This is new. I was wondering why it was more expensive and why it seemed easier to pedal than before. There is an electric assist motor. This makes traveling around much less tiring. I do feel bad taking a bike from a potential kid who needs to get to school, but if they are leaving this late I don’t think it will matter that much.
Got a workout in and now off to Costco. My dad’s rav4 only fits 5, so I took the bus. They were actually trailing for a while. We use the Life360 app which allows us to track each other.
Life 360 trackingThey caught up
Well I missed my stop and they passed me. Time to back track my way to Costco.
Their menu seems better, but they still got the hot dog and drink!Year of the fire horse. I would buy this but dont want to carry it back. They offer alcohol tasting. This was very good. I know who to get this for. After conversion the chicken here is a little more expensive.
Vivi and i went to explore some more around the area looking for stationary stores.
Opted to go to a different gym. A little rainy but not that cold. Who need those winter jackets?!
Warm up run to the gym
The best place to work out as a sports complex here. Unfortunately, the sports complex is currently closed for remodeling.
New Taipei Tamsui Civil Sports Center – under remodel as of 12/22/25
If you are in Tamsui temporarily, I highly suggest checking out Flow Fitness they charge by the minute (starting 1/1/26 it will be 1.5nt/min). You have to deposit a minimum of 500nt and is valid for 6 months.
They have 2 levels: 1st level has cardio equipment and a cable tower/machine. Second floor has 2 squat racks, smith machine, cable tower, barbells and some general machines.
Best thing is they open at 7am daily.
Flow Fitness – Second Level
Ok so it got really cold. The rain and wind made it kind of crappy. Though i brought a jacket to taiwan, i did not take it with me to the gym. Ended up breaking down and bought a winter jacket.
Yah it can get cold in Taiwan
1000 am – wandering around looking to get some official signature stamps
Signature stamps -hand made
2:00 pm getting my Health Exam in Taiwan
It’s a very surreal experience. Though my experience in the hospital from the patient perspective is limited, the process in the Taiwan Hospital (at least MakKay) was really streamlined. Not only that the costs here are ridiculously cheap.
MMR vaccine. Will let you know if I get autism. Safety net in the stairwells:?Do they do this anywhere else?
7pm out to Syntrend/Guanhua Digital Plaza. They have all the tech stuff here.
Started the day off by the Tamsui Mainstation, boardwalk area. Got some fried cuttlefish and other goodies.
I have to say coming to Taiwan in the winter is soooooo much more comfortable than the sweltering 80-90degrees with 100% humidity.
We took the morning to finto the post office. Apparently Post offices in Taiwan offer banking as well as life insurance services. .
Taiwan Post Office
We then went to check out the waterfront and TamSui main station area.
Tamsui Main-station and old street
We usually come to Taiwan in the summer. Where there its 90degF at 100% humidity. It’s pretty killer. The first time I came in the winter years ago I scoffed at all the people wearing winter coats. Granted it was cooler than usual but still in 70s. I was putzing around in a T-shirt and shorts laughing to my self. Then later in the day the temp precipitously dropped to probably 50s. A smart person would probably check the weather routinely. That is apparently not me. Suffice to say I was cold.
Well, back here in the winter, and again. It’s cool in the 70s. I’m thinking again, look at these people wearing puffers. hah. How are they not hot…
Winter jackets in Taiwan Contact lenses are OTC here?
Trying to find our way back we came across the watermelon stand!
Watermelon Juice Store
Found this place last summer while wandering around Tamsui. Came back just for this! Highly recommend. It may be seasonal but last time they had fresh cut watermelon as well.
I took an opportunity to go check out the local gyms.
Went to New One Fitness. Didn’t have much luck. I had contacted them before and they apparently do have a one drop in cost. I went to check them out but there was no one at the front desk. I messaged them through Facebook. They did get back to me shortly and suggested I schedule an appointment as the trainers/staff are fairly busy. I took a walk around and could see inside. Most people were on their phone and just laying there. (Much like back home in the US).
On the way to ORD. Slumming it in first (we got upgraded) of course its the shortest leg of the trip.
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.
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.
1130 am Pacific Time @SFO awaiting departure for Taiwan.The complementary beverages are a bonus too.
So apparently the current US administration announced they will sell Taiwan. $11.1 billion dollars worth of arms.
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
United Lounge F terminal pooper
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…
Polaris: I’ve always wanted to get my own little cubby tp lay flat for a 14 hr trip to Taiwan. Alas no credit card or status would get us there this year. (I suppose we could have paid $10k plus a seat)Premium Economy – not too bad either. Its not Polaris but it will get us there
12/18/25 155p pacific time. And we are off.
433 p pacific time. (7p eastern?) 11hrs left…the flight attendant questioned vivi if I was her dad, because it seemed like a random Asian guy was taking a picture of her. 707 pm EST Almost there. 42 min left!
And we are here. After >24 hr total time traveling.
it’s been a while since i posted anything. I actually have 2 drafts I didn’t post. One was from when I turned 40. I think I’ll keep that one private for now. eitherway, sometimes I ask myself “what’s the point of this blog”. Other than entertaining my one follower, I also find it amusing Juju’s friends have come across this page and read some of my posts. the advent of AI I wonder if I’m able to use AI to make post for me. The picture above is generated with an AI program. I don’t remember which one. I asked her to make a picture of a dragon penguin that I came up with.
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.
Pre flight covid testOne of my fav travel buddies
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.
Not much here. It’s sad not traveling with Vivi and Juju as planned. Though inevitably a crapfest, I was looking forward to it. I had packed a whole roll on bag of snacks. Once I found out about my passport snafu, that obviously was not going to work.Luckily, the girls got to each pack their own. Roller carry on. We upgraded them to these nicer ones (real luggage vs the plush bear backpack).
Bears vsLooking back at last year’s trip definitely leaves a sense of melancholy.With the fam 20182019 “all by myself” -Celion DionWell currently I’m in Houston, awaiting to disembark to SFO. From there will be the long haul to the Formosa/China Taiwan/ROC/Taiwan.Made it to the SFO Unite club lounge. Complementary beer and snacks. Should not have had that beer.Now for the 14 hr flight to Taiwan.Fast forward 14 hrs and the eagle penguin has landed.Awaiting customs.Waiting for the checked bags is always the worst.Finally got it!
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Looking back at 
Made it to the SFO Unite club lounge. Complementary beer and snacks. Should not have had that beer.Now for the 14 hr flight to Taiwan.Fast forward 14 hrs and the 
Awaiting customs.
Waiting for the checked bags is always the worst.
Finally got it!