Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
All of us had been keeping close with the news about the weather in Taiwan before our holiday started. We kept asking if we have to bring winter clothings, or a normal jacket will be just fine, should we bring scarves? Were we be bringing too much clothes?
Most of us said we would most probably bring jackets and scarves, and even gloves. We got information from the TV News in Taiwan that there were certain places that started snowing. Furthermore, countries such as Hong Kong, Japan and Europe and The States reported that the temperature had became very cold. Everyone put on very tight layers of clothings to keep warm.
So we decided to bring extra jackets and clothes to keep us warm. MPP said that she had been to Taipei the last time, and she just had a normal jacket on. Therefore this time, she would do the same thing too.
I think, I had really experience what is Winter this time. I had been to Taipei during Winter, and I even had holidays in Hawaii and Gold Coast, which the weather were the same. I remembered wearing jackets and long sleeve t shirts, but I never felt this cold before.
We arrived in Taipei in the evening and we wemt out for dinner. Once I stepped out of the hotel, I could feel cold breeze blowing on my face. I was wearing a thin layer of long sleeve t shirt and a thick jacket on. Frankly speaking, I had a sense of regrets at that time, because I should have put on another t shirt underneath. How am I glad that we arrived at the Hello Kitty Restaurant for dinner, I quickly went in to get blocked out by the wind outside.
You must be wondering, how had this song came into the picture. MPP told us previously that she wanted to be the survivor during this trip. Meaning she will make do with what she has brought and survived her 8 days out of this cold weather. As we walked around those shops after dinner, we could feel the cold temperature around us, despite us wearing like a dumpling. Maybe our body had not get used to this kind of coldness, we started to trembled. Turning to look at MPP, she looked all right in what she was wearing.
Suddenly, very inspired, I started singing Destiny Child's Survivour, only that I changed the lyrics a bit.
'I'am a survivor, in this cold weather'
And all of us thought it matched the atmosphere we had and the songs actaully turned out to be quite rythmn.
Our sole survivor gave up the title after 2 days, because it was really too cold. And she bought another jacket , because we believed days up the mountain might be even freezing.
This became our team song for the rest of the trip, because it became colder and colder.
Will continue the freezing point on my entry in Qing Jing. That was the highing level of coldness I had encountered.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
This is the third time I had been to Taiwan. I have not been going for holiday since the past 2 years, and due to the tiring work I had in 2010, I really looked forward to this holiday for a long time.
My friends in the office know that I have been working without buddy for almost a year. Although everyone is kind enough to lend me a helping hand whenever they see me drowning, I still have to do major reports and adhoc requests from the HOS myself.
This break was like a life saviour, bringing work out of my mind for the time being (at least for 8 days). My Taiwan kakis even had AGM together, in order to make full use of the 8 days in Taipei. However, we had a change of plan and decided to travel out of Taipei for 2 days. First to Sun Moon Lake, then Qing Jing and after that, to Tai Zhong before going back to Taipei. All agreed and set off to Taipei on Boxing Day.
As there were really very funny incidents happened during the trip, I decided to keep my trip kakis' names a secret. So I have nicknamed them as CSB (Crazy Smiling Butt), MPP (Most Protected People) , and SQ (Shopping Queen).
CSB was not the first nichname we gave to her. She was formally known as 吃不停. Before we set off from Taipei, we had breakfast at Mac Donalds. On the plane, we had the meal served to us. After that, all of us had not eaten anything until we touched down Taipei and checked into the hotel. However, she told us, she ate a 凤梨酥which she kept from the meal we had previously. When we all went out for dinner at night, she ate heartily just like us. After that day, we witnessed her special talent. From normal meals to snacks, and ice creams, she never failed to show us that her small stomach could actually fill a lot of food, anytime.
By the way, we are really grateful to her, even now, that she spent her money on food, instead of shopping, because her super light luggage actually save us in the airport, as the other 3 of us had overweight luggage. As for why is she called CSB, that is a little secret between the 4 of us.
MPP was the most protected person during the trip. She was prompt to fall down in the unexpected time. If I have not remembered wrongly, she fell down twice and nearly fell twice. First time,she slipped down the steps when we were walking down in 九族文化村. Second time, she fell down in the van when 黄先生suddenly braked the van. Then when we were in 清境农场, when she nearly fell down. I happened to be standing behind her, so I managed to grab her before she fell. The last time was when we walked out of Mac Donalds in Tai Zhong. We were supposed to board the van to set off for Taipei. She came out from the shop and walked over the rail to the van. Fortunately I turned around to check on her, and managed to catch her before she fell again.
Oh!!! There was one mysterious incident too. SQ and I heard her shouted 'Aiyah' in the restroom when she said she wanted to take a shower. The first thing we shouted out was 'A! You fell down again har?'. Though she kept insisting that she actually dropped her towel, we still keep that as a mysterious fall. Hahaha! Since then, the three of us decided to protect her. We will walk beside, in front and behind her every time, in case she falls again, we will be able to catch her on time.
Before I forget, MPP is really very prepared Travel Kaki. She prepared all our itinerary and researched on information on our hotel, 民宿, transport, places to visit, things to bring for us. She provided 暖暖包for us. Really thankful of her.
SQ is still SQ regardless in Taiwan or Singapore. She could buy something in the places we went. Sun Moon Lake, Qing Jing, Tai Zhong and Taipei earned a lot of her money. Hahaha! She was the only person who came back to the hotel every night with something in her bag. Even if we went to 7-Eleven, she could grab a lot of of snacks, tidbits and things. She bought shoes, bags, books, DVDs, accessories and gifts. Fortunately, she brought additional bags to Taipei, because all the things could not fit into her luggage. I am really impressed that she can even bought instant noodle and soup and even 饭团back to Singapore. She definitely live up to her name!
I had 8 days of fond memories and new experiences, over 1400 pieces of photos. I will be blogging about my trip. So stay tuned.
And time to save up to recoup my damage cause in my bank account.
