I feel poor. I wanted to buy my mom a watch - perhaps Christmas or her birthday next year. Mentioned this in passing to Emily and she dragged me to the Taipei 101 to look at Rolexes.
That's when I started feeling poor. The classic Rolex Oyster Perpetual DateJust looks great and it's also greatly out of my league. Try 230,000nt. Ouch!
Sorry mom, one day I will be able to buy that for you. That day unfortunately isn't going to be today.
Then I came home and ate more of my cheesesticks and I feel fine again.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
Floods in Taiwan
The last 14 days or so.. I lie awake at nights watching the disaster scene replied on our tv channels over and over again.
The full extent of the floods are really quite horrible. 2 entire villages were washed away by the mudslides. In the worse of the 2 : Xiaoling village, some 400 people out of 1000+ were buried alive. They still lie there, under 4 storeys of mud. Soldiers are digging - initially by hand, now by bulldozers in a recovery process of pure pain, dragged out pain to the surviving familes and even the rescue workers - mostly 20year old conscripts.
Everyone in Taiwan's hurting from this. The Taiwan president and his government has faced widespread criticism on being slow and ambivalent about its efforts.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/24/world/asia/24taiwan.html?ref=asia
Initially I was thinking we can't fault the government since in Taipei, the typhoon effects were mild. In fact, Saturday, the day Xiaoling village was wiped-out, I had gone out to climb at my usual climbing gym because it wasn't even raining. Taiwan has basically gone on a witchhunt, demanding the resignation of the president (for being slow and cold about his reaction), premier (for going for a haircut & then dinner on Saturday evening - even though he had on Saturday morning gone to the affected area), secretary-general of the cabinet (for eating a Father's day dinner at a 5-star hotel). Saturday 8 Aug, was celebrated by Taiwan as Father's Day (88 sounds like Papa).
My colleagues later explained to me that if you were a public servant, your salary comes from the people. More is expected of you.
I suppose that makes sense.
Please send your prayers to Taiwan, it's leadership for wisdom and speedy recovery of the affected areas. That the survivors are re-settled and their future taken care of by the government or by any necessary aid agency.
The full extent of the floods are really quite horrible. 2 entire villages were washed away by the mudslides. In the worse of the 2 : Xiaoling village, some 400 people out of 1000+ were buried alive. They still lie there, under 4 storeys of mud. Soldiers are digging - initially by hand, now by bulldozers in a recovery process of pure pain, dragged out pain to the surviving familes and even the rescue workers - mostly 20year old conscripts.
Everyone in Taiwan's hurting from this. The Taiwan president and his government has faced widespread criticism on being slow and ambivalent about its efforts.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/24/world/asia/24taiwan.html?ref=asia
Initially I was thinking we can't fault the government since in Taipei, the typhoon effects were mild. In fact, Saturday, the day Xiaoling village was wiped-out, I had gone out to climb at my usual climbing gym because it wasn't even raining. Taiwan has basically gone on a witchhunt, demanding the resignation of the president (for being slow and cold about his reaction), premier (for going for a haircut & then dinner on Saturday evening - even though he had on Saturday morning gone to the affected area), secretary-general of the cabinet (for eating a Father's day dinner at a 5-star hotel). Saturday 8 Aug, was celebrated by Taiwan as Father's Day (88 sounds like Papa).
My colleagues later explained to me that if you were a public servant, your salary comes from the people. More is expected of you.
I suppose that makes sense.
Please send your prayers to Taiwan, it's leadership for wisdom and speedy recovery of the affected areas. That the survivors are re-settled and their future taken care of by the government or by any necessary aid agency.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Wet and shaken
And the earth shoke again. I was shaken awake again this morning by another earthquake at 8.05am 6.5magnitude. And just a moment ago, another one.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8062670@N07/sets/72157622064718634/
It's a very unnerving experience when you're sleeping and you get shaken awake - not sure if you're dreaming or it's for real and you should get up, get dressed and run for safety.
Emily & I are convinced it's linked to the recent eclipse. Not good omen. Hmm...
I spent last weekend splashing about in a stream off Yilan. It's called 溯溪 or river tracing. You literally walk up a stream to the source - a big waterfall, then turn around and in parts, slide downstream.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8062670@N07/sets/72157622064718634/The company we used this time around was pretty professional - Cloud9.
Luca, our Italian colleague who spends most of his time eating/drinking and picking up cute nubile Taiwanese women, was totally out of his league. Most of the time... except when he tried to pick up one of our instructors - she's this really totally cool person. Awesome in the water. Glad he was around to provide the laughs cos after a while, when you're wet and cold and tired.. watching Luca makes you laugh.
We thought this event would be cancelled initially - because the terrible floods we have in central/southern parts of Taiwan. But it continued. On day 2, the 2nd stream, the initial part involved crossing this muddy river with fast-moving waters - it really looks like a scene on TV, and us roped up trying to cross it. Made us all feel guilty and sad. May God bless the recovery/continued rescue process, give us all strength/wisdom in the rebuilding process and most of all, bless the souls of those who lost their lives. Amen.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Floods in central/southern Taiwan
It has been pretty horrific and the pictures continue... It's day 7 since the typhoon hit us last Friday, but on TV we're still getting pleas for help from villages in the mountains.
HP has a website for donations to help these villagers but the aid agency they chose, er.. nobody around me has heard of it. Not good... Hmmm...
President Ma has been really slow to react to the crisis. Move quicker, declare a state of emergency if you have to! Accept assistance from other countries! Do something quicker. I cannot even start to imagine not having a hot meal for 7 days, not to mention what these villagers must be enduring and for the for last 7 days.
Whole villages have been swept away, thousands are missing.
While Taiwan has typhoon recovery experience - it is afterall a very mountainous country and typhoons are a yearly occurrence. However, the scale of this typhoon has been something Taiwan has not seen in the last 50 years. It's simply not able to do enough, quickly enough.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/13/world/asia/13taiwan.html?_r=1&ref=global-home
HP has a website for donations to help these villagers but the aid agency they chose, er.. nobody around me has heard of it. Not good... Hmmm...
President Ma has been really slow to react to the crisis. Move quicker, declare a state of emergency if you have to! Accept assistance from other countries! Do something quicker. I cannot even start to imagine not having a hot meal for 7 days, not to mention what these villagers must be enduring and for the for last 7 days.
Whole villages have been swept away, thousands are missing.
While Taiwan has typhoon recovery experience - it is afterall a very mountainous country and typhoons are a yearly occurrence. However, the scale of this typhoon has been something Taiwan has not seen in the last 50 years. It's simply not able to do enough, quickly enough.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/13/world/asia/13taiwan.html?_r=1&ref=global-home
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Majulah Singapura!
Majulah Singapura!
For a long time I had not sung our national anthem. It felt somehow natural that we sang it as 1 people again at the Howard Hotel over lunch.
The Singapore Trade Commission (that's what they call all embassies in Taiwan since everyone recognises PRC as China), had organised a national day party for all Singaporeans here.
They served chilli crab and satay, it felt nice to be able to mill around and speak Singlish loudly without anyone saying 'so Singaporeans don't speak good english...'.
As a special touch, I turned on my computer and went to google and they've gone patriotic as well...
Thursday, August 06, 2009
工欲善其事 必先利其器
Emily taught me this over dinner just now...
工欲善其事 必先利其器
She told me if I could repeat this just once in my lifetime, I would impress everyone. I think if I did this in Singapore, everyone would go, eh, lu gong simi?
We left office leisurely (except the part where we had to run in/out of taxis cos of the rain and wind), because... TOMORROW'S HOLIDAY! YAY!
Thank you typhoon Morakot! It's heading directly for Taipei - eye of the storm aimed directly Taipei. Packing 144km/h winds, it's enough for all of Taiwan to declare a typhoon holiday - so everyone in Taiwan gets Friday off! Cool! For the first time we were actually wanting this typhoon to hit Taiwan, it's been a pretty dry season and the water levels in Shimen reservoir which feeds most of Taipei has been dangerously low. We were going to face water rationing measures when this typhoon appeared as a God sent.
工欲善其事 必先利其器
She told me if I could repeat this just once in my lifetime, I would impress everyone. I think if I did this in Singapore, everyone would go, eh, lu gong simi?
We left office leisurely (except the part where we had to run in/out of taxis cos of the rain and wind), because... TOMORROW'S HOLIDAY! YAY!
Thank you typhoon Morakot! It's heading directly for Taipei - eye of the storm aimed directly Taipei. Packing 144km/h winds, it's enough for all of Taiwan to declare a typhoon holiday - so everyone in Taiwan gets Friday off! Cool! For the first time we were actually wanting this typhoon to hit Taiwan, it's been a pretty dry season and the water levels in Shimen reservoir which feeds most of Taipei has been dangerously low. We were going to face water rationing measures when this typhoon appeared as a God sent.
Storm!
Thanks to the kind people who forwarded me this news.
They named a hurricane after me.
Ha! I always knew I would make a big influence on people's lives.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32284375/ns/weather/
They named a hurricane after me.
Ha! I always knew I would make a big influence on people's lives.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32284375/ns/weather/
Monday, August 03, 2009
The unbearable ease of taxis
Year 1 of arrival into Taipei summer of 2007 - that year, I walked to work daily even in the worst of the summer heat.
Summer of 2008, I started taking taxis to work most days in summer, too hot to walk, too uncomfortable to start sweating so early in the day.
Summer of 2009, I started to call for a taxi. So when I step out of my lift lobby, I jump right into the waiting taxi. Save the 1min walk out to the street.
Transformation to being more and more Taiwanese.
Summer of 2008, I started taking taxis to work most days in summer, too hot to walk, too uncomfortable to start sweating so early in the day.
Summer of 2009, I started to call for a taxi. So when I step out of my lift lobby, I jump right into the waiting taxi. Save the 1min walk out to the street.
Transformation to being more and more Taiwanese.
Losing Father Renckens
Mom told me about Father Rencken's passing last week. To the end, he was praying to be healed and discharged from hospital because he wanted to finish planning some trip. And that is Fr Renckens - Mr Efficiency to a fault.
This morning's reading about Jesus feeling sad on hearing the news about John the Baptist's death.. made me think about Father Renckens.
I remember the first time I met him was at my Pa's wake. Pa had just passed away, we were still in shock, I recall seeing this very tall man with a strange accent show up day 1 of Pa's wake. I remember he stayed with us until Pa's body arrived from the embalmers. Not long after, mom took all 3 of us to Blessed Sacrament church where Fr Reckens was parish priest, and signed us up for cathecism classes. It took a further half year before I understood Fr Rencken's accent completely ;)
I realize he was always there. Cathecism classes, baptism, confirmation and much later, theology classes. I can still see him (in my mind) walking his dog on a long raffia string. Incidentally, his dog doesn't have have the most pleasant of dispositions, he barks and then bites you.
I will miss you Father Renckens. Blessed Sacrament will not feel the same without you around.
Singapore also lost Father Tom O'Neil from St Ignatius church. 2 priests overnight, I would imagine our priest to congregation ratio must take a big hit.
Let's keep their souls in prayers.
http://www.catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3063:father-renckens-a-father-tom-oneill-called-home-to-the-lord&catid=184:information
This morning's reading about Jesus feeling sad on hearing the news about John the Baptist's death.. made me think about Father Renckens.
I remember the first time I met him was at my Pa's wake. Pa had just passed away, we were still in shock, I recall seeing this very tall man with a strange accent show up day 1 of Pa's wake. I remember he stayed with us until Pa's body arrived from the embalmers. Not long after, mom took all 3 of us to Blessed Sacrament church where Fr Reckens was parish priest, and signed us up for cathecism classes. It took a further half year before I understood Fr Rencken's accent completely ;)
I realize he was always there. Cathecism classes, baptism, confirmation and much later, theology classes. I can still see him (in my mind) walking his dog on a long raffia string. Incidentally, his dog doesn't have have the most pleasant of dispositions, he barks and then bites you.
I will miss you Father Renckens. Blessed Sacrament will not feel the same without you around.
Singapore also lost Father Tom O'Neil from St Ignatius church. 2 priests overnight, I would imagine our priest to congregation ratio must take a big hit.
Let's keep their souls in prayers.
http://www.catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3063:father-renckens-a-father-tom-oneill-called-home-to-the-lord&catid=184:information
Sunday, August 02, 2009
Presidential Palace of Taiwan from the inside
After Sunday mass today, I visited the Taiwan Presidential Palace and the nearby Taipei Guest House, 台北賓館 - which wasn't planned. The taxi had dropped by right in front of it, since 
security does not allow cars nearer to the Presidential Palace. The security guards by the road, suggested I see it. Since I was being tourist for the day, why not.... Built in 1899 it was the official home of the Japanese governor of Taiwan during Japanese rule. Just a nice classy house with a lot of chandeliers, used today by the Taiwanese heads of states and their guests.
security does not allow cars nearer to the Presidential Palace. The security guards by the road, suggested I see it. Since I was being tourist for the day, why not.... Built in 1899 it was the official home of the Japanese governor of Taiwan during Japanese rule. Just a nice classy house with a lot of chandeliers, used today by the Taiwanese heads of states and their guests. Now, I've seen the Presidential Palace ttp://www.president.gov.tw/en/ from afar, and also on TV, but it's my first time inside it. Security was real strict, guards every couple of meters and most of the rooms are blocked off, understandably. But still a big eye opener. Pity the President wasn't home...
My 3rd and last stop - the Smiling Kingdom exhibition at the National History Museum. There was a 2nd part to the terracotta warriors of Xi-An, China. Some 70 years later, in the tombs of Emperors Wen & Jing, more terracotta warriors were found. Since these Han dynasty emperors ruled in a time of peace, unlike the Qin Emperor and his terracotta warriors, the terracotta warriors were different. They had peaceful, even smiling faces, they were nude with movable arms and parts and even er.. genitals. They were men, women and even eunuchs. They are known as the Terracotta Warriors of Han Yang Ling.
3 museums on a Sunday afternoon in the 38degrees of summer heat made me sleepy. Time for bed.
Excellent cake shop in Taipei... to die for cheese cake!
Ah Liang whom I climb with, brought us to this fabulous cake shop. His friend who learnt the craft in France, has his own shop in Minsheng East road. It's called Gouter or good day in English.
http://www.paul-cake.com/
Ah Liang spoils us, he ordered a LOT of cakes. Then very subtly walked away while Rae and I stuffed our faces. In much reciprocated good manners, we half-ed each cake, and gestured to everyone, share with me please. In reality, everyone else ate very little.. er.. so er..
And Ah Liang even bought us a pack of multi-layered cakes slices each to go.
I just ate 2 slices for dessert. Absolutely fabulous. Although my personal favourite is the cheese cake sticks. Those are to die for...
I will be back.
http://www.paul-cake.com/
Ah Liang spoils us, he ordered a LOT of cakes. Then very subtly walked away while Rae and I stuffed our faces. In much reciprocated good manners, we half-ed each cake, and gestured to everyone, share with me please. In reality, everyone else ate very little.. er.. so er..
And Ah Liang even bought us a pack of multi-layered cakes slices each to go.
I just ate 2 slices for dessert. Absolutely fabulous. Although my personal favourite is the cheese cake sticks. Those are to die for...I will be back.Friday, July 31, 2009
funny incident
Conversation between me and Luca (our Italian colleague)...
Luca - "hey, u gotta try this website"
Me - launching my MS IE, "what's the URL", as I start to type in 'www.'
Luca - "no, no, no whoa whoa."
Luca - "hey, u gotta try this website"
Me - launching my MS IE, "what's the URL", as I start to type in 'www.'
Luca - "no, no, no whoa whoa."
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Home trips
Alas I will still be on Taiwan soil to sing the majulah Singapura! There's a party held at the Howard Hotel by the Singapore Trade Commission - they're called that cos technically no country other than a handful of countries maintain an embassy or consultate here. Recognizing communistic PRC instead - bah! Money talks, and the world's too pragmatic.
I digress. I will get to sing majulah Singapura with fellow Singaporeans since Aug 9 falls conveniently on a Sunday this year.
And then, I get to go home to truly be amidst my fellow countrymen (minus the extra 2 million real China PRC types, that I do not personally like so much). The last of my SQ miles used for this purpose - Aug 28 to Sep 22. Yep, almost 3 weeks, well, technically 2 weeks. First week Sep will see my leading every single (well, I aim high) 6a, 6b and 6b+ climb in Krabi. Ok, ok, throw in a few 6cs for the added challenge.
I fear I am growing zenophobic in my old age.
So prepare the lion dance and the orchid garlands - I land Aug 28 10pm into Terminal 3. And don't forget to tell the New Paper (they're about as gossipy as the media here in Taiwan).
Just in case the cost cutting measures get to you as well and the lion dance troupe is too extravagant, I will be back in Singapore again not long after.
I booked my first Jetstarasia trip home for Dec 18 to Jan 3. Not flying home via SQ is a big step down. Boo hoo.. I'll survive I hope - stuff myself silly before boarding the 4 hour flight of fasting.
I digress. I will get to sing majulah Singapura with fellow Singaporeans since Aug 9 falls conveniently on a Sunday this year.
And then, I get to go home to truly be amidst my fellow countrymen (minus the extra 2 million real China PRC types, that I do not personally like so much). The last of my SQ miles used for this purpose - Aug 28 to Sep 22. Yep, almost 3 weeks, well, technically 2 weeks. First week Sep will see my leading every single (well, I aim high) 6a, 6b and 6b+ climb in Krabi. Ok, ok, throw in a few 6cs for the added challenge.
I fear I am growing zenophobic in my old age.
So prepare the lion dance and the orchid garlands - I land Aug 28 10pm into Terminal 3. And don't forget to tell the New Paper (they're about as gossipy as the media here in Taiwan).
Just in case the cost cutting measures get to you as well and the lion dance troupe is too extravagant, I will be back in Singapore again not long after.
I booked my first Jetstarasia trip home for Dec 18 to Jan 3. Not flying home via SQ is a big step down. Boo hoo.. I'll survive I hope - stuff myself silly before boarding the 4 hour flight of fasting.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
China’s President Congratulates Taiwan Leader on Election as Chairman of Party
China’s President Congratulates Taiwan Leader on Election as Chairman of Party -- from today's New York Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/28/world/asia/28taiwan.html?ref=todayspaper
Ma is now chairman of his KMT party.
I still don't quite get the irony of the KMT being warmer and more reconciliatory to communist China versus the Taiwan opposition DPP party.
The KMT fought a losing war to Mao Zedong's communist army hence fleeing to Taiwan.
The DPP which was setup in 1986 seeks an independent Taiwan. But they bear no war wounds or emotional baggage that comes with fighting each other to the death right?
Ironic.
In any case, with me being in Taipei for now, the KMT wins for us a peace with China. And peace is always a good thing.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/28/world/asia/28taiwan.html?ref=todayspaper
Ma is now chairman of his KMT party.
I still don't quite get the irony of the KMT being warmer and more reconciliatory to communist China versus the Taiwan opposition DPP party.
The KMT fought a losing war to Mao Zedong's communist army hence fleeing to Taiwan.
The DPP which was setup in 1986 seeks an independent Taiwan. But they bear no war wounds or emotional baggage that comes with fighting each other to the death right?
Ironic.
In any case, with me being in Taipei for now, the KMT wins for us a peace with China. And peace is always a good thing.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Lesson 101 - do pharmacies exist in Taipei?
Because there's a lot of Chinese medicine/Chinese medicine clinics/Chinese medicine pharmacies, feels like 90% of all medical related clinics are Chinese medicine, not the normal western doctors.
I had somehow assumed there are no regular pharmacies in Taipei. I know it doesn't sound logical, somehow...
I've been getting my stash of the usual stuff like sinus pills or motion sickness pills every trip back to Singapore.
Until last week.. I was due to climb Jade Mountain and needed to find a pharmacy to sell my Diamox or any anti-AMS (acute mountain sickness). My last trip up a big mountain many years ago, I fell quite tragically sick with AMS.
I trotted into Watsons since they had a pharmacy counter. They said I had to go to a 藥局. So I went back to work the next day and innocently asked Rae 'what's a 藥局?' She said it's everywhere, and that there must be a few nearby my place. So I took a walk and yeah, found 2 near my place. Got my anti AMS pills, climbed my big mountain successfully.
Here's 2 popular franchise pharmacies, you should be able to find one nearby your home. Yes Pharmacy is the one right by my place. Phamacists here are pretty helpful and yes they do carry the brandname drugs I wanted specifically.
Yes Pharmacy 躍獅連鎖藥局
TingTing Pharmacy 丁丁連鎖藥局
I even made a 2nd trip back to the pharmacy to get some rash cream - yeah, still suffering from eczema.
So guess what, pharmacies do exist in Taipei.
And yes, you're right, I do need to improve my Chinese....
I had somehow assumed there are no regular pharmacies in Taipei. I know it doesn't sound logical, somehow...
I've been getting my stash of the usual stuff like sinus pills or motion sickness pills every trip back to Singapore.
Until last week.. I was due to climb Jade Mountain and needed to find a pharmacy to sell my Diamox or any anti-AMS (acute mountain sickness). My last trip up a big mountain many years ago, I fell quite tragically sick with AMS.
I trotted into Watsons since they had a pharmacy counter. They said I had to go to a 藥局. So I went back to work the next day and innocently asked Rae 'what's a 藥局?' She said it's everywhere, and that there must be a few nearby my place. So I took a walk and yeah, found 2 near my place. Got my anti AMS pills, climbed my big mountain successfully.
Here's 2 popular franchise pharmacies, you should be able to find one nearby your home. Yes Pharmacy is the one right by my place. Phamacists here are pretty helpful and yes they do carry the brandname drugs I wanted specifically.
Yes Pharmacy 躍獅連鎖藥局
TingTing Pharmacy 丁丁連鎖藥局
I even made a 2nd trip back to the pharmacy to get some rash cream - yeah, still suffering from eczema.
So guess what, pharmacies do exist in Taipei.
And yes, you're right, I do need to improve my Chinese....
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Solar eclipse - and I saw it!
I've never actually seen one nor cared very much. But this time it's most visible in North Asia - hey, I'm in Taiwan.
I couldn't sleep last night, eventually falling asleep at 4.30am. Slept badly and woke up at 8.30am only because there's an AMD meeting at 10am.
It appeared dark as I was leaving the house, so I grabbed an umbrella - thinking it's rain. I stopped for a latte at Ikari as usual, then decided to walk to work since it was kinda cloudy. Cloudy is wrong - I remembered the eclipse only when people were staring at the sun and pointing...
Tried to snap a pix of the sun with my cellphone - no luck. Staring at it hurts the eyes. So my office is truly geek-dom. I walked in and say, hey guys, eclipse outside. They coolly tell me to go the pantry where there're filters to see the full eclipse.
I couldn't sleep last night, eventually falling asleep at 4.30am. Slept badly and woke up at 8.30am only because there's an AMD meeting at 10am.
It appeared dark as I was leaving the house, so I grabbed an umbrella - thinking it's rain. I stopped for a latte at Ikari as usual, then decided to walk to work since it was kinda cloudy. Cloudy is wrong - I remembered the eclipse only when people were staring at the sun and pointing...
Tried to snap a pix of the sun with my cellphone - no luck. Staring at it hurts the eyes. So my office is truly geek-dom. I walked in and say, hey guys, eclipse outside. They coolly tell me to go the pantry where there're filters to see the full eclipse.
Picture taken by a colleague from our pantry window.
And tadah - the whole annular solar eclipse. Just a cresent light ring around the darkened sun at 9.50am. Truly amazing. God is great! What a spectacular sight!
Dream fulfilled - bagging tallest peaks of Taiwan
2 dreams carried over from last year - (1) visit 蘭嶼 Orchid Island, off Taitung & (2) climb 玉山Jade Mountain.
Last weekend, I visited Orchid Island. And now dream no. 2 fulfilled.
Almost didn't get to do this, a typhoon had blown in and Fri, the day before we were to leave, it was officially off - Jade Mountain national park was closed. I had dinner with my colleagues Friday night & ironically in the taxi going home after dinner, Emily pointed out the taxi driver's name - it was 王玉山or King Jade Mountain. Hmm...
9am on Sat morning, Honda called me to tell to get my stuff, the park's open and the trip's back on! Without applying leave (no time), I only had time to drop by the drugstore to get some anti-mountain sickness pills, and presto, we're off.
Sat it was road trip all the way to Nantou, and we stayed at the base lodge. I went right to bed, no shower. Sun morning, we rose early and started the long 5 hour walk up to the high camp 排雲山莊. Mon 2.30am we made our summit bid, first the main peak, then the eastern peak. By Mon 2.15pm, I was back at the base lodge where our bus was waiting.
I'm really thrilled that I got to summit Jade Mountain - in the process bagging the 2 tallest peaks in Northeast Asia, the main peak (3952m) and east peak (3940m). Taiwan being so mountainous, lists its 100 best peaks as 百岳.
My pix - http://www.flickr.com/photos/8062670@N07/sets/72157621764305588/
Now here's the funny part to the hike. I'm actually the youngest member of the team. Amazingly everyone else is in their 50s, 60s. Heck, Sandie who's perhaps 50+, brought her brother, now he's 70. And at every rest stop, they wait for... ME. Yes! Taiwanese people are really strong! A common refrain when I show up at each rest spot is, oh she's here, followed by, oh she's now lying flat again (她又躺平了). I was soooo beat.
My legs were so sore, 1st morning back, I contemplated jumping down my spilt level studio because my 39-yr-old legs are absolutely jello.
Last night no. 18 from 宫廷Massage just outside of Tunghua night market did her magic. I highly recommend this place if you need an excellent massage in Taipei. :)
Thank you God for dreams fulfilled.
Last weekend, I visited Orchid Island. And now dream no. 2 fulfilled.
Almost didn't get to do this, a typhoon had blown in and Fri, the day before we were to leave, it was officially off - Jade Mountain national park was closed. I had dinner with my colleagues Friday night & ironically in the taxi going home after dinner, Emily pointed out the taxi driver's name - it was 王玉山or King Jade Mountain. Hmm...
9am on Sat morning, Honda called me to tell to get my stuff, the park's open and the trip's back on! Without applying leave (no time), I only had time to drop by the drugstore to get some anti-mountain sickness pills, and presto, we're off.
Sat it was road trip all the way to Nantou, and we stayed at the base lodge. I went right to bed, no shower. Sun morning, we rose early and started the long 5 hour walk up to the high camp 排雲山莊. Mon 2.30am we made our summit bid, first the main peak, then the eastern peak. By Mon 2.15pm, I was back at the base lodge where our bus was waiting.
I'm really thrilled that I got to summit Jade Mountain - in the process bagging the 2 tallest peaks in Northeast Asia, the main peak (3952m) and east peak (3940m). Taiwan being so mountainous, lists its 100 best peaks as 百岳.
My pix - http://www.flickr.com/photos/8062670@N07/sets/72157621764305588/
Now here's the funny part to the hike. I'm actually the youngest member of the team. Amazingly everyone else is in their 50s, 60s. Heck, Sandie who's perhaps 50+, brought her brother, now he's 70. And at every rest stop, they wait for... ME. Yes! Taiwanese people are really strong! A common refrain when I show up at each rest spot is, oh she's here, followed by, oh she's now lying flat again (她又躺平了). I was soooo beat.
My legs were so sore, 1st morning back, I contemplated jumping down my spilt level studio because my 39-yr-old legs are absolutely jello.
Last night no. 18 from 宫廷Massage just outside of Tunghua night market did her magic. I highly recommend this place if you need an excellent massage in Taipei. :)
Thank you God for dreams fulfilled.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Funny advertisement
You gotta give it to Taiwan - they're very creative. I love this ad. Cracks me up everytime.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
A dream fulfilled - Orchid Island
This trip has been in the planning since mid of last year, canceled repeated due to typhoons. This time around, there is so little confidence that it'll happen and when it finally did, even I was surprised.
No excuses, but I was so sure it'll get canceled that I didn't pack til the day itself. I forgot my camera (brought the dive housing though) *slap forehead*, and I forgot clean tshirts. Well done, Felicia (kick myself).
The island is very beautiful.
The hotel is very sucky.
Our fellow guests are very loud, especially at 5am in the morning.
The diving was ok - similar to Green Island.
There are a lot of sea snakes in the waters off Orchid Island - we see at least 3 snakes per dive.
Still, I had great fun.
Take the photos off the Ah Guang :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aniceday0101/sets/72157621290037189/
No excuses, but I was so sure it'll get canceled that I didn't pack til the day itself. I forgot my camera (brought the dive housing though) *slap forehead*, and I forgot clean tshirts. Well done, Felicia (kick myself).
The island is very beautiful.
The hotel is very sucky.
Our fellow guests are very loud, especially at 5am in the morning.
The diving was ok - similar to Green Island.
There are a lot of sea snakes in the waters off Orchid Island - we see at least 3 snakes per dive.
Still, I had great fun.
Take the photos off the Ah Guang :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aniceday0101/sets/72157621290037189/
Thursday, July 09, 2009
MJ's memorial service
On another conference call this Wed evening.
So here I am sitting here, watching TV, playing Zuma on Facebook, replying the occasional email and trying to listen to what the folks are saying on the call, yeah, all at the same time.
What am I really doing? Watching MJ's memorial service on TV mostly. They actually had MJ's casket at the memorial. And I was thinking, who is that Asian woman singer, she can sing! Googling reveals everyone asking the same question - she's some backup singer who used to work for MJ? Anyways... she did a great job singing We are the World.
That song brings back memories, think I sang it at some school dance with my class. Or rather I believe I lip-synced to it.
Yawn!
So here I am sitting here, watching TV, playing Zuma on Facebook, replying the occasional email and trying to listen to what the folks are saying on the call, yeah, all at the same time.
What am I really doing? Watching MJ's memorial service on TV mostly. They actually had MJ's casket at the memorial. And I was thinking, who is that Asian woman singer, she can sing! Googling reveals everyone asking the same question - she's some backup singer who used to work for MJ? Anyways... she did a great job singing We are the World.
That song brings back memories, think I sang it at some school dance with my class. Or rather I believe I lip-synced to it.
Yawn!
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