Practiced soooo hard, learned Bach-Busoni Chaconne in D minor and a bunch of transcriptions of Bach’s violin pieces, listening to lots of violin tracks over and over… Then finally I am at my favorite island, Nantucket, once again for a recital. The whole process and the end result made this a wonderful first part of the summer 
Judging a competition in Bridgeport, CT today. Didn’t really like the idea that I had this much power over some poor kids for a few hours in their lives, but made it fun anyway. Bridgeport is one gorgeous place! Had a ball even after, toro and sake and all the Japanese goodness… Thanks, Ben
Bridgeport, CT, view from the University
The finalists awaiting the announcement of the winners
hiking in the 邢天剛 Mountain
Thought this combo was too hilarious —
fancy schmancy Katherine Malandrino silk dress +
ROLLED UP low rise boot cut jeans +
silk stockings +
slippers borrowed from sis-in-law Allison (note: I don’t even own one pair of flats… ever!)
Catching me hiking in the mountains again? probably never…
Dine at “Dot” (隨æ„鳥地方), a panoramic city view restaurant on the 85th floor of Taipei 101 with two high school friends tonight. Special requested the chef to make me a plate of raw vege with no dairy nor dressing, was glad the masterful chef didn’t get offended — just couldn’t eat anymore refined food 
looking out from our window seat table… love Taipei 101…Â
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iPhone G3 Chinese version and iPhone first generation English version with a nice bottle of Chianti at InHouse Lounge… hmm, time to get the G3 with a new number.
nice to see old friends, we’ve grown up so (if not old already) Â Â
Meet up with bff Celine in Taipei today at 信誼 children’s bookshop shopping for her kids, Zoe and Otto. Love this fuzzy book I found
 
Went visiting my childhood piano teacher at the university after (also Celine’s college piano teacher by coincidence). Miss Lin, who I am in debt to in many many ways, has not changed a bit all these years!
hah, someone (me) is getting chubby! Too much good food and happiness makes one grow sideways
Went to Taipei 101′s Pageone Bookshop and then Eslite Bookshop after by myself, can’t get enough books… took lots of pictures of Hello Kitty everywhere, decided not to post them any longer, this city is really plagued with HK and all the Japanese overload cuteness…Â Â Â Â
The diverse streets of Taipei, looking out of Ray’s car tonight, fun…
more pictures at http://www.gallery.junglin.com
Ray took us to ä¹ä»½ Gio Fan (again, don’t know if the spelling is right, meaning Nine Portions) for the day, a large gathered market place of so many different kinds of traditional foodshops in old traditional houses. It is my first time seeing all the goodies in the books I just bought from Eslite Bookshop alive — really can’t wait to make them myself!! Quite moody even in this uncomfortable 100% humidity rainy day.
Tasted all the vegan treats we found, quite a lot of them, and my new found favorite thing is Salt Pickled Shredded Daikon Wrapped in Sticky Rice Cake (mochi) — sweet on the outside, savory inside — quite subtle.
funny shop owner in costume with “taking photographs is free of charge” written on her shirt
the sign says — play, dream through life…
A tea place we went to, is in a famed Japanese film
Had some fantastic Jasmine Pearls tea with little bites of traditional food
As we were leaving the tea place
Again, a lot lot more pictures are at http://www.gallery.junglin.com
Hello Kitty everywhere again, HK in Taiwan is like Elvis in the US, you can’t go through a day of life without seeing its image… LOL
Had fun playing my recital at the Yamaha Artist Service Center tonight. Ray took us driving quite a long way to 淡水 Dan Shuai (don’t know if the spelling is correct, meaning “light water”), a gorgeous place next to the sea, for some drinks afterward.
I am loving every moment of my time with Ray and his family…
The restaurant we went to by the seaÂ
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The rest of the pictures will be at http://www.gallery.junglin.com
Ray is moving his company to a new place these past weeks. Alison (see her new mosaic making blog), my sweetest sis in law, a graphic designer turn full time mommy, has been an amazing force in designing the office layout and seeing all things through accordingly. Me, their happy do nothing house guest, volunteered to take the little Jess after school with me for a day since he is out of school at noon and everyone will be stuck at the office.
Jess brought home some Hello kitty crackers from school — they even hand out HK food in elementary school!
Made Jess some homemade Macaroni with Cheddar and Parmigiano Reggiano (and lots and lots of vege in it) for lunch, then we went on a road trip to Yamaha Artist Service Center where I practiced for 2.5 hours while he did his homework and performed some magic tricks to entertain the nice people working there.
Jess and I in the subway train
A different entrance of the Eslite Bookshop, love how this picture turns out
We walked to the nearby, now my fav place on earth, Eslite Bookshop, to get him piles of the Adventure with Ting Ting comic books as his 8 year birthday gifts (March 31st) and cookbook shop some more after. Then we continued walking to Taipei 101, had fun eating at a”sushi train” place at the food court in the basement, and grocery shop some more, then finally head home at 8 p.m. with lots of pastry and desert for Jess’ big brother Ryan — knowing he would be very unhappy about missing out all the action since he had full day of school
Sushi Train
This is my very first time EVER spending time with a child alone. Even though I have the most patience when I teach children and consider myself quite a fabulous teacher to them, I know I have never been big on children. Last time I offended someone not saying his cat was soooooo adorable looking at the pictures, my defense was, “I am so sorry, Michael, I have never gaga-ed over any baby pictures, how would I gaga over kitty pictures?!” So this day was quite interesting to me that there were some moments I could really laugh at myself HARD :
When we were on our way to Yamaha, “respecting” Jess’ “individuality” and “independency,” I left him roam the street around me, but I kept asking him to walk in front of me so he doesn’t get out of sight. Quite worried again when we left Yamaha, I finally asked him if I could “crab on to his jacket” so I wouldn’t lose him in the crowd. Jess answered, “Why don’t we just hold hands?”
How could I never have thought of that, REALLY???!!!!! LOL
So I held hands with Jess the rest of the day — my very first time, and it felt kind of sweet
And later that night, I found myself apologizing to Jess for demanding him not to ask me any questions during our day trip — I couldn’t believe I asked him to do that as I asked my parents the same thing when I was staying with them before I moved to my brother’s… I just couldn’t get myself to answer questions or reporting my actions to anyone being SO on my own for sooooo many years… LOL, guess I have a lot of learn… fun day though
Found more Hello Kitty food at Jason’s Market Place… HK is EVERYWHERE
Love love love this bookstore and all its 8 floors have to offer. Got a million books on Taiwanese food home, then Ray gave me some more for my indulgence. Hey, Linda and Lisa, you guys are going to be fed very very well when I come home! Â
Went back to Jason’s Market Place at Taipei 101 after book shopping, love this market, I can even find my favorite brand of dressing here! Guess what I had for dinner? My facebook friends tagged quite a few pictures of a whole stalk of broccoli with honey mustard dressing on the side as me… yep, my favorite thing to eat in the entire world!Â
Hello Kitty food… saw them at Jason’s Market Place, had to take pictures… Â
