Last day without Anna

I am so tired. Ralph was bothered by the jet lag for the first two days, and I thought I had escaped it. I was up most of last night feeling ill. I'm not sick, just not right and queasy. Of course, I thought of all the weird food we ate and regretted it. The jet lag finally got me. I feel like I went on a week-long drunken binge and am now paying the price. It's strange how it's so up and down. Fine one minute and ready to fall over the next. We are both sore in places we didn't expect. We have done more walking and standing than we have realized, what I wouldn't give to have Jylian, my yoga/Pilates instructor, with me. A massage therapist also!

So far this has been like a little vacation or honeymoon. We have been so busy sight seeing we could easily forget why we are here. We have all been in a daze. Aside from the jet lag, Asian culture is so far different from what we are used to. The two (almost three) days we have had have been the best thing we have done. We have figured out at least how to say a few words in Chinese, how to negotiate the streets and how the money works. I can't imagine if we had to do all that with a new baby.

We are so fortunate to have Mr. Yeh. He has guided, and sometimes herded us, through Taiwan. He has been very generous in buying us food and drinks, carrying our purchases, helping us in and out of the car, and negotiating deals. And heaven forbid if we should have to walk further than necessary. He is very adamant that we wait while he brings the van to us. I can't imagine this trip without someone like this.

Snake Alley was interesting last night. The covered portion, which is technically Snake Alley, was overheated. It consisted of shops and restaurants, which, of course, sell dishes of snake meat and blood. We decided not to partake, but we have eaten rattlesnake tacos before. It really did taste like chicken. Outside the covered area was a street night market. It was a combination of an arcade, circus, flea market, and eating stands. The best word I could think of to describe it was tawdry. Stands selling junk next to tea next to rows of "marital devices". There are tons of people. We ate taro curls fried on a stick, kind of like potato chips. We thought we would eat dinner down there, but as adventurous as we are, things looked kind of scary. The high point was a visit to a Buddhist temple (Longshan, which I know I'm spelling wrong) with a beautiful waterfall. Even with all the commotion, it was very peaceful within the walls.

Today, we started out early. We saw the guards changing at the war memorial. Sorry, I don't have a tour book, so I can't give the specific names. It's basically similar to the tomb of the unknown soldier. Then, it was off to the Performing Arts School. We got VIP treatment and sat up front and had a guided tour of the museum. The acrobatics were amazing. I thought I was doing pretty well in yoga, but they were doing things I would never even dream of or want to actually do. Then a brief movie on Chinese opera and a tour of the museum. It ended with a half hour Chinese Opera. Very interesting. The singing was very high pitch, but not as bad as I expected. A few parts did sound like cats going at it. The orchestra had some very interesting instruments and a very annoying drum set. It sounded like a 2-year-old banging on the pots for several hours. I ended up plugging my ears most of the time.

We ate lunch at a famous dumpling or pot sticker restaurant. They are so much better than they are in the US. Side note since I mentioned the "squat pots" yesterday. I was a little afraid of the restaurant bathroom, but it had real toilet seats, with I kid you not, a control panel. It looked like it should be on the USS Enterprise. Seat warmer and probably bidet. I wanted to push all the buttons but was afraid to get squirted in the face. A woman also wiped the seats down after every use and became very irate if someone tried to go in first.

Next, it was off to the Grand Hotel, where we bought a golden pig piggy bank for Anna. For those who don't know, that is her Chinese birth symbol. Golden Pig only happens every 60-70 years and is a very fortunate sign to be born under.

Finally, it was off to the National Palace Museum. It houses an amazing amount of Asian art taken from China during the mass exodus. Only 1% of the art housed there is displayed. There were beautiful displays, but we were so tired we practically ran by them. We would have needed a full day to do it all.

I was so glad to be "back home." Tonight we are getting everything ready for Anna tomorrow. Gift bags for everyone, baby items and money for the store. I guess this is our last night to sleep without worrying about someone else. It still doesn't seem real. We will be in a daze until we meet and hold her for the first time.

We will get Anna at about 10:30 local time for those of you who are keeping track. Mr. Yeh is picking us up at 8 am, and I am very thankful we have brought travel coffee mugs. It is a 2-hour drive to Taichung. We first visit TWCA, then go to the foster home to meet Anna. After that we go to the baby store and back to TWCA. From what others have said this doesn't take all that long and you eat lunch on the way back to Taipei. I promise we will post an update with a few pictures as soon as possible. On Wednesday, when Dena gets their baby Tessa, we will borrow their laptop and try to upload more photos and videos.

We are 9 time zones away, so will get her in the middle of Monday night, I think, Pacific time. I guess about 1 am but I could be wrong. I get so confused by the changes in time zones and days. Keep us all in your thoughts and dreams tomorrow.

PS. I so love this deluxe treatment. I am in the "Guest only" hospitality suite. Free drinks and snacks all day, and now, it's happy hour with "real drinks" (wine!) and wonderful appetizers. They try to open the doors for you and clean us as soon as you finish with whatever you just ate. The service is so good I'll be spoiled when I get home.