The Taiwan Adventure 2009: Conclusion

When All Is Said And Done
The last couple of days of our trip were spent shopping and relaxing. Jack, Jenny, and I (in a wheelchair) went to the mall and purchased some Japanese-style maternity clothes and some really cute clothes and accessories for the baby!

There were some absolutely darling kid's clothing stores that don't exist here in the USA. One in particular is called Kinloch Anderson. I have searched online to find the cute little jumpers, dresses, shoes, and cardigans that I saw at the store, but they are no where to be found. I guess I will just have to buy the ENTIRE store the next time I am in Taiwan!
It seemed that my body had finally started adjusting to the time change and climate of Taiwan. I was able to eat a lot more and I had a bit more energy, but there was one little problem...my food would go in...but it hadn't come out for nearly four days straight. I must have shocked my body enough that my digestive system decided it needed a vacation.
After SEVERAL teas, walks, bottles of water, and herbs we decided that the only way I was going to get relief was by using a "cleaning agent"...it was a nightmare!

It worked, oh, yes, it worked well...too well! I spent the day going back and forth from the couch to the bathroom, drinking lots of water, and eating ice cream. The good thing was that I was able to spend some quality time with mom! We sat on the couch together watching Momma Mia (in English with Mandarin subtitles) and folding clothes. Aside from all the naughty parts in the movie (yes, it was a bit naughty), we enjoyed it!
The next day was Sunday: departure day! In the morning, we went to church as a family, which was a nice way to finish our trip. The members are so warm and eager to practice their English!

Once church was over Jack and I hurried back to the apartment to finish packing. When we were done the whole family got into the car and drove to the train station (high-speed rail). After a family prayer and a little lunch from the train station's McDonald's, we said our goodbyes and parted ways. It can be difficult to say goodbye to family, but in Taiwan the people are much more reserved and tend not to get emotional at such times. It makes goodbyes a little easier.
Aside from having to wear a surgical mask (swine flu), riding in a wheelchair, and waiting to use the restroom in the plane, everything went smoothly and we returned home safe and sound! TRIUMPH!
In the end, I am glad I went to Taiwan. It was hard, but I learned a lot about myself, the power of prayer, the importance of focusing on those moments of TRIUMPH and using them as motivation, and just how lucky I am to have such a wonderful husband!
A HUMONGOUS "Thank you" to:
-the Chang's for all their love, support, and patience
-the Beal's for taking such good care of our baby, Rosie
-the airport staff in Salt Lake City, San Fransisco, and Tai Pei
-the Delta and China Airline employees (especially the stewardesses).
-my best friend, my hero, my husband, Jack

The Taiwan Adventure 2009: Part 8

The Twists & Turns
After a few days of rest and relaxation, it was time for another outing (a small one). Jack, his parents, and I were on our way to the mountains (not too far away or too high up) to watch the craftsmen of an aboriginal tribe demonstrate their tribe's talent in wood carving. I was so excited!
I had packed everything that I could possibly need: Zofran, air sickness bags, ginger snaps, two water bottles, wet wipes, and tissues. No silly nausea was going to stand between me and my aboriginal wood carvings! No, sir.
As is common on Chang road trips, we made an unplanned stop at a small trail and historical site. Jack assured me that the village wasn't far from there so I didn't panic and was happy to get out of the car for a short walk.
The short walk happened to be a long, steep stairway leading down to a small bridge, which you would then cross to go up another long, steep stairway to reach the hiking trail.
I told Jack that I would be happy to go down to the bridge, but I wasn't going to go any further. Thankfully, that is what he had in mind!
I took a few pictures of some of the wildflowers that were blooming along the stairway.
This is my favorite flower!



It took some time, but I got all the way down and all the way back up! I have this picture to prove it.

TRIUMPH!
One of the historical sites was just across the street. From what Jack told me, these are the remains of a railway that the Japanese built many years ago. What is interesting about it is that they they used rice paste to bond the bricks together. It's held up really well! Rice is amazing.


You probably noticed that the title to this post is The Twists & Turns. I will now explain why.
Imagine, if you will, a typical Rocky Mountain road. It twists and turns a bit, which COULD make you a little sick, but for the most part it is tolerable and enjoyable. Now, in Taiwan the mountain range there is very high and very steep. That being said, the roads are ten times twistier and turnnier (I know that's not a word). I like to compare it to driving around and up a pyramid to driving up and around the Washington Monument!
You probably have a pretty good idea of what the drive was like to get to the village. Let me add that the roads were not very wide, so those lovely tour buses going to and from the village needed some extra room to pass. Quite a thrill when you are on the edge of a steep hill side.
It took longer then Jack had estimated to get to the village, but we did reach it alive and in the car!
The village looked awesome. I wish I could show you a picture, but I didn't get any. Why? Well, as you probably guessed, my nausea become nearly unbearable. Here's the equation:
nausea + headache + heat + humidity + my luck = losing everything that had entered my mouth within the last 12 hours, on the side of the road, on my hands and knees, in the dirt, next to a dead cricket being eaten by large ants
We were not able to tour the village. We decided to go back to the apartment. At least, that is what I thought.
In a small city, not too far away, was an aboriginal restaurant that Jack's parents really liked. It was about time for lunch anyway and they were hungry.
As much as I hated it, emptying my stomach made me feel a little bit better. So, when I was told that we were not heading straight back to the apartment, I wasn't too upset. What made me really happy was when Jack told me that there was a museum filled with woodcarvings that we were going to see!
I said a prayer, took a deep breath, and with Jack by my side I walked into the restaurant. I even ate some food and it was really good! TRIUMPH!
The museum was AWESOME! It smelled amazing since many of the pieces were made of Cypress. The intricate details amazed me and the size of some of the carvings went from the first floor to the second floor balcony! So much talent! I was thrilled to be there. TRIUMPH!
I was exhausted by the time we got back to the apartment, but I was quite happy! Not only was able to actually eat some food, but I was able to see some amazing woodcarvings after all!
Not too bad, not too bad at all.

The Taiwan Adventure 2009: Part 7

Let's Get Educated!
After our trip to Kenting, I looked forward to resting a lot and just staying around the city. One of the things that we did was to take a trip to the local museum to see an aboriginal art exhibit!
As much as I didn't want it, I ended up touring the museum in a wheelchair. Better to be safe than sorry, I guess!
Being a blond haired, blue eyed, pregnant woman in a wheelchair made me stick out like a sore thumb. The numerous school groups of kids touring that day just had to get a good look at me as I wheeled by. I even had a short conversation with a seven year old boy (encouraged by his mother to practice his English). He did pretty well!
Although we were not able to get pictures of the art exhibit (I don't know why), I was able to get a few shots in a section of the museum that I felt a strong connection to.

I found this poor lady sitting down. She didn't look too good, so mom and I offered her my bag.

She didn't use it.
Then we sized each other up. She won.

We said our goodbyes and left the little museum in Taichung a bit more educated!

The Taiwan Adventure 2009: Part 6

A New Day!

Here's a pictures of the hotel...or motel. Jack and I stayed on the very top floor and you can see Jack's parents on their porch on the third floor.

After a disappointing and exhausting evening, I slept fairly well during the night. When I woke up at the first glimpse of dawn I was feeling pretty good (knock on wood)!
Jack woke up and was glad to see some color back in my cheeks and tiny spring in my step. Rather than going back to bed or watching the BBC, we decided to go for a short walk to the beach. I was a little nervous, but it ended up being a most pleasant experience!


We got back to the motel after a lovely morning walk and started packing up. I was a bit sad to go without having enjoyed the nightlife and maybe a snorkeling adventure, but that's the way it worked out.
We messed around with the camera for a bit to try and get a good family picture.

It was hard to get rid of the shadow of the porch above us and get a good background shot, but I am sure you photo geniuses could have worked that one out!
I hesitated to ask, but I just had to know if we were going to be making any long stops on our way back home. Jack assured me that if we stopped, it would be for a potty break (sigh of relief)! But I have learned that Jack's estimations on time and plans in Taiwan can be a little off. Luckily, it only took us about three hours to get back to Taichung unlike the trip down! I did alright. No unsettled stomach problems or nausea, but I was exhausted! As soon as we got back to the apartment, I went straight back to bed.
Think the drama is over yet? Only a few more posts left!

The Taiwan Adventure 2009: Part 5

Don't Leave The Plane Without It!

In Part 4 of The Taiwan Adventure posts, I had had trouble sleeping, so I spent the early hours of the morning writing in my journal and taking pictures. Once the sun started to shed it's first beams over the mountains behind us, Jack woke up and took some pictures too. Everything started off lovely...and then came breakfast.
Since neither of us could go back to sleep, we decided to drive to the local McDonald's for some food. Thankfully, McDonald's was open! I am not a huge fan of the place, but it was quite comforting to see the golden arches glistening in the sunlight.
I was really excited to eat and hopeful that it what I put in would not come out. We ordered some pancakes, hash browns, an Egg McMuffin, and some orange juice. It all tasted good up until I had a bite of the Egg McMuffin. Yoke is usually yellow, right? Well, this one was orange. It didn't taste different, but for whatever reason that orange yoke got to me.
We walked out of McDonald's to be hit with a wave of heat! That early in the morning at it was already that hot? Orange yoke + heat + pregnant = not good
"Mind over matter, Lindsay," I said to myself as we walked back to the car.
"Mind over matter, Lindsay," as I sighed at the poor homeless dog with one dead leg standing near the front of our car.
"Mind over matter, Lindsay," when we got into the oven...I mean car.
"Mind over matter, Lindsay," as we pasted an old man walking down the road who coughed and then spit out a...you know.
It was difficult, but I managed to eat breakfast, stop at a clothing store to by some flip-flops, stop at 7 Eleven to get some Japanese style Gatorade, and drive back to the hotel without any drama! TRIUMPH!
However, it proved to be a touch too much for my body to handle. I was pooped! for the rest of the day I slept.
Jack talked me into getting some "fresh air" out on the porch, which I did. But it seems that the sun is a bit stronger on the coast of Taiwan then it is in northern Utah. A half an hour of sunlight led to two weeks of sunburn (luckily I put some sunblock on my face). My chest and the front of my calves were bright red! Could I make myself anymore uncomfortable!
That evening, I planned on joining my family for dinner (unlike the night before). I was really excited to finally get out and enjoy Kenting's night market! I got all prettied up and I was feeling good.
Jack and I walked out to the car, opened the door, sat down, waited for the rest of the family, and then IT happened. My legs started to shake and my vision went a bit blurry. I spotted one of the airsickness bags that Jack and I had collected from our flights. I grabbed it and started to fill it up! Jack sat there by me holding the bag, rubbing my back, and telling me, "You're alright, Linds. You're alright."
I was so mad at myself and so guilty for being such a burden that I started to cry.
Jack held me close as we slowly walked back to the hotel and up the floor sets of stairs. The whole time I just kept apologizing and saying, "I really wanted to go out tonight! I tried so hard!"
We got back into our room, I went into the bathroom to wash off my face (I looked like death), put on my pajamas, got into bed (Jack tucked me in), and watched the BBC.
As much as I protested it, Jack did not go out with his family. He stayed with me. As much as I wanted to be alone in my misery, I was so happy he stayed.
He's my better half, my best friend, my hero, my husband. I love him!

The Taiwan Adventure 2009: Part 4 Continued

From the last post I was supposed to have found the pictures that Jack took of Kenting, but I am having a hard time identifying them...and Jack isn't going to help me! So here are a few of the pictures Jack took that day.

Hill of hotels down the street

Big rock in front of our hotel

Peek-A-Boo...get it?



I did the heart!
Jack was also kind enough to photograph me and what I did throughout most of the day!

Lovely!

In this picture you can see that there are three red spots on my face. I have one zit and a bug bite on my cheek. The red mark on my eye lid was a bug bite that I was blessed with the first day we were in Taiwan and it stayed with me until our return home.

The Taiwan Adventure 2009: Part 4

A Morning In Kenting
In my previous post, I had been so exhausted by the trip down to the coast that as soon as we entered our hotel room I found our bed and slept for the rest of the day...until Jack woke me up and urged me to eat some real food. Because I didn't know what my stomach would like and how it might react to what I put in it, I told him to go ahead and go out with his family for dinner.
About an hour later Jack came back and asked me if I could go with him to his family's room just down on the next floor. By that point I was feeling a bit better and a box (street food is usually put into small boxes) of noodles, veggies, and pork actually sounded pretty good!
As a family, we sat together watching A Night At The Museum (in English with Mandarin subtitles) as they ate fruit and I ate my noodles, veggies, and pork. I was able to eat half of the box and I was even able to keep it in! TRIUMPH!
Jack and I went back up to our room to try and go to sleep. Since it had only been a couple days since we arrived in Taiwan, we were just in the beginning stages of adjusting to the time difference. So we sleep soundly until about 2:00AM and then it's up to you to either stay awake or try and go back to sleep. I did both!
I fiddled around with my camera, ate some dry Cheerios, wrote in my journal, and stretched all while trying to be extremely quiet so I didn't wake up Jack!
The sun was just starting to come up, so I quietly went onto the balcony of our room and took some pictures (I am not good with the camera, so please forgive me).

Here's a shot from the right of the balcony

We are now moving to the left

Center

And now the left of the balcony

Fishing boats
Exciting. Yes, I know.
I decided to go back to bed since my eyelids were becoming a bit to heavy.
As soon as I got back into bed (very quietly and carefully), Jack woke up. When I told him all the wonderful things I had been doing for the past three hours, he was inspired to do a bit of camera work himself (he's much better than me with a camera).

*Whoops! I can't figure out which pictures are Jack's! The time and date is all messed up! I will continue this post later. Sorry for the delay!*