Today is December 30. I am sitting in a half-empty office, 0 emails in my inbox and pretty much bored out of my mind. Why aren't I on leave? It's rainy outside, and besides really I have nowhere to go... Which doesn't quite sound like me - I always have a plan/a thing to do/a place to check out right? Well...
Ecclesiastes Chapter 1:2
Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!
What profit has man from all the labor which he toils at under the sun?
One generation passes and another comes, but the world forever stays. The sun rises and the sun goes down; then it presses on to the place where it rises. Blowing now toward the south, then toward the north, the wind turns again and again, resuming its rounds. All rivers go to the sea, yet never does the sea become full.
To the place where they go, the rivers keep on going. What has been, that will be; what has been done, that will be done.
Nothing is new under the sun.
I have seen all things that are done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a chase after wind.
Reading from yesterday - the 5th Octave of Christmas. 1 John Chapter 2:9
Whoever says he is in the light,yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness.
Whoever loves his brother remains in the light,and there is nothing in him to cause a fall.
Whoever hates his brother is in darkness;
he walks in darkness and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
This year in 2008, I was ambitious and had my sights on a lot : explore Taiwan, work at my new job, make new friends etc. But somewhere down the line, things somehow got so out of control. Felt like chasing a wind, the harder I tried to wrest control, the worse things became. And it all is really very simple - it's all about love. As John said it - if you love your brother, you walk in the light, and there nothing to cause a fall.
I know I always say I don't regret, but I do. In relationships with a few people e.g. squealing on Sharon to the boss, losing patience with Kuansie... On reflection, if I used a heart of love, would I have done things differently? And what do you do in the aftermath?
I think I've said this before years ago, that relationships will be my downfall. And it remains my biggest cross. So my 2009 new year resolution will be very very short, just 2 actually,
1. learning to truly love
2. discipline (with faith and with myself).
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Christmas 2008 Break
I wish everyone a blessed Christmas season filled with Christ.
This year I skipped the midnight mass and went to Christmas Day mass instead. Instead I had Christmas dinner with Ghee Hwee & Eve. As usual, Ms Tan's culinary skills are excellent.
Christmas is such a non-event in Taiwan - Christmas Day mass as a small affair in the chapel filled with a few people, mostly foreigners and their small families - kids and all. So different from what I've used to. I know, the reason for the season is the Christ, but still there is a marked difference in the atmosphere. Would be nicer if it were grander so that the non-Christians, the lapsed Christians can be made aware of the significance of this day - the celebration of the greatest salvivic act of all time.
HP is shutdown over 25 and 26 Dec, so on Boxing Day, Emily took me and GH & Eve to 桃園 (Taoyuan) on Boxing Day. We took the bus in, dropped by her place - it was grand! She picked up her car and then we did a bit of a tour, driving to 石門水庫 and then 慈湖. Now 慈湖 is this lake where Chiang Kai Shek's mausoleum is. The original plan was to wait out reunification with China then bury him beside his mother. But as things are today, they decided to bury him somewhere in Taiwan but the DPP government started quibbling over details... So yeah, that's pretty much the state of affairs in Taiwan.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8062670@N07/sets/72157611769410670/
Emily's pix - http://picasaweb.google.com/ycemilylai/Dashi2008Xmas#
On Saturday, 27 Dec, we did a little hike at 富陽公園. Had planned this some time ago and I was glad to finally get up into the mountains. It wasn't difficult and we made up 福州山and the nearby中埔山東峰. Both peaks offered fantastic views of Taipei city including the iconic Taipei 101.
We were blessed to meet a Mr Yang - actually we were only asking for directions to the top, and he offered to walk us up. Along the way we chatted about Taiwan political state of affairs (same view of how the DPP quibbles too much for the good of Taiwan). And he also provided a little history of the place. Apparently, the mountain we were on used to be temporary graves awaiting reburial in China. They bury 1st, and when the ships arrive, the graves are dug up and then shipped back for burial on Chinese soil. A little creepy but consistent as the Mucha mountains nearby are dotted with graves that remain til today.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8062670@N07/sets/72157611720869489/
Today is the feast of The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. And I overslept! Gasp! Had to go to the farther church in Little Manila for the 12noon mass. It was in Tagalog, hang on it gets worse, it was also a wedding mass. Great. The Lord has a sense of humour...
I especially like the gospel of today - Col 3:12 Brothers and sisters: Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection.And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body.And be thankful.
And the good thing is that the church is 10mins walk from the Taipei Fine Arts Museum. And the reason why I know this is because I ran down this road last Sunday as part of the 21k route for the ING Marathon. So after mass, I acquired a little culture with the local modern arts scene.
This year I skipped the midnight mass and went to Christmas Day mass instead. Instead I had Christmas dinner with Ghee Hwee & Eve. As usual, Ms Tan's culinary skills are excellent.
Christmas is such a non-event in Taiwan - Christmas Day mass as a small affair in the chapel filled with a few people, mostly foreigners and their small families - kids and all. So different from what I've used to. I know, the reason for the season is the Christ, but still there is a marked difference in the atmosphere. Would be nicer if it were grander so that the non-Christians, the lapsed Christians can be made aware of the significance of this day - the celebration of the greatest salvivic act of all time.
HP is shutdown over 25 and 26 Dec, so on Boxing Day, Emily took me and GH & Eve to 桃園 (Taoyuan) on Boxing Day. We took the bus in, dropped by her place - it was grand! She picked up her car and then we did a bit of a tour, driving to 石門水庫 and then 慈湖. Now 慈湖 is this lake where Chiang Kai Shek's mausoleum is. The original plan was to wait out reunification with China then bury him beside his mother. But as things are today, they decided to bury him somewhere in Taiwan but the DPP government started quibbling over details... So yeah, that's pretty much the state of affairs in Taiwan.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8062670@N07/sets/72157611769410670/
Emily's pix - http://picasaweb.google.com/ycemilylai/Dashi2008Xmas#
On Saturday, 27 Dec, we did a little hike at 富陽公園. Had planned this some time ago and I was glad to finally get up into the mountains. It wasn't difficult and we made up 福州山and the nearby中埔山東峰. Both peaks offered fantastic views of Taipei city including the iconic Taipei 101.
We were blessed to meet a Mr Yang - actually we were only asking for directions to the top, and he offered to walk us up. Along the way we chatted about Taiwan political state of affairs (same view of how the DPP quibbles too much for the good of Taiwan). And he also provided a little history of the place. Apparently, the mountain we were on used to be temporary graves awaiting reburial in China. They bury 1st, and when the ships arrive, the graves are dug up and then shipped back for burial on Chinese soil. A little creepy but consistent as the Mucha mountains nearby are dotted with graves that remain til today.http://www.flickr.com/photos/8062670@N07/sets/72157611720869489/
Today is the feast of The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. And I overslept! Gasp! Had to go to the farther church in Little Manila for the 12noon mass. It was in Tagalog, hang on it gets worse, it was also a wedding mass. Great. The Lord has a sense of humour...
I especially like the gospel of today - Col 3:12 Brothers and sisters: Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection.And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body.And be thankful.
And the good thing is that the church is 10mins walk from the Taipei Fine Arts Museum. And the reason why I know this is because I ran down this road last Sunday as part of the 21k route for the ING Marathon. So after mass, I acquired a little culture with the local modern arts scene.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Science and Faith - they are mutually consistent
I had my reservations earlier when they picked Pope Benedict, but hey, this guy rocks. He has the gumption to stand up against the world for his faith - I salute him.
Good heavens: Vatican rehabilitating Galileo
The Associated Press
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
VATICAN CITY: Galileo Galilei is going from heretic to hero.
The Vatican is recasting the most famous victim of its Inquisition as a man of faith, just in time for the 400th anniversary of Galileo's telescope and the U.N.-designated International Year of Astronomy next year.
Pope Benedict XVI paid tribute to the Italian astronomer and physicist Sunday, saying he and other scientists had helped the faithful better understand and "contemplate with gratitude the Lord's works."
In May, several Vatican officials will participate in an international conference to re-examine the Galileo affair, and top Vatican officials are now saying Galileo should be named the "patron" of the dialogue between faith and reason.
It's quite a reversal of fortune for Galileo Galilei (1564-1642), who made the first complete astronomical telescope and used it to gather evidence that the Earth revolved around the sun. Church teaching at the time placed Earth at the center of the universe.
The church denounced Galileo's theory as dangerous to the faith, but Galileo defied its warnings. Tried as a heretic in 1633 and forced to recant, he was sentenced to life imprisonment, later changed to house arrest.
The Church has for years been striving to shed its reputation for being hostile to science, in part by producing top-notch research out of its own telescope.
In 1992, Pope John Paul II declared that the ruling against Galileo was an error resulting from "tragic mutual incomprehension."
But that apparently wasn't enough. In January, Benedict canceled a speech at Rome's La Sapienza University after a group of professors, citing the Galileo episode and depicting Benedict as a religious figure opposed to science, argued that he shouldn't speak at a public university.
The Galileo anniversary appears to be giving the Vatican new impetus to put the matter to rest. In doing so, Vatican officials are stressing Galileo's faith as well as his science, to show the two are not mutually exclusive.
At a Vatican conference last month entitled "Science 400 Years after Galileo Galilei," the Vatican No. 2, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, said Galileo was an astronomer, but one who "lovingly cultivated his faith and his profound religious conviction."
"Galileo Galilei was a man of faith who saw nature as a book authored by God," Bertone said.
The head of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Culture, which co-sponsored the conference, went further. Archbishop Gianfranco Ravasi told Vatican Radio that Galileo "could become for some the ideal patron for a dialogue between science and faith."
He said Galileo's writings offered a "path" to explore how faith and reason were not incompatible.
The Rev. John Padberg, a church historian and the director of the Institute of Jesuit Sources at St. Louis University, said he suspected the Vatican's new emphasis on Galileo's faith came from the pope himself.
"Pope Benedict XVI is ardently convinced of the congruence of faith and reason, and he is concerned, especially in the present circumstances, of giving reason its due place in the whole scheme of things," he said.
While it is widely accepted that Galileo was a convinced Catholic, Padberg questioned whether he could ever be accepted as some kind of a poster child for the faith and reason debate. "That's going to be a long shot for an awful lot of people, on both sides, by the way," he said.
Benedict, a theologian, has made exploring the faith-reason relationship a key aspect of his papacy, and has directed his daily newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, in particular, to take up the charge.
On Monday, the newspaper published a piece on the possibility of alien life on other planets as well as one on the popes who were "friendly" to astronomy.
Benedict clearly is: In his Sunday blessing, he noted that the Vatican itself has its own meridian, an obelisk in St. Peter's Square and that astronomy had long been used to signal prayer times for the faithful.
But the Vatican's embrace of Galileo only goes so far.
There were plans earlier this year to give Galileo a permanent place of honor in the Vatican to mark the anniversary of his telescope: a statue, to be located inside the Vatican gardens, donated by the Italian aerospace giant Finmeccanica SpA.
The plans were suspended after some Vatican officials voiced "problems" with the initiative, said Nicola Cabibbo, the president of the Pontifical Council for Science. He declined to elaborate.
Finmeccanica spokesman Roberto Alatri said the Galileo statue was just an idea that never got off the ground.
Italian news reports suggested the Vatican simply didn't want to draw so much permanent attention to the Galileo episode, which 400 years on, still rankles some.
"The dramatic clash between Galileo and some men of the Church left wounds that are still open today," the Vatican's chief astronomer, the Rev. Jose Funes, wrote recently in Osservatore. "The Church in some ways has recognized its errors.
"Maybe it could do better. One can always do better," he wrote.
Good heavens: Vatican rehabilitating Galileo
The Associated Press
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
VATICAN CITY: Galileo Galilei is going from heretic to hero.
The Vatican is recasting the most famous victim of its Inquisition as a man of faith, just in time for the 400th anniversary of Galileo's telescope and the U.N.-designated International Year of Astronomy next year.
Pope Benedict XVI paid tribute to the Italian astronomer and physicist Sunday, saying he and other scientists had helped the faithful better understand and "contemplate with gratitude the Lord's works."
In May, several Vatican officials will participate in an international conference to re-examine the Galileo affair, and top Vatican officials are now saying Galileo should be named the "patron" of the dialogue between faith and reason.
It's quite a reversal of fortune for Galileo Galilei (1564-1642), who made the first complete astronomical telescope and used it to gather evidence that the Earth revolved around the sun. Church teaching at the time placed Earth at the center of the universe.
The church denounced Galileo's theory as dangerous to the faith, but Galileo defied its warnings. Tried as a heretic in 1633 and forced to recant, he was sentenced to life imprisonment, later changed to house arrest.
The Church has for years been striving to shed its reputation for being hostile to science, in part by producing top-notch research out of its own telescope.
In 1992, Pope John Paul II declared that the ruling against Galileo was an error resulting from "tragic mutual incomprehension."
But that apparently wasn't enough. In January, Benedict canceled a speech at Rome's La Sapienza University after a group of professors, citing the Galileo episode and depicting Benedict as a religious figure opposed to science, argued that he shouldn't speak at a public university.
The Galileo anniversary appears to be giving the Vatican new impetus to put the matter to rest. In doing so, Vatican officials are stressing Galileo's faith as well as his science, to show the two are not mutually exclusive.
At a Vatican conference last month entitled "Science 400 Years after Galileo Galilei," the Vatican No. 2, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, said Galileo was an astronomer, but one who "lovingly cultivated his faith and his profound religious conviction."
"Galileo Galilei was a man of faith who saw nature as a book authored by God," Bertone said.
The head of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Culture, which co-sponsored the conference, went further. Archbishop Gianfranco Ravasi told Vatican Radio that Galileo "could become for some the ideal patron for a dialogue between science and faith."
He said Galileo's writings offered a "path" to explore how faith and reason were not incompatible.
The Rev. John Padberg, a church historian and the director of the Institute of Jesuit Sources at St. Louis University, said he suspected the Vatican's new emphasis on Galileo's faith came from the pope himself.
"Pope Benedict XVI is ardently convinced of the congruence of faith and reason, and he is concerned, especially in the present circumstances, of giving reason its due place in the whole scheme of things," he said.
While it is widely accepted that Galileo was a convinced Catholic, Padberg questioned whether he could ever be accepted as some kind of a poster child for the faith and reason debate. "That's going to be a long shot for an awful lot of people, on both sides, by the way," he said.
Benedict, a theologian, has made exploring the faith-reason relationship a key aspect of his papacy, and has directed his daily newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, in particular, to take up the charge.
On Monday, the newspaper published a piece on the possibility of alien life on other planets as well as one on the popes who were "friendly" to astronomy.
Benedict clearly is: In his Sunday blessing, he noted that the Vatican itself has its own meridian, an obelisk in St. Peter's Square and that astronomy had long been used to signal prayer times for the faithful.
But the Vatican's embrace of Galileo only goes so far.
There were plans earlier this year to give Galileo a permanent place of honor in the Vatican to mark the anniversary of his telescope: a statue, to be located inside the Vatican gardens, donated by the Italian aerospace giant Finmeccanica SpA.
The plans were suspended after some Vatican officials voiced "problems" with the initiative, said Nicola Cabibbo, the president of the Pontifical Council for Science. He declined to elaborate.
Finmeccanica spokesman Roberto Alatri said the Galileo statue was just an idea that never got off the ground.
Italian news reports suggested the Vatican simply didn't want to draw so much permanent attention to the Galileo episode, which 400 years on, still rankles some.
"The dramatic clash between Galileo and some men of the Church left wounds that are still open today," the Vatican's chief astronomer, the Rev. Jose Funes, wrote recently in Osservatore. "The Church in some ways has recognized its errors.
"Maybe it could do better. One can always do better," he wrote.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
The Pope' word today on IHT
Pope Benedict criticizes homosexual behavior
Reuters
Published: December 22, 2008
VATICAN CITY: Pope Benedict said Monday that saving humanity from homosexual or transsexual behaviour was just as important as saving the rainforest from destruction.
The Church "should also protect man from the destruction of himself. A sort of ecology of man is needed," the pontiff said in a holiday address to the Curia, the Vatican's central administration.
"The tropical forests do deserve our protection. But man, as a creature, does not deserve any less."
The Catholic Church teaches that while homosexuality is not sinful, homosexual acts are. It opposes gay marriage and, in October, a leading Vatican official called homosexuality "a deviation, an irregularity, a wound."
The pope said humanity needed to "listen to the language of creation" to understand the intended roles of man and woman. He compared behavior beyond traditional heterosexual relations as "a destruction of God's work."
He also defended the Church's right to "speak of human nature as man and woman, and ask that this order of creation be respected."
Reuters
Published: December 22, 2008
VATICAN CITY: Pope Benedict said Monday that saving humanity from homosexual or transsexual behaviour was just as important as saving the rainforest from destruction.
The Church "should also protect man from the destruction of himself. A sort of ecology of man is needed," the pontiff said in a holiday address to the Curia, the Vatican's central administration.
"The tropical forests do deserve our protection. But man, as a creature, does not deserve any less."
The Catholic Church teaches that while homosexuality is not sinful, homosexual acts are. It opposes gay marriage and, in October, a leading Vatican official called homosexuality "a deviation, an irregularity, a wound."
The pope said humanity needed to "listen to the language of creation" to understand the intended roles of man and woman. He compared behavior beyond traditional heterosexual relations as "a destruction of God's work."
He also defended the Church's right to "speak of human nature as man and woman, and ask that this order of creation be respected."
Monday, December 22, 2008
I came, I saw, I conquered
Ok I did it - my 1st long run since arriving on Taiwan soil. My earlier attempts were either rained out or I was traveling. But yesterday I ran the half marathon (ING Marathon Taiwan) in 2:39. The winners did the full marathon in roughly the same time ;) As my colleague Paula puts it, 'the Kenyans had longer legs, legs up to the height of my shoulders' ... hmm ... is she making fun of me? *shrug*
It was beautiful, 15degrees and then the sun came out and it warmed up to 20degrees. A beautiful day out.
I was doing good til about the 12k mark, then I started to feel like my legs were lead. Perhaps, I am getting a bit too old for this? ..... nah! Next race Carrefore half marathon!
It was beautiful, 15degrees and then the sun came out and it warmed up to 20degrees. A beautiful day out.
I was doing good til about the 12k mark, then I started to feel like my legs were lead. Perhaps, I am getting a bit too old for this? ..... nah! Next race Carrefore half marathon!
Monday, December 15, 2008
Must we only learn the hard way?
Today's International Herald Tribune reports that "As economy worsens, churches fill up in U.S...."
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/12/14/america/church.php?page=1
Must be we only learn through the hard way? Does life have to suck that we pay attention/start to hear the soft promptings of God?
In Chinese, this is known as being 贱 - loosely translates to being cheap, low, despicable -> all rolled up.
But that's how we are,
- we regret only too late after things are all screwed up
- when we're too busy, we lament how little time we have
- when we're too free, we lament how lonely we are
- when we're poor, we lament our hunger
- when we're rich, we lament how busy we are making money
Really 贱!
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/12/14/america/church.php?page=1
Must be we only learn through the hard way? Does life have to suck that we pay attention/start to hear the soft promptings of God?
In Chinese, this is known as being 贱 - loosely translates to being cheap, low, despicable -> all rolled up.
But that's how we are,
- we regret only too late after things are all screwed up
- when we're too busy, we lament how little time we have
- when we're too free, we lament how lonely we are
- when we're poor, we lament our hunger
- when we're rich, we lament how busy we are making money
Really 贱!
Sunday, December 14, 2008
New climb place!
I got to climb at 內湖 for the 1st time since it opened a couple of months ago. http://www.nhsports.com.tw/ground-09.html
It is lead climbing only! Awesome! BUT since I'm fat and rusty, I managed up to the last incline and was so pumped that I had to quit, twice! Dang! The amount of adrenaline rushing through my veins was a long forgotten feeling. Ooo.. I like it!
It is lead climbing only! Awesome! BUT since I'm fat and rusty, I managed up to the last incline and was so pumped that I had to quit, twice! Dang! The amount of adrenaline rushing through my veins was a long forgotten feeling. Ooo.. I like it!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
My family is anything BUT boring!
In recent days, there's been emails flying to/from Australia, Singapore, Taiwan. My aunt is trying to get my uncle committed - she claims he has bipolar disorder, a mental problem. He claims that she's just trying to get rid of him...
So my poor brother, me and cousins are trapped in the middle of "he says, she says" emails.
The reason for her wanting to get him institutionalised is that he has been going on and on about a huge conspiracy revolving around Benjamin Fulford. From Wikipedia and his numerous videos on Youtube, he talks about a huge conspiracy theory where there are shadowy groups trying to kill 2 billion people - to ease the load on Planet Earth. These shadowy groups goes by the names of the Illuminati in Europe & Freemasons in the US, with the assistance of the US government. Hence SARs and avian flus are intended to reduce numbers in Asia, AIDS in Africa, and the recent earthquakes/tsunamis all achieve the same aim, reduce world population. Except these were created and artificially induced by the US government using alien technology.
At that point, I stopped reading...
My personal opinion? My uncle's fine - all it takes to cure him is some love and concern and a chance to get out more. And I can personally stand for this - humans are social creatures, we were made to be in families. On our own, we are never quite stable...
Left alone for too long, everyone goes somewhat batty.
So my poor brother, me and cousins are trapped in the middle of "he says, she says" emails.
The reason for her wanting to get him institutionalised is that he has been going on and on about a huge conspiracy revolving around Benjamin Fulford. From Wikipedia and his numerous videos on Youtube, he talks about a huge conspiracy theory where there are shadowy groups trying to kill 2 billion people - to ease the load on Planet Earth. These shadowy groups goes by the names of the Illuminati in Europe & Freemasons in the US, with the assistance of the US government. Hence SARs and avian flus are intended to reduce numbers in Asia, AIDS in Africa, and the recent earthquakes/tsunamis all achieve the same aim, reduce world population. Except these were created and artificially induced by the US government using alien technology.
At that point, I stopped reading...
My personal opinion? My uncle's fine - all it takes to cure him is some love and concern and a chance to get out more. And I can personally stand for this - humans are social creatures, we were made to be in families. On our own, we are never quite stable...
Left alone for too long, everyone goes somewhat batty.
Monday, December 08, 2008
the earth moved for me this morning
07 Dec 2008 21:43:25 GMT
Source: Reuters
TAIPEI, Dec 8 (Reuters) - An earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale shook Taiwan on Monday, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage, officials said.
The epicentre of the quake, which struck at 5:18 a.m. local time or 2118 GMT, was 59 km (37 miles) east of Hualien on the east coast, at a depth of 12 km, the Central Weather Bureau said in a statement.
Earthquakes occur frequently in Taiwan, which lies on a seismically active stretch of the Pacific basin.
I was shaken awake this morning.. grabbed my alarm clock, 5.20am - mentally pictured my apartment collapsing into a heap, burying me in the process... then fell back asleep. Morbid I know..
Source: Reuters
TAIPEI, Dec 8 (Reuters) - An earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale shook Taiwan on Monday, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage, officials said.
The epicentre of the quake, which struck at 5:18 a.m. local time or 2118 GMT, was 59 km (37 miles) east of Hualien on the east coast, at a depth of 12 km, the Central Weather Bureau said in a statement.
Earthquakes occur frequently in Taiwan, which lies on a seismically active stretch of the Pacific basin.
I was shaken awake this morning.. grabbed my alarm clock, 5.20am - mentally pictured my apartment collapsing into a heap, burying me in the process... then fell back asleep. Morbid I know..
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Our God is an awesome God...
This song was on my iPOD while walking to work this morning and it's still ringing in my head. It's really simple - just the 3 phrases and then repeat til delirious!
The words goes...
Our God is an awesome God,
He reigns from Heaven above,
With wisdom, pow'r and love,
Our God is an awesome God.
Our God is an awesome God.
And the video...
The words goes...
Our God is an awesome God,
He reigns from Heaven above,
With wisdom, pow'r and love,
Our God is an awesome God.
Our God is an awesome God.
And the video...
Monday, December 01, 2008
Frailty of Life
Gospel - Mk 13:33-37
Jesus said to his disciples:“Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come.
It is like a man traveling abroad. He leaves home and places his servants in charge,each with his own work, and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch.
Watch, therefore;you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming,whether in the evening, or at midnight,or at cockcrow, or in the morning.
May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping.What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’”
That was yesterday's gospel reading - the 1st Sunday of Advent. And this morning, I walked into office and was informed via MSN that the 1 Singaporean hostage in the terrible Mumbai attack was killed.
Father was right - be on the ready for when the end comes, and you never know when it will, Jesus will be our Saviour.
Jesus said to his disciples:“Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come.
It is like a man traveling abroad. He leaves home and places his servants in charge,each with his own work, and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch.
Watch, therefore;you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming,whether in the evening, or at midnight,or at cockcrow, or in the morning.
May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping.What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’”
That was yesterday's gospel reading - the 1st Sunday of Advent. And this morning, I walked into office and was informed via MSN that the 1 Singaporean hostage in the terrible Mumbai attack was killed.
Father was right - be on the ready for when the end comes, and you never know when it will, Jesus will be our Saviour.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?
A daughter complained to her father about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling.
It seemed that just as one problem was solved a new one arose.
Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen.
He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In one he placed carrots, in the second he placed eggs, and the last he placed ground coffee beans. He let them sit and boil, without saying a word.
The daughter sucked her teeth and impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing. In about twenty minutes he turned off the burners. He fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then he ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.
Turning to her he asked, "Darling, what do you see?"
"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.
He brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft.
He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.
Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. She smiled as she tasted its rich aroma.
She humbly asked, "What does it mean, Father?"
He explained that each of them had faced the same adversity, boiling water, but each reacted differently.
The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. But after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.
The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.
The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.
"Which are you?" he asked his daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond?
I heard the story while doing my MBA and in Serena Yong's (my ex-boss) presentations during one of those forecast review sessions in my days in APJ. It just came to me, that as Christians that we ought to do more than just be affected by life, we ought to influence the people around us - spread His love. Hmm...
It seemed that just as one problem was solved a new one arose.
Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen.
He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In one he placed carrots, in the second he placed eggs, and the last he placed ground coffee beans. He let them sit and boil, without saying a word.
The daughter sucked her teeth and impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing. In about twenty minutes he turned off the burners. He fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then he ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.
Turning to her he asked, "Darling, what do you see?"
"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.
He brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft.
He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.
Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. She smiled as she tasted its rich aroma.
She humbly asked, "What does it mean, Father?"
He explained that each of them had faced the same adversity, boiling water, but each reacted differently.
The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. But after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.
The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.
The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.
"Which are you?" he asked his daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond?
I heard the story while doing my MBA and in Serena Yong's (my ex-boss) presentations during one of those forecast review sessions in my days in APJ. It just came to me, that as Christians that we ought to do more than just be affected by life, we ought to influence the people around us - spread His love. Hmm...
Monday, November 24, 2008
Winter preparations
Warm Feet with Australian Lambskin Wool Boots
So tonight I dug my winter indoor furry boots out - UGG boots as the Aussies called them :) They were sent to me courtesy of Uncle Simon last winter from Brisbane, Australia... love that man. Sitting down during the night conference calls can be cold for the feet.
Warm in Bed
Last weekend over dinner Vinny was complaining about having too much stuff and no room in his tiny 8ping apartment (26.4sq meter). So I offered to buy his extra electric blanket off him. It's kinda win-win, he gets rid of the extra one and I get to stay warm and toasty in bed. Last winter I resisted an electric blanket - paranoia about being electrocuted in my sleep. What changed then? Remembering how much I hate being cold, especially while sleeping.
So tonight I dug my winter indoor furry boots out - UGG boots as the Aussies called them :) They were sent to me courtesy of Uncle Simon last winter from Brisbane, Australia... love that man. Sitting down during the night conference calls can be cold for the feet.
Warm in Bed
Last weekend over dinner Vinny was complaining about having too much stuff and no room in his tiny 8ping apartment (26.4sq meter). So I offered to buy his extra electric blanket off him. It's kinda win-win, he gets rid of the extra one and I get to stay warm and toasty in bed. Last winter I resisted an electric blanket - paranoia about being electrocuted in my sleep. What changed then? Remembering how much I hate being cold, especially while sleeping.
I like to think that I've gained some winter experience now that this is winter no. 2 for me. :)
My 1st weekend as a 38-er
Post birthday dinner with Vinny & GH turned out to be a 2-parter dinner. Yeah, Vinny was nice enough to let me choose the restaurant and I was torn between Persian (Iranian) food and this French restaurant that had pretty good reviews on some blogsites. And he being the foodie, we ended up eating at both, not in the same night of course!
Friday night, it was Persian Heaven.
Address: 1, Ln 61, Hejiang Street, Taipei (台北市合江街61巷1號)Telephone: (02) 2517 1603.
Friday night, it was Persian Heaven.
Address: 1, Ln 61, Hejiang Street, Taipei (台北市合江街61巷1號)Telephone: (02) 2517 1603.
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The barbequed meats tasted pretty good actually. And there was meal-time entertainment, this belly dancer whose wobbly bits troubled me.. I like my muscles rock hard and taut please!
Then French on Sunday night, L’Idiot, address: 台北市民生東路3段156號1樓（近敦化北路口）156 MinSheng E Rd Sec 3 Tel 02-25456966. The 8 course set meal was excellent!.jpg)
Saturday was a hang out with the gals evening with GH & Emily - the 3 of us hung out, ate a fantastic dinner GH made (her shepherd's pie was simply awesome), watched DVDs, baked cookies all night. I stumbled home at 2-ish am.
Counter-efforts vs the good food this weekend, I managed a half hour run at the gym after morning mass & also climbed on Sat. Vain pathetic losing efforts against the bulge.
Friday, November 21, 2008
about and around Taiwan
Last Friday, GH and I checked out Ningxia night market - a little known night market amongst tourists, but said to be the best night market food in Taipei. It is really ALL food, unlike Shilin, and very few non-Taiwanese about. Here's the really (REALLY) yummy taro balls for which we queued almost 20mins and endured the rude service for.
And here's a pix of us at some green moss filled lake in Alishan. This was some weeks back, but dear GH just managed to download her camera...
And here's a pix of us at some green moss filled lake in Alishan. This was some weeks back, but dear GH just managed to download her camera...
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Another year, another birthday
And with that, I turn 38. Time flies, I can't believe it's my 2nd birthday spent in Taiwan. And to quote the very wise Fr Anthony - who was overheard muttering "there is no new/old year, every year's the same"... It certainly does feel the same, between being 37 and now, 38. Hmm...
Saturday, November 15, 2008
"Good for you"
What does it mean when someone says "Good for you"?
E.g.
Me - I had a great time over the weekend.
Response - "good for you!"
Now what does that mean?
I always resented it when I get that response. To me, it means, "Yeah really? Well, good for you, cos I don't give a shit!"
So can someone shed some light, does "good for you!" as a response supposed to be taken postitively, have I been wrong all these years?
E.g.
Me - I had a great time over the weekend.
Response - "good for you!"
Now what does that mean?
I always resented it when I get that response. To me, it means, "Yeah really? Well, good for you, cos I don't give a shit!"
So can someone shed some light, does "good for you!" as a response supposed to be taken postitively, have I been wrong all these years?
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
It's Advent!
Steph was up late (as usual) and gave me this link
And from there, I was led to this...
Enjoy! A reminder of the season - Christ is our Saviour. Amen!
And from there, I was led to this...
Enjoy! A reminder of the season - Christ is our Saviour. Amen!
Monday, November 10, 2008
It's officially winter!
It's interesting to have seasons. It's also interesting that now we can dig out our winter jackets again.
What's not so interesting is the feeling of being cold. I had a pre-taste.
Went for a weekend getaway with Emily & Ghee Hwee at the Green Island. It was hot and balmy when we left on Friday - felt like 30degrees in the day. So all I packed was a cardigan. Winter arrived somewhere between dive no. 2 and dive no. 3 ; between Saturday late afternoon and Sunday morning.
Water temperature on Saturday was 27-28degrees C ; Sunday was 25-26degrees C.
The sudden cold front brought with it high waves... The ferry ride out of Green Island made me sick enough to barf. So much for the big lunch I had :(
Blues drove all the way from Taitung back to Taipei. We stopped at Hualien for dinner - ate a big meal again, then started to wind through the mountains. I felt sick all over again.
Yeah, it was a fun weekend all in. I still feel slightly queasy but it'll pass... or so I hope.
PS I need a thicker wetsuit.. my 2.5mm wetsuit is suitable only for Singapore/Malaysian waters.
What's not so interesting is the feeling of being cold. I had a pre-taste.
Went for a weekend getaway with Emily & Ghee Hwee at the Green Island. It was hot and balmy when we left on Friday - felt like 30degrees in the day. So all I packed was a cardigan. Winter arrived somewhere between dive no. 2 and dive no. 3 ; between Saturday late afternoon and Sunday morning.
Water temperature on Saturday was 27-28degrees C ; Sunday was 25-26degrees C.
The sudden cold front brought with it high waves... The ferry ride out of Green Island made me sick enough to barf. So much for the big lunch I had :(
Blues drove all the way from Taitung back to Taipei. We stopped at Hualien for dinner - ate a big meal again, then started to wind through the mountains. I felt sick all over again.
Yeah, it was a fun weekend all in. I still feel slightly queasy but it'll pass... or so I hope.
PS I need a thicker wetsuit.. my 2.5mm wetsuit is suitable only for Singapore/Malaysian waters.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Typhoon!
I've been a little busy lately due to my platforms launch dates plus being coordinator for the upcoming marketing summit.
Up to late last night, I was in the office working on a set of slide templates. I wasn't working late alone, GH, Chris and Emily as well. At some point in the night, Chris insisted on booze, GH found a bottle of red wine and they popped it open with a screwdriver (seriously!)... We drank French wine out of little paper cups. Groan... Anyhow, I managed to finish the slides, sent it out and then we went home at midnight. Yet another long day in the office :)
We had a marketing summit sync up meeting this morning at 9am. I did not realise a "typhoon" blew in overnight.
Overnight, the organization was changed - the mini NB team is now part of my boss's organization. Impact to me - possibly reshuffle of platform responsibilities. And, the marketing summit is cancelled. Just like that. All those late nights, that template I worked on just a couple of hours ago..
I was soooo looking forward to meeting Steph! Most importantly!
Up to late last night, I was in the office working on a set of slide templates. I wasn't working late alone, GH, Chris and Emily as well. At some point in the night, Chris insisted on booze, GH found a bottle of red wine and they popped it open with a screwdriver (seriously!)... We drank French wine out of little paper cups. Groan... Anyhow, I managed to finish the slides, sent it out and then we went home at midnight. Yet another long day in the office :)
We had a marketing summit sync up meeting this morning at 9am. I did not realise a "typhoon" blew in overnight.
Overnight, the organization was changed - the mini NB team is now part of my boss's organization. Impact to me - possibly reshuffle of platform responsibilities. And, the marketing summit is cancelled. Just like that. All those late nights, that template I worked on just a couple of hours ago..
I was soooo looking forward to meeting Steph! Most importantly!
Monday, November 03, 2008
Jay Chou & Ghee Hwee
Ghee Hwee gave me Jay Chou's latest album Capricorn - complete with my favourite song - Daoxiang.
I was bitching last Monday - stressed from work and also largely from the loneliness. And she wanted to get me the CD to cheer me up, but she was too busy until Saturday to buy it. She gave it to me Satuday night when we met up for dinner.
I was so touched. *sob*
Now happy - have Jay Chou rapping in my ears...
I was bitching last Monday - stressed from work and also largely from the loneliness. And she wanted to get me the CD to cheer me up, but she was too busy until Saturday to buy it. She gave it to me Satuday night when we met up for dinner.I was so touched. *sob*
Now happy - have Jay Chou rapping in my ears...
Saturday, November 01, 2008
Happy All Saints Day!
After work on Friday evening, I went with Luca and Ghee Hwee for some Italian at Capones. There was a live band playing and as we left after dinner, our bellies full of excellent pizzas, the refrains of Bob Marley's No Woman No Cry rang in my head for a long while - "everything's gonna be all right!"...
Saturday morning, I was awoken by the ADSL guy. He replaced the phone plug, hopefully that helps - my Internet connectivity's been unstable, really bugs me as it takes forever to get TV downloaded! Grr... Spent the rest of the day cleaning house and watching TV until Ghee Hwee called for dinner.
We had some excellent dim sum from Tang Dynasty, then headed for a foot massage. We meant to go to the 6 Star Foot Massage at Bade Road, but saw this other one next door and decided to give it a try.
Walking in, I started whinging to her about why no TVs available... But the place is really different. In front of the massage chairs is a wall with flowing water and get this, live music - a celloist + pianist played through out the 70min massage. It was really out of this world, all you hear is the gurgling sounds of the water feature on the wall and the live classical music. The classiest foot massage place in Taipei - 928 Goldmine Foot Massage, at No. 324, Sec. 2, Bade Rd.
To everyone in Taipei, instead of happy halloween, I wish you all a Happy All Saint's Day!
Saturday morning, I was awoken by the ADSL guy. He replaced the phone plug, hopefully that helps - my Internet connectivity's been unstable, really bugs me as it takes forever to get TV downloaded! Grr... Spent the rest of the day cleaning house and watching TV until Ghee Hwee called for dinner.
We had some excellent dim sum from Tang Dynasty, then headed for a foot massage. We meant to go to the 6 Star Foot Massage at Bade Road, but saw this other one next door and decided to give it a try.
Walking in, I started whinging to her about why no TVs available... But the place is really different. In front of the massage chairs is a wall with flowing water and get this, live music - a celloist + pianist played through out the 70min massage. It was really out of this world, all you hear is the gurgling sounds of the water feature on the wall and the live classical music. The classiest foot massage place in Taipei - 928 Goldmine Foot Massage, at No. 324, Sec. 2, Bade Rd.
To everyone in Taipei, instead of happy halloween, I wish you all a Happy All Saint's Day!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Taiwan - home
Mom spent 2 weeks in Taiwan. I thought she'll like it here since people here are genuinely nice. And especially respectful of older people.
Plus mom as a shopper is a really difficult one - I believe we got yelled some choice Cantonese words in Hong Kong some years ago - just from her style of shopping. Frankly, I think she sometimes deserves it.
But in Taipei, you can stand in line to buy a latte in the mornings and then change your mind a couple of times and still be served with a smile and an easy 沒關係 (it's ok).
To my chargrin, it didn't quite work out so rosy. She explored as far as my neighbourhood and refused to venture beyond. No taxis, no MRT, no buses. Anywhere on foot she was ok with, but having to take some form of transportation scared her. And this is the same mom who quite happily rode the London double-decker buses to downtown High street during my MBA days not too long ago - alone. She asked around to find out what buses takes her whereever she wanted to go to in London.
Yes, she was scared in a city (Taipei) that is possibly the friendliest in Asia - my sincere opinion.
Despite Taiwan's warmth and genuineness, it could not compensate for the low levels of spoken English on the streets of Taipei.
Mom was afraid of getting lost and then not being able to communicate with anyone. And that fear alone stopped her from venturing beyond the small radius of home.
It is a pity.
Plus mom as a shopper is a really difficult one - I believe we got yelled some choice Cantonese words in Hong Kong some years ago - just from her style of shopping. Frankly, I think she sometimes deserves it.
But in Taipei, you can stand in line to buy a latte in the mornings and then change your mind a couple of times and still be served with a smile and an easy 沒關係 (it's ok).
To my chargrin, it didn't quite work out so rosy. She explored as far as my neighbourhood and refused to venture beyond. No taxis, no MRT, no buses. Anywhere on foot she was ok with, but having to take some form of transportation scared her. And this is the same mom who quite happily rode the London double-decker buses to downtown High street during my MBA days not too long ago - alone. She asked around to find out what buses takes her whereever she wanted to go to in London.
Yes, she was scared in a city (Taipei) that is possibly the friendliest in Asia - my sincere opinion.
Despite Taiwan's warmth and genuineness, it could not compensate for the low levels of spoken English on the streets of Taipei.
Mom was afraid of getting lost and then not being able to communicate with anyone. And that fear alone stopped her from venturing beyond the small radius of home.
It is a pity.
Monday, October 27, 2008
It's getting cool here
Today it's 22 degrees. Funnily it got cooler right after mom left. She kept whinging about how hot it gets - it was probably 25 degrees while she was here *roll eyeballs*
I really don't get it when Singaporeans bitch about the warm weather. Comeon already, we're south-east Asians, we live practically on the equator, don't tell me you hide out in an AC room all day. It's such pretentious, phoney behaviour that makes me sick.
Ok, I'm grumpy... I'm coordinating the next Marketing Summit and it has been eventful. Originally planned in San Francisco and then last minute big boss man says move to Houston. And we scramble to change. I hate the mothercity of cowboy state. Hate is a little strong yes, perhaps I strongly dislike. True to form, the cowboys start to whinge almost immediately. Oh, the venue we're considering is too far, the 1 hour commute is too long, oh the place is too dangerous, too expensive... Hello? There's people flying in from France, Singapore, Taiwan, California and Florida - and the Houston people are complaining a 1 hour drive is too far?
I've been sucking it all in and patient. But I lost it on Friday late night, pushed over the brink by this 1 rude cowboy who ironically worked out of the Taiwan office for almost 2 years.
I really don't get it when Singaporeans bitch about the warm weather. Comeon already, we're south-east Asians, we live practically on the equator, don't tell me you hide out in an AC room all day. It's such pretentious, phoney behaviour that makes me sick.
Ok, I'm grumpy... I'm coordinating the next Marketing Summit and it has been eventful. Originally planned in San Francisco and then last minute big boss man says move to Houston. And we scramble to change. I hate the mothercity of cowboy state. Hate is a little strong yes, perhaps I strongly dislike. True to form, the cowboys start to whinge almost immediately. Oh, the venue we're considering is too far, the 1 hour commute is too long, oh the place is too dangerous, too expensive... Hello? There's people flying in from France, Singapore, Taiwan, California and Florida - and the Houston people are complaining a 1 hour drive is too far?
I've been sucking it all in and patient. But I lost it on Friday late night, pushed over the brink by this 1 rude cowboy who ironically worked out of the Taiwan office for almost 2 years.
What was Sunday's sermon about? Love. No. 1 love the Lord Your God with all your might and all your soul. No. 2 love your neighbour.
Think happy thoughts... going back to my Alishan weekend. And if you think these photos are gorgeous, well, I shot them. Yeah, me and my lousy skills achieved this - you can imagine how much more majestic in real life the sunrise or the 2000year old cypress trees look (and smell). Oommms!
Think happy thoughts... going back to my Alishan weekend. And if you think these photos are gorgeous, well, I shot them. Yeah, me and my lousy skills achieved this - you can imagine how much more majestic in real life the sunrise or the 2000year old cypress trees look (and smell). Oommms!
Monday, October 20, 2008
Of mothers and Alishan
Having my mom visit for 14 days in a tiny apartment in Taipei was perhaps too ambitious. Despite me dragging my colleagues out to eat with me and then even dragging a few of them along with us to Alishan for the weekend, still, it really highlighted the difficulties we've had in our relationship.
I discovered I actually disliked being around her to listen to her whinge, complain, blame... I naturally walk away from her whenever I can. So much so that my colleagues would walk with her and then yell me... a common refrain was, 你又忘了你妈！You forgot your mom again!... Actually I didn't forget, I'm just plain avoiding.
Despite my best efforts at love - the Bible says so, when I see/hear her, I just want to flee.
I would imagine when couples divorce after many years of marriage, citing irreconciliable differences, it's because the hurt's so deep, that you're really beyond caring. Just a simple sentence brings with it a huge wave of anger/hurt that's accumulated over many years.
Don't get me wrong, I do all I ought to. I take her to dinner every night, we visit night markets, I took her to all the places a tourist should go in Taipei. I give her all she needs. When she nags, complains, I remain silent. But I just don't want to be close to her!
At times like these, it would do one well to count our God given blessings :
- mom is healthy
- she lives in Singapore
- I live in Taipei
- my 2 brothers take care of her (thank you 2!)
- my colleagues are really sweet people - thank you Rae especially! You'll make a great daughter-in-law one day
- weekend in Alishan was fantastic. The cypress woods with trees up to 2000 years old.. http://www.flickr.com/photos/8062670@N07/sets/72157608210290955/
- and most of all, Jesus loves us all.
I discovered I actually disliked being around her to listen to her whinge, complain, blame... I naturally walk away from her whenever I can. So much so that my colleagues would walk with her and then yell me... a common refrain was, 你又忘了你妈！You forgot your mom again!... Actually I didn't forget, I'm just plain avoiding.
Despite my best efforts at love - the Bible says so, when I see/hear her, I just want to flee.
I would imagine when couples divorce after many years of marriage, citing irreconciliable differences, it's because the hurt's so deep, that you're really beyond caring. Just a simple sentence brings with it a huge wave of anger/hurt that's accumulated over many years.
Don't get me wrong, I do all I ought to. I take her to dinner every night, we visit night markets, I took her to all the places a tourist should go in Taipei. I give her all she needs. When she nags, complains, I remain silent. But I just don't want to be close to her!
At times like these, it would do one well to count our God given blessings :
- mom is healthy
- she lives in Singapore
- I live in Taipei
- my 2 brothers take care of her (thank you 2!)
- my colleagues are really sweet people - thank you Rae especially! You'll make a great daughter-in-law one day
- weekend in Alishan was fantastic. The cypress woods with trees up to 2000 years old.. http://www.flickr.com/photos/8062670@N07/sets/72157608210290955/
- and most of all, Jesus loves us all.
Thursday, October 09, 2008
“All Prayers Answered”
From Fr Philip Heng's daily reading commentary -
In today’s Gospel, Jesus assures us that all our prayers are answered because God loves us. If we are not convinced of this Truth, then either Jesus is lying or we are “blind” to this Truth. Love and Trust God more and we will experience the Truth of what Jesus has promised.
Thu 10/9, Gospel - Lk 11:5-13
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Suppose one of you has a friend
to whom he goes at midnight and says,
‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,
for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey
and I have nothing to offer him,’
and he says in reply from within,
‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked
and my children and I are already in bed.
I cannot get up to give you anything.’
I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves
because of their friendship,
he will get up to give him whatever he needs
because of his persistence.
“And I tell you, ask and you will receive;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives;
and the one who seeks, finds;
and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
What father among you would hand his son a snake
when he asks for a fish?
Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg?
If you then, who are wicked,
know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit
to those who ask him?”
In today’s Gospel, Jesus assures us that all our prayers are answered because God loves us. If we are not convinced of this Truth, then either Jesus is lying or we are “blind” to this Truth. Love and Trust God more and we will experience the Truth of what Jesus has promised.
Thu 10/9, Gospel - Lk 11:5-13
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Suppose one of you has a friend
to whom he goes at midnight and says,
‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,
for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey
and I have nothing to offer him,’
and he says in reply from within,
‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked
and my children and I are already in bed.
I cannot get up to give you anything.’
I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves
because of their friendship,
he will get up to give him whatever he needs
because of his persistence.
“And I tell you, ask and you will receive;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives;
and the one who seeks, finds;
and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
What father among you would hand his son a snake
when he asks for a fish?
Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg?
If you then, who are wicked,
know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit
to those who ask him?”
Monday, October 06, 2008
Diving can be pretty therapeutic...
Went diving over the weekend in Kenting. I had heard the water visbility wasn't as good, plus our original plans was Orchid Island which is the best diving Taiwan has to offer... but typhoons kept wrecking our plans.
Kenting was a last minute decision as well - after the typhoon veered into Hainan narrowly avoiding hitting Taiwan for yet another weekend. Pictures parked here!
http://picasaweb.google.com/kci9kimo/20081003#
I had a great weekend! And I have a happy song stuck in my head...
Kenting was a last minute decision as well - after the typhoon veered into Hainan narrowly avoiding hitting Taiwan for yet another weekend. Pictures parked here!
http://picasaweb.google.com/kci9kimo/20081003#
I had a great weekend! And I have a happy song stuck in my head...
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
More bad weather forecasted...
By Shelley Shan STAFF REPORTER TAIPEI TIMES Wednesday, Oct 01, 2008, Page 2
Those who have outdoor or travel plans this weekend may want to reconsider. The Central Weather Bureau (CWB) said yesterday that a low-pressure system near Guam has been upgraded to a tropical storm and may approach Taiwan this weekend.
The newly formed tropical storm is named Higos, which means “fig” in Spanish.
At press time yesterday, the bureau said the center of Higos was located 610km southeast of Manila, which is about 1,600km from Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻). The storm was moving northwesterly at a speed of 20kph. The radius of the storm was 200km. CWB forecast center director Daniel Wu (吳德榮) said the tropical storm is near the Philippines, and its structure may be damaged by land there.
It was unlikely that the storm’s intensity will gradually increase at this stage, Wu said. Nonetheless, Wu said sea temperatures from the east of the Philippines over to the South China Sea are still quite warm at this time of year. Even after the storm sweeps across the Philippines, it is in an ideal environment for developing into a typhoon, he said. Wu said the bureau would be better able to determine the situation tomorrow.
If Higos does approach Taiwan, it would be the fourth weekend in a row that a storm will have threatened the nation. Typhoon Sinlaku hit Taiwan on Sept. 14, Hagupit loomed off Taiwan’s coast on Sept. 21, and Jangmi just left on Monday after battering the nation with strong winds and rain.
The bureau yesterday added that a dry seasonal northeast wind is expected to arrive today and may lower temperatures in the north to 22°C or 23°C.
In related news, the Council of Agriculture said yesterday that Jangmi caused the nation some NT$1.37 billion (US$42.5 million) in agricultural damage. Broken down by sector, NT$1.22 billion in crops were lost, translating into 15,491 hectares of land, with rice paddies being the hardest hit, and grapes, bananas and other fruits also being affected. Nearly NT$5.61 million was lost in livestock and the COA said that almost 110,000 chickens died because of the typhoon.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education yesterday said it would allocate NT$15 million in emergency assistance for schools damaged by Jangmi to help them re-open.Around the country, 56 schools remained closed yesterday because of typhoon damage, the ministry said, adding that it was the worst typhoon damage in recent years.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY MEGGIE LU AND CNA
Those who have outdoor or travel plans this weekend may want to reconsider. The Central Weather Bureau (CWB) said yesterday that a low-pressure system near Guam has been upgraded to a tropical storm and may approach Taiwan this weekend.
The newly formed tropical storm is named Higos, which means “fig” in Spanish.
At press time yesterday, the bureau said the center of Higos was located 610km southeast of Manila, which is about 1,600km from Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻). The storm was moving northwesterly at a speed of 20kph. The radius of the storm was 200km. CWB forecast center director Daniel Wu (吳德榮) said the tropical storm is near the Philippines, and its structure may be damaged by land there.
It was unlikely that the storm’s intensity will gradually increase at this stage, Wu said. Nonetheless, Wu said sea temperatures from the east of the Philippines over to the South China Sea are still quite warm at this time of year. Even after the storm sweeps across the Philippines, it is in an ideal environment for developing into a typhoon, he said. Wu said the bureau would be better able to determine the situation tomorrow.
If Higos does approach Taiwan, it would be the fourth weekend in a row that a storm will have threatened the nation. Typhoon Sinlaku hit Taiwan on Sept. 14, Hagupit loomed off Taiwan’s coast on Sept. 21, and Jangmi just left on Monday after battering the nation with strong winds and rain.
The bureau yesterday added that a dry seasonal northeast wind is expected to arrive today and may lower temperatures in the north to 22°C or 23°C.
In related news, the Council of Agriculture said yesterday that Jangmi caused the nation some NT$1.37 billion (US$42.5 million) in agricultural damage. Broken down by sector, NT$1.22 billion in crops were lost, translating into 15,491 hectares of land, with rice paddies being the hardest hit, and grapes, bananas and other fruits also being affected. Nearly NT$5.61 million was lost in livestock and the COA said that almost 110,000 chickens died because of the typhoon.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education yesterday said it would allocate NT$15 million in emergency assistance for schools damaged by Jangmi to help them re-open.Around the country, 56 schools remained closed yesterday because of typhoon damage, the ministry said, adding that it was the worst typhoon damage in recent years.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY MEGGIE LU AND CNA
Monday, September 29, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Stuck indoors again - typhoon no. 4
Typhoon Jangmi approaches -4th typhoon to hit us this year and also the strongest storm. It made landfall in Yilan, where the Central Mountain Range buffet the biggest impact.We've had typhoons hit us every weekend in succession. The land's still pretty waterlogged in the mountainous areas and low lying areas. Lots of landslides plus shaky bridges are still unfixed - a bridge in Taichung collapsed during last week's typhoon, rescue workers are still trawling for the bodies of the 4 missing people. May God have mercy on their souls and their bodies be recovered quickly so that loved ones have closure. This time around, the authorities are more conservative and took better preparations. Thus far, things are better.
Jangmi typhoon kicked up winds up to 250km hit northern Taiwan, Hurricane Ike which caused so much devastation in Texas was only up to 233km/h. In Hualien, a tour bus flipped over on its side - just shows how bad the wind was - fortunately no deaths.
Before the typhoon hit, yesterday, I was in Fulong 福隆 yesterday (Sat) with Rae, Alex and Pingfan for some cycling off the North-East coast of Taiwan. A newly restored old train tunnel - the Caoling Tunnel 
is also the basis of an old Taiwanese folk song. In fact Rae sang almost the entire song as we cycled through it. It's about 4.6km and then we went back to Fulong for the famed Fulong biantang 便當. 
is also the basis of an old Taiwanese folk song. In fact Rae sang almost the entire song as we cycled through it. It's about 4.6km and then we went back to Fulong for the famed Fulong biantang 便當. 
Then we cycled in the opposite direction intending to cross a nice drawbridge. But we missed a turn and gave up after the scenary turned industrial. Plus it got dangerous when the traffic around us were mostly semi-trailers.
I was a little wobbly initially - having not cycled in a while. Rae cycled behind me, yelling warnings at me every so often - 小心！Disclaimer - I was preoccupied with the scenary and wasn't watching the front too often. In fact at 1 stage, I got too close to Pingfan and our tires met briefly. All she yelled was, 请不要碰我！The Taiwanese sense of humour is really subtle. Kills me everytime.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Emotions, feelings... groan!
All this Aunt Agony moments I keep having is starting to grate on me. It's either that the girls in the office are younger with an active social life or that I'm just in the office a lot/online so much that I get dumped with these moments.
Looking back, I realise that I've endured that a lot - my whole life in fact, I've spent many hours sitting around and being that listening ear.
The thing is, it doesn't make me feel good - if anything, it reminds me how much I lack in terms of BGR (boy-girl relationships). I only had 1 serious relationship with Hon - and he left me in the end. And late at nights, alone, all these come back to me in the form of inadequacy - how lonely I am and how much I want to have my own family - husband and kids.
Maybe this is mid-life crisis and singlehood for too long - all rolled up into 1 messy me.
Gah! Does the good Lord hear prayers anymore?!
Oh and I finally got around to parking the Snow Mountain trip pictures. Due to typhoon, we weren't granted a permit to climb the Eastern Peak which was the plan. But since we were already there, it became a camping trip. The views of the Snow Mountain area are really spectacular, a pity we didn't make the summit.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8062670@N07/sets/72157607431238395/
Looking back, I realise that I've endured that a lot - my whole life in fact, I've spent many hours sitting around and being that listening ear.
The thing is, it doesn't make me feel good - if anything, it reminds me how much I lack in terms of BGR (boy-girl relationships). I only had 1 serious relationship with Hon - and he left me in the end. And late at nights, alone, all these come back to me in the form of inadequacy - how lonely I am and how much I want to have my own family - husband and kids.
Maybe this is mid-life crisis and singlehood for too long - all rolled up into 1 messy me.
Gah! Does the good Lord hear prayers anymore?!
Oh and I finally got around to parking the Snow Mountain trip pictures. Due to typhoon, we weren't granted a permit to climb the Eastern Peak which was the plan. But since we were already there, it became a camping trip. The views of the Snow Mountain area are really spectacular, a pity we didn't make the summit.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8062670@N07/sets/72157607431238395/
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Divorce and reality
Recently 2 friends got divorced. Both of whom are great, really nice people married to seemingly nice decent men. What's happening today?
While the Church's stand is pretty clear, the rising number of annulment it grants is also a telling story. http://www.catholicinsight.com/online/church/divorce/c_annul.shtml
To those going through/midst of divorce, may the good Lord stand by you, strengthen and be with you.
While the Church's stand is pretty clear, the rising number of annulment it grants is also a telling story. http://www.catholicinsight.com/online/church/divorce/c_annul.shtml
To those going through/midst of divorce, may the good Lord stand by you, strengthen and be with you.
My Assimilation is Complete
Found myself downloading Jay Chou music on a Sat morning... I hereby pronounce myself truly assimilated to life in Taiwan.Ignore the fact that just 2 days ago in China, the factory guys thought I was some ABC (American born Chinese).. Boo! They all came up to me speaking really stilted English cos someone told them that I don't speak Chinese. I'll kill whoever that's spreading such vicious rumours...
It was supposed to be a fun island weekend on Orchid Island. But as it turns out, Typhoon Sinlaku has other ideas.
Let's just say, there were some pretty long faces in the office yesterday. Those of us "supposed" to be lying on the beaches of Orchid Island.
And I have no clue what to do this really wet and windy weekend... lie in bed somemore or hit the gym..
PS I bought a bag for mom in Shanghai - and thanks Steph, but I made it safely out without any dramatics.
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Citibank - my credit card of choice (again)
Thank you Mr Pradeep Pant - VP of Credit Cards Taiwan and his assistant Sophia.
My faith in Citibank Taiwan is reinstated.
My faith in Citibank Taiwan is reinstated.
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Pick me up Tuesday
It's a Tuesday night and Emily wanted to order pizza and work late today again - I refused! Managed to convince her to go out eat, then return to work. We went to eat 小籠包 near Guting MRT station. And feeling poor after buying some hiking gear (we're going to Jade Mountain in Oct! I bought a new Lafuma jacket and she hiking boots), we walked to take the MRT instead of our usual taxi after dinner. Plus we overate - ok ok, that's the real reason. We were too stuffed and needed to walk off our bloated bellies.
She pointed down 1 dark dank lane and said, hey massage place. Now those 2 words are magic to me, so I walked down with her. She is right, the lane was pretty interesting. It has an antique shop, very traditional provisions shop (with all the 7-11s and 24hr convenience stores in Taiwan, it survived!), some quaint old buildings. While walking back out to the main street, we saw this interesting shop. I thought it was Japanese curios, Emily though jewellery, it was a very high class Japanese styled desserts. All hand sculptured. You have to see to believe how pretty they are. Fillings range from redbean to green bean to some jelly. We ate 1, the yellow bird. It tasted really good! The owner came out to chat, she spent 2 years in Japan learning the craft. And it takes up to 15mins to make a single complicated one. Makes for good gifts. Might buy some for Michelle when I next go home. The store is called Tang Ho 唐和.
She pointed down 1 dark dank lane and said, hey massage place. Now those 2 words are magic to me, so I walked down with her. She is right, the lane was pretty interesting. It has an antique shop, very traditional provisions shop (with all the 7-11s and 24hr convenience stores in Taiwan, it survived!), some quaint old buildings. While walking back out to the main street, we saw this interesting shop. I thought it was Japanese curios, Emily though jewellery, it was a very high class Japanese styled desserts. All hand sculptured. You have to see to believe how pretty they are. Fillings range from redbean to green bean to some jelly. We ate 1, the yellow bird. It tasted really good! The owner came out to chat, she spent 2 years in Japan learning the craft. And it takes up to 15mins to make a single complicated one. Makes for good gifts. Might buy some for Michelle when I next go home. The store is called Tang Ho 唐和.
Monday, September 01, 2008
Sunday - Fitness 0, Culture 2
The excesses of the week caught up with me. Basketball with Paula (from the office) til late on Friday and some really hard routes at the Wanhua rock gym Sat morning plus the preparation run sessions I had all week over lunch -> it all took it's toil on me. I forget sometimes that my body is aging faster than my mind. Or is it the other way around... hmm...
In any case, I overslept my Nike Run on Sunday morning. I was all prepared! I was eager, I was excited, I was tired. I woke up with a start and it was 6.14am. Grr! And the weather was beautiful! And it was a new route - a 10km run! And the president of Taiwan ran too!
So when I met Ghee Hwee for church and lunch at 10-ish, I was super grumpy. Pissed at myself. Dumped on her and felt much better by end of Sunday. Poor Ghee Hwee...
Complained to her thru lunch and by the time the ballet started, I felt much better. :)
Oh yeah, we caught a ballet. The Russian Ballet was in town, we caught the Nutcracker Suite by Tchaikovsky. It was simply fantastic. I yelled bravo at the end of the performance, much to Ghee Hwee's consternation - she hissed 'this is a classy place!' at me.
We walked around the area afterwards and realised the Woolly Mammoth exhibits were on display at the Chiang Kai Shek memorial hall (just behind the National Theatre where the ballet performance was). It was ok, just a bunch of tasks and fur and lots of teeth. I guess a lot's lost in translation - it was almost 100% in Chinese.
Fitness 0 (for missing the 10k run)
Culture 2
Not a bad weekend.
In any case, I overslept my Nike Run on Sunday morning. I was all prepared! I was eager, I was excited, I was tired. I woke up with a start and it was 6.14am. Grr! And the weather was beautiful! And it was a new route - a 10km run! And the president of Taiwan ran too!
So when I met Ghee Hwee for church and lunch at 10-ish, I was super grumpy. Pissed at myself. Dumped on her and felt much better by end of Sunday. Poor Ghee Hwee...
Complained to her thru lunch and by the time the ballet started, I felt much better. :)
Oh yeah, we caught a ballet. The Russian Ballet was in town, we caught the Nutcracker Suite by Tchaikovsky. It was simply fantastic. I yelled bravo at the end of the performance, much to Ghee Hwee's consternation - she hissed 'this is a classy place!' at me.
We walked around the area afterwards and realised the Woolly Mammoth exhibits were on display at the Chiang Kai Shek memorial hall (just behind the National Theatre where the ballet performance was). It was ok, just a bunch of tasks and fur and lots of teeth. I guess a lot's lost in translation - it was almost 100% in Chinese.
Fitness 0 (for missing the 10k run)
Culture 2
Not a bad weekend.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Window Cleaners
I was in the pantry with Emily this afternoon. She was whinging about how difficult the HP digital camera was to use while as usual I ignored her and made tea.
Then these 2 guys popped up and she snapped this shot - they actually posed for us.
Ain't it cool?
Monday, August 25, 2008
Wild Wet Weekend
As you can see, I spent my weekend, skipping rocks, platform diving, sliding/floating/bumping my butts in a stream. Well actually 2 streams...
I went with Rae, Alex and Emily to Miaoli, 2 hours drive south-west of Taipei. It's called 溯溪 or River tracing, popular in Taiwan.
We were deep in Ayatal aboriginal lands, nestled amongst the beautiful mountains, where the air is pure, the stream waters icy cold and crystal clear, with birds & insects chirping and the sounds of water gushing down waterfalls... Being one with nature, and I loved it!
Altogether we walked in 2 streams. A baby one on Saturday and a much harder one with bigger rapids on Sunday. Thankfully I bought new booties just before the trip that comes with green-wool sponge attached. It's uniquely Taiwanese and creates very good grip on slippery rocks.
My camera isn't waterproof - but the others in the group had great pictures -http://photo.pchome.com.tw/spark00/082/
I really enjoyed the weekend, the only thing that got me was the icy water temperature 22degrees.. brr!
After all that activity, I managed a nap, ahhh... 
Monday, August 18, 2008
A Season for Everything
Ecclesiastes - Chapter 3:1 to 8
There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens.
A time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away.
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to be silent, and a time to speak.
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant.
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them; a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces.
A time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away.
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to be silent, and a time to speak.
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant.
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them; a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces.
I went back last week to attend the funeral of my beh-day (or Eldest uncle in Hainanese) - Cheng Sim Kin.
After my paternal grandparents passed away, he has assumed the role of patriach the last 3 decades, and he did so dutifully, responsibly, cheerfully, quietly.
So he returns to Jesus and we're left behind to pick up the pieces. Pls keep the Chengs in prayer. It was especially hard on the immediate family - my aunty and cousins.
So he returns to Jesus and we're left behind to pick up the pieces. Pls keep the Chengs in prayer. It was especially hard on the immediate family - my aunty and cousins.
Friday, August 08, 2008
Happy Birthday Singapore!
To 43 years of nation building - Majulah Singapura!
Funnily enough, it took me being out of my homeland to discover how much I love my country.
I had the national flag as my MSN picture since yesterday and was feeling all patriotic and all.
Over my boring lunch hour (I should be in the gym, I know, I know) I browsed Mr Brown and it killed me - I had to seriously stifle my giggles. http://www.mrbrown.com/blog/2008/08/singaporeans-in.html
To all your Singaporeans overseas - stand up and sing in 1 voice "count on me singapore!" cos the cold & paternalistic government of ours certainly couldn't care less.
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Climbing 七星山 - tallest mountain in Taipei City
Finally I made it up 七星山 or 7Stars Mountain - which at 1120m is the tallest mountain in the district of Taipei City. We took about 2 hrs to huff and puff up and slightly over an hour to walk down. It was a beautiful walk up. After the midway point, we were enveloped in the clouds - the pictures I took doesn't do the place justice. It was simply heaven on earth. 
After the walk, Peter scootered over the other side to show me 擎天崗 or Jintiangang. That's our next planned walk ;)
Monday, July 28, 2008
Lazy week out of office
Out of office all week!
At Green Island decadently lazing/diving/eating/sleeping til Tue. Wed to Fri at a Marketing training + offsite.
Monday (today) is declared a holiday all Taiwan, we're cowering at home from Typhoon Fung-Wong. At this current moment, the eye of the storm is in Hualien - I suppose cows are flying about there... 
I should take that bad. The farmers and people of Taichung/central Taiwan already suffered floodings from heavy rains brought by the last typhoon - Typhoon Kalmaegi which hit 18 Jul. I saw on TV these same people again evacuated last night for fear of landslides and floods. My heart/prayer goes out to them.
Green Island is being battered bad right now too - pictures on TV shows waves of up to 3 stories high...
I still have 2 calls today : system team meeting at 2.30pm and a regular conf call with Houston at 10pm.
First up, nap... zzz
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Green Island - Part Deux
Right on the heels of Typhoon Kalmaegi, I went to Green Island for a bit of diving with Emily, Rae and Alex. Emily was going to take her open water diving certification while the others were in for a bit of a beach holiday.
Sunday
1st dive - Loumen Rock. It was fantastic - I saw a sea snake, moray eels, lots of fish and corals...
Monday
3 dives in total. Best dive ever - Cathedral/Dabaisha. Simply awesome. I saw a turtle, moray eels, 2 lion fish, schools of fish, and dove thru tunnels and channels and into the Cathedral - a cave with just 1 ray of light shining from a opening in the ceiling.
Tuesday
2 more dives, with my newly certified dive buddy Emily. At 1 point, she sank like a rock to the sea bed and didn't move for a couple of minutes. Everyone froze - we thought she's dead. And then, tadah! She suddenly waved a bit of dead coral at us - she was trying to show us she too can pick up shells/corals :) We're still laughing about it.
Here's us - the happy divers. From L-R : Vero Chiang (dive master), me, Tobias (an application scientist from Germany), Emily (the rock), Vincent (dive instructor).
The folks at Blue Safari are a very professional outfit. I highly recommend them. Both Vero and Vincent speak English. The Blue Safari is the only dive center on Green Island that is PADI certified. They also have accomodations - just call Vero to arrange everything.
It was a such a blast going with my coworkers - they did everything! All the legwork, the bookings, arrangements... And all that easy bantering, it was a really good break. Thank you guys - you are wonderful!
More pix here -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8062670@N07/sets/72157606332506151/
I knew I was in for a good time when our main preoccupation rushing after work on Friday evening to the train station was whether we had enough time to buy biandangs. We did. It required a slow jog to the train platform though.. As we approached the platform, I looked up and saw we had 4 mins to make the train and Alex wasn't there yet. Rae started to call him and then Emily asked if I wanted a hotdog. Yeah, it was a weekend of eating, having fun and great diving.
I really needed a break after the last few difficult weeks... And these guys were really fun. Unlike my 1st trip to Green Island, this trip I got to see the rugged beauty of the island. The views were simply breath-taking, especially from Niutou Hill. I spent all Sat/Sun just exploring the island, soaking in the hotsprings, snorkeling, napping... It was really therapeutic. Rae and Alex left on Sun afternoon and I took my 1st dive then.Sunday
1st dive - Loumen Rock. It was fantastic - I saw a sea snake, moray eels, lots of fish and corals...
Monday
3 dives in total. Best dive ever - Cathedral/Dabaisha. Simply awesome. I saw a turtle, moray eels, 2 lion fish, schools of fish, and dove thru tunnels and channels and into the Cathedral - a cave with just 1 ray of light shining from a opening in the ceiling.
Tuesday
2 more dives, with my newly certified dive buddy Emily. At 1 point, she sank like a rock to the sea bed and didn't move for a couple of minutes. Everyone froze - we thought she's dead. And then, tadah! She suddenly waved a bit of dead coral at us - she was trying to show us she too can pick up shells/corals :) We're still laughing about it.
Here's us - the happy divers. From L-R : Vero Chiang (dive master), me, Tobias (an application scientist from Germany), Emily (the rock), Vincent (dive instructor).
The folks at Blue Safari are a very professional outfit. I highly recommend them. Both Vero and Vincent speak English. The Blue Safari is the only dive center on Green Island that is PADI certified. They also have accomodations - just call Vero to arrange everything.
It was a such a blast going with my coworkers - they did everything! All the legwork, the bookings, arrangements... And all that easy bantering, it was a really good break. Thank you guys - you are wonderful!
More pix here -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8062670@N07/sets/72157606332506151/
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Pressure & blessings
During a meeting last Friday with my new boss - he was asking some really pointed questions regarding my platform and seriously, I didn't have an answer, started to sweat a little and feel really guilty. When my heart was pounding faster, it hit me that, hey I've not felt this way in a long time!
Work here is generally slower-paced and less pressurizing that what I've been used to. Inspite of my whining, I am blessed to be in this job.
The only down side is the people - but oh well, you can't have everything in life.
Karine - no regrets being here and thanks, still grateful to you for helping me get this job.
And one more icing on the cake - Star World made it's reappearance on my cable TV. It just suddenly appeared. No need to download Grey's Anatomy anymore! Yay!
Work here is generally slower-paced and less pressurizing that what I've been used to. Inspite of my whining, I am blessed to be in this job.
The only down side is the people - but oh well, you can't have everything in life.
Karine - no regrets being here and thanks, still grateful to you for helping me get this job.
And one more icing on the cake - Star World made it's reappearance on my cable TV. It just suddenly appeared. No need to download Grey's Anatomy anymore! Yay!
Monday, July 07, 2008
Happy Belated Birthday Peter
Happy Birthday Peter! Here he is, wolfing down his birthday burger. Incidentally he washed it down with 5 glasses of Fanta Orange in a bid to beat my record* (* my coworkers and I eat at Chillis a lot over lunch and because drinks are free refills we always joke about drinking as much as we can - our record has been 4 glasses)Seriously, I wouldn't drink that many Fanta Orange... Sprite perhaps *wink*
Peter and I arranged to go hike up 7Stars mountain at Yangminshan but it looked like rain, so we decided not to chance it.
Peter suggested visiting this place for views of the sun set - Dadaocheng 大稻埕 translated literally into "big rice-drying field". Off Wikipedia, this is an area of historial importance as an important trading port in the 19th century - particularly with tea exports. It's a nice trail alongside the Danshui River, people biking/walking/jogging along the banks. And when the sun started to set over the other bank beyond Shilin...
Simply gorgeous view of the sunset... More pix here - http://www.flickr.com/photos/8062670@N07/sets/72157606031769473/
Oh and I caught Sex and the City with Ghee Hwee and Amanda. It was funny, but also brought back memories of Hon. We used to watch with a bunch of friends in the early years over lots of booze... Those earlier truly fun filled hedonistic days of old.
An Ideal Husband
This was forwarded to me by Ms HardCore - ironically her dad forwarded it to her. This goes out in particular to my single girlfriends...
An Ideal Husband
By MAUREEN DOWD
Published: July 6, 2008
This weekend, we celebrate our great American pastime: messy celebrity divorces.
There's the Christie Brinkley/Peter Cook fireworks on Long Island and the Madonna/Guy Ritchie/A-Rod Roman candle in New York.
So how do you avoid a relationship where you end up saying, "The man who I was living with, I just didn't know who he was" — as Brinkley did in court when talking about her husband's $3,000-a-month Internet porn and swinger site habit? (Not to mention the 18-year-old mistress/assistant.)
Father Pat Connor, a 79-year-old Catholic priest born in Australia and based in Bordentown, N.J., has spent his celibate life — including nine years as a missionary in India — mulling connubial bliss. His decades of marriage counseling led him to distill some "mostly common sense" advice about how to dodge mates who would maul your happiness.
"Hollywood says you can be deeply in love with someone and then your marriage will work," the twinkly eyed, white-haired priest says. "But you can be deeply in love with someone to whom you cannot be successfully married."
For 40 years, he has been giving a lecture — "Whom Not to Marry" — to high school seniors, mostly girls because they're more interested.
"It's important to do it before they fall seriously in love, because then it will be too late," he explains. "Infatuation trumps judgment."
I asked him to summarize his talk:
"Never marry a man who has no friends," he starts. "This usually means that he will be incapable of the intimacy that marriage demands. I am always amazed at the number of men I have counseled who have no friends. Since, as the Hebrew Scriptures say, 'Iron shapes iron and friend shapes friend,' what are his friends like? What do your friends and family members think of him? Sometimes, your friends can't render an impartial judgment because they are envious that you are beating them in the race to the altar. Envy beclouds judgment.
"Does he use money responsibly? Is he stingy? Most marriages that founder do so because of money — she's thrifty, he's on his 10th credit card.
"Steer clear of someone whose life you can run, who never makes demands counter to yours. It's good to have a doormat in the home, but not if it's your husband.
"Is he overly attached to his mother and her mythical apron strings? When he wants to make a decision, say, about where you should go on your honeymoon, he doesn't consult you, he consults his mother. (I've known cases where the mother accompanies the couple on their honeymoon!)
"Does he have a sense of humor? That covers a multitude of sins. My mother was once asked how she managed to live harmoniously with three men — my father, brother and me. Her answer, delivered with awesome arrogance, was: 'You simply operate on the assumption that no man matures after the age of 11.' My father fell about laughing.
"A therapist friend insists that 'more marriages are killed by silence than by violence.' The strong, silent type can be charming but ultimately destructive. That world-class misogynist, Paul of Tarsus, got it right when he said, 'In all your dealings with one another, speak the truth to one another in love that you may grow up.'
"Don't marry a problem character thinking you will change him. He's a heavy drinker, or some other kind of addict, but if he marries a good woman, he'll settle down. People are the same after marriage as before, only more so.
"Take a good, unsentimental look at his family — you'll learn a lot about him and his attitude towards women. Kay made a monstrous mistake marrying Michael Corleone! Is there a history of divorce in the family? An atmosphere of racism, sexism or prejudice in his home? Are his goals and deepest beliefs worthy and similar to yours? I remember counseling a pious Catholic woman that it might not be prudent to marry a pious Muslim, whose attitude about women was very different. Love trumped prudence; the annulment process was instigated by her six months later.
"Imagine a religious fundamentalist married to an agnostic. One would have to pray that the fundamentalist doesn't open the Bible and hit the page in which Abraham is willing to obey God and slit his son's throat.
"Finally: Does he possess those character traits that add up to a good human being — the willingness to forgive, praise, be courteous? Or is he inclined to be a fibber, to fits of rage, to be a control freak, to be envious of you, to be secretive?
"After I regale a group with this talk, the despairing cry goes up: 'But you've eliminated everyone!' Life is unfair."
An Ideal Husband
By MAUREEN DOWD
Published: July 6, 2008
This weekend, we celebrate our great American pastime: messy celebrity divorces.
There's the Christie Brinkley/Peter Cook fireworks on Long Island and the Madonna/Guy Ritchie/A-Rod Roman candle in New York.
So how do you avoid a relationship where you end up saying, "The man who I was living with, I just didn't know who he was" — as Brinkley did in court when talking about her husband's $3,000-a-month Internet porn and swinger site habit? (Not to mention the 18-year-old mistress/assistant.)
Father Pat Connor, a 79-year-old Catholic priest born in Australia and based in Bordentown, N.J., has spent his celibate life — including nine years as a missionary in India — mulling connubial bliss. His decades of marriage counseling led him to distill some "mostly common sense" advice about how to dodge mates who would maul your happiness.
"Hollywood says you can be deeply in love with someone and then your marriage will work," the twinkly eyed, white-haired priest says. "But you can be deeply in love with someone to whom you cannot be successfully married."
For 40 years, he has been giving a lecture — "Whom Not to Marry" — to high school seniors, mostly girls because they're more interested.
"It's important to do it before they fall seriously in love, because then it will be too late," he explains. "Infatuation trumps judgment."
I asked him to summarize his talk:
"Never marry a man who has no friends," he starts. "This usually means that he will be incapable of the intimacy that marriage demands. I am always amazed at the number of men I have counseled who have no friends. Since, as the Hebrew Scriptures say, 'Iron shapes iron and friend shapes friend,' what are his friends like? What do your friends and family members think of him? Sometimes, your friends can't render an impartial judgment because they are envious that you are beating them in the race to the altar. Envy beclouds judgment.
"Does he use money responsibly? Is he stingy? Most marriages that founder do so because of money — she's thrifty, he's on his 10th credit card.
"Steer clear of someone whose life you can run, who never makes demands counter to yours. It's good to have a doormat in the home, but not if it's your husband.
"Is he overly attached to his mother and her mythical apron strings? When he wants to make a decision, say, about where you should go on your honeymoon, he doesn't consult you, he consults his mother. (I've known cases where the mother accompanies the couple on their honeymoon!)
"Does he have a sense of humor? That covers a multitude of sins. My mother was once asked how she managed to live harmoniously with three men — my father, brother and me. Her answer, delivered with awesome arrogance, was: 'You simply operate on the assumption that no man matures after the age of 11.' My father fell about laughing.
"A therapist friend insists that 'more marriages are killed by silence than by violence.' The strong, silent type can be charming but ultimately destructive. That world-class misogynist, Paul of Tarsus, got it right when he said, 'In all your dealings with one another, speak the truth to one another in love that you may grow up.'
"Don't marry a problem character thinking you will change him. He's a heavy drinker, or some other kind of addict, but if he marries a good woman, he'll settle down. People are the same after marriage as before, only more so.
"Take a good, unsentimental look at his family — you'll learn a lot about him and his attitude towards women. Kay made a monstrous mistake marrying Michael Corleone! Is there a history of divorce in the family? An atmosphere of racism, sexism or prejudice in his home? Are his goals and deepest beliefs worthy and similar to yours? I remember counseling a pious Catholic woman that it might not be prudent to marry a pious Muslim, whose attitude about women was very different. Love trumped prudence; the annulment process was instigated by her six months later.
"Imagine a religious fundamentalist married to an agnostic. One would have to pray that the fundamentalist doesn't open the Bible and hit the page in which Abraham is willing to obey God and slit his son's throat.
"Finally: Does he possess those character traits that add up to a good human being — the willingness to forgive, praise, be courteous? Or is he inclined to be a fibber, to fits of rage, to be a control freak, to be envious of you, to be secretive?
"After I regale a group with this talk, the despairing cry goes up: 'But you've eliminated everyone!' Life is unfair."
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Ice Skating
Peter took me ice skating last Saturday at Taipei Arena, 小巨蛋 as it's affectionately known here.Considering my lack of affinity with sports involving skates/skis, it was an "interesting" experience. (read: yes I fell many times on my butt, get off my case already!)
Peter, on the other hand, can really skate.
Then we went to catch Gong Fu Panda the Movie. There was some event ongoing at the Mitsukoshi (新光三越) area and I got to hug Apo the Gong Fu Panda.
Feeling of fresh underwear...
You know how we take things for granted, like having fresh, clean underwear?
Well, I forgot to bring clean underwear (yes again) for the gym. And I hit the gym over lunch these days....
I comtemplated going without but didn't think my coworkers would take that too well.
Let's just say it was an icky afternoon and I left early.
Well, I forgot to bring clean underwear (yes again) for the gym. And I hit the gym over lunch these days....
I comtemplated going without but didn't think my coworkers would take that too well.
Let's just say it was an icky afternoon and I left early.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
More on Green Island
Here's my riding pillion with a view of Green Island.
The rest of my summer holiday videos : http://uk.youtube.com/user/fcheng07
The rest of my summer holiday pix : http://www.flickr.com/photos/8062670@N07/sets/72157605680372576/
The rest of my summer holiday videos : http://uk.youtube.com/user/fcheng07
The rest of my summer holiday pix : http://www.flickr.com/photos/8062670@N07/sets/72157605680372576/
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Summer Holiday
My 1st visit down South Taiwan.
1s stop - Dive Green Island.
Went with Eddie from Green Island Adventures. He's a nice jolly guy, met me at Taichong's HSR station, jump into his van and he starts to drive for Taitung. Some 8 hours later, we jump onto a ferry and then we're on Green Island and the diving starts!
The dive gang consists of 1 dive instructor - Curtis from Canada. 2 women Canadians who were there to relax by the beach; Isau, a Japanese avid diver (who dives a lot with Eddie); Marko, an Estonian who's new to Taiwan (2 weeks old here!) and Nancy who's Taiwanese but grew up in California.
Highlights of the dive - banded coral snakes. I saw 3 over 5 dives in 2 days. Handfeeding a school of batfish, and in particular the different types of corals made the dives different. Water vis was really good and the blue skies and the lack of any other divers made it nice. I really liked our 2nd day local Dive Master,
Vero Chiang. If I go back, definitely dive with her.
2nd stop - chilling in Kenting
Eddie was nice enough to drop us off at Fangliao where we jumped onto a bus and headed straight into Kenting. We had chosen a local homestay which was pretty nice and reasonably priced. But they were grumpy and not very helpful. I would recommend staying at either the Howard Hotel or the Ok Hill Lodge rather - not very much pricier but more accessible to the main Kenting stretch so you can walk or scooter easily.
As it turns out, the weather was a blazing 35degrees C. And we'd already spent 2 days in the sun at Green Island. CY as it turns out, doesn't do very well in the heat - he's an AC guy. We scootered about for 1 day and the man wanted AC bad. So we headed for the city, Gaoshiong.
1s stop - Dive Green Island.
Went with Eddie from Green Island Adventures. He's a nice jolly guy, met me at Taichong's HSR station, jump into his van and he starts to drive for Taitung. Some 8 hours later, we jump onto a ferry and then we're on Green Island and the diving starts!
The dive gang consists of 1 dive instructor - Curtis from Canada. 2 women Canadians who were there to relax by the beach; Isau, a Japanese avid diver (who dives a lot with Eddie); Marko, an Estonian who's new to Taiwan (2 weeks old here!) and Nancy who's Taiwanese but grew up in California.
Highlights of the dive - banded coral snakes. I saw 3 over 5 dives in 2 days. Handfeeding a school of batfish, and in particular the different types of corals made the dives different. Water vis was really good and the blue skies and the lack of any other divers made it nice. I really liked our 2nd day local Dive Master,
Vero Chiang. If I go back, definitely dive with her.
2nd stop - chilling in Kenting
Eddie was nice enough to drop us off at Fangliao where we jumped onto a bus and headed straight into Kenting. We had chosen a local homestay which was pretty nice and reasonably priced. But they were grumpy and not very helpful. I would recommend staying at either the Howard Hotel or the Ok Hill Lodge rather - not very much pricier but more accessible to the main Kenting stretch so you can walk or scooter easily.
As it turns out, the weather was a blazing 35degrees C. And we'd already spent 2 days in the sun at Green Island. CY as it turns out, doesn't do very well in the heat - he's an AC guy. We scootered about for 1 day and the man wanted AC bad. So we headed for the city, Gaoshiong.
Walking down to the tip of Taiwan - Erluanbi in Kenting
Day 4 - GaoShiong City
We picked this out of the guidebook as we hadn't planned on Gaoshiong - Sanduo Hotel. Fortunately it was nice and clean and right in the heart of the city. Back to civilisation and taxis. We explored a little - the old British Consulate at Takao, on top of a hill. Front facing into the Taiwan straits and the back faces into the harbour - ah the Brits certainly knew to pick their locations. There's an old Northern gates still standing at the bottom of the Takao Hill. We visited the Love River area, viewed the tallest building 85 Sky Tower there, walked about. Very nice - very much more liveable than Taipei. Nicer, quieter, greener, breezier. Ate a very nice western meal. Checked out the nearby Holy Rosary Cathedral. Drank coffee at cafes... it was nice.
Back to Taipei
Back in Taipei, we drank coffee in cafes, visited the Grand Palace museum at leisure, ate more good food, had some excellent massages. Then CY returned home and I returned to some 300+ backlog emails.
aut Caesar aut nihil!
My attitude to life has always been aut Caesar aut nihil (latin for Caesar or nothing, ie all or nothing).
Of late, this has pissed some people off - hmmm...time to tone down.
Of late, this has pissed some people off - hmmm...time to tone down.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Catholic Church Mass Times in Taipei - Sunday
Catholic Church in Taipei, Taiwan - English Masses and Mass Times
Da-An Area
Holy Family Church 新生南路二段50號 50 Hsingsheng S.Rd. Sec 2, Taipei
Tel 02-2321-2444
English Mass - 9.45am
Minsheng Area
St. John Bosco Parish 民生東路3段123號 123 Minsheng E. Rd. Sec3 Taipei
Tel 2719-6469
English Mass - 10.30am
Tienmu Area
St. Christopher's Church 中山北路三段51號51 Chungshan N. Rd ,Sec 3, Taipei
Tel 02-2594-7914
English Mass - Sat 6pm, Sun 10.30am, 12noon, 6pm
Tienmu Area
Mother of God Church 中山北路7段171號 171 Chungshan N.Rd Sec 7. Taipei
Tel 02-2871-5168
English Mass - Sat 7pm, Sun 12.15pm, 7pm
From my earlier notes when I first moved here to Taipei. For those of you searching for Catholic Churches English mass times in Taipei, I hope this helps.
I started out going to the Holy Family church - which has the largest English congregation church here in Taipei. But of late, I have found myself going to St John Bosco church instead - simple, mass is later, 10.30am :( still not a morning person.
Distance wise, it takes roughly the same cost via taxi (and hence distance) to get from where i live to either church.
Footnote - i measure all distance by taxi fare - my preferred mode of transport here in Taipei. Garin told me he travels by BMW these days - bus, mrt and walk. HA! The biggest consolation in having to give up driving is knowing crude is now $140 per barrel - ouch!
Da-An Area
Holy Family Church 新生南路二段50號 50 Hsingsheng S.Rd. Sec 2, Taipei
Tel 02-2321-2444
English Mass - 9.45am
Minsheng Area
St. John Bosco Parish 民生東路3段123號 123 Minsheng E. Rd. Sec3 Taipei
Tel 2719-6469
English Mass - 10.30am
Tienmu Area
St. Christopher's Church 中山北路三段51號51 Chungshan N. Rd ,Sec 3, Taipei
Tel 02-2594-7914
English Mass - Sat 6pm, Sun 10.30am, 12noon, 6pm
Tienmu Area
Mother of God Church 中山北路7段171號 171 Chungshan N.Rd Sec 7. Taipei
Tel 02-2871-5168
English Mass - Sat 7pm, Sun 12.15pm, 7pm
From my earlier notes when I first moved here to Taipei. For those of you searching for Catholic Churches English mass times in Taipei, I hope this helps.
I started out going to the Holy Family church - which has the largest English congregation church here in Taipei. But of late, I have found myself going to St John Bosco church instead - simple, mass is later, 10.30am :( still not a morning person.
Distance wise, it takes roughly the same cost via taxi (and hence distance) to get from where i live to either church.
Footnote - i measure all distance by taxi fare - my preferred mode of transport here in Taipei. Garin told me he travels by BMW these days - bus, mrt and walk. HA! The biggest consolation in having to give up driving is knowing crude is now $140 per barrel - ouch!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
I am thinking of moving...
Tuesday, June 17, 2008 off ReutersAstronomers find three 'super-Earths'
WASHINGTON -- European researchers said on Monday they discovered a batch of three "super-Earths" orbiting a nearby star, and two other solar systems with small planets as well.They said their findings, presented at a conference in France, suggest that Earth-like planets may be very common.
"Does every single star harbor planets and, if yes, how many?" asked Michel Mayor of Switzerland's Geneva Observatory. "We may not yet know the answer but we are making huge progress towards it," Mayor said in a statement.
The trio of planets orbit a star slightly less massive than our Sun, 42 light-years away towards the southern Doradus and Pictor constellations. A light-year is the distance light can travel in one year at a speed of 186,000 miles (300,000 km) a second, or about 6 trillion miles (9.5 trillion km).
The planets are bigger than Earth -- one is 4.2 times the mass, one is 6.7 times and the third is 9.4 times.
They orbit their star at extremely rapid speeds -- one whizzing around in just four days, compared with Earth's 365 days, one taking 10 days and the slowest taking 20 days.
Mayor and colleagues used the High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher or HARPS, a telescope at La Silla observatory in Chile, to find the planets.
More than 270 so-called exo-planets have been found. Most are giants, resembling Jupiter or Saturn. Smaller planets closer to the size of Earth are far more difficult to spot.
None can be imaged directly at such distances but can be spotted indirectly using radio waves or, in the case of HARPS, spectrographic measurements. As a planet orbits, it makes the star wobble very slightly and this can be measured.
"With the advent of much more precise instruments such as the HARPS spectrograph ... we can now discover smaller planets, with masses between 2 and 10 times the Earth's mass," said Stephane Udry, who also worked on the study.
Monday, June 16, 2008
hmm.. more food?
Hmm.. what did I do this weekend? I set off with lofty goals, climb this mountain behind Shilin... but then, it rained so hard. Took Vinny to this 10ft gun range (air guns shooting pallets - yeah, the same one that Garin and I had so many laughs at). The difference with Vinny - he was intense, he was being Vinny the hitman. So serious, no talking, no laughing, no breaks, just shoot, reload, shoot, reload, shoot, reload...
And then... did we pig out. We topped ourselves. Our lunch/tea meal cost us 1400NT (about 70SGP) per person! Whew! But Bistro le Jadin - we picked it out of the Vogue magazine I was browsing
Address :
02) 2877-1178170, ZhongCheng Rd, Sec 2 (in Tien Mu next to the baseball stadium)
Hours: 7:30 am-10:30 pm
Our verdict? Very good food, dessert so-so, ambience good, pricey... And Vincent discovered the day AFTER we ate (when it was mostly digested) that showing them a weblink, we could've copped a few glass of wine each! Dang!
On Sunday we went out to ZhongLi to race go-karting. Garin was a speed demon, I don't know what happened to the conservative father, family man I thought he was. He came in 3rd and passed me on the circuit like 3 times. I hate him. Vinny the hitman clocked very decent times. I was slow but on my 2nd race, I caught up so much that I broke the car. Literally. Cool eh? (my Canadian accent showing?)
And then... did we pig out. We topped ourselves. Our lunch/tea meal cost us 1400NT (about 70SGP) per person! Whew! But Bistro le Jadin - we picked it out of the Vogue magazine I was browsing
Address :
02) 2877-1178170, ZhongCheng Rd, Sec 2 (in Tien Mu next to the baseball stadium)
Hours: 7:30 am-10:30 pm
Our verdict? Very good food, dessert so-so, ambience good, pricey... And Vincent discovered the day AFTER we ate (when it was mostly digested) that showing them a weblink, we could've copped a few glass of wine each! Dang!
On Sunday we went out to ZhongLi to race go-karting. Garin was a speed demon, I don't know what happened to the conservative father, family man I thought he was. He came in 3rd and passed me on the circuit like 3 times. I hate him. Vinny the hitman clocked very decent times. I was slow but on my 2nd race, I caught up so much that I broke the car. Literally. Cool eh? (my Canadian accent showing?)
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Weekend Binges
Guess what I did this weekend? Yeah right after that little walk up Elephant Mountain? What happens on weekends when you hang out with a big foodie - literally big as well ;)VVG Bistro 好樣
Address: 20, Alley 40, Lane 181, Zhongxiao East Road Sec. 4, Taipei (台北市忠孝東路四段181巷40弄20號)
Telephone: 02.8773.3533
It's western meals cooked with spices and herbs. So more natural tasting. But what I really like about the place is their quaint style. From decor to their serving plates - Vincent's 5 grain rice was served in a miniature Tatung brand rice cooker (very Taiwanese). And his coffee came in a bowl with a spoon - yeah the man ladled down his cappucino.
Only thing bad about this place - it's hard to find thru the backlanes. Between Zhongxiao and Shimin, just 1 lane before Shimin.
And it's pricey too. I find western food restaurants in Taipei really pricey vs Chinese cuisine.
Monday, June 09, 2008
I climbed my 1st mountain in Taiwan!
Elephant MountainPart of the Song shan mountain range just beyond my house. I've been wanting to walk up this trail forever, well, ever since I moved to Taiwan.
I didn't realise how we're totally surrounded by mountains very close by until last week while at Computex's private meetings at the Hyatt Hotel, I saw up from the 14 storey a bird's eye view of the 101 and surrounding area.
Glad Vincent was game to try hiking this trail.
The views of the 101 presents itself almost immediately after you start the initial ascent - which is mostly steep steps. It levels off after a while and as you continue to walk up, the air turns cooler, it gets quieter as you leave the roar of traffic behind.. until you eventually don't hear anything but birds and insects chirping.
We saw a squirrel/chipmunk (how do you identify one from the other?), played with us for a bit before it jumped into the bush.
More pix - http://www.flickr.com/photos/8062670@N07/sets/72157605517070220/
So nice to retreat to nature during weekends. Keeps one sane. All your Singaporeans living in your garden city - you don't know what you have til you don't have it. Sigh.
To get to the trail head of Elephant Mountain, nearest MRT station Yongchun, exit 4. Walk towards Songshan Road. Turn right and walk to the end of Songshan Road. There'll be signs guiding you to the steps that start the trail. Another alternative is from Xinyi Road, Zhongqiang Park.
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