Sign..

This sign is on the way up the mountain to Jim's job.

Hualien/Taroko Gorge

We spent the last weekend in Hualien. It is located on the eastern side of the island. The second day there we hired a taxi for the day to take us around and show us Taroko Gorge and all the other sites around the area. Tony was our Taxi driver and he was awesome. He took us to the gorge and hiking spots and made sure we didn't miss a thing. Then he took us to see some old Japanese homes, great restaurants, and the beach!

Tony the tour guide and us at our best!

This is the Hotel we stayed in while in Hualien. We took bicycles from the hotel one day and went for a ride along the river to the ocean and by the country side. We rode until we were starving and had to turn around to go find food. We found a Pizza Hut with a Buffet so we thought we had really scored. 
BUT..Nope the food was weird. They had real salad and drinks but the rest had a Taiwan flair. Seafood and pineapple pizza, Thai pizza, Chicken with something? and Sweet Potato pizza. We hoped they would put out one good pizza before we were done even plain cheese would have be great. They finally did right before we left and too full to eat anything else. Go Figure...

While riding along the river we saw a bunch of jumping fish. Jim tried so hard to get a picture of them. Every time he would focus in one area they would jump behind him. It was so funny to watch. You have to look really close but he did get one jumping.




The beauty of the Gorge

 

Water Fall!

This is an Eternal Spring and a Shrine built to honor all the people who lost their lives building the road through the gorge. There were 255 people who lost their lives being hit with rocks caught in avalanches and in esplosions or fell off of cliffs.

The flowers on the tree's are huge and beautiful! I wish I could say the same for my hair.

Maybe it is the new Salon I found!



We stopped at a tribal village to look around and this women was making a blanket while we watched.



We were told that when the people of the village turn age 12 they get the tattoo on their forehead. Then when they become a women or a man they get the bottom tattoo. The women's tattoo goes all the way across her face. If they didn't get the tattoo no one would marry them.

Beautiful Beaches

More Food!

AND More Food! There is a really sticky rice in the Bamboo on the front of the tray.



Everywhere you go in Taiwan you see people eating lunch out of these square boxes. I found out they are called Bentos. Most of them are made and cooked at home and taken with them. If not they buy them at many fast food type places. This one was on the train going to Hualien. Some of them smell good and some are really stinky. I finally figured out why some of the people wear a face mask!



See the sign?  Notice the Taiwan people swimming? Another time when rules are just a suggestion. Oh well when in Taiwan...

Date Day

Four students stopped Jim and I to answer questions for a report they were doing. They wanted to know what we liked about Taiwan  and what we had a hard time with. After we answered all the questions they all wanted pictures with us. We were standing right in front of the potties of course.

Jim had to buy something from this little stand. These 2 girls where standing up front chumming in people. It was so cute that we stopped and bought a bottle of water from them. The little girls even counted the change. I guess that is Taiwan on the job training.

Jim and I decided this is the world dirtiest job. It is even hard to see the second man because he just  blends in with the mud. He had taken all but his pants off and was in knee deep mud. I guess at least he was in the shade..

My first taste of White Pineapple! I keep getting surprises when I cut the fruit and veggies open. I never know what I am going to get. This was a little sweeter than the yellow ones I think.

We ended the date with a beautiful sunset.

Home..

Ryan and  his family picked us up at the airport. Shelby was the only one who didn't know we were coming home. They wanted to surprise her She was so happy when she found out that she didn't let Grandpa go for one minute. Cayson was just a tiny bit leery of us. We were not talking from the computer on the table. It took him a few minutes to warm up to us. The next day all but Tyler left us to go camping in Flaming Gorge with Grandma Staker for a few days. We had to talk Selby into going. She wanted to stay with us.

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The next morning we went to Brandon's house to take a couple of girls home with us. They were so excited to show us their new bunnies. When I say home I mean the Hotel. We have house sitters so we couldn't stay at home. Staying at the hotel had its advantages though we had a pool and breakfast and maid service.



The Bathing Beauties

Weird going home but not staying there!

 


Mexican Food!



Cayson and his ice cream cone.  One of many with Grandpa!



August 1st 2011  Daxton George Hoover

 


Olivia and baby brother Daxton



Brandon and Jenny's new family!



Proud Grandpa!




My new Baby!



We went to St George to visit Jim's Dad and Chick. Deeni and Tyler rode down with us and we met Kjersti and her family there. On Saturday Kjersti and the kids went boating and Tyler came back really sunburned and sore from trying to wake board. We spent a couple of days with them it was a really nice visit.

Father and son!

Brandon and Jenny had us over for dinner on Jenny's Birthday August 8th. Olivia was the entertainment. This was her dance.

We had fun while we were in Utah taking the kids shopping to help get them ready for school. This is Colby's new hair cut! He knew exactly what he wanted and how he wanted to look.  The kids picked out shoes and pants and shirts. Cayson had to have a light up pair of shoes too. Yeah he isn't exactly going to school but he loved jumping up and down and watching them light up so much we had to get them.

Olivia's cool shirt! She found lots of things she wanted to buy if they would have only fit her. She also wanted to go go go. She would still be shopping if we hadn't had to go home.



Averie picked out this before she said she was so freaking done shopping. (her exact quote) She is not a shopaholic like her sister. She was done!





Jim and I went out to dinner with Robert and Dana and Mom.( Mexican food of course.) We had a great time laughing and eating and talking and sharing pictures of grandchildren. Tammey and some of her family stopped by the Hotel to swim and visit with us. It was great to see some of my family. There just wasn't enough time to do everything we wanted to do.

The night before we left to come back to Taiwan we got an adjoining room at the hotel and had all the kids we could come and stay the night and play. We ate pizza and went swimming in the pool, played video games, jumped on the beds and laughed. This time we actually had enough beds and everyone went to sleep. The next morning they ate breakfast and went swimming again then we got dressed and left the hotel to
 fly home. Well Taiwan anyway. I cant call this place home. Home is in Utah with my kids.

We followed tradition again and went to the Red Iguana for lunch prior to flying away from family and friends. Justin and 2 of his kids came to eat with us. It was the first time we had seen them the whole trip and it was great to see them. Tyson has really grown up to be a great looking Tall man and  llauna is not a little girl any more. We had a very short visit but loved every moment of it. Jim went to dinner with friends and so did I. We needed a few more weeks so that we could have spent more time with everyone.

One bad thing that happened while we we in Utah. One of our friends Gary Petersen past away from a heart attack. We got to go by and hug Terrie and the kids. I am glad that we were allowed to be there to do that. Terrie has been a great friend for alot of years. We did everything together. I will always remember Gary saying "if you snooze you loose". I don't plan on snoozing because I don't want to loose! I want to live and love life and make the most of it.  I suggest you do too!