Taiwan flag against the blue sky
Happy to Board an Emirates Boing in the Mother City on Monday 22 June 2015.
I had the perfect seat way at the back of the plane for 10 hours to Dubai.
At 3am Dubai was bustling with travelers all going to a destination somewhere in the world.
I was amazed.
At 6am we started boarding for Taipei and was lucky to meet and be seated next to an old Taiwanese lady, who is a Chinese teacher in Belgium. We were both very excited about our holidays in Taiwan.
Boarding in Dubai: Next stop Taipei
Arriving in Taoyuan in typical Taiwan summer heat...I was very happy to be back and knew exactly where to go and what to do.I took the short bus ride to the High Speed Rail to take the train to Hsinchu.
High Speed Rail heading for Hsinchu
My brother and his beautiful family came to pick me up at the station...I was so happy to see them and finally hold Mia in my arms.
Meeting Mia
From Wednesday to Friday I enjoyed spending time in Hsinchu. Walking Mia to school and back and enjoying bath time and play time.
Mia before bath time
Friday afternoon and I took the train to Taichung to meet my very good friends Charl and Shani with their 3 4 legged children (Stich, Peester and Leia)
We had such an fabulous time of catching up and enjoying each others company.
We went to their favorite restaurant on Friday night, Chili's and had fantastic food, company and ice cold beer;-)
Chili's for dinner in Taichung
Charl spoiled the whole household the next morning with homemade omlettes which was deliciously filled with bacon, costco sausage, onions, mushrooms and cheese. Shani had in house made sweets of coconut and oats clusters and fudgy cookies.
Breakfast fit for a queen
About half and hour later Hanli joined us and the four of us with the children jumped into the car on our way to the Douliu Hash....I have been waiting one whole year for this day and was very excited.
Douliu Hash START
It was awesome meeting up with old friend from the hash and couldn't wait to start running....and man was it was hot out there. Dear friend Rachel planned and hared an awesome flat trail.
Down Down's was fun as always and we head off to Douliu to have a famous Roxy's Burger and a pint or two or three...sorry I lost count.
Meeting up with Charl and Shani on the hash
I only woke up half way through the next day, but hey I'm on holiday right!!!
We had a busy Sunday ahead of us...we were all in the mood for a proper Sunday cooked meal.
We made Beef Wellington with home made puff pastry, broccoli and cheese sauce, caremalized sweet potatoe and of course rice.
With wonderful company I had so much fun cooking with Charl and Shani.
The food looked and tasted fabulous.
Sunday dinner with awesome friends...Bliss
I was sad to leave the Monday but happy to head down south to Kaohsiung. Not far from my "hometown" Gangshan.
I met up with good friend Eva, who spoiled me by taking me to all the familiar spots I loved to enjoy while living in Taiwan.
Coffee at my favorite coffee shop in Kaohsiung
Eva at Smokey Joe's
Love River
Kaohsiung Arena Night Market
We almost took the MRT everywhere and the feeling of familiarity was the ultimate feeling of enjoying my holiday.
We met up with old colleagues and friends for midnight snacks and beer shandis,delicious lunches with students and friends and Mo Li tea with colleagues during office hours.
Fantastic tradition lunch with old colleagues and dear friends
Grace, Lichun and Eva
My favorite drink and snack in Gangshan
Meeting up with Aska and QQ
Good wine, food and company on a Friday night
Saturday was time for another hash...excited I met up with Spammy at a MRT station and we went all the way to the Kaohsiung Harbor for BBB's final hare run.
Kaohsiung HASH
I have never ever short cut on a hash...of course I knew that Boered Stiff will short cut...Boered Stiff was the first Hare I ever hared a hash with and had no problem following him. We picked up trail a couple of times but I was happy to stick with him. He knew the area around Kaohsiung Harbor and Monkey Mountain well.
In the end we didn't catch a hare, nor did we come in first...but I had so much fun on my first short cut hash, and will definetly do it again.
Short cutters
We had magnificent views of Kaohsiung and the Harbor at the end of the hash.
Down Down's was all BBB, everyone on the hash and Kaohsiung will surely miss him.
Lot's of laughs and cold beers later we where off for dinner only to meet up for a farewell party at Jasmine's, BBB favorite pub.
Farewell BBB
Fun at Jasmine's
I manage to just make the last MRT early Sunday morning, after a fabulous Saturday with the Kaohsiung Hash House Harriers.
Sunday was steak lunch with Terry, who just arrived back from a week holiday in Japan.
Steak lunch with Terry
Sunday afternoon I met up with good friend Johan. We had fun playing games, posing for pictures and had a good catch up over a cup of coffee. Thanks for making time to see me Johan.
Fun with Johan
Monday morning came quickly just like the typhoon heading for Taiwan. My last day in Kaohsiung has arrived and I only had one week of holiday left. Eva and I were on our way for my last lunch date with Jenny. We went for hotpot...naturally I could not miss out on the famous Taiwan cuisine.
A big Thank you too everyone who made time to spend with me while visiting Kaohsiug and a big shout out to Eva and her family for their kind hospitality during my visit.
Hotpot with Jenny
Good Friend Jenny
Monday afternoon I headed of to Tainan...a beautiful historic European city along the south west coast of Taiwan. One of my favorite cities to visit.
My friend Michael was kind enough to shack me up for the night. We went for very good pizza and Ice cold Taiwan beer. We had a nice catch up and I want to thank him for his kindness.
Tainan at night
Catching up with awesome friend Michael
Tuesday was Grace day!! And I was very excited to meet up with Grace.
I was only expecting to go for lunch somewhere, but Grace had a whole day planned...bless her.
First we were off for a play date with her 3 year old twins.
The last time I visited the twins, they were very shy and probably a bit freaked out about meeting a foreigner with blue eyes.
I asked Grace if they were expecting me and she said no...and I thought OH DEAR!!
Fortunetly it went pretty well. Grace's son was all over me and just wanted to show me his toys...twin sister started off very shy but quickly came out for her shell and soon we were playing doll, singing, hugging and cuddling. They are adorable and I can't wait for our next play date...one year from now!
Grace took me to lunch at a fabulous Thai Restaurant (my favorite), where I had the best food in Taiwan EVER!
After lunch we went shopping for a birthday present for Grace's husband.
We found him the most perfect wallet and then we had to make the decision to either go for a movie or go bowling...naturally I opted for bowling...yet Grace kicked my ass!!
We went for coffee and finished off a perfect day...I didn't want it to end.
Grace dropped me and my backpack off at the HSR ... Many thanks Grace for making time to spend with me, it was awesome!
The Adorable twins
Dearest Grace and delicious and moreish Thai Cuisine
Thai Green Chicken Curry and shrimp cake
Prawn and Tomato salad
Grace and I enjoying Thai:-)
Grace in action
The next couple of days I spent some time with my brother and friend Kelly in Hsinchu. We went to visit the East Gate, a part of a wall that surrounded Hsinchu during the early 1900's.
Hsinchu East Gate
Kelly and I at Yi Er San
We went to populor restaurant Yi Er San, were we enjoyed traditional Chinese food and it was as good as proomised.
A perfect fried rice
Moreish sweet and sour chicken
Springrolls
We had a braai the next evening and made potjiekos on my last night in Taiwan.
Tertius took me for my ultimate favorite breakfast on the last morning before taking me and my backpack to the airport to head back to Cape Town South Africa.
Thanks for everything Ters and Meis.
My favorite breakfast Dan Bing
Me and my backpack
I had a blessed time with dear friends and family, and want to thank everyone for their kindness, friendship, hospitality and love.
I can't wait to return in a year for more of Taiwan's good people, sun and food!!
Until my next Happie...I will miss you all!
Mo Li
