Marlese

It took us awhile this morning to "get out of Dodge" as they say... between finishing packing and loading the car, the garbage, greenery, and recycling pick-ups, a tree trimming crew next door, the phone, and all of the last minute details, we didn't leave until noon. Our first stop was lunch in Westwood (near UCLA). We found this great place - the Panini Cafe just off Wilshire Blvd. What an amazing lunch! I had the salmon and brie panini, Debbie ate a Falafel wrap, and Mel had Buffalo mozarrela with sundried tomatoes on 9 grain bread with the best coucous he's ever tasted. Check out the picture of my sandwich. Even the service was first class (Miguel was our waiter). There once was a Panini Cafe in La Jolla, but it did not have enough ... read more

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day - halfway around the world The weather is beautiful, no rain, no humidity. Doesn’t seem much like Christmas here in Taiwan, but what does one expect in a Buddhist country? Christmas Eve we set out by ferry for Cinjin, a long narrow island that forms a natural breakwater to protect Kaohsiung harbor. This small island has a 300 year told temple devoted to Matsu, Goddess of the Sea, the Cihou Lighthouse, the Cihou Fort, a seaside park, and a wind powered park at the end of the island. The Temple to the Goddess of the Sea was built on the spot where fishermen sought refuge from a typhoon in 1673. The British built the lighthouse on the island in 1883 to guide mariners around Kaohsiung harbor. It operated for more than ... read more

Sunday, December 19th and Monday, December 20th Taipei We were awakened before 6 am this morning as runners were getting ready to start a marathon outside our hotel. The festivities went on all morning getting us off for an early start to the day. We’re using public transportation (MRT subway) and our feet these days which means long walks (5 to 10 miles each day). The subway system is terrific in both Taipei and in Kaohsiung. Today we took it to the National Palace Museum in Taipei. The National Palace Museum houses the most impressive collection of Chinese art and treasures, some if it dating back five thousand years. When Chiang Kai-shek retreated from mainland China in 1949, he had treasures owned by China’s former emperors taken from the Forbidden City in Beijing crated and shipped ... read more

Thursday, December 16th - Friday, December 17th Phnom Penh, Cambodia to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam, to Taipei, Taiwan Three countries in 24 hours…We left Phnom Penh to overnight in Saigon at a hotel near the airport. Not being one to stay holed-up in a hotel room, we ventured out into the neighborhood. The best find was getting my nails polished for 50 cents in a Vietnamese hair and nail shop located off the beaten road. No I did not let the nail technician trim my cuticles - just polish…such a deal. Leaving Vietnam for Taiwan we also left all of the great breads and pastries behind. They say the French left 4 things behind in Vietnam: great bread, good coffee (Arabica), beautiful colonial architecture, and the French language. However, we were gaining Alexa once ... read more

Tuesday, December 14th We saw a lot of poverty in Siem Reap, but nothing to compare with what we saw when we visited Tonle Sap Lake, the fishing villages, and the nearby farms. People in this area do not even have clean drinking water. Some charitable organizations have started drilling wells that the locals hand pump to get clean water. Only 25% of people have electricity - most generate it off old car batteries that they periodically take to a “recharging station.” Plastic bags were introduced to this area in 1993 and are given out for free. These bags have created a major pollution problem as people throw them on the ground all around their houses. The houses are built on stilts to accommodate rising waters in the rainy season. People view anything not within their ... read more