All in a day

Taiwan-We Love Cookies

     TJ is a cookie maker. He started out as a teacher, an English teacher here in Taiwan.  Now... he makes cookies. Tonight, however he is returning to teaching, but he won't be teaching English.  TJ teaching the art of cookie making to some local university students and  he will be speaking a lot of Chinese.  TJ is teaching these students how to make ginger bread men. A native born American, TJ has been living as an expat in Taiwan for more than five years. Listening to him speak Chinese is nothing less than impressive.  More than six feet tall and a slender build he is a very friendly host to all of his customer.  He kind of reminds me of one of the guys from The Big Bang Theory, totally cool but a Star Wars enthusiast (it's the Star Wars T-shirt and his welcome sign, "Come to the dark side, we have cookies" that hangs just in view as you commit to your choice of pastry.  
      I first met TJ after I'd enjoyed lunch at his neighbor's  Sabbabah Cafe'.  They share an adjoining wall so it was virtually impossible not to smell that sweet familiarity of home baked cookies amongst the smell of noodles and stinky tofu as I walked by.  The smell of home rose in the air and I was voluntarily drawn to his cookies.  To my delight it was the end of the day and he sent me home with all of the left overs I could carry.  And tonight,  I am back to take plenty of photos and tell all of Taipei about the wonderful cookies here at We Love Cookies.  I don't have to do a lot of work though. We love Cookies has been drumming up business for years and people from near and far have heard about the cookie guy.  His cookies are tasty and all made freshly by hand every day. 

To learn more about We Love Cookies visit  http://www.facebook.com/pages/We-Love-Cookies/225894720786686

Live Painting - I took a moment to watch.

     There are always a vast number of things to do in the city of Taipei. Having lived here for a little over a year I have grown to appreciate the sounds, excitement and the hurried movement of people.  When living in Taipei be ready for anything, because around each corner and at every turn down an unfamiliar street you are likely to stumble upon something that wasn't there before or something you missed.    Today as I walked down Dunhua S. road I decided to visit the Eslite bookstore.  I was very surprised to see live artwork in progress. I watched and recorded as a beautiful painting came to life.  I enjoy the tiny little surprises like this that Taipei has to offer. 

Day Two - Island hopping and enjoying the beautiful beaches of Phang Nga

Wow! what a beautiful site.  Our second day in Thailand began early and with overwhelming and anticipation and excitement.  We were going to the Islands Yaaaaaaaay!  Back packs readied with suntan lotion, Coa-coa butter, towels and plenty of water we piled into the waiting van marked Island tours.  From there we were ushered onto a boat and headed out into the beautiful green waters.  As a first timer it was exciting to to feel the sway of the boat and hear the splash of the waves as they crashed against bottom and sprayed up onto the deck.  I had the perfect spot at the front of the neck and near the edge, thank god I took my motion sickness pills.  All ready to tan I sat back and let the warmth of the sun relax me while I listened to the sweet sounds of Nora Jones from I IPhone.  I was in heaven.  Once we got closer to our destination  a single protruding formation covered in green beauty came into view. It was a welcome taste of what was to come. Boats that looked like larger canoes with colorful cloths tied to them were waiting to ferry us onto the beach.   Just around the bend it was breath taking, Lined with colorful boats and dense island greenery in the background. I couldn't wait to step off the ferry and into the water.  This, was AMAZING!