Thursday, June 11, 2009

Visa In Hand, Hearts Are Full, Heading Home......

Merry Cafe! YUM!!




Playing At Starbucks
Just A Slinging
Nice Teether Too
Daan Park




Taipei 101 From Daan Park








Hanging Out At Din Tai Fung..AGAIN!
Me loves sticky rice!
Wantons

Today around 10:30 am we received a call from AIT. Andrew's visa is ready! We are thrilled! Jarrod headed there right away, and was back to the hotel room promptly with visa in hand. Around noon we checked out of the hotel room (this is check out time at the Rido). As our flight did not leave until around midnight, the Rido staff allowed us to leave our bags at the front desk with them. They arranged a hotel car to take us to the airport at 9pm, at which time we also picked up our bags. 

Anyway, after checking out around noon, we walked out the hotel door to be greeted by the first rainfall that we had witnessed since landing in Taiwan. Glad we had umbrellas! LOL! So we headed for our 3rd time to Din Tai Fung, whose dumplings are, YES, addictive! (Important note...call about an hour ahead to get on their priority listing. You won't have to wait long at all! It's a great thing!) 

We also found this fantastic little pastry shop a little ways down from Din Tai Fung (same side of the street) called Merry Cafe. OK...if you stay at the Rido, you HAVE to get some of their pastries. OH YUM! This is a great choice for breakfast as it is a nice little walk from the Rido. They do not have tables or chairs, but you can always take them to go and either eat them in Daan Park or if you want to dine indoors, why not head to Starbucks just down the street and grab a coffee to go with your pastries? They have sweet and savory things. The one that looks like a pizza on a long breadstick is amazing! 



Sooooo, after eating at Din Tai Fung we checked out a few areas for some traditional Chinese clothing for the children. We were not successful in finding them, even after following the suggestions of several different ladies. 

After that walked through Daan Park, finally! It is very beautiful and peaceful there. We then headed for a taxi, to a market area nearby. There were many shops and we walked around for hours. Fun place to look, but still no children's clothing. Did find learning chopsticks though, which were on my list, along with a bunch of Hello Kitty things for Matilyn. LOL! 

Then we walked to the EVA office and added Andrew's lap seat ticket. Next it was off to a Starbuck in the area, where we drank coffee and rested from all of our walking. We then took a taxi back to Merry Cafe for some pastries to go, headed back to the Rido, loaded our bags into the car, and it was off the the airport.

Our journey to Taiwan was a whirlwind. There was so much to be done in such a short time. We fell in love with the country and it's people, and pray that we are able to return some day. We are bringing back our precious little dumpling, and life will never be the same!

1 comment:

Sarah k said...

THis brings back memories and gets me all excited to go over there again!!! I love that dumpling place! YUM!!!!
Andrew still looks like you Anita! lol.... And I love the sling!

Sarah k