On the only Royal guard in Taiwan

Not a lonely chap...still hasn't moved though...

On strodding with the D-man

It's cool just being with my son...just strodding down the road and checking out things.

On Taichung Art Museum

We love the Art Museum in Taichung. It is one of the best places in the city. There's an extensive garden-like park around the museum full of interesting sculpture by renowned artists. I love how these are accessible to the public to interact with; Dylan loves the sculptures and often climbs over one or feels the textures on them. We set off to visit the art museum this Sunday in our new car...well old but new to us car...our little mini-minivan had to go for a few reasons, all of them due to the fact that it isn't really a family car...Any case we had a great time...We let Dylan run there and he just goes and goes and goes...whilst we try to keep up with his pace.

Above: Heather, seven years and she still takes my breath away, with Dylan at an exhibition.

One thing I find quite interestingly bizarre is what I think are photo clubs. Obviously a club or class of some sort they get together and take photographs of places and at times they seem to organize a model for a shoot. Today there was this particular group which I thought was quite amusing...everyone pushes and presses forward to get their shot without much consideration for each other while a guy shouts at the model from the back of the group and directs her. Of course... perhaps... it's a "How to be a paparazzi" class.

Above: Paparazzi in training

The art in the museum is great, exhibits change quite often and are of a fantastic quality. There was an interesting exhibit on, comparing art during the martial law period and post. Some fantastic art and artists...I was happily snapping away, while Heather was having an interesting conversation about child rearing, when I was accosted by two ladies who nearly wrestled me to the ground, saying I wasn't allowed to take any photos of the exhibit. It always astounds me that there is a photo ban on some exhibits since they're for public view. In any case I got a few photographs, before being clamped down on, which I will post later. We have a little family ritual developing whenever we visit the art museum we usually end up having waffle and ice cream...western style....and the coffee...the coffee...wow!

Above and bottom: View from the skybridge.

Below: One of my favourite sculptures.

On Dylan.

This one is about Dylan. Dylan the cool, the individual, the beautiful. I remember that for the first three months or more after his birth, i was in this love struck daze, and all i could say was how beautiful I thought he was. He has grown some now and is a cute and still beautiful toddler. Dylan is an explorer and doesn't like boundaries and restrictions to his many adventures and explorations. This is difficult because we are his parents and charged with keeping him from harm. Try explain to a 2 year old that putting your finger into the electric point isn't a good idea or that eating your toy just might cause a little more than stomach ache. With Dylan putting on some body armor before you attempt to do this might be a good idea. He is fantastic though and we love who he is. Stay tuned for more about our wonderful tod.

Above: Dylan's substance of choice - PEANUT BUTTER!!

Above: Check out the fish real close and get asked by the staff not to stand on the ledge.

Above: Climbing, climbing everywhere.

On the 'Lantern Festival' and Ciro in a zorb.

On Saturday the 10th we stumble across the lantern festival in Taichung. There were these huge blow-up piglets all over the place....it's the year of the pig. There were some fab lanterns...all piggy themed. Dylan had a good old time jogging around and we enjoyed running after him.

Above: Some of the funky pigs at the fest.

Below: Me in a zorb.