Forgot to mention that yesterday we really had no idea how to get transportation, find a taxi, etc. to get us back the 2 1/4 hours to the town where we needed to catch the high speed rail. As we we were walking along the street on the ring-shopping expedition, a taxi driver randomly walked up to us and asked if we needed a taxi!! God is good and provides in many ways!! So we arranged to meet him at McDonald's (the only name we know in Chinese - "Mack-Don-Alds" - LOL!!) at 2:00.
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| The gateway to Kenting National Park |
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| This is the fruit portion of the buffet --- see what you have to look forward to, Lute?? |
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| Our red-haired waiter at the steak buffet. (Like Kool-Aid red!!) |
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| Two reasons for this picture..... 1.) to show you the "squatter" style toilets some places in Taiwan - it's built right into the floor, so you straddle it and squat ---hate them!! and 2.) this is a lit up fish tank for your viewing pleasure!! Real fish in all the tanks in the stalls. LOL!! |
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| There's a fish tank above the men's urinal too!! |
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| Sign above a normal toilet, just in case someone is confused and thinks it's a tall "squatter" --- Oh my goodness!!! |
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| View from the HSR train on the way back north |
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| Tim at the front of the high-speed train |
So after our wonderful buffet lunch with the steak, chops, much fruit, and ice cream, we met him and loaded up into the taxi. He spoke almost no English, and we needed to distinguish the HSR from the normal train station, so Alana kept saying "fast train" in Chinese. He finally shot his hand forward and said "whoosh", so we all agreed and did the same thing, laughing, knowing he understood. Well, at least he understood "whoosh" because he took off like a stunt driver in a movie, driving like a maniac to cover the 2 1/4 journey in 1 1/2 hours. He put in a techno-beat CD that was really fast, and he drove along to the music, bopping his hands on the steering wheel and kind of dancing to the music. Once again, God is good, as our prayers were answered in that we arrived safely. Let's just say he raised the bar on the definition of a "white-knuckle" ride. In retrospect, we figure he thought we meant we wanted to get TO the train fast, not get TO the fast train!!! LOL!! We were driving on the shoulder, in the scooter lane, weaving in and out of traffic lanes constantly, went through at least 3 red lights, and Tim (in the front seat) saw the speedometer at 130 at one point (that's km per hour though, not mph).
Since we arrived 3 hours early for our train, (we'd been expecting to spend more time on the beach, but with the rain, just headed to the train instead), Paul changed our tickets, and we got on a train within a 1/2 hour. The ride was again comfortable, smooth, and scenic. We took the MRT and bus back to Sanxia, and we all unloaded our luggage then reconvened at the favorite dumpling place one last time, meeting their friend Melissa there too. Paul and Alana scootered back home, and Tim & I took a walk on the way back to the hotel. We made arrangements for our airport transportation early tomorrow morning at the hotel desk, did one last load of undies and socks, and ended a fun weekend.
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| Our fun kids!! |
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| Our favorite spot on the back of the bus (the last row of seats is up a step, so you can see better out the windows!) |
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| With Chuck, the owner of the dumpling place! |
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| Paul and Alana with Chuck ---- they go here once a week for supper. Very inexpensive local place!! |
Today we'll head back to Old Street Sanxia on our own, since we really just did a brief visit with P/A the last time. Then this afternoon, we'll play it by ear and decide on one last thing to do here. It's unbelievable that our trip to Taiwan is coming to a close. On one hand, we feel like we have been here for a month, since we are so comfortable with our surroundings and getting around places, etc., but on the other hand, it seems like we just got here!! It's been awesome!!
Tonight, Paul and Alana are taking us to their very favorite restaurant - they've saved it for our last night. It's called the Rose House, and they ate there for their anniversary, so we are celebrating our anniversary (for the 3rd day!!) with a special dinner. We're looking forward to our last 24 hours in Taiwan.
Love,
-M & T-
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