Din Tai Fung Dumpling House

Din Tai Fung Dumpling House

Saturday January 26, 2013

With all of Jackie’s studying lately and Joe finally hearing Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations show all but have sex on screen with Taipei’s Din Tai Fung dumplings, we took a ‘pilgrimage’ to the Bellevue location for a little bit of taste of ‘home’.  This Taipei dumpling staple opened a Los Angeles location that has been popular destination among celebrities. The Bellevue location when it opened in the summer of 2011 was known to have an hour wait on off hours. We went for a late ‘breakfast’ since dumplings are breakfast in Taiwan. I have to say that this taste of Taiwan in Bellevue is the perfect study food. 

Sunrise & Foggy

Tuesday January 22, 2013

Finally a non-foggy morning! I can actually enjoy the sunrise over the Cascades Mountains from my bus stop today.

The same cannot be said 1 hour later 25 miles south in foggy Seattle at work.

It’s rare when Mill Creek has better weather than Seattle since it’s in the convergence zone.

Port Towns

Tuesday January 1, 2013

The cottage we stayed at in Port Townsend was great. There was a double bed for us and a loft for Nikki. The little home was very efficient in its use of space.  

We had a view of the Strait of Juan de Fuca & Mt Baker in the Cascade Mountains. 

While we packed up to head back home I took Chance for a walk down on North Beach. 

Since Nikki’s flight out of Seatac wasn’t until late at night we decided to leisurely take our time getting back to the mainland. We decided to take the Bainbridge Island ferry into downtown Seattle.

First we stopped at a few port towns on our way to the ferry terminal.

Port Gamble was established in 1853 in honor of Lt. Robert Gamble who was wounded during the War of 1812. Until 1995 Port Gamble had the oldest continuously operating sawmill in North America near the entrance to the Hood Canal. The Port Gamble Historic District is a U.S. National Historic Landmark with cute shops and an old-fashioned general store. 

What a cute pair patiently waiting on the sidewalk 

Velkommen to Poulsbo (Norwegian for Welcome to Poulsbo), a Scandinavian themed town. 

He’s was so sad the old phone booth was locked. 

We went to some awesome antique shops in Poulsbo. I found an old wooden level, a $20 women’s wet suit with the tags still on and Joe got a Stetson hat.

We walked down along Poulsbo marina. 

Our next detour on the way back to Seattle was Fay Bainbridge State Park. 

Driftwood and Nikki 

Me, Nikki, Joe & Chance at Fay Bainbridge State Park with Mt. Rainier in the distance 

Ballard 

Ballard/Magnolia 

Mt Rainier 

Mt Rainier & Nikki 

Mt Rainier in the setting sun on the ferry from Bainbridge to Seattle 

Mt Rainier & Nikki 

Mt Rainier & ferry boat 

More mountains 

Downtown Seattle 

Port of Seattle & SODO stadiums 

Ship leaving port 

Space Needle 

Sunset over the Kitsap Peninsula 

Mt Rainier 

Port of Seattle & SODO stadiums 

Waterfront Ferris Wheel 

After we drove off the ferry we stopped at the Sheraton to see the gingerbread houses. 

Next we went over the Seattle Center where we debated ice skating for a bit before they closed for the night.