Swarovski @ Hanshin Dept. store

We were at the signing appearance of Swarovski crystal designer Anton Hirzinger at this department store not far from us.  He was here for a day, and patrons could have his autograph hand laser-etched by him.

Sarah
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Great aunt came to visit

Dad's eldest sister and her daughter came to see us.  Po-Jen's brother and family had been here for 3 weeks as well, but left for home last night.

Sarah
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三商巧福 for lunch

Beef noodle soup

Pork cutlet over a bed of rice + seaweed soup

A stroll in the night market

This live billboard sat quietly next to a street vendor. "Big sale - $100 (dog not included). At work...do not disturb!"

Enjoying a heaping bowl of  black forest snow flurry shaved ice.

Almost a week

It's amazing how things whiz past in a blink of an eye. I've been in Kaohsiung for 6 days. I had almost no jet-lag at all, and what I feared most--the heat and humidity--seems entirely manageable so far.

Kids are busy here every day with classes and homework. They're writing and reading pretty decent Chinese now. I actually feel sorry that they don't get that much of free time for play and trips, but if they can take in the work and don't complain, hey.. oh well.

I pigged out in the first 3 days because I arrived on a Friday and was invited to a slew of family meals at must-eat restaurants over the weekend. I've built up enough mental resistance to food temptations to want to eat each and every dish. So far I've felt pretty good about my food intake, and all pants and skirts still fit fine.

5 more hours

In 5 hours I'll be leaving San Diego to drive up to L.A., where I'll take a 13-hr flight at 2:00 AM to Taiwan. Very exciting, indeed, because I'll be joining the rest of the family in a day and a half.  This is the last of my serenity for the summer, or perhaps the year.  I heard it's raining now in Taiwan, so that's good.. it should be cool when I arrive.