Another trip to the Hoosier state

After 27 hours of travel, including connections in Osaka and Detroit, we made it to my sister’s for Christmas.  There’s something so easy about visiting my sister’s house.  Laura and I always have a relaxing time hanging out, shopping, eating well and seeing family.

Laura behind the wheel

Even with all the snow and bad weather there were few delays

Living in the tropics for the last 5 years has changed the way we look at weather.  Summers are hot and humid and winters here in Taipei are mild to say the least.  Right now it’s hovering around 60 degrees (F) and that’s considered cool.

Merry Christmas

I’m not sure what to call the weather in Indy during this visit.  When we arrived it was 11 degrees (-11C) the next day it was 1 degree (-17C) outside and by the end of the week it was 68 degrees (20C).  We couldn’t have packed for a temperature range like that.  As if 1 degree (-17C) isn’t cold enough, winds were blowing at a steady 25mph, giving a wind-chill factor of MINUS 25 degrees (-31C)!

This is way too cold for anyone.

The trip was filled with the usual dinners out at Sakura’s, Steak-n-Shake, and our new favorite burger place, Five Guys.  And of course we were patriotic Americans and did our best to stimulate the economy.

Ready to go

Laura and I are just sitting on a nearly empty plane ready to go. We are lucky the flight is so empty now but it will not last for long. We will have a completely full flight out of Osaka. You have to love holiday travel.

On our way home

We are on our way home for Christmas! We promise to do our best to help stimulate the economy.

1200 sq ft of Paris in Taipei

Paul, we’re glad you’re here.

One of our favorite French bakery/delis opened up in Taipei recently.  Paul bakery bakes some of the most delicious breads and pastries you’ll ever have.  They also have a nice selection of light lunches to choose from.  Once you enter you could almost imagine yourself back in Paris sitting down for a delicious ham and cheese baguette or a cheesy quiche with a lightly tossed mixed green salad.

A ham and cheese baguette, mixed green salad, soup and tea for around $10.

Bon Appetit

The diversity of restaurants here in Taipei is amazing and it’s getting even better as we find our way around the city.  You can have this beautiful French lunch or walk 30 feet out the front doors of Paul and have a bowl of local noodles for $1.

More of Green Island

A lighthouse at the NW corner of the island.

Although we spent most of our time on or below the surface we did have some down-time.  Since you shouldn’t dive within 24 hours of flying we had a full day to scoot and walk around the island and its deserted beaches.

Green is located off the south eastern coast of Taiwan.  To get there we flew Uni Air from Songshan airport to Taitung, about 40 minutes, and then transferred for the short hop over from Taitung.

A completely deserted beach on the NE coast of the island.

The ‘Little Great Wall’ is a stone stairway that extends 300 meters out to the pavilions in the background.

My dive guide and friend.  (Thanks for the great dive trip!)

There are a couple prisons on the island (which isolated island doesn’t have a prison).  I think this one may have been the military prison.

An abandoned aboriginal home on the north coast.

Who needs an SUV in these tough times when a 100cc scooter will do?

We may have seen this guy swimming around just a few hours before this.

Getting ready to leave Green Island for the hustle and bustle of 6,000,000 people in Taipei.