Last Days of Chinese NY!

Last couple of days of Chinese NY was spent just roaming around Kaohsiung.... got to visit my most fave Kaohsiung mall, DREAM MALL... watch a few festival shows... Visit Jason at his work place and got to eat their TASTY food for the 2nd time.... and had a BLAST watching Liya & Xiao Pang do the Trampoline Jump.... probably the HIGHLIGHT of the Chinese New Year for us...

It was TRULY wonderful and entertaining to see XIAO PANG, full of enthusiasm and energy - harnessed on, going up and down, and trying his BEST to do the revolutions mid air... though he was not successful, you could tell that he had a blast - and for that matter, so did we all, just from watching his childhood enthusiasm....

Complete Photos Here

always the dancing fool...

More Chinese NY Happenings:

The 2nd Day of the New Year, Xiao Pang even came to Kaohsiung with his parents for a couple of days of fun.... right away he took a liking to the dogs, Lala & Ah Bao - so it was NON STOP FUN seeing him play with them... running around after them was tiring but indeed, fun....

Later on, after lunch, we all walked over the Cultural Center - a 15 minute walk - as they always have loads of fun stuff going on for the Chinese New Year... and just in time, as Taiwan's Aboriginal Dance Troupe had an hour show happening.... dances from the different aboriginal tribes of Taiwan was represented, plus a take on NOBODY & SORRY, SORRY (Korean POP songs)... and lo and behold, they had a DANCE CONTEST part where they took people from the audience to participate... Of course, the entire Wu Clan practically pushed me up the stage - hahahahahaha - and I suddenly I found myself up there, being interviewed & following the dance steps to one of Taiwan's "Tai Ke" dances, as it was instructed right on the spot... Never too shy to dance my ass off, I just went for it and danced away.... at the end of the 5 minute (seems like forever) routine - the audiences had to VOTE who did the BEST... I was rooting for the little boy next to me - but oh well, I WAS THE ONE!!!
you can just IMAGINE how red my face was at this point... and then after a few more Q&A, I was giver my HONG BAO (red envelope) Prize... in it was a bunch of COUPONS to be used at the Fair... I almost handed it over to the boy next to me but then I remembered XIAO PANG was with us - so instead I gave it all to him, HAPPILY!!!

Later on, they troupe did another roundup of people in the audience to dance a typical aboriginal "get-together" dance... and of course, I was the FIRST RECRUIT again!!! Oh well.... this time around I made sure I was not the only victim, I dragged Jason to join in on the fun... it was a FUN TIME had by all - and now and again, I really do not mind making a fool of myself for my friends & family's entertainment...

MORE PHOTOS HERE

chibi maruko chan @ McDonalds, Taiwan

During Xiao Pang's last visit in Taipei, they happen to take him to McDonald's for dinner - and he bought one of the PREMIUM Toys McDonald's, Taiwan is offering right now for the Holidays -- Chibi Maruko-Chan, from a popular Japanese Animated Series. I got to see it when we joined them for a nite out and of course, liked it a whole lot right away...

The day after, during a coffee get together with Juliana on the 9th, she had McDonald's for lunch so i was able to get the Premiums for myself... there are 6 different offerings in the set... alas, as always, am missing one to complete the set....
Not sure how long the campaign is gonna go on for - I am determined to complete this set before XMas!!!

A Weekend with Xiao Pang

Over the weekend I had the pleasure of visiting with Xiao Pang again -- Saturday in Nantou, his hometown; and Sunday he came up with his family to Taipei... Alas it was under somber circumstances, as we had to attend his Grandfather's funeral.. His Grandfather is Shaun's father... Since I last saw him, he is a bit taller, tummy a bit bigger, and definitely a whole lot smarter...
We got to take a little drive just to give him a break from all the Funeral goings on... and we were even joined by Wu Papa who also attended the Funeral... Wu Papa, like me, is just a kid at heart and Xiao Pang brings out the kiddies in us!!!!

On the 8th, Xiao Pang and his family came up to Taipei, as his Grandfather's ashes was placed in a Mausoleum in the city. We had dinner and even got to ride the Taipei Eye... and had just a blast screaming our lungs out...

Aaaaah Youth!

The time spend last weekend with Shaun's family in the Nantou County, made such an impression on me... most especially Jeff/Ben/Winner -- lovingly referred to as, Xiao Pang...

Meeting & hanging out with Xiao Pang made me appreciate and think back a whole lot to my childhood... and being young....
-A time when one does not care so much about many things that troubles us in our adulthood... things such as Politics, Religions, Sexual Orientation, Status, Brand Names, Skin Colors, etc....
-A time when we all feel, for the most part, INVINCIBLE -- that we can climb trees, walls, and other heights and no harm can come to us....
-A time when we just say whatever it is that comes to mind and nothing will be misconstrued -- as all will be relegated to naiveness, curiosity, or just plain, Youth!
-A time when we need not worry about responsibilities, getting a job, raising a family, giving back to the community, fitting into our own niche in the world...
-A time where play time rules our daily life... friends and toys matters the most.... as well as, our favorite chocolates, snacks and of course, Saturday morning cartoons....

Oh how I MISS those times.... and yes, though am happy with where I am in my life right now, for the most part anyway, I still think it would be so cool if I can just relieve the HAPPY TIMES, even for just a little while... Alas, we all know that is not possible unless we live in a dream world... or the world of movie magic....

Oh Well, I do still have my precious memories... and I HOPE they never, ever fade away -- as our Youth Fades, in due time....
A Bit of Fun with Xiao Pang!

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3 on Youth!

“An inordinate passion for pleasure is the secret of remaining young”
-Oscar Wilde

“There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.”
-Sophia Loren

“In youth we learn; in age we understand.”
- Marie Von Ebner-Eschenbach