More great wedding photos

The best men and women

Despite Kaohsiung being, I believe, Taiwans second largest city, and very industrial, a beautiful beach and sunset was able to be enjoyed.


The bride and bridesmaids ensure all know that they see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil!

Baylenes wedding in Taiwan

I've decided weddings are great. The two I've made it to in recent years have been such special reunions of such special friends. I look forward to many more! (although only 1 each please!).

This was a non traditional wedding as you'll see from this photo of all us best men and women....Best men on left, Baylene and Alex couple in centre, Bridesmaids Wendy and I on the right. We are wearing outfits designed by www.baylene.com. We've decided she has to start selling mens tuxedos...Alexs outfit looked pretty cool, although these are only the first digi-cam photos...professional photos come later! (We should look even better then! ;-) )
There were about 80 guests, and the wedding was a lovely buffet by the beach. No ceremony, but just very special for everyone to be there to celebrate this gorgeaus couple.

I had such a great surprise seeing some old friends from university I hadn't seen for about 10 years.....it was so exciting....and we have even more in common now than we did then. My Chinese is better now too!

It was only a dinner, but in the sunset, by the beach, all dressed, and meeting Baylene and Alex's families for the first time it was very special. Both their mums spoke lots of Mandarin (Chinese) to me which was really fun...

The best men were all a bit of fun....



And we all agreed Baylenes grandfather looks exceedingly healthy.
They are a cute family and it was a real honour to meet them all...especially me as one of only two non-Chinese guests at the wedding....the other being my old classmate from Chinese class Nick.

Kaohsiung, fun outdoor markets

It might be slightly sensitive (seeing as I live and work in Beijing) but I had my first visit to Taiwan last week. My friend Baylene got married, and I also had my first experience as a bridesmaid.
I liked Kaohsiung, the southern city of Taiwan where the wedding was held. Industrial, but by the coast (Taiwan is an island) so a kind of mild sea breeze,...hot (after freezing Beijing) and even in Taiwan winter a kind of summery enjoy the sunshine atmosphere. And some gorgeaus asia-euro style cafes and restaurants, as well as a great Lantern festival by the (unfortunately pollutedly smelly) river.
A different atmosphere to China. Very relaxed, less rushing about. I guess a mix of politics and geography (warmer places often more laid back).
Reading the paper was interesting....there are some politics going on at the moment.
And I look forward to going back for the shopping. I hope Beijing improves to that level of fun shopping in coming years....Kaohsiung hasn't lost the outdoor markets that Beijing lost with destruction of Shiushuijie (silk market) and the old Sunlitun outdoor market. Instead of pulling them down they just did them up. Maybe Beijing could do some fun markets like these. Crazy foreigners like me might spend more money here then rather than saving some clothes shopping for trips abroad!