Awesome Day! - Part One: The Hike 超讚的一天

Some days are awesome from beginning to end. This was one of them. We hoped to see the Pingxi 平溪 (pronounced "Ping-She") Sky Lamp Festival, We also hoped to squeeze in a hike because this area of Taiwan recalls the famous Chinese landscape paintings with towering peaks. We did both! This is Part One of that awesome day.

"You Can't Bye-Bye With A Buddha Head" 拜拜雙意

Happy Chinese New Year!

Welcome to the Year of the Dragon!

We went from the rabbit to the dragon in one fell swoop. (One wonders what became of the rabbit!)

This is our first Chinese New Year in Taiwan. It's all new to Mark. For Ping, it's pretty much the first Chinese New Year as an adult in Asia, so in some ways it's all new to her, too.

This Is Our Trail Head 登山口

The sun came through the window this morning. What?? The SUN??? Yes, this was unexpected, considering that the forecast called for rainrainrainrainrain this week. One of the reasons why we chose to be independent from the corporate world was so we could do what mattered to us when it was possible. In other words, we can take advantage of the sun when it actually appears! Today turned out to be a great day.

Election Day for Mark and Ping 選舉日

Did you know you can change the government, get groceries and get lost all in the same day? You have to start early.

We got up at about 6:00 on Saturday, Jan. 14th, because it was Taiwan's Election Day. (Ping was voting for herself, of course. As you know, we won in a landslide--see previous post!)

The Winning Ticket 勝利的滋味

Hsu (left) and Cole wave to the assembled throng after their
landslide election as president.

DATELINE: 9 JANUARY, 2012 TAIPEI, TAIWAN
Despite having been in the country less than four months, Mark Ivan Cole and Yet-Ping "Ping" Hsu have been elected to Taiwan's highest office.

Happy New Year from Taiwan! 從台灣祝您新年快樂

WOW! 2012 is here! It's been a momentous and eventful 2011 for us, and we're looking ahead to what 2012 will bring. But first...here's the last bit from 2011: our New Year's Eve day.

Since this is Taiwan, of course, it all starts with food! However, we're pretty sure this is the ONLY place in the world where you'll get good food at a place called "Modern Toilet." Yes, that's what the sign says on the wall, and that's the name of the restaurant. When you walk up the stairs, you hear a doorbell ring and someone yells "Welcome Toilet!" from the top of the stairs.

Your eyes do not deceive you...