A night at the Sofitel, Taiwan

We arrived back to Taiwan about 1:30am. Ouch. When we were in the Philippines we decided to just get a hotel room near the airport and stay a few days in Taipei before heading back to Taichung. Turns out it was rainy and really cold the entire time we were there but it worked out okay. We got a late check-out at the hotel and Evie and I played in the pool while Joel got work done and Ethan took a nap. The hotel was super modern. It only opened a few months ago. We felt spoiled. The pool had a gigantic hot tub that wasn't too hot and the kiddie pool was also heated. They had a playroom for the kids also with lots of toys. Who would have thought a hotel could be so fun.

Ready, set, swim. And we did, for 1 1/2 hours.

By the red chairs is the kiddie pool and in the distance is the hot tub that goes all the way to the wall.

The lap pool

Evie chilling after a long swim.

Last day in Manila

Evie woke with the sun rise. It is our last day in Manila. We catch a late flight back to Taipei this evening.

We stayed on the 37th floor at The Greenhills and Elan Hotel. It was the highest floor Joel or I have ever stayed on . They had a sign in the lobby stating the hotel met earthquake codes but we were still a bit nervous staying that high.

We visited Krispy Kreme doughnuts after breakfast. We all had fun watching the doughnuts being made but we had more fun eating them :)

Wow, where does one start with that selection...

The kids approved

Kevin, I thought of you when I saw this. Wish I could bring you a box.

I don't know what got into Ethan but he took me by the hand and drug me over to this big chicken so he could give it a hug. Actually he gave it about 10 hugs. Everytime he would hug it he would walk over to me and say 'hug' and then walk back over and give it another

This shrine is outside of the Immaculate Conception Academy. It is a private college preparatory Catholic school for Filipino-Chinese girls run by the Missionary Sisters of Immaculate Conception.

Ethan was most curious about the dog...I guess we all were.

I wish this Jeepny said Emil, the name of one of my uncles but it was cool to see his friend Erinie's name though

Inside the Greenhills shopping center was a great little playground for kids. If Ethan were a bit older we could have checked the kids in and both Joel and I could have shopped together, kid-free. They had a great time playing. Evie asked if she could go back the next day.

It was really clean and organized which was surprising considering the type of shopping that was in the complex - it was more like street market style than department store

Need a handbag? They had any brand and style of almost anything you can think of

Joel and I had so much fun shopping. We still talk about it.

Heading back to Manila

It's Monday morning and Ethan it's Ethan's 2nd Birthday. He is sporting his balloon from the hotel crew from the day before. They were so sweet and surprised him with balloons and a cake.

This pout is Ethan's new look when he doesn't get his way. I thought Evie was our drama queen but I might be wrong...

A quick picture of the view from our hotel before we have breakfast

The menu for breakfast was a set menu. Each day of the week is inspired by a different country. American breakfast was Thursday and it was pancakes, bacon, and eggs. Today is from the Philippines which was super salty, dry meat that you dip in vinegar, rice, eggs and fruit. I'd love to say it was good but the meat was difficult to eat, especially at 7:00am.

And we're off. We have a short trip but a bit of a run-around to get back to Manila. Our journey starts with a shuttle to the pier.

Evie is such a good traveler.

We took a boat to Caticlan Island. Boracay doesn't have an airport.

We then took a bus from the pier to the airport

Ethan gets weighed in at the airport. He certainly feels like over sized baggage

We arrived to the airport an hour early. No lines, no fuss but now we're in a room the size of your living room for an hour with two kids that want to run and play...yieks. The kids had eaten all their snacks, colored and read books and were over watching a movie... and then they told us we would have an hour delay...brutal.

Happy Birthday little man. After our long delay we boarded the plane and then sat on the runway for another 20 minutes because it was too windy to take off.

Evie and Joel took the seat behind Ethan and I. I wish we had half the energy the kids do.

Bye bye Boracay

After a short taxi ride, we arrived to our hotel and are on the 37th floor. It was a clear day in Manila so the view was quite fantastic from our room. The huge white roof you see close is a parking structure and small shops for the mall next door. It was the reason we stayed in the hotel we did. The mall has lots of little shops selling name brand stuff for cheap. Any kind of handbag, clothing item, DVD's etc. We went shopping for a bit when we were in Manila before we went to Boracay and had so much fun we wanted to come back. We took turns shopping while the kids played at the pool or the room, etc.

It didn't take the kids long to want to play dress up.

The rooftop pool at our hotel. It was a bit scary looking down.

A peak down from the roof

And a close up...

The kids have had so much fun swimming the past week. The water was freezing so Evie is taking her time getting in.

Ethan does great swimming especially if he has his floaters on.

A view from the room looking the same direction as from our room

Joel took a picture of the sunset while I was shopping. I had so much fun shopping especially since it was cheap and with out the kids - what a treat.