Jet Lag

I really don’t understand jet lag. Oh, I understand the principle behind it, just not “logic” of how it works. For example, since our return, I wake up at 3 to 4 in the morning, that’s 6 -7 PM in Taipei. Not me usual “wake-up’ time. Come around 1PM, I’m suddenly falling asleep again (that’s … Read more

Blogging in the Air

Our departure from Taipei was not without incident. My father-in-law’s car is not particularly large, and most cars struggle with two carseats, not to mention five large pieces of luggage and 6 people. When we arrived, we’d managed to cram it all in the car, but Irene’s mother didn’t meet us at the airport. For … Read more

Good Morning Starshine

As a recap, my day of travel went like this: Action Taipei Time Phoenix Time Get Up Monday 7:00 AM Sunday 4:00PM Catch Flight Monday 10:55 PM Monday 7:55 AM Arrive Phoenix Tuesday 1:41 PM Monday 10:41 PM Arrive at Home Tuesday 4:10 PM Tuesday 1:10 AM That’s over 30 hours without benefit of more … Read more

If I’d Known, I’d Have Worn Socks

Last night, as part of the parade of dinners that precedes our departure, Johnny and his girlfriend Batrina (whose name will ever be “Britanica” to my mind) took us out to dinner. They took us to a Yakiniku place, complete with pit-style Japanese tables and, of course, taking your shoes off for dinner. Pit-style tables … Read more

More Ill-Advised Hot Dogs and Hiking

It’s now less than 24 hours before we leave Taiwan and I should probably be packing…but I’m not. Irene is packing clothes right now and I’ve got a lot of gear to figure out where it goes…and to be sure I take everything I brought. As tomorrow will undoubtedly be consumed with farewells and last … Read more

Some Bugs and Animals

While I was hiking today (more on that in another post) I saw a lot more “wildlife” than previously. There were lizards everywhere, and these two enormous bugs. (That’s a 58mm (2.3″) lens cap cover for size comparison.) The mantis seems content to let me photograph him, although I think he may have been eyeing … Read more

It’s Not the Language

Report from Michelle’s class today: It’s not the language barrier. Today’s class was all in Chinese and Michelle still has to be the first to answer every question. (Correctly.) I was afraid she was responding faster than the other kids in her last class because it was in English and she had the natural language … Read more

Waiting for a Game

One of the things that always surprises me about trails in Taiwan is that “lived in” feel they have. Instead of the feeling of complete solitude, no matter how trackless the wilderness, you’ll come across signs of habitation. Often they’ll be signs of regular habitation, but there’s no one around. Near the trail spur to … Read more