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Published: December 6th 2006
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The damned roosters weren’t the only creatures up early this morning. Miles got up this morning with one thing on his mind….taking Jake (w.’s pup) for a scooter ride. The fun of this is that taking Jake out requires tying him to the back of the scooter on a lead and driving the scooter up the mountain with pup trailing behind. Miles of course thinks this is the most fun thing ever! He loves the scooter and will do anything to get a chance to ride it.
Marrin also loves the scooter, but as she is developing a bit of a crush on Wayne, she waits until it is time to pick up Wayne from school and goes on the scooter with w. to collect him after hours. Ahhh, so cute. He is such a handsome boy.
After the scooter ride I tried my hand at getting the kids to settle into some schoolwork (deciding it was high time that the routine of schooling was in place again before the idea of lounging is the only idea in their little heads.) Well….that resulted in Mile’s first all out fit this trip. Marrin managed to finish four pages of her workbook in record time but Miles…ahh Miles. Only the threat of losing a scooter ride tomorrow got him into gear. You know that boy can actually read eh?
Hmmm amazing the little things you learn when you have time to play with your children…
After some study time and the scooter ride we headed into the city for some shopping-sightseeing time. W. took us to Takashimaya, a funky mall with a giant fish tank on the main floor that the kids spent time identifying “Dorry’s family” (from Finding Nemo fame. It was actually a pretty neat tank and full of amazing fish. I promised the kids we would go snorkeling in Thailand and that means a trip to Patong beach for an overnight trip and the islands….ooohooo such a treat. It’s a shame that Wayne is at school during the day as he is such a sweet boy.
Wayne is amazing really, he has a gentle sense of humor that infiltrates all his interactions and he is an absolute riot to watch when he plays with the kids. Of the troop of four we have in the house right now, he is the older brother or Geuh-Geuh. He seems to take this role pretty seriously and keeps trying out his few English words on the kids at every opportunity. Coming into the room you may be greeted with a “good-morning” even if it is evening…or as you turn the corner a “goodbye!” might be thrown at you as he grins…though I think he knows the difference and finds it slightly amusing to mix them up a bit.
As we left the fish tank to head on to other expolorations, Miles’ familiar “I’m hungry!” echoed through the mall….followed by five or six more times in the same breath just to be sure we all heard him. Unfortunately the closest place was McDee’s…yeah I know…..culture and all that and really, McDonalds isn’t a good option. I have to say though, it was amusing to see the kids try Asian McDee’s. Check out Miles face at the first bite of chicken nuggests made from …..WHAT?! kind of meat? (I couldn’t resist a tease…it isn’t really monkey meat! LOL! He remains unconvinced.
From luch we were off to Taipei 101..tallest building in the world...blah blah….the place gives me the creeps. What is this need humans have to grow upwards…I can’t even look at the building at more than a 30 degree angle upwards. The kids thought it was great fun and Miles even found the water fountain at the base.
As I have been there before I wasn’t nearly as amused by the building or its contents but we did manage to find a nice cup of coffee, until Bom Bom Bom wait for it…..AGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH we were attacked by a flock of uniform wearing, braces grinning, pigtail bedecked school girls!!!! Boy did they come on strong. One of the “pack” or “flock” of girls approached us very politely as the kids, w. and I were in line for coffee. “Can I take picture with children?” Ya, sure I say….thinnking it kinda cute that my round-eye babies were adorable enough to draw attention in a big mall.
OK….you know those signs in the zoo that tell you not to feed the animals…well, a forewarning to anyone traveling over here with kids; do not allow the school-children to whip out their digital cameras and cluck at your children. It begins with one and before you know it they swarm….there were uniforms coming out of everywhere, flashing cameras and peace signs everywhere. Poor Marrin and Miles thought it was neat at first…
They were cowering in the crowd by the end of it. Jeez.
W. snapped a picture as we detached ourselves from the swarm and made a beeline for the bookstore attempting to politely decline further adoration.
An interesting first impression of crowds for the kids but they really are a novelty here. Marrin’s eye color and Mile’s curls set off mass camera flashing. I talked to them about it in the car afterwards and asked them what they thought. Miles just shrugged, but Marrin said it was cool to be so popular…ummm yeah.
I was a bit freaked out but they seem way more in control of their world than I.
Page One books is a neat place and an absolute sanctuary compared to the cacophony outside. Miles found a comfy place to curl up and veg out for a bit.
Our day ended with some friendly scooters passengers at a stop light waving for Marrin as she took their picture through the window of the car.
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