An American Tourist in Taipei

In an effort to give Heather some needed sleep, I decided that Elli and I needed to go for a walk.

We went up and down the steps in the hotel for a bit, and then I put her in the Ergo and we went for a walk to get (what else?) bubble tea (and to see if we could get Elli to join Heather in her own nap too!).

So, in Taipei, caucasian persons are somewhat of a rarity... However, caucasian men with a baby sling and a baby -- these sorts of things could be a once in a lifetime event for some people! So this rather unique sight walked the few blocks down the adjacent road by our hotel and got a bubble tea (small pearls, normal sugar, no ice -- now if I could just order in Mandarin, I would really be in business). By this time, Elli was nearly asleep, so I kept walking for a little longer until she was all the way out.

So let's set the scene:
1) American tourist in Taipei
2) in full "Mr. Mom" regalia (minus the sweeper ala Michael Keaton)
3) walking across a busy street in the middle of the crosswalk
4) taking a sip of a very full bubble tea

At this point, if it wasn't immediately obvious to the casual observer that I was a new parent, it probably became so as bubble tea spilled out from around the straw and directly onto the top of Elli's head, down the back of her neck, and down the side of the Ergo.

I certainly don't remember anyone laughing and pointing as I fumbled for the burp cloth to towel off my sound asleep daughter, but I am suspicious that the persons on the bus were chuckling away...

So for a visual aid -- this is a view from our walk later this evening (not the bubble tea trip mentioned above), but it should give you an idea about how silly I look in the ergo! I think that the "toy on a string" at the bottom really completes the look.