we heart taipei

eric and i had never planned it. we never said, "we should travel". it just happens. we both think it's important to get out. we both like it, regardless of its inconvenience. and even with kids, we don't really think too much about it. in fact, i don't think we thought of travelling with kids as a "hassle" - we just change our expectations a little. we were never one of those who have to see all the sights in one visit. lasseiz-faire describes our attitude and approach aptly. we like to just "live" in the city we are visiting. so when our friends asked us what we did in our trips, our answers, almost always, sounded mundane.

i think it's becoming a ritual - at the end of the year, we crave cold weather. what we can't get, we travel by plane to. so, we bundled our brood and off we went to taipei, taiwan. we stayed at this fantabulous hotel - far eastern hotel - and received 5-star treatment. all this, despite the fact that guests came and went in haute fashion, while eric and i were pushing the stroller laden with takeouts from a nearby foodcourt, clad in our H&M/Forever21/Gap/no-brand outfits.

the kids were like celebrities in taipei. people stopped to say "hi" to them. Once, someone even asked to take a picture and posed next to Alex. “好可爱哦!" (so cute!) we hear this a lot and my heart will swell up like a helium balloon with no strings unattached. yeah, we got a lot of love from the very pleasant taiwanese. civility rules the day and we just love the city.

as for the cold weather - it was superb. but heck, we forgot what a hassle it is to dress up to go out. just dressing the kids in layers took us one hour to get ready. yep, i've said it. hassle.












she loved her mini-spa. because....


there was a tv next to her bathtub!




"don't mess with me" at eslite bookshop near taipei 101




at ximending... street food= potato croquettes


thrilled to be so near a whatisthis?digger?crane?


all bundled up with mommy = excited bebe


a rare family shot


someone's obsessed with mommy






to eric, Harlem Yu is probably the most famous taiwanese.



loving his mcqueen sweater