Kaohsiung Getaway

For the just passed Moon Festival, had the pleasure of going down Kaohsiung for a relaxing - as relaxing as it could get anyway - few days at The Wus...

While it was storming in Taipei, it was nice and breezy in Kaohsiung... Nice enough that we spent 2 days in a row swimming and hanging out by the pool... Thanks Liya Wu for the SPA tixs! And at night, a nice run or walk around the city...

For the most part, it was just the four of us: Liya, David, Johnny and I... Todd is away now for a year's mandatory stint with the military... And Juju and her parents could not go down south with us... Still, it was nice, quiet and relaxing... Not forgetting to mention, though this year we did not have the obligatory BBQ - an abundance of food was still Wu Mama and Wu Papa and  devoured by all....  mooncakes included!!!

 

Trying out this  the very first time...

Moon Festival Night's Feast!!!

 

Of course, no trip is complete without visiting Dream Mall... For the Holidays, many activities were going on that we got to enjoy.

Even got to see the beautiful Moon that is being celebrated on the night of the 30th... 

 

COMPLETE FUN PHOTOS HERE!

 

Happy Mid Autumn Festival!!!

I had forgotten that today is a Holiday... no work, no post office, no banks... and even the Gym and the Library is closed... I should be HAPPY for the extra day off but the rain just started falling... so it will be a WET MONDAY as predicted... boo hoo....

OH WELL... will still make the most of the extra day off.... Happy Moon Festival All!

On a side note: I really cannot believe how the months have been going by soooooo fast.... we are now in the last 4 months of the year... the "BER" months... in just a little bit, it will be DECEMBER... XMas one again.... too fast, too soon.... AM NOT READY..... and as if adding SALT to the WOUND - just a couple of days ago the Taiwan Times ran this photo - XMas Retail has already commenced in Manila... YOWZA!!!

Happy Moon Festival All!!!

It is that time of the year again in Taiwan - Moon Festival!!! Both a Fave time and a Frustrating time....

Favorite because it is the time of the year where for a week before till a week after, Moon Cakes are abound..... not just in shops but definitely my home.... everyone knows how much I love to eat them - all flavors, that everyday I get some.... which brings us to why it is a frustrating time, as well.... as I cannot refuse (it would be impolite! :) ) So am compelled to eat them, as I also cannot resist which mean I have to run longer miles , swim even more laps, and double the sit ups.... OR ELSE!!!! (These moon cakes possibly have the most calories any desserts can ever have.... LOL..).

Happy Moon Festival to all those celebrating!!!
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The Moon Festival is one of the most significant festivals / holidays of the Chinese communities around the world besides the Lunar New Year (Chinese New Year) and the Dragon Boat Festival. Originally named the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Moon Festival is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month in observance of the bountiful autumn harvest.

Significance of the Moon Cake during the Moon Festival

On the 15th day of the lunar month, the moon forms a round shape that symbolizes family reunion. Upon this occasion, the legends of the festival are often told to the children. The custom of eating moon cakes tells a story of the downfall of the Yuan dynasty. The time was the Yuan dynasty (AD 1280-1368), established by the invading Mongolians from the north who subjugated the Han Chinese.

Leaders from the preceding Sung dynasty were furious about submitting to foreign rules, a secret rebellion plan was coordinated to overthrow the Mongolians. Drawing close to the Moon Festival, the rebellion plans and outlines of attacks successfully passed out to all coordinators secretly via the messages and outlines stuffed in each moon cake. On the night of the Moon Festival, the rebels successfully attacked and overthrew the Yuan government which followed the rise of the Ming dynasty.

Happy Mid Autumn Festival Day

For this Moon Festival Day, may your day be filled with lotsa' MOON CAKES, BBQ, Family & Friends!!!

Good thing I ahve been having all the moo cakes I could wish for, as today will be another day of helping Lyn & Shaun move into their new home -- in the rain!!!!

Mid Autumn 2008 Happenings

A weekend trip down south for the Mid Autumn Festival holidays... it was Perfect timing as there was heavy storm in Taipei... so we were able to get away from that... alas, the ride back in the midst of the TYPHOON was not pleasant... it was downright scary...

Still it was a great weekend as we got to get away... have fun with Wu Mama & Wu Papa, the kiddies (who are definitely not kiddies anymore!)... and most of all LALA the DOG!!!

More Photos Here!

Biang Biang Part II

Lyn takes her turn with Lala playing the Biang Biang Trick...

Happy Moon Festival!!!

Just like Christmas and Thanksgiving in the West, the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival is one of the most important traditional events for the Chinese. The Chinese Moon Festival falls on the 15th of the 8th month in the Lunar calendar.

Here in Taiwan... it is almost a week long Holiday... everyone goes back home to their families.... rest, hang out, get-together... Barbecuing is pretty common on such nites, as well as, fireworks. So you know what I will be busy doing tonite....

HAPPY MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL to you all!!!

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The Moon Festival is full of legendary stories. Legend says that Chang Er flew to the moon, where she has lived ever since. You might see her dancing on the moon during the Moon Festival. The Moon Festival is also an occasion for family reunions. When the full moon rises, families get together to watch the full moon, eat moon cakes, and sing moon poems. With the full moon, the legend, the family and the poems, you can't help thinking that this is really a perfect world. That is why the Chinese are so fond of the Moon Festival.

The Moon Festival is also a romantic one. A perfect night for the festival is if it is a quiet night without a silk of cloud and with a little mild breeze from the sea. Lovers spend such a romantic night together tasting the delicious moon cake with some wine while watching the full moon. Even for a couple who can't be together, they can still enjoy the night by watching the moon at the same time so it seems that they are together at that hour. A great number of poetry has been devoted to this romantic festival. Hope the Moon Festival will bring you happiness.

You can read more about it here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-Autumn_Festival

The moon cake is the food for the Moon Festival. The Chinese eat the moon cake at night with the full moon in the sky. This has got to be the BEST part of the FESTIVAL for me.... all week long people starts giving each other moon cakes... For the most part, my flatmates are sick of it all... so I end up with them...hehehehehe....

This year, September 14th is the actual day of celebration....