So, it's time to procrastinate again... I've been back from Europe for a week now, finally getting over the jetlag, but fighting a flu... Anyways, here is a recap of the vacation...
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
I really really liked Amsterdam. I guess I didn't have much expectation for it and was struck by how pretty, relaxed, and laid-back it was. The fact that everyone spoke perfect English (that includes the maids in the hotel, any random restaurant waiter, or people at the news stand) definitely helps. We also lived in a not-so-touristy area (although close to Leisdseplein so that it was very convenient, it is remote enough so there are actually 'locals' around us). We only went to Dam square (think, Time Square) once and I think that was enough.
Our (Nadeen and myself) hotel is near the '
Nine Streets (Negen Straatjes)' neighborhood, which is a hip, yet not pretentious, shopping district with charming boutiques and cafes. I can't express enough of the relaxed atmosphere... for example, I'd compare the Negen Straatjes to areas of
Williamsburg or Brooklyn Height, but without the hipper-than-thou attitude, or the under current of aggressiveness of New York streets. The food was great, thanks to our local guide, Kahing. We really didn't have much free time to do all the touristy things, but to hit the Rijks and the Van Gogh Museums. The Rijksmuseum was under renovation so only a small part of a side building was open to the public and it is mostly about the Dutch 'Golden Age'. Having been to Venezia over Christmas, and going to Rome and Firenze next, the mostly calm, cool, non-religious pictures are very welcoming, and perhaps more suited to my personality. The Van Gogh Museum reminds me distinctively of MOMA in New York, with the central atrium of staircase and views of other floors.
Unfortunately, I didn't get to try the 'premium goods' of Amsterdam, but I did try some absinthe... Kahing and friends took us to a neighborhood bar and we tried both versions of the hallucinogenic liquor... I even tried the stronger version... alas... I think these things really have very little effect on me, since Nadeen could feel her weaker version very soon, without finishing hers, and I didn't feel a thing at all... I guess this is a stronger indicator that one day, when I have to go under anesthesia, the doctor probably have to give me plenty of booster shots...
People have said that Amsterdam is one of the most expansive places to visit... While our hotel bill was pretty stiff, and tram/bus tickets are not cheap, brief investigation of real estate and food revealed similar prices to New York. A small 2 bedroom is around 500,000 USD in the Negen Straatjes, or on the Prinsengracht, which is probably even cheaper than the Upper West Side. But I guess while most buildings are 'pre-war', there ain't gonna be doormen or elevators...
During the conference, there were some ads for 'the Holland House of Regenerative Medicine' that is a bunch of rotating circular buildings built on the water. We couldn't find out much more about it. While I have great doubts and reservations to put my lab in some sort of a moving, floating base, I really wouldn't mind living there. So let me know if they are hiring!
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Ming-su's is gaining great popularity in Taiwan with their themed rooms and tax-breaks. In Ilan, I found several intriguing options:
Dong-Shan Villa 福泰冬山厝 is part of the Dong-Shan Traditional Art Center. While it has potentials, the fact that it is government run makes me feel that it might be more like a hostel...
Riverside Inn Our final choice, since Josephine thinks this one looks cool, and with the appropriate price of ~100 USD/night.
Actually, I don't know anyone from Australia... it is a phrase that my brother uses to describe a certain kind of people, a variation on a Taiwanese 'nickname'. 'Ou-ke' refers to people who are very picky, sort of spoiled, and who order others around. Most of my friends are 'ou-ke'... It all began 2 weeks ago....
I've known these people since at least Junior High, some of them even since first-grade... We went to this private school that is sort of on the Park Ave of Taipei and many of my classmates are children of government officials and CEOs. Actually, I went to 3rd grade with a kid whose father was the prime minister and ran for president once (and lost). I also went to 1st grade with a kid whose father is now wanted for embezzlement of hundreds of millions of his shareholders' money. It is the great environment to raise spoiled brats such as yours truly, even though my family is very middle class. Anyways, I digress. So the whole bunch of us were having dinner at Sam's house one night and we talked about going together on a vacation. Many attempts of a group vacation have been made before. The one trip they made was when I was still in NY and about half of them went. It was also when they were all single. Now that most of us are married, even with kids, it is getting more and more difficult to gather up the crowd. Even for Sam's wedding in LA, only half of them came.
We were talking about an island vacation... and Ko Samui was a first pick, since Patty knows someone who owns a resort there. There is also a long weekend in October, when we have a Friday off due to the Taiwanese 'Independence Day'. Since it is only 3 days, we thought Samui is too far since there is no direct flight from Taiwan. So we decided on Bali in Malaysia. Being 'from Australia', my friends' choices for resort were the new Bulgari or the Ritz Carlton. In all consideration, it is actually not that bad, probably around 1500 USD per person for 2 nights at the Ritz, with airfare, but it is still not cheap... A week later, while people are still interested in going somewhere, the issues of flying for 5 hours for a 3 day-trip was brought up and how much trouble it is to travel with young children (one 3-year-old, 2 under 6 months). So the only way for us to go somewhere is within Taiwan.
Somehow I've had this 'craving' to go relax somewhere the whole summer, so I am really motivated to go. A choice was the Sun Moon Lake in central Taiwan. I've heard that there is a very nice hotel, the Lalu, in the middle of the lake but my friends said that the service there is not that good. It is also ~3.5 hour drive from Taipei, without traffic, so we've got to move closer. Ilan is our next choice... with the new tunnel, it is only one hour drive away from Taipei and is situated on the hills looking into the Pacific. The best resort in Ilan is the Hotel Royal in Chiao Hsi, where it is famous for hot springs.
Reading something about New York, it seems like some people are already saying the temperature has cooled down a bit there... It is atrocious... We are still in the 90's here!! The lazy summer is only good for day-dreaming... At our A Cut steak dinner (mediocre), my group of friends were talking about vacationing in Ko Samui, since a friend's friend's family owns a resort there... The thing is, with all the boring married couples (with children), not to mention busy schedules of everyone but me, it took us 3 hours to get plans settled for one dinner... I'd say it is impossible to book a vacation together, even just for a long weekend. Anyhow, it started me thinking about laying on a beach for a couple of days. My all time dream island has long been the Maldives on Indian Ocean. 
I also read in Apartment Therapy the 20 Hotels Around the World from Architecture Digest about the Cocoa Island Resort. The little fishing boat rooms just looks so cozy and cute! I even looked up flights from Taiwan and it seems like a transfer in Singapore is a must, so that I could go have all the great street food that I've heard about for soooo long but missed the chance when I was there with my parents. So who wants to join me for this dream vacation?
