Taipei Adventure

Joplin finished his teacher training, so we met him in Taipei. We spent a morning hiking -- in 95 degrees, and 95 % humidity. The trail had steep steps up, for half an hour, with a blessedly cool spring at the top so we could pour water over our roasting heads. Then there was a trail that led through the jungle among monkeys and cliff views down to the city below.

A modest house

Nobody ever told us that it would take ten days to get DSL!
Actually, nobody told us that we'd have to set up a house from scratch.
Actually, nobody told us we'd get a house...
But here's the thing. Instead of a tiny 3-room apartment, with rudimentary furniture, like we had in Japan, we got a three-story, four-bedroom (five if you count the upstairs office), two-living room, dining room, kitchen, two-bath (both with tubs, one with jacuzzi -- don't think that wasn't a deciding factor!) kitchen, drying room, double car garage. Unfurnished.
It has been empty for six months, but it was owned for years by a elementary school teacher. The next door neighbors are teachers, the street behind us is a childlike paradise, with every garage door painted -- big flowers, diving whales, Snoopy.
Fortunately, the AC guy was able to install the first piece of furniture on our first night: a bedroom air conditioner. With that and the new beds, (2" pads on a bamboo backing) we were ready to move in.

Anika Here

Hey, Anika here, hacking into her parents blog to tell all their friends that:
a. we all got to Taiwan safely
b. they officially have a house now, unfurnished though it may be (but, miracle of miracles, there are 4 Ikeas in Taipei and they might deliver) and are moving in today
c. my blog (the more interesting and bluer one) is www.voyageofchange.blogspot.com
more later (hopefully from them) when we have internet again.