Snow下雪了

終於下雪了！晚上下起了雨，溫度一降，竟成了雪，而且雪花還滿大片的。第二天早上窗外已成銀色世界。
我們把孟田帶到窗邊，她愣了好一會兒，才叫出「下雪了！」
We finally had our first snow! It started at night just before we went to bed. The next morning, we took Fiona to the window. She stared out the window and didn't say a word. After a while, she shouted out in Chinese,"It's snowing!"





我們做雪人，打雪仗，孟田最愛的應該是吃雪吧！一邊吃一邊說「好冰喔！」，鼻涕還流個不停。
We made a snowman and had a snow fight after lunch. I think Fiona's favorite part was eating snow. Notice the new baby sled we bought in a garage sale... for $1!





奶奶買了這套雪衣，當做孟田的生日禮物。我挑的顏色，但有一點太大。(好像不只一點)等不及到生日，因為已經下雪了！
Grandma bought Fiona this snowsuit for her birthday. (We had to try it before her birthday arrived). It's a little too big!

Vivian's trip to Hokkaido, Japan 意外的北海道之行

(這應該早就要寫的，但是一直沒時間，到現在才有空看照片。)
就在我們忙的焦頭爛額準備搬家回加拿大之際，大姐公司的日本之旅在出發的前一天突然多出一個位子，大姐打電話問我要不要去。就這樣，第一次這麼匆促的踏上我和孟田的北海道之旅。
也真的很高興有機會在離開台灣前和大姊、媽媽一起旅遊。
(I should've posted this earlier, but I didn't have time until now)
While we were busy preparing our moving back to Canada, all of a sudden my sister called me and asked me if I was interested to join her company's trip to Japan. The next morning, Fiona and I were on the plane to Hokkaido. This was my first time going to a trip with such short notice--less than 20 hours. But I'm really glad that Fiona and I had the chance to go for a trip with my mom and my sister.

Enjoying fall in Calgary我們到卡加利了!

終於到了卡加利。經過四、五天的調適，孟田也終於恢復正常作息了！只不過好冷喔！晚上只有0度，白天大概8-15左右。每天總要塗個三、四遍的乳液。不過乾淨的空氣和美麗的秋天讓我了解到，這是正確的決定。只是得被迫離開家人，真是捨不得，只能不去想。
It's October 2007, and here we are -- back in Calgary! Though it is much cooler than Taiwan, and a bit of a shock to the system, the skies are beautifully clear and the air is fresh. It's nice to be back.
這是我們接下來至少一年要住的地方，也就是公公婆婆的房子。在我們到後一週，他們已經搬到新家。
Vivian in front of Morgan's house, where we will be staying for the next while



孟田和她的新玩具房子，是爺爺去車庫拍賣買的
Fiona enjoying her new doll's house, which grandpa picked up at a local garage sale



慢跑推車，也是爺爺去車庫拍賣買的。我們現在喜歡散步，尤其在落葉中。
Grandpa also picked up this sporty stroller! We took it out on a nice day to enjoy the fall weather and the beautiful colors of the turning leaves


Fiona's first time seeing the autumn leaves on the ground 孟田第一次看到這麼多落葉，而且可以玩。剛開始，她還不敢躺下去，看到爸爸躺下了，她才敢開始玩。
Playtime! Daddy buries Fiona under a pile of leaves


Now it's Fiona's turn to bury Daddy
So many shades of green, orange and yellow More playtime as Fiona discovers a new playground

Pretty berries linger as a tree surrenders its leaves to the changing season

雖然冬天就要來臨，但我想，最難的部分應該已經過了。就等待著家人和朋友的到訪吧！
Back at home. Fiona says: After all that playing and my remaining jet lag, it's time for a nap!

Gareth's escape to Lanyu, Orchid Island

Last Friday afternoon we got a surprise: Vivian and Fiona had a chance to go to Hokkaido, Japan. Suddenly Gareth also decided to make a little getaway. Destination: The remote Taiwanese island of Lanyu, otherwise known as Orchid Island.One has to first fly by jet to Taidong, then take one of these prop planes to go over to LanyuLanyu can be found southeast of Taiwan, about 50 km offshore from the Taiwanese mainland. First sighting of the island The old fishing harbor, now unused. I went snorkeling there on my second day
The island's lone beach bar. A nice place to sip a cold drink and chat with other travelers
Traditional Tao boats on the shore. The Tao people are not Chinese at all, but related to the Oceanic peoples from islands further to the south: Philippines, Borneo, etc.
The local diet: fish, fish and more fish. The day's catch is caught, prepared, then hung out to dry. Visitors see this scene often. Using this ancient method of preservation the fish can be stored for up to six months before eating View from the hills towards battleship rock
Getting up early for the sunrise at 5:20 am
The sun breaks over the Pacific
Enjoying the early morning view from the grassy lawn atop the main weather station
Everywhere the common sight: volcanic rocks, and goats! Sometimes together!

Back at the weather station in the afternoon for another view
Local kids paddle in the water
A closer look at one of the traditional Tao boats Some Taiwanese tourists hired this one + a guide and went out for an afternoon paddle

Mr. Lamuran, proprietor of the hostel where I stayed. If you have a chance to visit Lanyu, his hostel is definitely worthwhile. See http://lamuran.blogspot.com/

Mountain biking: Paoma and Tonghou trails

Near the end of August Gareth went on a 2-day mountain biking trip with Ken, Teri and Charles. We visited the popular Paoma and Tonghou trails, near the town Jiaoxi on Taiwan's east coast. Riding the # 9 highway from Taipei to Ilan. Since the new Snow Mountain tunnel opened up, this road is very quietWe passed by the Feitsui reservoir -- nice views hereKen, Gareth, Charles and Teri, the intrepid bikers.
Ken has also blogged about the trip, in some detail: http://blog.pixnet.net/Kaiteri/post/8354223
http://blog.pixnet.net/Kaiteri/post/8438437
(Chinese only + pictures)The top part of the Feitsui reservoir. Lots of tea farms on the hills around here...And the little tea town of Pinglin. We stopped here for some tea-flavored icecream By the time we reached the Paoma trail it was nearly dark. We stopped here to enjoy the view of the Ilan plain before descending into the town of Jiaoxi, famous for hot spring hotels and cow-tongue cakes The next morning: riding through back county roads and villages en route to the Tonghou trail
Our plan: cross the mountain range in the background of this picture

Just before the steep part of the ride uphill
After an extremely hot 2-hour climb to the top, we began the descent. We first rode along the edges of some steep grassy hills cloaked in mist. Then we had to push-carry the bikes down 3 km of hiking trail. But THEN... another several more km of excellent ridable offroad trail, all downhill. Yea! Eventually we popped out in Wulai, the aboriginal town south of Taipei. From there it was easy to make our way back to civilization and head home.