in DEC, when grape harvesting season begins....

Xiao Hai: Portrait of an Aboriginal Dog

One of the most interesting thing I learned during our trip this weekend is the 411 on Taiwan's Aboriginal dogs... All these times I have seen this type of dogs running around the parks or by the river where we run, watching over private lands and homes - never would I have thought that they were purebred doggies... I always just assume they are your typical street dogs... But having visited Shaun's family home in Nantou and getting to see and know their dog, Xiao Hai -- I got to learn more about his kind -- and boy was I wrong!!! Now it makes sense to me why they are very territorial, aloof, and commanding looking but not at all in very threatening ways....
This N That about Xiao Hai's Breed:
The Formosan Mountain Dog, commonly referred to as simply Formosan, and also known as Taiwan Native Dog (臺灣土狗) is a breed of dog indigenous to Taiwan. Originally kept by aboriginal Taiwanese as hunting dogs, purebred Formosans are extremely rare. Blood tests showed that they were related to dogs found in Southern Japan and that they were descendants of the South Asian Hunting Dog.

Little known outside of Taiwan, Formosans are recognized with a pedigree from the Taiwan Kennel Club and the International Canine Organization. They are well adapted to the uneven and thickly forested terrain of Taiwan, having become a semi-wild breed prior to the arrival of human Dutch settlers. Notwithstanding these adaptations, Formosans retained the potential to be trained, and are now used as hunting dogs, as guard dogs, as stunt dogs, or simply as companions.

Though one can see them just running wild and free, now and again, at parks or river banks -- Purebred Formaosans can go for upwards of US$1000 each...

FUN FACT About Doggie Names in Taiwan:
For some reason, maybe lack of IMAGINATION, most of the of the dogs in Taiwan are caller, Xiao Hai, Xiao Bai or Xiao Huang (Little Black, Little White or Little Yellow respectively)... they really like to precede names with Xiao -- even when the dogs are hardly on the small side.

Biological Doggie Clock Ticking

okay, okay.... lately am seriously contemplating again on getting a dog... am soooo missing having one to play with... run with... and everything else in between... been a long time since the pooch of my life, BAXTER, passed away.... over 10 years in fact... so I think it is just about the right time....
Of Late, I have had to settle with playing with other people's doggies... enjoying them when I visit... it satisfies the desires for the time - but of course, makes me want to have one that I can call my own more.... one who will be more LOYAL to me... hays, the only thing stopping me now really, is my travel schedule... I would HATE and FEEL SO GUILTY having to leave he doggie behind every month -- no matter how long or short the trip may be... I remember that the thing I was sad most with Baxter is that, hearing from the his sitter, that he (after a day of me being gone) always end up just waiting in front of the door for me to come home from a business trip... always broke my heart....
(Clockwise: Charlie, Youtiao, Shaq & Lala... Youtiao has since passed on and joined Baxter in doggie heaven...)
..and here's another cutie, Gucci- Ameera's Chihuahua - given to her on her 7th BDAY... Sadly - she also had passed on already... one of the sweetest pups ever.... loving but oh-so-fragile....

..and The Elcocks' Huskies, Cole & Sebastian (below).... two of the biggest, and most lovable dogs I have ever had the pleasure of playing with.... they are Alaskan Malemutes, to be precise.... (Thanks for the INFO Larraine and Brianne!!!)