4th Day in Taipei

After breakfast and check out at hotel, we dropped kids at Kuwabara family's apartment for play date. We, adults, went on to 艋舺龍山寺 (Lungshan Temple), paid our visit to many gods there, had some ice tea, watching senior people hanging out in the area.

Then 華山1914文化創意園区 (Huashan 1914) to check out art stuff.

After picking up kids, we headed to 梁記嘉義雞肉飯 for chicken rice for lunch. It was packed with locals, and we made our order to go in bento, and had lunch at a park nearby. It was delicious, making us wanting to come back again.

Fun time flies fast, it was time to say good by to Kuwabara family. It was wonderful meeting up with all of them, and definitely we'll be back!

Photos here.

3rd Day in Taipei

We headed to 高三孝碳烤吐司 for breakfast of melon bread sandwich papa saw on magazine. Took MRT subway and it was behind 南門市場 (Nanmen Market). Crowded, off course, only Chinese menu available, off course, though the guy spoke some English so we managed to order what we wanted. Papa was happy with the melon bread sandwich, and their coffee was great! Check off on the list of things to do in Taiwan!

Checked out 南門市場 (Nanmen Market), and we took MRT again to 臺北兒童新樂園 (Taipei Children's Amusement Park) to meet with Kuwabara family. Kids went crazy, took all kinds or rides there, younger ones' couldn't ride some because they were not tall enough, though, with EazyPass on hands for paying for ride, we let them go freely.

Then we went to a next stop, where my kids saw huge slides and wanted to go. 花博公園 (Taipei Expo Park) was this and Farmer's Market was there that weekend. Kids kept going up and down the slides, rented mini cars and drove around for good 3 hours or so.

Parents got tired and it was getting colder, we started walking to a restaurant, 欣葉 (SHIN YEH) which serves Taiwanese dishes. It was very crowded, and we could see how popular this restaurant was. Kids inhaled the first plate immediately, and the rest of the foods were amazing! Highly recommended.

We walked back to the hotel, had a short park time after checking out a night market nearby. Thank you very much Kuwabara family again! 

Photos here.

Videos:
宇宙迴旋(輻射飛椅) Rotating swing
This car plays music
Mo giving ride to Ton

2nd Day in Taipei

After breakfast, we bought our EazyCard at Family Mart, went to MRT subway station and charged those cards. It was easy as the machine had both Japanese and English screens. First stop was Taipei 101, which is the tallest building in the world. Mo and papa went to the observatory, Ton and I stayed on the ground, wondering around the supermarket. Had lunch at food court. Oh you have to be very aggressive to get a table.... Took some walk to an open art area, but couldn't find the entrance, so gave up, went to Ice Monster for break instead. Off course there was a waiting line, mostly Japanese, but we could get in shortly. Huge shaved ice we couldn't finish. Joke is, they have shop in Tokyo, too.

We met up with a family friend for dinner at Hangzhou Xiaolong Tangbao (杭州小籠湯包). Long line outside, obviously family friendly, took your own spices, drinks, and appetizers, and there steamy dim sum arrived. 

After stuffing ourselves, we head to Ningxia night market (寧 夏夜市) by MRT. Kids played some games, hit a small park on the way back, enjoying meeting with friends again. Thank you very much Kuwabara family for hanging out with us.

Photos here.

Videos following:
Choo Choo Train in Taipei 
Mo playing game at Ningxia night market

1st Day in Taipei

Family trip in Taipei during spring break.

Started at Haneda airport, playing flight simulator and slot car, we took Hello Kitty flight to rainy Taipei. Checked in Aloft, a newly opened stylish hotel which could make some of our friends jealous. Headed to the world famous xiaolongbao restaurant, Din Tai Fung, ate like pigs! Kids loves it so much wanted to come back again for breakfast. Everybody was tired, grumpy, especially Mo, could be because of his wiggly teeth, which had been bothering him when eating. 

Photos here.

Our flight take by Kuwabara mom from their apartment

We were on that flight!

Waiting for our flight at Haneda

Slot Car Racing at Haneda Airport

While boys found an entertainment while waiting for our flight.
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Ramen lunch with grumpy Mo

He was not happy because I had to take him with me all around the city to run errands.

Dodgeball with Kuwabara brothers

A family friend used to live downstairs from us, now live in Taiwan, was back in Tokyo. We happened to meet them unexpectedly and kids started playing together. What a nice surprise!

Fish taco from 440 Broadway food truck

Cheap yet awesome street food.

Boys in their hiding spot at park

They're visible from the street....

Vegan ramen at Afuri

Green tea flap for Ton

Sushi lunch with Mo

Spring flowers at Roppongi Hills

Mimosa and tulips in full bloom.

Sakura Mochi flavore popsicle

Very sakura mochi.

A pro street performer on site

One of the kids at kindergarten has a dad who is a professional street performer, and he gave his performance for kids after graduation. They know who he was so couldn't take it seriously in the beginning, though they loved his balloon. Thank you very much, Yakopa!

Graduation gift from kindergarten

Mo's Graduation at Kindergarten

Mo's graduation of kindergarten. Some moms already had watery eyes even before the ceremony opened. He'll have some of his friends going to different elementary school, and some with the same one which is right next to the kinder. Congratulations, Mo. The new adventure awaits you.

Photos here.

Very last lunch at kindergarten for Mo

"Sky Mint Marshmallow" from City Bakery

Home made marshmallow, too good she doesn't like it because it's not like the ones in package.

Latte at Dean & Deluca

Catching a breath...

Pizza dinner at Pizzeria Fantasista Due

Mo's happy with his second order of margarita.

Lunch boxes from gratitude party at kindergarten

Picked up lunch from kindergarten as we couldn't join the party to thank teachers and staff at kindergarten, as Mo got type B flue. Good lunch!

Amazake jelee

Soooo good! Can order online from here.

Tiramisu Hero from Singapore

Tiramisu called "Momma Hero" and "Lemon Hero" from Tiramisu Hero.
Originally from Singapore, now they have factory in Japan.

CooKie Sunday Kids workshop at Just Another Space

Saka, one of the teachers at their preschool invited Ton & Mo to join this workshop, and we made it. The most of other kids were younger than them but they enjoyed the class, and table tennis afterwords. Than kyou Saka!

Photos here.

Cookie recipe:
Maple Syrup Cookie
Whole wheat flour 140g
Almond Powder 60g
Coconut Oil /Walnut oil 65ml
Maple Syrup 65ml
1. Beat the oil and maple syrup together in a bowl untill it changes into milky colour
2. Mix flour and almond powder in another bowl.
3. Mix 1 and 2 together.
4. Divide the dough into 16, make small balls and lightly push each ball to make flat circle cookies.
5. Bake in pre-heated oven for 15 min at 180 degrees!

Nrunch at Tavern, Nakameguro

Tried a new brunch place, 2 stops away by subway. They have bread buffet which you can enjoy fresh and variety of bread in small sizes, which kids enjoyed so much they couldn't finish their own meal.

Photos here.

Shichirin stove class at elementary school

As part of social study, Ton's class had an open class of using SHICHITRIN stove, a charcoal stove, from setting fire using match. We too Mo with, and he was busy taking photos of the event, and joining mochi grilling part, too.

Photos here.

Random Ton's stuff from school

 "Living creature duty group". Ton is in charge of taking care of Betta, fish they have in the class.

Ton’s calligraphy of “light”.

"Beef Dojo" bento

 Yummy beef bento lunch from Yonezawa, Akita Pref.

Look, I made a face!