Any Given Day

If you are just waking up, wondering, "What are the Caspersons up to right now?" the answer is, we are probably going to bed. That's how it works, see? BUT if you wake up in the middle of the night wondering the same thing, well, that's where it gets more interesting!

We are still in Taiwan, and STILL marveling that we are here. We are truly strangers in a foreign land! I thought this post could be a small window into what life looks like here on any given day. (Thought it would be a nice way to include some pictures that had not yet found a reason to be posted.)

On any given day, we are enjoying (or not - see below) public transportation. We don't have a car due to the expense and hassle of driving and parking. So we trade those hassles for another, which sometimes seems about as painfully inconvenient.

Arthur looks so big all by himself - a lone foreigner in a sea of locals....

The emptiness you see in this picture is exactly why we love mid-week, mid-afternoon errands. (Kids in Hongshulin station)

No matter the destination, we are bound to come across at least one temple, if not a whole fat handful. Some of the family are "over-it!" (again, see below)

Arthur and Eloise at Longshan temple.

Less often, we are treated to the sounds of worshipers doing their thing. The temple below is on the ground floor of the equivalent of a strip-mall. If you aren't picky about your deities, worshiping here is very convenient!

Certainly MORE so at tourist destinations, but not infrequently when we are just doing our thing, the cuter among us get cameos in the picture reels of total strangers. I had to snap at least ONE total stranger to document this phenomenon. At least the girls SMILE. Arthur is willing, but just pulls the most hilarious forlorn face. I can't help but wonder what folks DO with these shots!

This woman asked for a picture with the girls. This is near where we sent off the lanterns.

No matter where we go, we usually find it quite easy to amuse ourselves with our own sense of the wacky. Eloise wins the award in THIS photo. Somebody, put these adorable nerds in a frame on a wall!

Shopping in Tamsui. How this shot warms the cockles of my heart!

Kids with guard at Martyr's Shrine

Depending on the day, we try to get out into this amazing country and see the sights that can only be enjoyed HERE. The outing documented to the right and below combined a trip to the Martyr's Shrine with a stop at the Grand Hotel. The highlight of the shrine was these "frozen" army guys. I didn't want to be disrespectful but I did try a tiny bit to get one of them to crack a hint of a grin. My efforts were in vain, and the kids were WAY impressed.

Below we managed a selfie with ALL FIVE of us. It was quite a feat to get a pic where we all looked THIS cute. I am beginning to think I am as amazing with these 4 kids as everyone, everywhere we go, tells me I am. ;)

Me and crew below the Grand Hotel.

Generally, after our adventuring, we like the same relaxation we enjoy if we've been too lazy to go anywhere: a dip in our community hot spring. Sadly, the pool closes at the end of this month, but it's mostly been too cold recently to swim anyway. (Too cold being temperatures in the mid 70's.) Thankfully for us, we can enjoy this hot tub for our entire stay. Arthur loves turning on the bubbles. He calls it his "root beer." But after a long day, the root beer on the left is far more refreshing.