Taiwan - Day 1...

Gotta wake up really early this morning at 530am as we needed to reach the airport by 630am to catch our flight to Taipei. It's going to be our first trip with the extended family and Lil' Angel's first on a guided tour! Lil' Angel fell asleep only after midnight which meant that she had barely FIVE hours of sleep, but she woke up bright and chirpy! I guess that she was really excited because I kept telling her that we will be taking the plane tomorrow!

Our flight to Taipei is on SQ 876. I'm so glad that it's only a short four-hour flight!

Feeling a little dazed now and wondering what's going on around her...

*Yawwwwwwnnnnn*....why are we still not boarding the plane yet?

Mommy...please get me out of the stroller...I want to do some morning exercises...

Lil' Angel was so happy to be FREED!

While everyone else was busy checking in their luggage, Lil' Angel was happily wandering around the airport...

Gasp!! Lil' Angel is 12.5kg! Must be the track shoes and heavy diapers...

Taking the skytrain to our Gate in the transit area...

Where's the choo-choo train?

Inside the skytrain...

Mama and Lil' Angel at the Gate...all ready to board the plane!

Curious Lil' Angel checking out the passengers and stewardess...

The Singapore Girl offering Lil' Angel a hot towel...

Daddy & Mommy...

Lil' Angel very happy in the bassinet...

Touching just about everything she could lay her hands on...

Cheeky, cheeky...

It was a very good flight as Lil' Angel went back to Lala land just when the plane took off. She was asleep the first half of the flight! Bliss...

Our brunch...not too bad. I was just happy that I could eat in peace...heehee...

We've arrived at Taipei Airport! Waiting for our luggage bags...

Mommy & Lil' Angel...

While Daddy was waiting for our luggage, Lil' Angel pushed her stroller around...

Yay...just the perfect TEMPERATURE...not too hot and not too cold! Noticed that I didn't say WEATHER? Cos the weather was BAD! It was gloomy and rainy...

We are all ready to tour Taiwan!

Walking to our tour bus...

Daddy helping to load our luggage onto the bus...

Our tour guide, Steven! He is one of the best guides that I have come across! Very funny, entertaining and knowledgeable! He spoke in Mandarin...so hopefully, Lil' Angel will be able to pick up some Mandarin by the end of the trip!

Our first meal in Taipei. We were quite disappointed with the food...hopefully the following meals will be better!

The super plain glass noodles which was actually the best amongst the other food...

It was buffet style and Daddy took so much chicken which I found yucky!

Happy Lil' Angel in the coach. She was THIS HAPPY throughout the entire trip! And pretty well-behaved too!

Mommy, Lil' Angel & Barney...

First sight-seeing stop...Fisherman's Wharf, the filming site of the popular Taiwan series "Meteor Garden". Nope...I didn't watch the show...it's what our itinerary says...

Hmmm....they have the mounted police here too...

Us!

We only stayed on this side of the wharf. Couldn't get across to the other side as the bridge was made up of steps and it was drizzling. Plus, we were given only half an hour to look around! This is what you call...GUIDED TOUR! They so ambitiously jam pack many, many places in a day just so that you can say you have been there...

Since we did not go across to the other side, a picture with the "other side" as the background will suffice...

Inside the market place selling some of Taiwan's famous handicrafts, snacks and food...

Stall selling cuttlefish, calamari, fishballs...

We tried the fishballs...quite yummy!

After the trip to Fisherman's Wharf, we stopped by a night market . The stalls had pretty interesting knick knacks but it was really a pity that it was raining!! Pushing a stroller through the crowded and small alleys in the horrible rain...we just didn't feel like shopping for anything...except for two pretty umbrellas to shelter us from the rain!

We were so glad that stopping by the Hotel was next on the agenda. We could change out of our wet clothes!

Our room at The Garden Hotel, Taipei...

The first thing that Lil' Angel always heads for whenever we stay in a hotel is the phone! Hmmm...I wonder who she wants to call!

Anyway, after changing out of our clothes, we went to meet the rest of the tour members for dinner. We were supposed to pop by the famous Shilin Market after dinner but we gave it a miss as it was still raining and the tub in the hotel was much more inviting! Yes...Lil' Angel & me had a good time soaking in the hot tub...ahhhhh...