Day 10: The Finale

Day 10: 3rd Jan 2007
Day 11: 4th Jan 2007

Every story has its last chapter, just as every film has its final episode. Every relationship will come to its end, just as every ending means a new start. The song on this blog will end, and so is my write up on Taiwan trip. Yes, after 9 days of living in Taipei, I'm in love with this place. Wholeheartedly. =) My last day in Taipei was spent in a rather relax mode. A visit to Jacky Cheung's dessert house while the girls went for haircut and shopping.

The famous Tang Hu.

Interior design of the shop.

Alex and I.

Jun and Kiat.

Jeff and Guoxin.

The dumplings (9/10).

The desserts (9.5/10).

Watermelon with sago.

Nata De Coco in coconut milk.

The desserts were cheaper then how they look. Each of us just paid about S$10 for the dim sum package, that comes with a choice of dessert. Being a sweet tooth, I really enjoyed the Nata De Coco. Gonna thanks Jeff for the recommendation, who is now happily studying in Australia. =) Met up with Tingz and Butt at XiMengDing where I got a bag for mum, before heading towards Mirama to buy some good local snacks. I got to admit that Mirama's ferris wheel was really an impressive artifact, and now I wondered whether our local one will be as great...

Mirama's Ferris Wheel.

I thought this was impressive.

Jun and I, last dual pic in Taiwan.

Went back to Shilin Night Market to do last last-minute buying before heading towards the hotel room. The guys were playing cards while the girls fall asleep. And I, had no choice but to replan my whole timetable again as I didn't managed to get my desired modules. I know it's kinnda anti-climax to say it here, but imagine how affected I was back then. I went for a walk again after the stuffs were settled.

The icy cold street, stood a lonely me who is apparently lost in life. Dreams, uni results, love, all fall short in front of me as I wandered through and forth the roads. If life could stop, I would like it to stop at this moment, cause I know in just a day time, I will come back to reality. Taipei trip is just like a dream, while Singapore is actuality. Joined back the guys for a game or two before they called it a day. *a hour closer to realism* Was thinking how I can improve my grades and personal life while Jun was snoring away. And I manged to fall alsleep somehow eventually.

Woke up quite late the next morning before heading towards XiMengDing for Ah Zhong's Mian Xian and the usual Legend teas. I could see the unhappy faces of all... I guess none of us wanted to go back then.

The Famous Legend Tea

Ah Zhong's Mian Xian.

$55NT (8.5/10)

Butt, Tingz and I went back to get our bags while Kiat and Jun left to buy some computer games from KMall. Met up at GuoGuang Bus terminal, whereby we took a coach back to the airport.

*5hours left to reach Singapore*, I counted as I looked through the bus, taking a last good view of Taipei city. Soon, before I realized, I was already on the plane. And before I came back to reality, brother was standing and smiling in front of me. He bought Jun and I for roti pratas before sending Jun back home. And on his car, the song of Gigi Leung played, and my mind wandered back to some place, few hundred or thousand kilometres away...

The bags we bought to Taipei.

The extra weightloads we bought back to Singapore.

Local delights for the relatives.

Some items for myself.

Gifts, sounviers for the friends.

In a twink of an eye, my Taiwan trip came to an end and everything went back to normal. Butt and Tingz continue to work, while Kiat went overseas for studies. Jun is now waiting for school to start, and I went back to NUS, completed another sem with a more positive mindset. And I know, I will do even better for the coming semesters. At least now, I don't daydream about going overseas to study anymore, neither do I blame my folks for not letting me go overseas back then. I learn to appreciate life more I guess. Ocassionally, I do hear rantings from Jun and Butt of how they wanted to go back to Taiwan. But to me, Taipei is nothing but a history or memories that still lingers.

I might go back there another time in years to come, but perhaps not. Have you ever look at a old photograph, or think of visiting a country u have visted before, and start to think about the sweet memories you once have, only to discover that u have missed them all so much? And perhaps, you might want to fly to that same old place, to do the same old thing, with the same old people. But yet, when you replayed all these again, in another year, on another date, you discovered that the place is no longer the same, the thing you do is no longer enjoyable, and the feelings you have with the people is no longer there. You will bound to be dissapointed. For me, I missed that Taipei in my heart. And that's enough. =)

Day 9: Body and Wellness Day

Day 9: 2nd Jan 2007

Haha yesh, another must-do-thing to spent winter in Taipei is to visit the 温泉. We woke up at around 11am, before heading to the famous 温泉 at 北头. The package was around S$20 per head, and there were like three levels of pools with different themes. Well, one word to describe: 赞!

The more than 80 degree celsius hot sypring.

Well, a pic to show my double chin while searching for the right package!!! Ahhh! 减肥减肥！

After the lovely hot sypring.

哈哈，picture picture picture...

Na Nu Wa---Yi Ya---Na-Nu-Wa...

After a relax 泡汤 session, it's recommended to head to Danshui to see the sunset and take photos. Hmmmm, I quite like Danshui actually, a less advanced district of Taipei where all the artists gathered. The pity part is, I never got the chance to visit the Fisherman's Wharf, Lover's Bridge cause they decided to head back to XiMengDing for steamboat. The prunes there are worthwhile to buy home. =)

Butt taking a portrait that look like XuMengJing(!).

Danshui's Sunset.

夕阳无限好，只是近黄昏。。。

The tall ice cream. We were trying to "suck". Failed.

He succeeded this time round. LoL.

The 嘛辣火锅 at XiMengDi wasn't too bad. ~S$16.50 per head... But I don't eat hot, haha, so I was munching the ice creams all the way. LoL. Went back to the hotel at around 11pm, and settled down at the hotel's lounge to make my timetable for the following sem. I gotta check whether the modules I wanna take the following sem fit into my timetable. Haha, yesh how last minute! Took a long slow walk at around our area thereafter, before siting down at a roadside stall for a drink. It's nice to be alone at times, with a hot drink on the hand, and observe the nightlife of Taipei. Watching humans walking around, cars speeding by, cats and dogs roaming on the streets, how relaxing... Alex and guys are KTVing away while Kiat and Jun were in the hotel looking at the porn (I think)... Seriously, I love this place. =)

I will miss this place in future.

Day 8: Replenishment Day

Day 8: 1st Jan 2007

Well, being the hardcores... We visited the every-tourist-must-visit Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall right after our countdown and after a yummilicious local breakfast with goat milk... Haha, imagine the amount of energy we had left after the countdown night?!?! The hall was quite an impressive building to visit thou. But the "change duty" drill was nothing fantastic actually.

The famous Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall.

They reminded me of doing army duty. -_-"

Haha, yesh! Quite impressive.

Guys.

Green Lovers.

After sending KokGuan back to the railway station. We went back to Jeff's hotel to catch some beauty winks. Haha, yes, we were in need of some sleep desperately. Managed to wake up at around 7pm before we headed to Shilin Night Market for dinner and shopping. Jun and I managed to grab some nice presents there for GL and Hao.

The famous Bun. (8/10) ~S$1.00

Jeff was dragged by an uncle to do a fortune telling. FOC.

The Gong Wan (7/10). ~S$1.50

Me with DUCKIE's TOUNGE! (5/10) Note e gals behind, LoL.

Well, this 台湾仔 is like damn shuai!

臭豆腐。。。(6/10) ~S$3.00

棺材板 (8/10). ~S$3.50

The day ended happily with a pic with a cutie that sells clothes. Heh heh, 我爱台妹! =) Kiat, Jun and I went to wash our clothes before turning in for the night.

可爱哦！

Day 7: The Countdown

Coundown 2007 was indeed the most unforgettable event of the trip. 永生难忘。Singapore, Channel 8 even managed to get the 跨年演唱会 2007 film, and played it to our local people on Chinese New Year Day 1. I was missing Taipei damn badly while watching the replay on tv.

Day 7: 31st Dec 2006

The suite was the most luxury accomodation we had so far. Knowing that we will be having a sleepless night today, we slept till 11 plus, settled our stuffs at Taiwanmex, before heading towards Taipei 101 by metro to meet Alex and guys for Countdown 2007 .

Some photo shots on e way to find Jeff and guys.

Jun and I.

3 of us.

My loves.

The guys.

Jeff was very nice and bought some doughnuts for us all. I think the doughnuts were just slightly above average (7.5/10), and weren't as impressive as what Butt said. Maybe different ppl got different taste. HAha. But still, gotta thanks jeff for the effort, and he even insisted on not to collect the money from us. 不好意思。。。 We headed towards NewYork NewYork (I think) for lunch right after.

The famous doughnuts.

Everyone had a bite.

Some greedy kids look-alike.

Tingz and I.
I seriously need some face reconstruction in this pic. Boo.

June with his prawn set ~$6 (8/10).

Hk's squid with beef set ~$7 (9/10).

Mine was chicken ~$7 (8.5/10)

Mad people do mad stuffs.
We just lied down and took the pic in the middle of the road.

Jeff, Tingz, Hua, Kiat.

Alex and I.

At around 4pm, we reached the stage area, and the whole place was already packed even though the concert started at 7pm. Haha, being the kiasu Singaporeans, we decided to join in the crowds, and became part of human dominos in the later part of the day. Haha, it was a sacrifice with great returns. The 跨年演唱会 was amazing. Big stars like 梁静茹，吴尊， FIR, 黄立行，品冠, etc all turned up. The co-hosts were 徐乃麟 and 蓝心梅, with some efforts from 黑色会妹妹 (-_-"). 乃哥 is damn damn damn 帅, while 蓝心梅 was ultra super hot. The show first started with FIR and 黄立行 at 7 plus, followed by many other singers. My all-time favorite band, 五月天 turned up at 11 plus pm, and brought the atmosphere to the highest peak. 阿信's voice was superduperultracrazily nice.

Haha, and not long after, the clock striked 12, and we welcomed the new year together with 10 mins fireworks, the stage, as well as Taipei 101... I wished for something at that second, and hopefully my wishes could be fufilled this year. A good point to mention was that, there were no "小黑s" around at the countdown!!! Haha, not like our Singapore's esplande version, where those "小黑s" always made the effort to spoilt the night. Boooo.

At the countdown.

Taipei 101 with the countdown bears.

I spent my last second of 2006 with them.

Just to show that I took a pic of 吴尊！Haha.

乃哥 with 南拳妈妈

The last second of 2006.
The first second of 2007.

The actual thing.

The ugly side of countdown.

We left the place to meet KokGuan right after the countdown. Sat at the park for some stupid games, before proceeding with catching!!! Haha, yeshie! We played catching on the first day of new year at the park till the morning sun came out. The RIP team consisting of Hua, Ting, Jeff and I were form at the end of the game. Haha, seriously, I need to lost some weight. Ppl always thought I was the easiest target, and decided to catch me almost every round! Booo, not until buddy HK turned up to be caught by me intentionally. Haha. I simply suck at such games. =P

Ah Guan, Ah Hua, Ah Shawn.

Oh, he's a little high.

Taipei Walkers. The catchers / RIP team.

Went to the nearby coffeeshop for Taiwan's style breakfast, before heading for more activities. HAhaa, the countdown was indeed amazing. =)

New year, pin new hope. =)