Beef Pho in Da Nang, Vietnam

My first experience of Beef Pho was in San Jose, CA many years ago. I visited Da Nang, Vietnam in late October, 2015 joining a sales conference. The hotel serves Beef Pho at its buffet restaurant.

I got noodle soup and beef in a bowl from chef; then have it garnished like this. Looks good and tastes great. Had another bowl after this.

My girl's pre-birthday parties in 17 years

My girl was born in September 23, 1999; 2 days after a major earthquake in Taiwan (a.k.a. 921 earthquake ). My wife gave birth to her through Caesarean section because the lovely girl was positioned transversely in her mom's womb.

Anyway, as the operation was scheduled in the afternoon; doctor ordered my wife not to eat nor drink after midnight. Hence I brought my wife to Burger King, the only in-hospital restaurant opens late, to have some more calories at night time. Then I first met my girl 15 hours later.

Afterwards, it becomes a "ceremony" in my family to have a brief dining at BK as a pre-birthday party every September 22. The collages photo contains almost every moment of the ceremony.

My girl is 17 now. We'll surely move on till the day I cannot do it anymore.

Three days in Istanbul

I had a brief biz trip to Istanbul in late October, 2003, that's my only visit there by far.

It takes two stopover, Singapore and Dubai, to reach Istanbul. No photos were taken in Singapore with very limited transit time. Some more hours are allowed in Dubai.

Burj Dubai (now Burj Khalifa) was still in the poster in Oct 2003.
The construction started in Jan 2004 and opening ceremony is held 6 years later.

Win a Bently as you shop in Dubai duty free.

First thing amazed me after arriving Istanbul is the exchange rate: 1 US Dollars is equal to 1,490,621 First Turkish Lira.

According to Wikipedia:
"...The Guinness Book of Records ranked the Turkish lira as the world's least valuable currency in 1995 and 1996, and again from 1999 to 2004 ... In December 2003, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey passed a law that allowed for redenomination by the removal of six zeros from the Turkish lira, and the creation of a new currency. It was introduced on 1 January 2005, replacing the previous Turkish lira (which remained valid in circulation until the end of 2005) at a rate of 1 second Turkish lira (ISO 4217 code "TRY") = 1,000,000 first Turkish lira (ISO 4217 code "TRL")."

My USD200 got me 285,600,000 Turkish Lira cash in hand.

It rained when I boarded a taxi and became sunny halfway. 

Nice taxi driver, we had a pleasant conversation in very limited English vocabularies.

Young boy standing in roadside Istanbul.

An alley with mixed old and not-so-old buildings.

Urban side of Istanbul.

Throughout several customer visits in suburban area in one day; I took a brief city tour with my colleague in local team the next day. My initial impression of the historical city is branded with a local touch.

The restaurant we a brunch at Asia side of Bosporus straight.

Mmmmm....

Bosporus bridge is so close. 

After brunch, we took a long stroll along with piers. Then had a ferry and car rides across Bosporus straight. Not a step into spots like mosques and bazaars. That chilled sunny afternoon is so unforgettable to me after almost 13 years.

Ferry pier.

Boarding the ferry from Asia side to Europe side.

Beautiful passengers

Drive to Asia side thru the bridge.

Lovely sunset

My short trip to Istanbul is quite close to conclusion. After the lovely sunset, I rushed back to hotel then airport. Throughout these years, Istanbul is still the city that impresses me strongly.

Parade in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

My wife and I coincidentally ran into a parade held in Ottawa, Ontario, dated Sep 21, 1997.

I scanned the photos almost ten years later. Luckily the color is still pretty nice to me.

Very cute drummer standing there letting me take the shot.

Young cadets in parade.

An old lady remained solemn in the parade.

840-km scooter ride in 3 days - Day 3

Returning home safe and sound is the simple objective in day 3. No rush at all and I even started missing the good days.

Day 3: Returning home from Hualien to Taipei.

It took me a detour to complete the ride on County Route 193. I had a brief stop-by at Qi-Xing-Tan (Seven Star Lake), a famous scenic spot that faces the Pacific, is very close to the north end of Route 193. As the weather is not getting better and Su-Hua highway is highly risked to collapse; I get on the road soon.

North end of County Route 193 with 0-th km mark.

A short brake in Taroko, the east-side entrance of Central Cross-Island Highway.

After leaving tourist-crowded Taroko, the ride on Su-Hua Highway started. Luckily the weather is getting sunny which relieved me.

Su-Hua Highway. The Pacific is on the right side.

As I moved forward for about another 10 kilometers, an emergency road-repairing construction was under way and traffic had been blocked for hours. Getting hot and my drinking water is almost gone... All two-wheel vehicles riders split lanes approaching the foremost of the waiting line.

A biker in front of road-repairing construction site.

Looking back to the shoreline that stretches to Hualian and Taitung.

A HD rider was waiting for green light side by side, playing oldies-but-goodies Taiwanese pop songs.

Luckily I waited for less than 30 minutes and was allowed to go as the construction was completed. It is my best experience in Suhua Highway that there is almost zero traffic on the same direction of mine. Almost no northbound bikes, cars, buses, and trucks for next 50 kilometers, I did enjoy a very smooth and less stressful ride on the notorious road.

Arriving at Su-Ao Township in a hour. Indeed a great ride on Su-Hua Highway.

It's rare to me to wait for train crossing nowadays. A diesel locomotive is even rarer.

Not too many photos taken in Day 3. Someone asked me for videos and too bad I did not have it this time. I will put some video recorders on my scooters for riding and sharing for more.
Hasta la vista!

840-km scooter ride in 3 days - Day 2

Woke up in a brisk sunny morning. The blue sky capriciously left no clouds at all. Got myself and my scooter refilled then I hit on the road for my Day 2 ride.

The route I selected is County Route 197 & 193, small back roads along with west side of seaboard mountain range. This is the first time I visit these roads in my life and I am still very excited about it.

The route for Day 2. Not too long but very very very beautiful.

The rice field outsides B&B. Super sunny morning.

Dropped by Solo Studio trying to visit my former colleague who runs this small space with coffee and customized English lessons. She was not there for my sudden visit and I will be back again for sure.

Solo Studio in Blogspot.

Solo Studio in Facebook.

Dropped by Solo Studio, Taitung

About 15 minutes after leaving downtown Taitung city and heading north, County Route 197 sign showed up.

The sign of County Route 159 and its 59-th km.

A mellow blend of Pacific and Sky.

Central mountain range on farthest side.
Seashore mountain range in the front.

Roadside sign says where I am: "Liji Badland and Little"...
It misses "Yellow Mountain" in the end.

Almost zero traffic on County Route 197 in the sunny, hot, almost windless Sunday morning. A small village  named Luanshan sits along the road quietly in a 50-minute riding distance from downtown Taitung. I rarely saw anyone out there, maybe it's church time for them then.

An abandoned community patrol vehicle, Luanshan village, Taitung County.

Sign says "Welcome to Luanshan Village".

Tracks and baseball ground of Luye Elementary School, Luye Township, Taitung County.
The sign says "school"...

Vast rice fields along the county route.

Took a short break in Ruihe Railway Station, a station sitting amid fields without staffs. A short stroll into the station and platform to enjoy quietness and breeze. No trains passed by for 20 minutes. My engine-running scooter seems the loudest noise source around.

Ruihe Railway Station.

So quite out there. Totally relieved and I could move on under strong winter sunshine.

Platform with no waiting passengers.

Straight and quiet tracks.
Central Mountain Range stands still with some clouds. 

After leaving Ruihe station, I moved on back to County Route 197 and went across Beinan stream thru Baohua bridge. The painting on both sides of bridge is so original. I got 15 kilometers more to complete the journey on Route 197.

Painting on the side of Baohua bridge.

A welcoming bench with great view.

There is a uniquely nice cafe in the 4.5-th km mark of Route 197; simply named "4.5-km Cafe", Located in one of Taiwan's finest rice farming areas, Chishang Township, Taitung County, that also becomes a popular touring spot.

"4,5-km Cafe". 

The roadside 4.5-th km mark.
A canola field backed by Central Mountain Range.

I ordered a cup of "Aborigine Coffee", an unique mixture containing 50% of home-made coffee and distilled millet wine is the other half. Roughly a size of two shots, the coffee held me there for another 1.5 hours letting alcohol gone.

"Aborigine coffee"

Banner says "come to drink coffee".

Cafe owner is a batik artistic, color printing on cloth using wax. He started the cafe at his ancestor's hometown more than a decade ago.  After the coffee, a kettle of firewood-brewed Pu-Erh tea and a brief talk with owner are served.

Pu-Erh tea poured from firewood-brewed kettle.

Downtown Chishang is ahead of me, journey on Route 197 is close to end.

0-km mark of Route 197. Chishang Township, Taitung County.

I got onto Route 193 at Yili Township, Hualian County, after about 30 kilometers northbound on Provincial Highway 9 from Chishang. Straightforward sunshine in noon time offered me great views and frequent stops for drinking water.

Route 193, Yuli township

A break on Ruisui bridge across Xiuguluan river.

A lovely curve near downtown Hualian city.

Checked into hotel on 4pm. Got some beers to replenish my body after the long ride under strong sunshine.

Lookout from my hotel room. Got some beers simply across the street.

An antique steam locomotive displayed in Hualian Railroad Culture Park, located in a walking distance from the hotel I stayed.

 Put 208 kilometers on my scooter this day. I will be back to visit both county routes for sure.