Holiday

Yesterday was another unique holiday- It might be called the Dragon Boat Festival- I'm not sure of the english. Anyway, it's in celebration of a great poet who drowned himself (!?!?!) with boat races representing the people who raced out in boats to try and save him, and a traditional rice meal (REALLY sticky rice wrapped in big leaves with peanut, meat, muchrooms, and egg yolks) representing the rice they threw in the river to distract the fish so they wouldn't eat his body. Anyway, people had the day off, so we used the opportunity to climb monkey mountain :). It was the highlight of our trip so far for me (Preston loved the hike, Yaping was pretty ::meh:: towards the whole thing, but she went because she loves me).

Preston after his traditional noon bath (every kid is supposed to take a bath at noon on this holiday)

I thought this was funny

Another shot of the city

Grooming clear up in a tree

Grooming

I like his expression

Nursing baby monkey

Traditional play

Dragonboat heads

Dragon boats used in races throughout the week

5 little monkey sittin in a tree

baby monkey!

Little money playing on the railing

Monkey chillin' by the trail

Lots o' monkeys

Mother with baby holding on tight

Monkeys and dogs didn't get along well

Cool tree

Sleepy monkey

Yawning monkey

Preston was a hiking fool, he chose the path (the hardest one) because of the wooden walkway

Preston loves purses

Zoo

We went to the zoo today with one of my students (Bonnie) and her parents. It was great fun, up in the mountains, lots of green, it would have made a nice hike even if there weren't any animals. There's water to play in at the entrance, and so Preston and Bonnie started there. Eventually I tried to drag Preston away, he wasn't keen on the idea of leaving until he saw his first animal (a lion). He said "Dog" (in chinese) and then growled, and there was no turning back. He marched from animal to animal, unwilling to stop for food or drink. It was great fun. Tiring, but great fun.

Kaohsiung

Random temple with neon lights and big advertising sign (advert for incense), thought that was interesting

Preston hypnotized by an arcade drumming game

The Zoo

Preston watching monkeys

Monkey playing with it's tongue

Cool eagle

The whole crew, that's Bonnie's family (including her current favorite toy, the dolphin, rode in the stroller most of the day)

This is Preston's new game, he just lets himself fall because he knows you'll catch him

Preston and Bonnie posing

Love that tongue

How cool is this zoo? This is like the reptile room at the Hogle zoo, no cages, just birds right there in front of you, but it's outdoors (with nets).

Bonnie held Preston's leash for a while.

Preston was one stoked baby

Emu's have freaky red eyes

This is my 3-year-old student Bonnie

A Hippo's nose

The excitment with the hippos was waiting for them to come up for air. Otherwise all you saw was their backs.

Taiwanese Deer

Camel biting it's hair off in the heat of Taiwan

Bonnie was so excited because since the water was only a foot deep she could lie down in it, which she interpreted as "swimming." So now she can swim.

Umbrella

How cool is this? The zoo has a mini water park at the entrance (and admission is just over a buck)

See? (in reference to the picture below)

This is what his cousin does whenever she has her picture taken

Preston looking cool getting ready for the pool

Preston not having the greatest time at the pool

Preston in a doll's dress after taking a bath at Aunt#2's house