words from a haughty penguin
We sat at ORD for 3 hrs in the plane at the tarmac.
After a Hella long ways back. I think that was over 24 hrs with delays and layovers. Finally made it back to Columbus!
Due to ground traffic. It took forever to get to the dicing stage. By the time we were done the icing they already used 2,000 lb of fuel. They had to refuel so they took another hour. But alas we’re home
Left Tamsui at 700am to the airport (6pm ohio time on monday)
Landed CMH 327am.
Going to sleep.
6am: original plan was to leave at 6am to avoid the traffic. We’ll that didn’t happen.
730am: traffic…
The scooters get to inch up at stop lights. The scooters are like flies everywhere. Driving a car here would be so stressful. You have to co standby watch out for scooters zipping past.
So we checked in. Went through security. They stopped Vivienne for a second and asked her didn’t she already scan the ticket? Didnt know what that was about until we sat down at the lounge. Appare5the united Desk checked us all in but Juju. They printed vivi boarding passes 2x. (One for juju) somehow juliette made it through the security check point. This seems like a major security risk.
Well luckily we caught this otherwise they were in process of giving juju seat away.
1150am flight was delayed. Now in process of take off.
730am PST landed at SFO and now at customs.
Went to the AMEX Centurion lounge at SFO. It’s at a temp location while the usual terminal is undergoing reno. It was packed and super loud. Guy at the bar is talking very loud and yelling profanities. Kids next to us are doing the 2-5 year old scream cry whine.
Food was good but we had to go somewhere else. Checked out the Canada Air Maple Leaf Lounge at SFO (Gold Alliance partner). That’s pretty nice.
After a long layover we made it to ORD. Short connection time we ran to the gate. Now the flight is delayed. Yay. Tired.
honoring the ancestors
7am: off to Taipei. We are heading the my grandfather’s resting site which is in these mountains, and a little far. The most difficult part of this venture is getting up the small winding road up the mountain. For those that know me, I was that motion-sick kids on the bus.
YS and I opted to take the train/rail down 1.) reduce me getting sick with my dad driving, and 2.) his RAV4 can only fit 5 people.
Riding the MRT can get packed but we figured out a great hack to get seats!
807am are we there yet…still have 50 min
The girls are in the car with the grandparents.
So Taiwan cemeteries are usually on top of mountains.
… hillsides were historically less valuable for farming but offered good drainage and spiritual significance, with mountain slopes providing ample space and auspicious placement for tombs…
-Google Gemeni
Often there is a lot of shrubbery that can over grow. It requires a lot of upkeep. On top of that the stairways up are very treacherous.
The path.
Checking out Ximending before we get packing. One of my favorite places in Taipei to go. Lots of food and stores/nightlife.
I posted about this before but they have air raid shelters everywhere. Apparently the MRT subway station is a commons one.
We made a stop at Ximending. Very popular spot especially for the younger crowd. Apparently they film a lot of the Taiwan Dramas here too. Definitely a spot to check out if you are in Taipei.
Semi Live Blog
12/18/2025 520am it begins
Vivi and Juju were in Taiwan already this summer, but we all didn’t get to go. We opted to do a winter trip to avoid the excess heat and humidity.
My first winter in Taiwan was a slap in the face. I remember wandering around looking at the shops stocked with heavy winter clothes, and locals wearing jackets. It was still hot! At that time I’ve only been in Taiwan during the summer. I was wondering what the deal was. Maybe it was just a way to participate in what “winter” is like. Well I was putzing around in a t-shirt and shorts one day. Day started out nice and warm but the temp precipitously dropped. Who knew it got cold in Taiwan. Ill be ready this time!
On another note, we recently ventured in to the travel phase of our lives. Everytime we would walk pass those snazzy cubicle seats in the United Polaris 1st/business class, or the United Polaris Lounges, I always lamented. Thinking never for me:-(
We then discovered having those premium credit cards/co-branded cards can get you perks to make traveling much more comfortable.
A great place to learn to “hack travel” is at ThePointsguy.com
We currently have the Chase United Club Card, (ill save that for another post) that gets us in the the United Lounges. Definitely a plus to have during layovers instead of sitting on the ground or standing at a crowded gate.
So apparently the current US administration announced they will sell Taiwan. $11.1 billion dollars worth of arms.
https://www.threads.com/@globeviewnews/post/DSY5LXNE8LF?xmt=AQF0JW2fJtTt8pupj6t4oQ4aCEwjP1slcwo6sozhHxVdLviiyy3q6F_bULnR8tjE3JlA6-8Y&slof=1
There may be a chance the CCP will take over Taiwan while we are there. I wonder if that means I won’t be able to get back:(
Back to the topic, if you are at SFO, United Lounges at F terminal is better than G. Bigger and hot food.
Overall a little dated.
Bathrooms are nice and private
As the fam goes get food, this little Asian boy plops right down in vivi’s seat. He stares at me. I stare at him. I figure he’d relize I’m not with his group/family and he would run off. After about a minute he runs off when his mom calls him over. I guess maybe he thinks all Asians do look alike?
Polaris Lounge. One day I will be admitted…
12/18/25 155p pacific time. And we are off.
And we are here. After >24 hr total time traveling.
So my paternal grandmother is the last grandparent I have. I believe she turned 104 this year. Her health has been declining for the past few years, but my Uncle and especially Aunts have been taking amazing care of her. Despite having active gangrene in her foot feet for the past 3 months, she is still kicking (figuratively obviously). The surgeons deemed her too high risk for amputation, and I wouldn’t wish her to go through that painful process anyway. I believe she is currently under palliative care. Maybe hospice. Wasn’t my decision to make either way. I’m glad to have this opportunity to fly out to see her.
Currently I await the flight out. I don’t often fly solo. I like having a travel companion.
The above picture was when Vivi and I went out for my maternal Grandmother a funeral in Phoenix. Though it was sad reason we had to travel, it was memorable traveling with just me and Viv. I definitely do NOT miss the amount of crap we had to take (car seats, extra clothes in case of emergencies).
I didn’t take a picture of the massive line at the security checkpoint, but I can say getting TSA Precheck is worth it! The regular line was all the way out to the checkin counter (@CMH).
I’ve ben chillin (that’s for clement) on the plane for 3 hrs or so now. One of the things I do enjoy is access to the movies.
So my grandmother is fairly remarkable. Aside from the fact she is 104 (I may have some of the details wrong about these stories), but she grew up in a small town in China. She fled to Taiwan with my grandfather and her 2 children my big aunt and my dad) during the Japanese occupation. My grandfather was a law professor, so they woukd have been targeted. In Taiwan she raised a total of four children, and eventually immigrated to the US, where she primarily lived in San Jose, Ca. She would take turns staying with each family member in the states.
Oh, landed!
I’ll update this as the travel continues.
Semi live blog:
It has been 13 years since MommyMd and I went to Taiwan. Vivi was fortunate to go back with Nainai right after her 4th birthday.
5/2016 vivi’s first trip to taiwan
Now 13 years later with a Juju, we venture back to the humid hot island of Taiwan.
6/2018 family trip, Vivi’s second adventure
Waiting for the plane
Up at 3 am finishing packing. Vivi and Juju we’re a little difficult to rouse but the excitement set in and we were off to the airport.
First let me tell you TSA Precheck is amazing. First time using.
There was a super long line to get through security, and no line at the PRE check. If you don’t have Precheck, get it!
6am: Now that we got here super early, we got 2 hrs to wait.
Might as well explore
Exploring concourse B @CMH: family bathroom
731am:
Things are getting silly now: “I’m queen of the world!” ~Juju
8:13am
8:20am local Chicago time (9:20 in Ohio)
Excited to be enroute to the next flight.
Going through that lighted path at ORD
I used to love running through here
Enjoying the United club. If you happen to have an extended layover anywhere, access to the United Club is very nice.
9:37am Chicago time: on the plane, let’s go to SFO
Sisters
1215pm (315pm ohio) touchdown to SFO.
Short layover then on the Long haul.
And after a 1hr delay
225p:Ready to board
So grandma got upgraded to a better seat so it left a gap in our eating. Somehow I got screwed with a center seat between strangers. Yay.
12hrs + of fun
They look like they are having fun
Must be nice
Complimentary treats with the international flights.
So I caved and purchased the inflight internet. I can only watch so many movies nonstop.
Finished Geostorm, Justice League, 12 Soldiers, now watching Downsizing.
Very hard to sleep and not end up leaning on your neigbor.
The girls are splayed out and are out.
I’m not even sure what time it is. I thinks it’s 1018p Ohio time. Still 9 hrs left.
6.5 hrs left. Just finished I, Tonya and now Hostiles
Done with jumanji. Less than 2 hrs left
Less than 1 hr left.