Taiwan Travel Gallery 2018

大家好! Last week my family and I returned home after 8 awesome days in Taiwan. This was my sixth time visiting my favorite island. We had fun eating, shopping, swimming, hiking, drinking tea and exploring in Taipei (台北), Yeliu (野柳), Pinglin (坪林), Jiufen (九份), and Guguan (谷關). Here are a few photos from our trip!

Produce shopping in Taipei

Walking the lanes near our apartment

A visit to Taipei 101

Looking down from up high!

A view of the Danshui River from the window of friend's apartment

Awesome pool that we had all to ourselves

Walking the streets of Taipei

Tea with Amin in Pinglin!

The Guanyin in Pinglin

On the trail with our buddy "Golden"

Dez finds a friend

Cora at the Tea Farm

Cool suspension bridge near Pinglin

A stormy and fun day at Yeliu

A pretty cafe in Jiufen

Walking the alleys of Guguan

Cora chillin' with her ocarina

7-11 selfie in Guguan

Lunch Time!

Massive grasshopper on the Shao Lai Trail (捎來步道)

Guguan post office

Dez plays his ocarina in Guguan

Dinner at the hotel

Kiss Fish! Eating the dry skin cells on our feet.

A view of our Hotspring Pool

Mango Jelly, Boba, & Passionfruit Shaved Ice!

Busy Old Street of Jiufen

Ready for some Lishan High Mountain Oolong!

Walking to the elementary school in Guguan

A Visit to the Seattle Chinese Garden

One of the many great things about living in South Seattle is that the Seattle Chinese Garden (西華園) is not too far away. Since 2008 I have presented many wonderful tea tastings at the garden but it has been over a year now since my last visit. Earlier this month, on a drizzly cool Sunday, my family went back to SCG to attend an open garden event. Here are a few photos my wife took from that lovely morning. 

Young magnolias trees bloom outside the entrance to the 

Knowing the Spring Courtyard (知春院).

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Yellow bamboo around a pretty pond.

Song Mei Pavilion (松梅亭)

My kids and friends on a Giant Fish!

My son and I watching the little fish.

Spring Garden Gallery

Here's a little peek at what's been going on around our yard these last few days!

I scored this massive pile of bricks from my neighbor. 

So much of my time has been devoted to the ancient art of "brick schlepping!"

 

Building a yellow brick road,

reinforcing this raised bed,

and thinking about putting a brick patio right here.

(That log back by the fence is my shiitake mushroom log. I'll let you know if it ever fruits.)

The front yard is looking pretty good, though it could stand some more weeding. Chives, kiwi, rosemary, mint, wintergreen, salal and many other plants are doing well here. Our little pear tree (in the middle, surrounded by fava beans) is a year old now and will be flowering soon!

Speaking of flowering fruit trees, our apple tree and 

our two cherry trees are currently producing tons of lovely buds.

Here's a pic of my daughter in one of her favorite places.
Hanging out (literally) under a cherry tree.


Also in the front yard we just planted carrots, beets and potatoes.


I currently have three tea plants. This one appears to be happy and healthy

and it has quite a few pretty new buds.


My other two tea plants look like this!
Any advice on how I can make them happy again would be greatly appreciated.

Hope you enjoyed my Spring garden gallery. Feel free to leave links to your own in the comments. I'd love to see your garden!

A High Mountain Stroll

It's a beautiful morning in central Taiwan. 

Will you join me for a high mountain stroll?

早安小狗!

Alishan High Mountain Oolong farms off in the distance.

Here is a little roadside shrine...

...and across the street we find baby tea plants mulched with peanut shells.

Wow. What kind of plant is this?

That tree is awesome and a little creepy. 

It's starting to get late.
Lets head back to the homestay.

What a beautiful sunset tonight.

We're almost home.

Back just in time!

 

It's not too late for one more pot of tea.

The perfect end to a great day!