台北

taipei. we were still suffering from jetlag, so we got up early for an easy run along the keelung river this morning. it was super windy, but it was a pretty peaceful place for a run. i like exploring new routes, and along this run, we actually ran past my grandma's neighborhood and around the songshan airport. there was also a route on the northern side of the river, which we'll have to try another time.

at 8am, we arrived to 奶奶's place for breakfast and she was up and dressed, and all made up! it's been a while since i've seen my 95 year old grandma in such a good mood, dressed up, and even with lipstick on :) after breakfast, my 大姑 picked us up and we drove out to 金山 to visit my grandpa's gravesite. it started pouring right after our run, and continued raining hard throughout the morning, but my grandma was determined to take us to the gravesite as it was kevin's first time to pay the visit. we fell in and out of sleep during the hour long drive, catching glimpses of the pacific ocean and the gorgeous taiwan shoreline to our right. it reminded me of driving along the 1 in oahu.

it was raining so hard and very windy when we arrived at 金山, and we had to walk four treacherous flights of stairs up the mountain to my grandpa's grave. i was very worried about my grandma, but with kevin and me by her side, and my uncle and auntie in front and back, we made it up and down with no problems. that is the last time i will let my grandma take us on a rainy day though - i regretted it immediately as we were trying to come down the mountain side.

after the tomb sweeping, we stopped by 野柳 (yeh liu) to bargain for dried seafood, and bargain we did. between my grandma, aunt, and me, we left with +20 kilos of fish floss, scallops, sakura shrimp, and various other types of dried seafood cooking products. i can't wait to put them to use!

for lunch, we dined at the taipei 101 鼎泰豐 (din tai fung), and met my close friends from tokyo days at 雞窩 (gwoo) for dinner. after being suckered into eating an obscene amount of food at breakfast and lunch, we were glad to sip on delicious chicken soup and the light-flavored dishes at dinner.

it was actually emily's last night in taiwan before her month-long australia trip, so a few of her friends came out. they were so so so funny ... after dinner, we all had drinks at a speakeasy-type bar, ounce, where PDT bartenders from nyc were mixing drinks! feels like tokyo days ...