(Português no fim)

We were going to talk about our 2 favourite places in one post but there were too many photos and the Huashan 1914 Creative Park deserves a post on its own. It's a great place to spend the afternoon. It has several exhibitions, pop up stores and art installations. It's a very cool place. We were there during a technology fair and ended up seeing and trying some cool things, like the 3D pens (not as easy as it looks). There are a lot of activities for kids, inflatables and a huge garden to run around. We were really lucky and there was a temporary installation of an upside down house. A lot of fun for everyone! The kids were asking all the time, how can they go to the bathroom there, how can one sleep and how to reach the food. They couldn't stop giggling. It was dinner time when we finished walking around, and a pizza restaurant right on the park was the perfect excuse to take a break from Chinese food. It was a great day, I doubt we will see something as fun as the upside down anytime soon...

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Tinhamos pensado falar dos nossos 2 sítios preferidos num só post mas tinhamos demasiadas fotografias e achamos que o Huashang 914 Creative Park justifica um post. É uma optima opção para passar uma tarde. Encontramos várias exposições, pop up stores e exibições de arte. Tudo isto num ambiente muito relaxado. Na nossa ida coincidimos com uma feira tecnológica por isso pudemos experimentar algumas coisa como canetas 3D (nao é tao fácil como parece). Existem também muito actividades para crianças, castelos e escorregas insufláveis e um jardim grande. Por sorte coincidimos com a Up Side Down House, uma exposição temporária onde, literalmente, construíram uma casa ao contrário: diversao para todos. A Teresa e o Francisco nao paravam de perguntar 'como é que se come?', 'como é que se faz xixi?' ou como dormir. Os risinhos duraram toda a visita. Acabamos o passeio já à hora do jantar e um restaurante de pizzas no parque foi a desculpa ideal para fazer uma pausa na comida chinesa. Foi um óptimo dia e duvido que encontremos alguma coisa tao divertida nos próximos tempos.

(Português no fim)

Taipei has great places to visit... We have 2 favourites, Maokong mountain is one of the 2. Kids walked km and km in the Maokong mountain without complain, thats a sign that they really enjoyed it. We took the crystal gondola, it takes longer waiting than the normal one but it was more fun to ride with the transparent floor. The kids were looking down all the time looking for monkeys in the trees (off course they didn't see any LOL). We went first to the highest point and walked around the area. There are several tea shops and restaurants with an amazing view, we stopped in one for lunch and in other for an ice cream. After lunch we took the gondola again to visit the temple, kids all time favourite. It's a big Taoism Temple located on the slopes of the mountain, the views are incredible. We spent quite a long time there with the kids running around. They didn't want to leave.

Before returning home that day we stopped on a delightful little children bookshop. Kids are welcome to take any book and read it. It's a pity that we have luggage restrictions, the illustrations of the books were so cute, it doesn't matter if the major part are in chinese. Francisco found a book and he didn't let it go, we 'had' to buy it. It's in chinese but he doesn't stop "reading" it, the book is delicious!

(Português no fim)

Once again we felt at home as soon as we arrived to Taipei; Taiwan is no doubt a friendly and easy country. Although this time we were not so lucky with the house... Later on that!

We were very curious to see what was all the fuss about with the themed restaurants. Teresinha really behaved so we started by the Helly Kitty one, needless to say that she was hysterical, screaming and running when we got there. Francisco on the other hand said he was not going to eat, that this was for girls, that he hated the place. He is in that stage that pink and dolls are for girls and he only likes blue and cars LOL. The restaurant was all pink and Hello Kitty everywhere, more tacky would be hard. It's not cheap but at least the food was simple and very good. We had some Kitty burgers and a pasta, all hello kitty shaped of course, even the carrots!

Next on the list was the Modern Toilet, the famous restaurant where you seat on toilet seats and eat "poo"! This was a funny one for the kids, at 2 and 3 years old you laugh every time you hear the word poo so can you imagine their faces when we were approaching the restaurant and they saw the giant toilet seat. The plates come either in toilet seats or bathtubs or something bathroom related and, if you pay a little extra, your drinks com in urinals. Don't expect good and cheap food because you will not find it. The food is below average for the price you pay. Kids were happy so it compensated for all the rest. It's an experience, and if you go with kids it's something that they'll remember. If it's just grown ups....maybe you should skip this one.We had on our list the Friends restaurant too, but after the first two we realised that this wasn't for us nor the kids...let's get some cheap and honest spicy rice noodles instead!

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Uma vez mais sentimo-nos em casa assim que chegámos a Taipei, Taiwan é sem duvida um país amigável e fácil. No entanto, desta vez não tivemos tanta sorte com a casa... sobre isso falaremos mais tarde.

Estávamos muito curiosos em saber o porquê de tanto entusiasmo com os restaurantes temáticos. A Teresinha portou-se mesmo bem e por isso decidimos começar pelo da Hello Kitty. Nem é preciso dizer o contente que ela estava, dava gritinhos e começou a correr assim que chegámos. O Francisco, por outro lado, disse que não ia comer nada, que aquilo era para meninas, que odiava o sítio. Está naquela fase em que cor-de-rosa e bonecas é de meninas e que só gosta de azul e de carros hahahahaha. O restaurante era todo cor-de rosa e com hello Kitty por todos os lados, mais piroso era difícil. Não é barato mas pelo menos a comida era simples e boa. Comemos uns hambúrgueres da Kitty e uma massa, tudo em forma de Hello Kitty, até a rodela de cenoura!

It's was only 2 days ago but feels like ages! Just before we had to leave Kaohsiung we were still deciding what to do, if go to Taroko National Park or to visit Sun Moon Lake. Despite being the hardest to get to we decided to go to Taroko National. The mountains and some colder temperatures were a welcomed change.

From Kaohsiung to Hulaien (the closest city) it's a simple and comfortable 6 hour train ride. Nice seats, kids go for free, on our laps! Good the legs space was huge we seated them on the floor at our feet lol!

We chose to stay at YU's Homestay Bed And Breakfast, one of the few places that is actually in Taroko  and not Hualien (30km from the park). With only 1 day to visit the park, it was the obvious choice.

A few minutes after getting there the owners took us to dinner on a near by restaurant, one that in theory had local food and was very good. Neither was true and it was on the expensive side but the restaurant owner's house 'was' the restaurant meaning is kids and toys were available for Francisco and Teresa. Priceless! We stayed outside drinking beers and a free nanny for the kids! When we got "home" rice wine shots were served and for the kids some chocolate. It was an evening well spent with the owners and the others guests. The place is great, it's like being at home among family.

The next morning we were on the road at 9AM with a guide (Peter) on our way to visit the park. We were a little scared with the trails and the 2 toddlers but since you go by car to every stop it's not so bad. We did a few trails, the ones that the little legs allowed us to and after we just gave up. We were not going to cary the kids on the shoulders for 300 steps. When we were walking around the mountains with incredible views, along the river, bellow the rocks, hearing the birds and other animal sounds we were happy with our decision. The kids were troopers and we managed to see a lot. The suspended wooden bridge was a hit! We had a bad start, Peter told us we could take the stroller and we obliged (one kid less to cary is always a plus) but we ended up carrying the stroller and the kids. It was impossible to push a stroller on that paths! lesson learnt! No more strollers unless we were absolutely sure we could use it in proper conditions (there are some trails where that is possible). It's hard to describe the park and all it's beauty, you really have to experience it! Kids were dead by the end of it but when they heard Peter talking about having a splash in the river they were very awake and full of energy again. So the day ended at the river, where the locals go, with the kids in underwear having a blast! Thank you Peter for the wonderful day!

Second day, second dinner, this time we had some company, a couple from Singapore that was staying at the hotel too and latter an indian couple joined us too. It was great fun! Kids don't count, we have "killed them" during the day, they were so tired that they felt asleep in the car and didn't woke up until we had finished diner and were back at home.

Às 9 da manha do dia seguinte já estávamos na estrada com o nosso guia para o dia (o Peter) de caminho para o parque. Estamos um bocado defensivos porque o parque tem vários trilhos para andar  com miúdos não aguentam muito mas como se vai de carro para todos os sítios não era mau. Andamos uns trilhos e outros desistimos, não íamos subir 300 degraus com os miúdos às costas! Quando estávamos a andar pelas montanhas, com vistas incríveis, ao longo do rio, debaixo de rochas, a ouvir os pássaros e outros animais ficámos com a certeza que tinhamos tomado a decisão certa. Os miúdos foram uns campeões e conseguimos ver imenso do parque. A ponte suspensa foi um sucesso! Começámos mal, o Peter disse-nos que podíamos levar o carrinho e nós obedecemos (um miúdo menos para carregar agradece-se) mas acabámos a carregar o carrinho e os dois. Era impossível empurrar o carrinho naquele "chão"! Aprendemos a lição! Nada de carrinho sem termos a certeza que dava para usar em condições (há vários trilhos onde o carrinho anda lindamente). É difícil descrever o parque e toda a sua beleza, uma pessoa tem mesmo que viver a experiência! Os miúdos acabaram mortos mas quando ouviram o Peter falar no rio e tomar banho despertaram e ficaram cheios de energia. Assim que acabaram o dia no rio, onde os locais vão, a tomar banho de cuecas. Obrigado Peter pelo dia maravilhoso!

Segundo dia, segundo jantar, desta vez tivemos a companhia de um casal de Singapura que estava no mesmo B&B e depois juntaram-se uns indianos. Foi bem divertido. Os miúdos não contam, adormeceram no carro a caminho do jantar e só acordaram quando voltamos para casa. Matámos os putos!!!