OCT. 27: LUODONG TO HUA LIEN

Dumplings and beaches

After a trip to the beach at the fishing village of Nan Fang Ao, it's time to board the train for the two-hour trip to Hua Lien, where gorgeous scenery and a hot pot restaurant awaits.

HIGHLIGHTS

* A breakfast of steamed dumplings, danbing (omelette) and turnip cake -- and Robbie can't stop talking about the Forever Soy Milk. (Does he get a commission?)   * Olga goes on a shopping spree in I-Lan for Asian-style shirts and a jacket.   * Vicki asks to use the bathroom at the world's slowest bank (she's having ATM woes) and nearly walks into the vault by mistake.   * General beach frivolity: Jennifer gets stung by a jelly fish at the beach, while Vicki risks her life to save a rice bag three miles offshore. (Well, it seems like it.) Meanwhile, Bob tries to get pebbles out of his underwear, then tries to kill his son while skipping one of the beautiful flat pebbles on the beach.   * Mystery ice cream: the "chocolate" frozen treat turns out to be root-beer flavor.   * Donald directing the hotel-room photo shoot with Olga, Vicki and Jennifer posing with the tiny towels that? come with the room. (Photos will be included in the deleted-scenes DVD version of this website or upon request if you're really nice to the webmaster.)   * Hot-pot restaurant: a scrumptious mix of tofu, lamb, sausage, chicken and a ton of vegetables, all cooked by us at our table. Good orange soda, too.

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