After so many years since we took the trip to Tai-Tung, we had not been able to take another family trip mostly due to the "addition" of our two little ones. This year, with Hsiao-Wei's elder sister's determination and strong relation, we've finally made the trip to Hua-Lian for 3 days and two nights during the Chinese New Year. Together with David, Hsiao-Ping's whole family, total 9 of us went on this trip. We stayed at 遠來, not sure if it were due to the New Year and the crowd, we were very unhappy with the quality and the food of the hotel, so 宗岱 joked about 遠來 means "永遠不會再來".... luckily, we made the right choice by taking the train to Hua-Lian and taking the airplane back to Taipei, so we had excaped from the heavy traffic on the highway. However, we still took part in the crowd going to the Marine Park, which in retrospect, was a mistake, afterall, Jun-Jun had visited there once and Zho-Zho was too little to appreciate it, and it cost us close to NT$6,000 to have 7 adults accompanying two little kids to the park, only to see zillions and zillions of people instead of "marine animals".. :p
The 2nd day was much better. Having an experienced tour guide who took us to visit several places including 瑞穗牧場, 史前遺址, having lunch at the 糖廠, 林田社區, and finally at 鯉魚潭. On the evening, we played poker cards together in the hotel and I really could not recall when was the last time that I played cards, and doing it again reminded me how much fun it could be.
Net net, it had been a great trip. Most important of all, the whole family were able to spend some quality time together, I think that's the most valuable part of this trip, and I am sure these sweet memories will last a long long time!!
According to Papa, if Grandma were still alive today, she would insist that the only "appropriate color" for the new year to be RED.... so when Antie Michelle bought the expensive dresses from Jacardi, Papa insisted for them to be Red as well. Though Papa and Mama struggled quite a bit as to IF the dresses should be identical so they truely like 姐妹裝, which means that when ZhoZho grew older, she would have the wear the same kind of dress "twice"....at the end, to fulfill this image hidden deep down in Papa's mind, here they are.....
This new year was a fulfilling one. Ever since the two kids were born, I could not remember when was the last time that went out after 9PM. But to meet the many long time no see old classmate from Fu-Shin, I went to this gathering at Howard Plaza. It was amazing that more than 40 people turned out, many of them I had not seen ever since we left school some 25 years ago! According to Patti, it seemed that ladies have been taking better care of their "appearance" comapred to the guys... it was indeed fun seeing so many old friends, though many I could not even recall their names and could hardly recognize their faces. And it was also shocking to even consider that we had been graduated for SO-LONG......heard this will be an annual gathering every Chinese New Year and I am sure more and more of the classmates will come and join, it's great!
This year, the Chinese New Year Holiday totally 9 days.... indeed a time for parent-children bonding time! Papa and Mama took Jun-Jun and Zho-Zho to Eslite Bookstore...though they have not reached the stage to be able to sit quietly and actually read a book. at least it makes Papa and Mama feel better simpy by the thought of "taking the kids to bookstore"...
Zho-Zho's 2 year old birthday, Aunt Michelle and Cindy bought a Microphone set (not Karaoke in case you are wondering) as birthday gift. Since it is not a sing-along, so kids do not seem to have appreciated much before...Until one evening, Justine took it out and tried singing through the microphone and was quite impressed with its echoing effect....
This is my first "Year-End Party" since I joined JJ Taiwan last August. Compared to my previous two companies P&G and AMEX, JJ Taiwan seems to be the most "down to earth" and less demanding on the participation from the employees. Luckily, I won one of the luucky draw for "NT$5,000" in cash, not a bad start for the new year!
