Second Day of the New Year

The first day of the New Year, people go to the temple to honor the gods and their ancestors.  The second day is a day to go out in the country to hike and enjoy nature.  We did not go hiking.  We wanted to avoid the crowds, so we went to Coscto instead.

We had a short bus ride.  There's David standing with the yellow bag.

Next, we took a short walk.  On the way we found the "Solomon" sign.

Yes, there is a Costco in Taipei!

It's pretty much like an American Costco, except when entering you have to go up on an escalator to the appliances and impulse items.

We took the escalator back downstairs to get to the food.

We were surprised to find an entire section dedicated to Tillamook cheese, and ice cream.

When we arrived at Costco, it was pretty quiet.  However, as time passed the crowds arrived and we were only too happy to pay and get out.  Apparently, other people chose to avoid the holiday hikers and come to Costco.

Although we took the bus to Costco, we purchased a good size  load of groceries, so we took a cab back to the apartment.  Other people did the same.  There is a  convenient taxi queue right in front of the store.

And that is how we spent the second day of the New Year.

Breaking News

Check out the toilet tissue packaging to make sure you buy the right kind.

We just learned that we can flush!!!  Our toilet paper that is.  We've been faithfully using the bins for the last 2 weeks, and we just learned that Taiwan has made an agreement with the toilet paper companies to produce paper that easily dissolves.

Life is much better now.

A Sweet Beginning to the New Year

People in Taipei have been preparing for the Chinese New Year for about a week. One day, after a walk, we returned to our apartment building to find that the front door and lobby were decorated for the holiday.

Each side of the front door has a string of red fire crackers.  They will ward off the monster Nian who likes to come around on New Years Eve.

Last night, the Chinese New Years Eve, was family night.  Families stay home to share a dinner together.

Today is the first day of the Chinese New Year. Most small restaurants and shops are closed, and people go to the temples to honor relatives who came before them.  We went to Xingtian Temple, which is one of the larger Taoist temples,  to join the throngs paying respect.

We found ourselves cheek to jowl with crowds of worshipers.  Most were concentrating on their prayers, and it was surprisingly calm.

Behind the center door is the main god of the temple,  Guan Yu, patron saint of businessmen.  The order of prayer is to pray to the god of the heavens, directly behind me, with my camera.  Then pray to Guan Yu at the center door. Next pray to the god in the right door, finally to the god in the left door.  Considering the masses of people this was all done in an orderly fashion.

When we managed to extricate ourselves from the temple, we found ourselves on the sidewalk filled with vendors.  It was a bit of a carnival atmosphere.  Chia treated Solomon to cotton candy - his first.

What a sweet beginning to the New Year.  Xin Nian Kuai Le!!!

Do People Play Mah Jongg in Taiwan?

The answer is yes!  And I think they get upset with how the game goes occasionally.  Look what I found mixed among a pile of broken glass in the alley leading to the back door of our apartment.

It looked like some player got furious with the game and tossed it out the window along with the glass top table he/she was playing on.  Do any of my Mah Jongg friends ever get that upset with the game?

It can be hard to find Mah Jongg sets in the U.S.  So I was excited when I found this display in the local hardware store.

No, I won't be purchasing.  These sets don't have jokers.  Perhaps the person who threw their tiles out the window wouldn't have done it if he or she had had a few jokers.

The Old and the New

Every day Taipei brings a new delight.  Today, Solomon, Taylor and I walked to get breakfast.  Solomon, trained to live in a big city, walks along as if it's no big deal to be in a huge city.

After breakfast we walked over to Qingguan Park to get the wiggles out.

When we realized we all needed a bathroom break, we headed down the alley to go back to our apartment.  When..........................what do I spy? A little mini temple, the size of a phone booth.

I could have easily missed this.

I think the only reason I looked was because of the scent of incense.

After taking these photos I looked behind me, and there was a storefront temple, about the size of a single garage. Two older ladies were watching TV on the big screen on the wall.  They motioned me to come in, which I did.  They wanted me to sit down, but I declined. I needed to catch up with Taylor and Solomon who continued down the alley without even noticing these little gems. I felt I would impose if I took a photo, so you just have to trust me that it was another small, gem of a temple. 

I find that I have to pay attention all the time while I'm here, because I can so easily miss hidden treasures. The contrast of modern playgrounds with ancient temples, as well as the contrast of an ornate temple with a TV on the wall  are  constant sources of wonder for me.

More Temples

As if the beautiful Jingfu Temple wasn't enough of a feast for the eyes, I just found two more temples within a 10 minute walk in the opposite direction from our apartment.

This first temple, Yongjing Temple, is on the way to the Shuanglian Market, where we went to scope out the fresh fruit, veg, fish, etc.  I saw this temple the first night while I was out exploring with Jennifer.  At that time the gate was closed but all the red lanterns inside the courtyard were lit.  It was quite magical. I was thrilled to find it again.

Yongjing Temple

Once we got into Shuanglian Market, we stumbled over this beauty right in the middle of the vendors.

Students and their families come here to Wen Chang Temple to pray for good grades. 

There is Taylor, checking out the produce.

Happy New Year Family Dinner

This is our sixth trip to Taipei. By the time we come home from this trip we will have spent 5 months and one week in Taipei (the first visit was a one week wedding extravaganza). Thanks to our lovely daughter in law, Chia, I now feel like I am part of this huge, fascinating city.  Last night she invited Taylor and me to have a dinner with her family to honor the New Year and the family.  We had a wonderful time with our Taipei family.

Taylor and I managed to take the 63 bus to the restaurant without incident.  Eleven of us met outside the Hong Yuan Seafood Restaurant on Minshen East Road.

The food was delicious and the company was charming.

Here we all are, after dinner.  The dirty dishes are a testament to a wonderful feast.

The three cousins, Junior, Sophie and Solomon Soup.  They really like each other.  I enjoyed speaking Mandarin to Junior and Sophie while they practiced their English with me.

After dinner, Chia's sister in law and I nipped into the boutique next door, where they were having a wonderful sale.  We only looked.  We did not buy.

This is a very soft leather jacket.

Fancy leather.

 While the two of us shopped, the rest of the group went next door to 7-Eleven for dessert.

I think Chia's father should be very proud to have 3 wonderful grandchildren.  Sophie and Junior are really enjoying their treats and their grandfather.

Solomon with his aunt, Chia's sister.

David, Chia's brother and Taylor supervise the fun from behind bars.

Here's the star of the evening - Chia.

Thank you Chia for a most wonderful family dinner.

Happy New Year of the Pig.