Happy 2012 & Trip Report

Happy New Year's to Everyone!
I can't believe how fast the year has gone by.
Wishing you health, happiness, and good fortune in 2012!

I guess the last day of the 2011 is as good as any to start my trip report.
Our vacation to Taiwan had a brief stopover at Tokyo's Narita Airport.
A giant Gundam greets us as we enter our first stop at a toy store.

What's a toy store without a full collection of Ultraman figures.

No, this is not a restaurant, but the same toy store that also sells miniature food replicas. For a 5,000 yen ($65 USD or $50 Euro) replica, eating real food is cheaper.

A nearby airport eatery offers this menu. Yep, real food is less expensive than the replica.

Without any yens in my pocket, I opted for the inflight meal on All Nippon Airlines on my way to Taipei.

- Karen

Happy Holidays!

Wishing everyone happy holidays from Taiwan! I hope you have a wonderful time with family and friends.

This photo was taken from our hotel with a huge Christmas tree in its atrium.

- Karen

Wordless Wednesday - Papa Bear

Happy Wordless Wednesday!
To visit other participants, click here.

Note: I will be on vacation in Taiwan and Hong Kong for the next few weeks. I do not know if I will have time to post.
If not, Happy Holidays to all my readers and see you in a few weeks!

- Karen

Santacon - San Francisco Style

Santacon is the only event I know where one can see a large gathering of happy Santas in one location. There had to be close to 500 Santas and holiday-related costumers converging onto the steps of San Francisco's City Hall.

It didn't take long before the rowdy crowd took over the street and blocked all traffic from passing through.

The goal of Santacon San Francisco is for the Santas to congregate and then bar-hop through the city. Not a very family-oriented event.
Once many of them have left for their drinking adventure, I was able to get onto the City Hall steps and take a picture of the remaining crowd.

- Karen

Fish Fountain

Even though these fishes are out of their element, they have plenty of water and money at the bottom of the fountain for sustenance.

- Karen

Wordless Wednesday

Friend or Foe?

Floating high above the air.
It's not a bird, it's not a plane,...
Is it a dog, a bear, or an alien in purple pajamas?
Is it waving to us below to show us he is friendly?
He has a huge mouth, but luckily, no teeth, although he can swallow us whole.
Should we be worried or welcoming?

- Karen

Window Shopping

Went window shopping and encountered these ladies who were there before me.
Aren't they elegant in their evening furs?
They seemed quite excited and gaggling amongst themselves.
I tried to ask them what all the commotion was all about, but they would not pay any attention to me.

- Karen