there’s no pretense.

There. I’m back.

Taiwan was great! I just love the cold weather! It’s just so amazing how you can be shopping in a busy night market with so many people squeezing and pushing and yet feel like you are in an air-conditioned room. I didn’t really buy a lot of stuff. Just some tops, jeans and a belt. All from the cheap night markets.

The food was great. I don’t know why but I love their rice. If I’m not wrong it’s Japanese rice or something like that. I’m not sure, but their rice was just good. The grains were smaller than the ones in Singapore. Hmm I don’t really know how to describe it but ya you get my point.

Taiwanese food is cheap too. The exchange rate was S$1 = NT$21. Somewhere around there. It’s quite weird because you’re paying like NT$20 for something and you feel it’s expensive at first, but after you do the converting it’s not. I guess that’s because I’m not used to it. In Singapore it’ll just be S$1. So it’s quite intimitating when you are shopping and you enter into a shop and see stuff selling at NT$27900. Seems like a lot huh? It’s actually only around S$1328. It was some coat selling in Ralph Lauren. The prices are around the same as that in Singapore.

Most stuff are cheaper in Taiwan than Singapore. Cigarettes, beer. They’re not taxed as much in Taiwan as in Singapore. A can of Heineken only costs NT$45 in 7-11. That’s only around S$2 plus. Oh did I mention Taiwan is conquered by 7-11? There’s one everywhere you go. Not a place without it. There’s is only thing though that shocked me. A cup of grass jelly cost NT$30. In Singapore it’s less than a dollar. Maybe it’s because I bought it in some huge shopping place. Ximending.

I went to some theme park in Taiwan as well. It wasn’t really scary, but it was the first time I tried out some of the rides. The one which brings you up high and let’s you drop down all the way and a lot more. So cool. Not to mention the entrance fee is so cheap. NT$150 if I’m not wrong. Way better than Escape Theme Park in Singapore.

Oh and the places which we went that were not cold (Kaohsiung, and some other places), the wind is so strong it doesn’t even matter that you’re under the hot sun. The wind really makes it hard to walk. So imagine how strong it is.

The tour guide we had was simply great. According to some people from the places we went to, he is one of the top ten model tour guides in Taiwan. His name is Alan, and I’m glad we had him. He was fun and outgoing, really made the trip enjoyable, not to mention he always have so many things so say. Never-ending flow of words. He told us a lot about Taiwan during the trip, and he really has a lot of crappy jokes.

I’m too lazy to type out what happened and all, and I’m also too lazy to upload all the photos up here, but I had a great time. Definitely not forget this trip.

Today is the last day of 2007. I can’t say this year has been a really great year for me. So no reflections and everything. I’m just waiting for tomorrow, a brand new year, and the start of something new.

No I’m not in Taiwan now, but I will be in around 14hours time. It’s 2.25am now. Got to be at the airport at 10am, flight’s at 12pm, and touchdown’s at 4.35pm if I’m not wrong. It’s a 4.5 hours flight.

Can’t say I’m looking forward to it. I’ll be missing so many things. Christmas in Singapore, cell group appreciation night.. I’d rather be in Singapore actually. On the other hand, it’s not so bad after all. I am looking forward to all the FOOD, all the shopping, and maybe some fun, I hope.

It’s winter in Taiwan now. I’m not sure if it will snow (does Taiwan snow?), but it’s going to be cold. Yeah. A one week tour. Tours suck. Yes they plan out everything for you, save you all the trouble, but you don’t get the best out of the country. I tell out what I’ll be visiting a lot: Temples. Why the hell will I want to go temples?! No offense but to look at some stupid lifeless idols?! I don’t go temples! Gosh. Tours suck. Period.

I’ll be back on the 30th. Guess I can’t continue spamming Heroes until I come back. Oh well. I hope I can find some way to go online in Taiwan. I’ll see.

Till then!

This is an uber cool guitar website I stumbled across. Gosh. The licks they have are damn cool.

Those who don’t really play the guitar can play the games on the site as well. Enjoy the music man.

Hmm…

Anybody care and nice enough to sponsor me 1800 euros for a guitar like Mr FF?

There are three very bad days this month. One has come. Two more awaits.

Monday 16 December, tomorrow, Friday 21 December, and Christmas Eve 24 December. Just what do they have in common?

One huge, major, catastrophic fact: Cab fares are increasing on these day.

Damn it.

No more 65551111, no more 65558888, no more 65553333, no more 63636888.

Ok fine. Not that I call to book cabs all the time, but then again. this sucks.

Anyway here’s something random. I didn’t know St James has a gay night every sunday. Guess who told me that? A taxi driver.

Daryl.

Such a wonderful name.

Not three, not two, but ONE ‘R’.

Not three, not two, but ONE ‘L’.

Spelled darYL and not darLY.

No offense, but personally, Darryl’s with the double ‘R’ just make no sense.

So ugly. So un-beautiful.

Daryl’s just rock this world.

Ego.

Yeah.

It’s where I grew up. It’s where I first studied. It’s a place I’ll never forget. It’s special. It’s unique. It made me, shaped me and fed me. It’s so much more.

Visited my grandparents today. It’s been a while since I did. Words cannot express my gratitude and love for them.

They brought me up. From the day I was born all the way till primary 4 I stayed with my grandparents. Maternal grandparents. They carried me 18 years ago, fed me, taught me to live and to love, to smile and to laugh. Now, 18 years of age, they’re still here, and I thank God for them, for I won’t be who I am today without them.

I visited today without the intention of staying for dinner, but they asked, and I stayed gladly. Hadn’t had dinner there since Chinese New Year. Simple food. Just me, my grandparents and my aunt when she came back from work. So simple, yet so heart-warming.

Looking at my grandma now, she look so petite, so fragile. She has lost a lot of weight. Probably due to her old age. Her leg aches. Been to so many physicians but to no avail. I guess it’s probably due to old age as well. She’s still strong. She prepared dinner tonight. Washed the rice, steamed the fish, served the plates. My grandpa, strong as ever. Still full of life. It’s sad to think that they’ll go one day. I don’t know how I’ll feel when the day comes.

I love my grandparents. They’ll always be special to me. It’s a feeling so strong and overwhelming that I don’t even feel for my parents. It’s probably why I’m not close to them. I want to get married one day. I want to let my grandparents see me marrying the one I love one day. I believe it’s my greatest gift I can ever give to them. So Lord I pray you will preserve them, bless them, and give them strength. They mean the world to me.

So for those whose grandparents are still around. do give them a visit. Your simple act will make their day.

Hungry. Ahh yes that’s the word. Lapar. Right. I do. Most definitely.

At 1.40am in the morning.

Cool.

Comfort Cab. Well, today’s ride on one wasn’t really comfortable. As a matter of fact, it was stressful, nerve wrecking, and totally irritating. Utterly pissed me off and scared an otherwise wonderful day.

So it started with me waking up late (why would I otherwise take a cab?). Had to be at Expo at 12.45pm for choir practice but I woke at 11.50am. Oh well, I got ready and went out to get a cab. What day is it today man? There were so many people trying to get cabs. Going in front of one another and cutting the queue. Typical Singaporean…

Then again. There were really NO cabs around. What happened to all the taxis just when you needed one? So many people were just waiting for one empty cab to appear. Well I ended up calling for one. On hindsight, I really think I shouldn’t have.

The cab came, after all the other retarded people all got theirs. So when you think the worst is over, the driver don’t even know how to go to Expo! How retarded is that?! I ended up having to direct him. The nightmare started when we reached the expressway. He missed a turn and.. well.. damn it.

$5 worth of cab fare. He brought me to tour around half of Singapore before taking me Expo. The nearest exit after that missed turn was at Eunos. Great man. I can’t believe it. A taxi driver who doesn’t even know the road, so much so that I had to direct him. I’m not supposed to know the road, at least not yet.

Well at least he didn’t charge me for that extra cab journey, though he added a few cents here and there and I’m quite sure I ended up paying $1 more. I couldn’t be bothered by then. It’s not just the money. I ended up late. Time is money man. Opportunity cost. Economics man.

Oh screw it. I can’t really stop taking cabs altogether for my entire life. I’ll just take it as my bad luck today.