Up again around 7. I stayed up last night on purpose to try to sleep in but was woken up again.
We started with a "hike" to the green valley temple. The hike wasnt a hike at all. When I think of hiking I think of nature. I think that when the taiwanese think of hiking, they just think up hill! The hike turned out to be just a steep road. Halfway up we notice some mossy stairs that look like they haven't seen use in some time, so of course we ran up them. At the top was a tiny tiny temple that must be overshadowed by two progressively huger temples higher in the hike.
Finally we reach the temple we're aiming for. When we arrive we notice that we're the only ones there. Being the sole visitors seems to have its perks. The most beautiful old lady ive ever seen offered us tea as well as free reign to go where ever we wanted. Unfortunately, she wouldnt let me take her picture because she thinks that she is too old and too ugly.
We got back to our place and Nai Nai tells us to go get hair wash massages. This. Is. Glorious. It starts with a neck massage. Then they lather up your hair while you're in the chair and scratch your head to get the shampoo in. I started to think, "darn too bad my hair is clean now. It would be awesome if this could keep going." And it does! They scoop out the bubbles, add more water, and do the whole thing again...this time with temple, neck, and ear massage. The ear massage was so cool. Just trust me.
The whole family took an afternoon nap which proved to be clutch for staying out past 9 pm.
Later in the afternoon we went to visit my dad's cousin and her husband. They're both goldsmiths who design jewelry and own a fancy shop. Catie and I got to try on a bunch of jewely and play with real diamonds.
Of course they fed us while we were there. You can't help but be fed where ever you go. They even went out twice to the bakery next door to bring back more goodies. And now they want to go to dinner? I thought that WAS dinner! At least I got to try something cool...
1000 year old egg looks disgusting but tastes delicious
Tokens with sensors in them to get into/out of the subway station
Afterwards I go shopping with Jei-Ru at the street vendors near Sogo. Kuang was right. This is where all the pretty girls hang out. In Nei-hu people look average sized and wear whatever they feel like, matching/fitting or not. Here all the women are super thin like I'd heard about and all the vendors sell clothes in only one size - that's how uniformly small the girls are. That one size is...not exactly my size. They had some really original stuff. I did, however, come out with one article of clothing. I'll be wearing it like a shirt but really it's supposed to be a dress.
