Germany

We're currently in Heilbronn, Germany visiting Shelly!!! I don't have much to update right this second (cooking dinner), but more - after we get to Belgium on Friday.

Finland!

We're both kind of tired of traveling, but a change of pace should be good: Europe. Our first stop was Finland. Upon arriving and figuring out how to get to the hotel (more bus!), it was very odd to feel like we were in Denver again.

The hotel: Hotel Katajanokka - a Best Western hotel. This was a very odd, but nice hotel - a former jail. Our room was 2 cells that had been combined. Very odd, but really nice. The hotel breakfast was even good. Thumbs up for Finland!

The only real negative about Finland was the price of everything. Food was a bit costly - especially in comparison to Germany (where we are now). Donar Kebap - awesome lamb meat sandwiches - are 6 euros in finland and 2 in germany. Beer was about the same cost ratio, sadly. But, we had fun. Finland is really nice and beautiful. We did a lot of walking around the city. Not a whole lot of sightseeing.

25 photos.

Japan

Ahh...Japan. Land of supposed weirdness. My first trip to the country and Lo-Lin's second. The flight was an overnight from Thailand, but once we arrived - I knew I loved Japan: Mass organization and politeness. Our first experience with this was right out of the gate at the train. The attendant told us the price of the tickets and we were hesitating - maybe thinking about other options for a good deal. She then said something along the lines "well, there is a slower train, about 45 minutes longer, for half the price." - perfect! Especially since it was 7:30 AM and we couldn't check into our hotel yet.

The hotel was quite nice and in Kamata, just south of Tokyo proper and north of Yokohama. A couple of friends commented that it was "way too far" to experience Tokyo. Yeah, the 5 min. walk to the station and the 10 min. ride into the main areas - definitely not too far - especially considering the roughly $100 USD difference in a per night charge for hotel.

We did some touristy stuff: sushi, Imperial Palace, Senso-ji Temple, etc. Also, just walked around and checked out some different areas. Overall, very pleasant.

On the last night we were there, Yokohama had a huge fireworks festival, so we headed down there. wow. the people. I don't even know how to estimate the number of people, but we found a spot about 1.5 blocks away from the harbor - the closest spot with no people....and the harbor is about 2 miles long. All filled with people - that didn't include the surrounding harbors. Great street food + beer + fireworks. lovely.

55 photos. Enjoy!


btw - this is the Asahi Beer Building

Thailand!

As I mentioned previously, Thailand is an interesting place. Both Lo-Lin and I were not impressed by what we saw, but I hate to make judgment before seeing the entire country. We only had a chance to visit Bangkok and Pattaya. The highlights of the trip are:

1. Diving. My first time diving. Wonderful experience with great instructors.


2. Thai spicy papaya salad. omg. some of it was really really hot

32 photos. Lots of fun

Hong Kong!

Long delayed post on Hong Kong finally coming to fruition.

We stayed on Lantau Island (gasps of horror from the Hong Kong residents), just outside of the city proper. Why? Lantau Island is a local place where Hong Kong tourists go. It is a 30 min. ferry ride from Central and about an hour bus ride from the airport. And its quiet and nature-like with very few cars.

We had planned to swim in the ocean, but the rain wasn't letting us - so we made it one afternoon in the pool. Other than that, we went into the city and hung out with Jon Dica. It has been many years since we last hung out - very nice to see him and to meet Maria. We mostly walked around the city, ate, and saw some sights. Pretty relaxing overall. I liked Hong Kong in that it had good public transport, a lot of food, and numerous things to buy. On the other hand, I wasn't as happy with the quality of "things to do". Lantau Island was nice, as we were able to paved road hike to see a waterfall.

- 65 photos

A couple of the food highlights for me: These huge shrimp-like things on Lantau (massively huge), clams and rice noodles steamed with garlic, and Hong Kong Beer. I was also a huge fan of the Beijing Roast Duck and the oyster pancakes. Nummy.

Love and photos

A quick photo fill-in update

My parents' last night in Kaohsiung - a quick set of 6 semi-blurry photos of both our families eating out.

My parents' last nights in Taiwan - a quick set of 16, including crazy Taiwanese baseball game.

Dinner out with the Su family - set of 9 with some food love

Kaohsiung Dry Goods Market - set of 10 photos of the Kaohsiung Dry Goods Market - lot of interesting food

Restaurant trip to "Old Taiwan" Restaurant - set of 17 photos with Lo-Lin's nieces at a nostalgia-themed restaurant.

Whew. Quick and dirty.

Back online...for a bit at least

As we sit in our hotel room at 7 PM on a Tuesday evening, I look out the window at a pretty chaotic scene: Pattaya, Thailand. Someone had joked that it was the "whore capital" of Thailand and I blew it off - it really is the "whore capital". We are staying at the Queen Victoria Inn in the middle of the nightlife district (a respectable inn, btw). Outside, for an uncountable number of streets each way - "beer bars", or more aptly - the place where Thai women sell themselves to Western men. We are both kind of weirded out and I don't know if we are going to go out tonight...maybe just stay in and catch up on communications with family/friends. who knows.

So, we went to Hong Kong (thanks Jon!). That post will be coming soon, but I (Mike) wanted to comment on something that has been bothering me. In Hong Kong, I started to feel it, but in Thailand - I had this odd feeling that something was just off - something that I hadn't felt in China or Taiwan. While Lo-Lin and I ate our overpriced Indian/Thai food in Pattaya - the revelation came:

I don't want/like to bargain for basic services.

Don't get me wrong, I like bargaining for goods and extended services (ex. diving trips/clothing/DVDs/etc.), but basic taxi rides, grocery stores, restaurants, previously contracted services, or healthcare shouldn't have to be bargained for. In both Hong Kong and Thailand, I've felt like that every single thing I want had to be bargained for. For example, we contracted for a bus ride from Bangkok to Pattaya. Specific price including luggage and dropping off in the beach area within 2.5 hours. We take the 4 hour ride to an area outside of town where they drop us off and say thanks and leave - with local taxis nearby. After getting swindled out of another 100 baht ($3.3 USD), we finally made it to our hotel. Is it the fact that I'm white make people believe I am wealthy? Yes, I can afford the extra 3 bucks, but I didn't get what I contracted for. Jon and I had a good conversation about the Hong Kong jade market - tourism is down and the market is declining because you can only rip off tourists for so long before people stop coming (they have a notorious habit of selling non-jade to tourists).

On another note: Pattaya is very weird. We just returned (btw - about a 4 hour break in writing) from dinner and our street is hopping. The (maybe) girls are in close to nothing and there is a concert in the street OUTSIDE OUR WINDOW. Seriously, we can look down onto it with people singing along. Sleep will be at a premium later tonight.

Alas, I forgot the point. Pattaya is weird. The town is filled with a couple of groups of people that are ...just weird: ok, one group in particular: 45-65 yr. old white men. There are an overabundance of these white men prowling for Thai girls - and most have one, if not two, Thai girls on their arms. *cringe* I'm a bit lecherous at times, but this is over the top. EVERYWHERE.

ok. tomorrow is diving with Lo-Lin. I'm really looking forward to it, if we can get some sleep. Hopefully the ladies, white men, and ladyboys shut if off at a reasonable time.

I'll be sure to make a huge picture update next time of the last days in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Bangkok.

Healthcare

While we are in Taiwan, Lo-Lin suggested that we handle a lot of healthcare issues. My first question, why? America has the best, right? Not necessarily so. The problems started last week when I broke the arm off of my eyeglasses. I have/had beautiful ProDesign Denmark frames for the past 6 years. The last frames I had broke after 8 months and the shop in Denver replaced them for free. The same model broke again last week - after 16 months. I thought really expensive titanium frames would last a while, but I guess I am wrong. So, we had to fix these issues.

Eyeglasses/contacts
In America, most eyeglass stores require you to have an up to date eye exam (cha-ching $60-90 bucks if you don't have insurance). In Taiwan, they check your prescription for free. yep, for free. No, we didn't use Lo-Lin's Taiwanese healthcare, just went in. Since my prescription hasn't changed - it was really easy. I bought new frames and daily contacts (I have an astigmatism, so its more expensive): total: NT$7400 ($247) for everything and a 3 day turnaround. The frames I bought are high-end and would cost at least $500 in America alone. The winner: Taiwan

Eye doctor
I'm preparing to get Lasik surgery and wanted to get the full checkup. You know the ordeal - they test every single thing. In America, $60-90. here: NT$500 ($17). Oh, and I didn't need a 2 week advance appointment and wait an hour. I went day of and waited approximately 20 minutes. The winner: Taiwan

Dentist
In America, you typically need a 2-4 week advance appointment. In Taiwan, 1 day appointment. The dentist cleaned my teeth himself, after waiting for Lo-Lin to get hers done. She waited 5 minutes before seeing the dentist. The only disappointment was that the dentist did not check the condition of my fillings. I know that 2 of my fillings need repair, but he didn't bother to check. The cleaning itself was SO much better than in America. In America, they use this metal hook scraper thing to force the stuff off your teeth. In Taiwan, they use pressurized water. It is obvious which one hurts MUCH less. Alas, I paid $900 ($30) for my cleaning. The winner: split.

One last day in Taiwan and we are headed to Hong Kong.

In other news, we tried to go to Cosplay Cafe, but there was a 75 minute wait for lunch. Wow. The waitress was dressed in cat ears and tails, called me "Master", and politely asked me if "it was ok that we waited 75 minutes". This place is definitely for the Japanese lover in you.

Hong Kong here we come!

An updated schedule for where we are headed:

1. Hong Kong: Thurs. 7/10 through Mon. 7/14
   We are staying on Lantau Island and heading into the city proper for evening fun. I can't wait to see Jon/Dica.


2. Thailand: Mon. 7/14 through Thurs. 7/17
   The first night we are staying in Bangkok, then the next two nights in Pattaya


3. Tokyo: Fri. 7/18 through Mon. 7/21
   My only dream for this trip is to go to the 2008 July Grand Tournament for Sumo.


4. Helsinki: Mon. 7/21 through Thurs. 7/24
   I don't know much about Helsinki, but we are staying in a converted prison near the center of the city.


5. Berlin/Germany: Thurs. 7/24 through ??8/1??
   We don't have definitive plans, but it looks like we will be staying in Berlin for 2 nights when we get there and then meeting up with Shelly in Stuttgart for some wine drinking fun


6. Brussels: 8/1 through 10/1 - we have a 1 BR flat organized for these two months. rest. relaxation. seeing some friends (Frank Eye-d! and Jeff Wiant) and maybe hosting some others.

I don't think I need to say this, but we both can't sit still.

Wedding reception day!

In case you were not aware, Lo-Lin and I had three, yes three, wedding receptions. We got married at the Denver County Recorder's Office and had events in Denver (Colorado), Moline (Illinois), and Kaohsiung (Taiwan). The final event was held on June 29, 2008 at the Lees Hotel near Lo-Lin's parents' home. We both knew this was a more formalized event, but the ceremony of it all was pretty extravagant. Upon entering in Dress and Suit #1, we were introduced by a gentleman that Lo-Lin's father knew. He spoke English, but I understand his Chinese better. ;) After the introductions, cake ceremony, champagne pouring, we finally got to sit and have a little bit to eat before we were rushed off to change into Dress and Suit #2. After changing, we came back down and were re-introduced - followed by going to every table and saying hello to everyone - all 250+ people. Immediately upon completion, we got to eat a little bit of food and then had to hand out chocolates to everyone..and boom. done.

The whole process was 2 hours: noon to 2 PM. No alcohol (ok, a bit of wine), and very little stress. We just wandered around. I was disappointed that I didn't get to eat a lot of the food BUT!!!! I got to have my thousand year old scallops and black chicken soup (the chicken is black meated; not just dark meat).

On to the pictures!

Catch up - Picture Post

As many couples understand, having two cameras and aggregating the pictures is difficult at times. I primarily post blog and flickr stuff, so it should be easy - except when we take tons of pictures. So, first and foremost, I have added pictures to two Flickr sets:

Our trip to Kenting

and

Aaron and Sarah's Last Day here at Kaohsiung harbor

Next up, when Sarah and Aaron arrived in Taipei, Lo-Lin and I met up with them. Sarah was gracious enough to help us out with the hotel room at the Sheraton (be happy check in!) and we went to the zoo (tremendous fun).



More to come soon...with a real content post soon.

EU Visa action!

A Taiwanese citizen has to go through a lot to travel. Lo-Lin finally got her visa for the EU.

Kenting Vacation!

One of the parts I was most excited about during the entire honeymoon was the trip to Kenting. Ever since our two day, one night visit last year, I have been infatuated with Kenting. It is a beautiful place and very few foreigners are there. Basically, Kenting is a vacation spot for Taiwanese and it is absolutely beautiful.

So, Monday morning after my parents, Aaron and Sarah all arrived, we rented a van and went to Kenting. We got on the road later than expected, but we had to stop at Carrefour supermarket (imagine Wal-Mart). Bought a lot of food and then finally headed out. The drive down to Kenting is primarily small highways, but no interstate, so it took forever.

Lo-Lin had rented a 4 bedroom house for the group of us...a few minutes from the south beach of Kenting. The house was stunningly nice and well maintained, as well as Western in many respects. We paid ~$800 for 4 nights for the entire house. Very reasonable too.

The whole trip consisted of eating, drinking, hot, hot, and more hot, beaches, not swimming, getting yelled at for swimming, and then some swimming. The rest, you can see in pictures:

Wedding photos

First, I must explain the difference of Taiwanese/Chinese wedding photos and American wedding photos. In America, typically a photographer shoots day-of photos in the wedding attire with the entire bridal party and it is a relatively quick process. In Taiwan, one must endure a day full of agony and have, well - crazy photos taken.

The Friday before our Taiwan reception (3rd of 3 wedding receptions), I was informed that we would be taking wedding photos and it would last "all day". Mike, in his business-mindset, thinks - ok. 9-5. not too bad. The whole process won't be bad. We head over at 9 AM and the make up starts. Yep, make-up. A whole lot of it. Not just for her, but for me too. We get into our. *stop* let's reverse this.

The Wednesday before our Taiwan reception. Lo-Lin informs me that we must go to "pick out wedding dresses". I know that Taiwan is different, so she, her mom, and myself go to France Taipei Bridal near her parents' home. A lot of talking, they are excited to have a white man in there (always too funny), and after 2 cups of really sweet cold black tea - we head upstairs to look at dresses. Dresses. Wow. Lots. After trying on about 15-20 of them - we have our selection: 5 dresses for the pictures. 2 dresses for the reception (1 of them was for both). 2 hours eliminated from my Wed. evening.

So, back to the chaos of Friday. So, we got into our clothes. I had a suit with many different shirts. Then, we start the photos. My Chinese is poor at best. Turn head left...tilt down....chin up...this goes on for 2 hours until lunch. They bring us some basic food and we change. More pictures. More pictures. More pictures. Then at 4, we have a snack. Then, we leave! Park. OMG. 90+ degrees and 90+% humidity. Then, somewhere in between and then the ocean! By this time, I'm pretty grumpy, but happy to be almost done. We get back, have dinner and I'm thinking - time to go home. WRONG!!!!!!!

Seriously, 9 hours of stuff and I was done. We waited almost an hour and then, we really had to do stuff. From the 200 photos they took, we had to pare it down to 30. and then choose some special things. It was 7:30 PM and her parents and sister-in law came to help. We chose the special ones and still had to narrow down from 140 to 30 pictures overall. Lo-Lin felt my grumpiness and told me to go home. Thankfully. She and her mom dealt with the remaining madness and she got home about 1:30 AM.

9 AM to 10 PM - I was there. 9 AM to 1:30 AM - Lo-Lin was there. wow.

Well, here are the results (btw - there are two types: photoshopped groups and individual photos):