Vietnam Trip

Liz strikes a pose next to some of the statues outside Emperor Khai Dinh's mausoleum near Hue. She always seems to fit in quite well with the surroundings. :)

Instead of "Where's Waldo?", it's "There's Liz!"

Looks like she's in good company. :)

The view from Emperor Khai Dinh's mausoleum. Looks real nice to me. Especially with the lady in red! :)

Standing in the doorway of a bullet-scarred wall at the old Citadel in the Imperial City of Hue. When Vietnamese Communists holed up inside the Citadel during the Tet Offensive of 1968, it took U.S. Marines 25 days to root them out. In the process, much of this treasure of antiquity was seriously damaged or completely destroyed. However, restoration is underway and inside we could see many roofs, walls and walkways being rebuilt.

Outside Mom and Dad's beach bungalow at the Sandy Beach Resort on China Beach (near Danang).

Mom and Dad enjoy a nice stroll on China Beach.

Liz poses in one of the traditional Vietnamese round basket boats. Mom and Dad walk on China Beach in the background.

Liz and Mom in front of the Thien Mu Pagoda near Hue.

Dad stands next to the back of the Thien Mu Pagoda.

Dad takes a stroll down the old streets of Hoi An, a charming seaside town with lots of interesting shops.

Here's Liz enjoying afternoon tea at one of the cafe balconies in Hoi An.

With a little friend in Hoi An.

In Hoi An as well as other parts of Vietnam, there's no shortage of cute kids. It seems they're everywhere. Can't I just take one home?!

Mom really enjoyed the shopping in Hoi An. So much so that Dad threatened to take the credit card away from her. :) In this picture, she poses next to the local handbag vendor.

Liz is fast developing a penchant for traditional Vietnamese women's attire, specifically ao dais. Here she is with her favorite tailor on this trip, Lien. If you're ever going to Central Vietnam (Danang - Hoi An area) and interested in such traditional clothing, just talk to Liz. She'll be glad to hook you up with this skilled young lady. And if you're up north, she'll be glad to recommend a tailor in Hanoi too.

We still haven't made it to HCM City (Saigon) in the south yet. But I'm sure that'll be coming in the near future.

At Fisher's SuperKids English Center in Danang, a school run by our friends, Hai Huynh and his wife, Teresa. They are Christians and Teresa's maiden name is Fisher. You can then figure out the double-meaning behind the school's name.

Inside the lobby of the school. Notice the fish symbol as well as the slogan "Teaching With A Heart".

There's no shortage of kids, the main challenge is recruiting enough teachers for them here. So, if you or any qualified Christian you know would be interested in teaching in Vietnam (for one year), contact Hai and Teresa at: fishersuperkids@gmail.com

Liz with Hai and Teresa at their school.

Liz plays with Hai and Teresa's three-year old daughter, Sarah. Their oldest of three, Sarah combines Eastern and Western features in a way that reminds me of some cute Japanese anime characters.

Dad along with Vietnam veterans Chuck Ward from Newberry, S.C. and Bob Peragallo of Vancouver, B.C. (wearing USMC tee). They now head a Christian relief and development group known as Vets With A Mission (VWAM). The local Vietnamese lady standing between them is glad that VWAM helped fix the roof on her house after it was damaged by the recent typhoon.

To learn more about VWAM's humanitarian and medical projects in Vietnam, visit their homepage at: http://www.vwam.com/

Chuck Ward's wife, Joette. She was so nice to be our expert tour guide in Hoi An.

Thank you, Joette! You were very different from Chuck's "travel agent" friends :) (inside joke)

Part of the VWAM disaster relief team that we worked with. At a home site, Joette and other team members sort and clean up bricks which may be re-used. Curious locals gather round to watch. Since many people's homes were damaged in the typhoon, some were probably hoping we could help them too. Unfortunately, you can't meet all the needs that are there. So, hopefully, there can be more volunteers on such projects in the future. Maybe you too could join such an effort. Like the ladies you see here, you don't have to be a veteran or handyman.

Plaque put up at one of the area health clinics established by VWAM and All Nations Fellowship of Vancouver, B.C. Former U.S. Marine, Bob Peragallo (pictured above) is now the pastor of this Vancouver congregation. Like the disaster relief team we worked with, many VWAM teams have included members from his church.

I love the VWAM logo which has American flag on the left, Vietnam flag on the right, with country map in the middle all linked together by the cross. The theme slogan is "Reconciliation" and the key Bible verse (printed on ribbon below) is 2 Corinthians 5:18. To me that sums it all up so well.

Standing next to the girl with a white hat is Chuck Ward, director of VWAM. He took us on a visit to Danang's no. 2 hospital. In the middle, Dad talks with some of the local school kids outside.

Touring local medical facilities - Dad shaking hands with the director, Dr. Vinh at Danang's no. 2 hospital. The man in the middle is his associate who served as interpreter during our visit. As a pediatrician and church mission council president, Dad is looking at ways to help them out in the future.

I can't remember the man in the middle's name. I'll have to find out from Chuck Ward so we can pray for him and be in touch. (Chuck, if you read this, please let me know.) This man displayed such a gentle spirit of hospitality (no play on words intended) in showing us around. His English was pretty good too. And this is largely because he'd served alongside the Americans with the South Vietnamese Army.

We met this cute girl in the hallway of the pediatric ward at Danang's no. 2 hospital.

With the hospital's dentist and Dr. Vinh's associate - the wonderful man I already mentioned above. Much of the equipment here is old and below standard. So Dad (along with VWAM) hopes to raise money to help them buy newer equipment.

Posing with kids from the school across from Danang's no. 2 hospital.

Final Statement: As you can see from this post, I absolutely love Vietnamese kids, but this, however, is no indication that either I or Liz are ready to become parents at this point. And yet, who knows, maybe someday if we're able, we can adopt one of them. :)

Central Taiwan School Rallies

With some cute girls at Pu-tai Elementary School, a Buddhist school in Nantou.


Larry performs his magic and captivates the audience.

Check out the monk walking around in front taking pictures with his nice camera.


The "Men In Black" of the Sunshine Singers rock the house.

With some students after a school rally in the Taichung area.

Taiwan Cool at the Shilin Night Market (士林夜市)

The small yellow sign (upper left-center) says "City Jungle" and that's the way it can feel here sometimes. This photo was taken before the "night crowd" arrived, just as vendors were setting up in the narrow street. Later it will really become "人山人海" (people mountain, people sea) :)


This guy decked out in green may be a little quiet and shy, but he does his best to look cool. However, the guy behind me looks a little lifeless.

Another cool guy at the Shilin Night Market along with Bruce Lee is Che Guevara (though most Taiwanese probably don't have a clue who he is, I guess they still think he's cool). (Photos by Randolph Lim)

Shi-Chien University (實踐大學) English Class

The latest photo of me and some of my English students at Shi-Chien University. This picture was taken by our friend from L.A., Randolph Lim, during his visit to Taiwan.

Randolph got to share with my class of Taiwanese students here about his experience of being an Asian-American on his first trip to Asia ("The Mother Continent").

Danshui (淡水)

On the walk next to the waterfront in Danshui. This a great place to get super tall ice-cream cones or just watch the people go by.


Liz in front of one of the old buildings in Danshui.
(Photos by Randolph Lim)

Cute and Curious Kids

Cute preschoolers outside the old girl's school in Danshui. Perhaps that fascination for foreigners I was talking about starts early.
(Thanks to Randolph Lim for this photo)

King James And His Throne

I am joined by the new ruler of the "Stone Throne" - King James Chen.


Certifying James' authority in the log book (to be stashed in the rock crack behind me).


The night view of Taipei before we head back down to Dazhi.

Thanks to "King James" and his digital camera/tripod for this great photo (as well as the others in this post).

Being A Foreigner In Asia

On the left, here's our Chinese-American friend, Randolph (from L.A.) Maybe he's thinking 'What is it with these white guys in Taiwan? Why does everyone gawk at them?' You know, I (Phil) have often asked myself the same question.


Randolph appears to be smiling, 'Heh, heh, I'm an Asian face, I can just move about and not be noticed - it's stealth, man!' And I am over there, 'Hey, wait a minute, Randolph - where are you going? Help me get out of this jam!'


This just proves that one doesn't have to be a TV personality or very handsome (like my friend, Steve Marth) to be a "star" here in Taiwan. At least there are a few sensible girls standing around here - like the one with the backpack and the orange shirt :)

Liz snapped these photos right outside Fort San Domingo in Danshui. I think she and Randolph were amused.

Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial in Taipei

Liz in front of the big gate with C.K.S. Memorial Hall in the background.

She's holding the Insight Travel Guide to Taipei. Our friend Randolph has been using this book to learn all about the tourist spots here during his visit.


At the gate with the National Concert Hall in the background. The national flags are all out following Double Ten Day (R.O.C. National Day). Long live the R.O.C.!!! Sorry, Beijing! Sorry, DPP!

Two-Way Perspective at Cape Bitou

In the first photo (at water's edge) are Liz, Phil, Angus, James, Steve and Daniel. Liz is snapping the next photo and Phil is talking on the cellphone (to Gareth).

In the second photo (top of the cliff) are Gareth and Vivian. Gareth is talking on the cellphone (to Phil) and Vivian is snapping the previous photo.

Northeast Coast Scooter Trip

Here's our little caravan cruising down Taiwan's Coastal Highway 2.


Steve says something's peculiar around here. Is it the rocks or is it the English usage?


Okay, yes, there are some rather unusual rock formations along the coast at Nanya. And at this moment there appear to be some rather peculiar people there too. :)


Here's Matt Sawatzky sitting on something peculiar.


Steve "ROCK Jock" Marth and James "GEO-Political" Chen take a break from their "verbal jousting" long enough to discuss the shape of this unusual rock formation. "So, James, what do you think it looks like?"


With "Gollum" on the way up the steps of "Cirith Ungol".


"What was that?" Angus gets a little spooked in the "jungle".


The "Palau brother and sister" are now seen here on the Northeast Coast of Taiwan. It's time for Taiwan's National Day and they're both decked out in red - which is the color of the national flag as well as the current mass movement to depose the president :)


Angus seems amused at something here. But he's Chinese, so I don't think he's laughing at the name of this place which to us North Americans sounds kinda' funny. It's named for the "Dragon Cave"- a large cave at the lower left of this tall cliff (behind Gareth, Steve and James).


Daniel looks pretty happy about this roadside lunch consisting of fried noodles and fish-ball soup. And check out Liz - slurp, slurp! Mmmm, good :)


Good picture of Rachel at Fulong Beach. Even more interesting when combined with Gareth's profile :)


He looks a little lost, but "Castaway" Dan gets an idea. "Hmmm... let's see, Fulong must be somewhere south/southeast of Danshui (and Brett)."


At Jinguashi, Daniel and Liz discuss the weather (or is it their plans for ORTV?). The name of this place literally means "gold melon rocks". This refers to the orange and yellow sulfur-coated boulders along the stream that tumbles down into the gorge. It reminds me a little of the Mammoth Hot Springs area of Yellowstone National Park, but has darker color here (with more orange and brown).


Liz takes in the beautiful view along the rocky cliffs at Cape Bitou.


After a long day of riding, Gareth and Angus take a break on the grass along the roadside near the shore. That seafood lunch is starting to settle and the sound of the waves makes for a nice lullaby (ZZZZZZZ).


Here are videos by Gareth and Daniel of our scooter trip: Part One


Part Two

What Was Angus Thinking?

Liz made a nice dinner for Angus' birthday. His roommates, Steve and Jason came over to join us. It was a great time. But just what was Angus thinking here? What do you think?