We started the weekend with a Saturday trip to the gardens next to the National Palace Museum. These gardens are arranged in the classical Chinese style. Fiona was excited to see the large goldfish, plus the swans and ducks :-) 
Then on Sunday we went over to Vivian's parents' house for a meal and some good times.
Fiona loves playing with the fridge magnets
Getting ready to blow out the candles and cut the cake
We said goodbye to our friends the Thalmans, who are returning back to America after many years serving in Taiwan. We will miss you! 
Some pics from last year... at our retreat in the MRT training center in Beitou
Kirt sent us this pic after they arrived back in Ohio :-)
Over Chinese New Year Gareth was able to take a road trip out of Taipei. Also in the travel party were Web and David, both from HOP. From Taipei we drove east to Ilan, then down the dramatic east coast to spend the night near Hualien. On the second day we visited Taiwan's famous Taroko gorge for a little hiking, then drove up the winding road to get to Taiwan's high central mountain area. That night we stayed at Wuling Farm, near Snow Mountain. On the last day we checked out the farm a bit, then enjoyed another afternoon hike. We stopped at the Ilan night market for dinner before heading back to Taipei that evening. What a journey! Thanks David for driving, and Web for taking these cool pictures :-) 
Driving the Suao-Hualien highway. Quiet blue ocean views, empty beaches, dramatic cliffs
Web, David and Gareth embark on their first hike, the aboriginal Saka trail inside Taroko National Park
Beautiful clear blue water, nestled in a cradle of pure marble 
Marble lions keep guard over the bridge 
A famous Taroko site, the Eternal Spring Shrine
From Taroko we piled in the car and drove up, up, up to the high mountain range in the center of Taiwan. This area is over 3000 m above sea level. After driving through clouds for the last hour, we broke through the top and were able to see this view, the "sea of clouds" 
Looking south toward Hehuanshan and Chilaishan, which even had a fair bit of snow on top! The sun was rapidly setting, and Web was starting to feel the effects of altitude sickness 
Looking back on the road we'd come up on. The tiny mountain town below was lighting up. From here we drove north to Wuling Farm
Scenes from Wuling Farm. Inadvertently we picked a good time to come, because most of the tree blossoms were out
Everything was very colorful and nature-y. The farm contains peach, pear and apple trees
Apart from the nice blossoms, there are many other things worth seeing at the Wuling Farm. It happens to be home to the Formosan Landlocked Salmon, a rare species of salmon that doesn't (can't) journey to the ocean and back. Also Wuling Farm is the favored launchpoint for a hike to Snow Mountain, Taiwan's second-highest peak. We hoped to do a day-trip hike to the east peak of Snow Mountain, as I'd done in 2006, but untfortunately we didn't have our mountain passes in order.
Instead we hiked part of another trail across the valley, which afforded a nice view of the Snow Mountain summit
Web, David and Gareth back at the trailhead
On the Friday before Chinese New Year, Gareth, Vivian & Fiona hopped into the saddle and took a bike ride to the famous DiHua street, which is the place to to to get all your holiday snacks and supplies.
Fiona rides in style, in a trailer pulled by Gareth's bike
Stopping at the riverside park for a rest and a little run around
I like playing in the grass!
Here we are at last. Brace for the crowds...
Vivian pushes through the throngs of shoppers
All kinds of different snacks and edibles on display. Huge bags of pistachio nuts here
A mountain of dried squid, in assorted flavors
Want to try some dry mango? Most of the shopkeepers encourage people to taste before buying. One could enjoy a meal's worth of food at DiHua street by sampling everything on offer
Cured meats and other innards... I'll take a pass on the sample thanks
Huge bags of 'shrooms
Peering up above the crowds and chaos, we catch a glimpse of Taipei's past: ancient brick façades overlook the street. This area is one of the oldest in the city
Shopkeepers usually hire college students to hawk the goods on offer. This one has climbed a stepladder in the middle of the road and is delivering his pitch via a blasting megaphone
學校同事晏豪和育如真好！把他們暫時不用的溜滑梯特地搬來借給孟田玩。孟田剛開始只上去了一、兩次，似乎沒有多大的興趣。但到了第二週，她已經會用各種姿勢滑下來，坐著、躺著、甚至趴著用頭先下，一天要玩個至少五十趟。可把我和孟楷累死，有時還被嚇出一身冷汗。因為一個不注意，就發現孟田高高的站在溜滑梯的頂端上跳舞，雙手還高舉在頭上揮呀揮，很得意的樣子。這時，爸爸或媽媽就得拋下手中的一切，健步趕去保護她！
今天晚上實在太累了，只好把溜滑梯暫時收在陽台，休兵。
希望她們不要這麼忙就好了，可以常常來玩。童年可是一眨眼就過了呢！
