Stairs

Dear Friends,

One of our hikes in the Taroko Gorge was ALL stairs and greenery!

Love,
Heather and Bradley

Notice!

Dear Friends,

We managed to steer clear of all these hazards!

Love,
Heather and Brad

Fashion Plate

Dear Friends,

This gal put a LOT of effort into going out hiking in the gorge for the day. Not exactly my clothing choice for hiking, or for any event for that matter.  ZAP!

Love,
Heather

Taroko Gorge River

Dear Friends,

This 50 minute hike was actually 15. No sure if it was a translation mishap or if the other hikers are crawling at a snail's pace.  Beautiful views made it better!

Love,
Heather and Bradley

Taroko Gorge

Dear Friends,

This short hike was one of the most beautiful.

Love,
Heather and Bradley

No Kiting!

Dear Friends,

There were no kites in this park.

Love,
Heather and Bradley

Taipei Park

Dear Friends,

I loved the calm and tranquility of this park in the middle of the busy city.

Love,
Heather

Drummers

Dear Friends,

I loved catching these students prepare for an upcoming performance.

Love,
Heather

Guard

Dear Friends,

This guard was ALL business!

Love,
Heather

Style!

Dear Friends,

This guy was all about style!

Love,
Heather and Bradley

Taipei Bus

Dear Friends,

This bus was not lacking dashboard decoration.

Love,
Heather and Bradley

Mango Shaved Ice

Dear Friends,

We waited in line for approximately 20 minutes so could try one of these. Finally gave up.  Would have love to try this mango concoction but I don't think the two of us could have eaten it all.

Love,
Heather and Bradley

Smile!

Dear Friends,

I asked this woman selling offerings if I could take her photo. She said no. However, she didn't have any trouble smiling for Brad.

Love,
Heather

Vegetarian Sandwich

Dear Friends,

Just because I no longer eat meat, doesn't mean that any veggie option will do. For example, I was not the least bit interested in the first menu item here.  Yuck!

Love,
Heathr

Chiang Kai Shek Memorial

Dear Friends,

Made it here just in time for the changing of the guard.

Love,
Heather

Fire Wolf

Dear Friends,

Think this is the first fire scooter we've seen.

Love,
Heather and Bradley

Mr. Brown's Coffee

Dear Friends,

I never did get a chance to try Mr. Brown's coffee.  Maybe next time!

Love,
Heather

Cell Phone Ettiquette

Dear Friends,

The Taiwanese are very rule abiding, very much aware of being "good citizens".  This sign and its impact was a welcome change from China and the locals yelling into the their phones on the metro, streets and in the stores.

Love,
Heather and Brad

Taipei 101 at a Distance

Dear Friends,

Some kind woman took this for us as we dodged traffic.

Love,
Heather and Brad

World's Fastest Elevator

Dear Friends,

That's right, rode in the fastest elevator.  We were at the top of 101 before you could blink an eye!

Love,
Heather and Brad

Taipei 101

Dear Friends,

Off to Taiwan for our October break. First stop - Taipei 101.  Headed to the top to catch the views.

Love,
Heather and Bradley

Blue Skies

Dear Friends,

Last weekend we were lucky enough to see the sun and blue sky. What a treat!

Love,
Heather and Brad

M&Ms

Dear Friends,

Good news! The M&M store has finally made it to China. Not sure how we made it this long without it!

Love,
Heather

Tourism Festival?

Dear Friends,

We keep seeing these all over town. Not sure what to make of the deer-like critter for the tourism festival.

Love,
Heather and Bradley

Running Route

Dear Friends,

This is one of my favorite streets on my long route around town. It is especially wonderful early in the morning with no cars or bikes!

Love,
Heather

Fresh Poultry

Dear Friends,

While it may be difficult to see, this gentleman is butchering up a chicken on his portable butcher shop.  Just never know what you are going to see around here.

Love,
Heather

Literally

Dear Friends,

Just love running across these types of signs!

Love,
Heather

Thankful

Dear Friends,

This is one of many people I saw sleeping on the street on my Monday morning run this week. Reminds me how fortunate I am to have a comfy bed to sleep in every night.

Love,
Heather

Mid Autumn Festival- Moon Cakes

Dear Friends,

I have only witnessed lines like these trying to get concert tickets. However, today everyone was lined up to get Moon cakes to celebrate the Mid Autumn Festival.  These were two different lines each about 3 blocks long and it was only 7:30 am.

Love,
Heather

Modern Fashion

Dear Friends,

I saw these in an upscale mall last week.  I have yet to see anyone out and about wearing one of these creations. Maybe Jane Jetson has one in her closet?

Love,
Heather

Menu

Dear Friends,

This choices on this menu were just too exciting for a vegetarian...should I order the guts or the pig feet skin?  YUM!

Love,
Heather

Aerobics

Dear Friends,

These gals are in the park every day, rain or shine doing their morning exercises. One day I will go join them!

Love,
Heather

Starbucks

Dear Friends,

Starbucks is just down the street from my campus. Luckily my new saddle bags can fit a cup of coffee in the back which makes it an easy stop on the bike before work!

Love,
Heather

Broom Making

Dear Friends,

The local street cleaners make their brooms by hand.  I watched these two hard at work Saturday morning while I was in line at the bank. She has the wire rigged up on the lamppost and was twisting it around the broom to tie it together.  Amazing to watch!

Love,
Heather

Dog Transport

Dear Friends,

Brad had to do some fancy camerawork in order to capture this "Shanghai Moment". FYI...this was just one of three dogs I saw on bikes this day in my travels around town.

Love,
Bradley and Heather

Barber

Dear Friends,

There was a line of three other men waiting for this barber in the local market.

Love,
Heather and Brad

Saturday Morning Street Market

Dear Friends,

I rode over to a friend's place to meet her for a run and had to manage my way through the local Saturday street market selling everything from purses to fresh seafood.

Love,
Heather

More Birds...

Dear Friends,

The local men love to take their birds out for a walk/sing in the park. There are similar scenes all over Shanghai in most of the local parks.

Love,
Heather and Brad

Recycling

Dear Friends,

China has their own recycling system.

Love,
Heather and Brad

Crayfish Shop

Dear Friends,

This was just one of numerous crayfish stalls along the streets.  Didn't stop to have any.

Love,
Heather and Bradley

Chinese Fashion

Dear Friends,

This man had on a lovely floral combination.

Love,
Heather and Bradley

Bird Cages

Dear Friends,

Even the locals were interested in these birdcages along the street.

Love,
Bradley and Heather

Veggie Chinese

Dear Friends,

We took the new teachers out for a local Chinese dinner. Doesn't look or taste anything like "American" Chinese - thankfully!

Love,
Heather

Skull Purse

Dear Friends,

Just don't understand the skull fascination.  Definitely don't need this purse.

Love,
Heather

Denim & Bling

Dear Friends,

The selection of denim hats with bling was so overwhelming that I just couldn't decide which one to get.

Love,
Heather

Chopsticks

Dear Friends,

We are definitely not lacking for choice of chopsticks here.

Love,
Heather and Brad

Chinese Furniture

Dear Friends,

Part of my job in admin is picking up new teachers from the airport and dropping them off at their new apartments. Our new male PE teacher loved his new pink living room furniture!

Love,
Heather

Korean BBQ

Dear Friends,

Saw this sign on one of the Korean BBQ places near our home. We have differing thoughts on our agreement with this statement.

Love,
Heather and Bradley

Sunrise

Dear Friends,

There are some beautiful sunrises over Lake Huron. Caught this one on my last run of the summer!

Love,
Heather