1033. slapped by reality

Rant of the day: Hate how humid the weather is recently... HOT AH!!!

While everyone (most people) are in the mood for the coming festive season, saw something that pretty much saddens me. After sending dear home, I was at the usual bus stop, waiting for the usual bus. It was after a while when I heard rattling sounds coming from the rubbish bin. As I turned back, saw a really really old ah pek rummaging through the bin for something.

He wasn't badly dressed (but I'm not sure about the smell though) and his hair was neatly combed to the side. What shocked me was he dug out a small plastic bag with unfinished bread and wanted to keep aside! Next, he found a can of unfinished Pokka Green Tea and started drinking! Felt satisfied, he flattened the can and put it into a small plastic bag.

I wasn't the only one looking. In fact, everyone at the bus stop were watching with disbelieve.

When I was reaching home in a couple of stops, I saw another really old ah pek with tattered and torn singlet, pulling a huge translucent garbage bag filled with drink cans! Time on my watch was almost 12 midnight!!!

Very disheartening isn't it? Chinese New Year is just around the corner and yet, there are peeps like them gonig through hardships that we can't imagine. Most of us are now trying hard not to spend too much while these people are trying hard to have enough just to fill their stomach!

Societal divide... Social divide... Financial gap... Society class distribution... Whatever you call it is now slapping right into my face! While the gahmen says "no Singaporean goes hungry" (somewhere along that line lah), I beg to differ. I think it's not exactly an achievable target, not at least in the next 5 to 10 years. The reality is staring right in front of us.

*sigh*

Aye... Get to sleep. Ain't feeling that good suddenly. Had been sneezing for the past few days.

1032. one more week

Rant of the day: Pre-Monday blues...

Just a week before CNY. So fast!!!

It's been fun since I completed my classes. No more class after work! Which means, more time for the things I wanna do. So for a start, went clubbing for 2 consecutive Saturdays. That's damn rare for me actually. Haven't club that many in a month for quite a while. But that also burnt me out alot. Think I'm physically too old to club that often now. Totally cannot tahan the Z virus... zzzzzzzzzzzz...

Realizing it's the final weekend before CNY, I cleaned my room earlier on after dear left my place. Shagged!!! But at least got most of the things done. Even got the CNY deco up in the living room! Haha... Steady lah~~~

Message up on my lil blackboard residing now on my desk -- 过年咯!!!

Cheers. And I'm hitting for my lalaland soon... Nitez!!!

1031. 深处痛点

Rant of the day: I can't concentrate on my stuff almost the entire day...

早上就是因为这首歌，差一点让我哭出来……黄小琥《没那么简单》。很有韵味的一首歌。真的唱到人们深处的痛点。

几乎是完美的歌词。简直是比对着我此刻的心情。

相爱没有那么容易，

每个人有他的脾气。

过了爱做梦的年纪，

轰轰烈烈不如平静。

幸福没有那么容易，

才会特别让人着迷。

什么都不懂的年纪，

曾经最掏心，所以最开心，曾经……

1030. 因为有爱

Rant of the day: I'm so stuck at my assignment. Running out of inspiration..

因为有爱，才会关心。
因为关心，才会担心。
因为担心，才会伤心。
我会伤心，因为我爱。

已经不记得到底是第几次，因为关心她的身体健康而闹别扭、搞冷战。当关心换来的却是AP……

可能是我关心太多。但是少关心一点真的会比较好吗？

1029. lesson learnt

Rant of the day: It's a blame pushing game...

Lesson learnt... Don't surf porn when working. Especially when your workplace reports live on TV news.

The last picture damn large lah! I'm wondering what will happen to the guy...

It's been a really bad day today. Really bad day... Seriously. If the mistake done (I'm not even sure if it is indeed a mistake in the first place done by me) is so hard to explain to the public, sack me lor! If it makes it easier to explain. Really... Or you want me to resign? What's the purpose of throwing all those procedures that wasn't followed 2 years back when I just joined? When you wasn't even here!

Spoil my mood since morning.

1028. have a disturbing chinese new year

Rant of the day: When a bitch talks, everybody please listen... If not she's gonna bark louder! Let's have some peace and quiet.

Chinese New Year in just about 2 weeks time. Have a disturbing happy Chinese New Year. Haha...

Cheers.

1027. last lecture

Rant of the day: I am extremely annoyed...

Last lecture. Not sure whether to feel happy or to sob.

It's been a long and winding journey. 2 and a half years. Damn blardy long. Seen people come and left the course. Going through late night sessions of rushing assignments. Totally discouraging weekend project meet-ups. Constructive and destructive project discussions.

It's finally over and like what Lisa (our lecturer for the last module) said -- YEAH!!!

What's irony was that the next day, almost everyone tweeted about missing school, class and friends. When we were in it, we wanted to end it. When we were out of it, we began missing it.

Humans...

Life resumes. But now, more mundane then ever. The real busiest peak should start next week. Sad...

1026. almost done

Joy of the day: I'm happy~~~

Almost done... Almost... Just one more lesson on coming Monday and of course, it's final assignment that will probably be completed before CNY, and I'm done with all the modules for this degree!!!

Yeah!!! *jumping with joy*

The final presentation went well and Lisa (the lecturer) seemed exceptionally pleased with the project concept and delivery. We are pleased too. At least our effort paid off. Credits to everyone in the team.

Last lesson on Monday and I'm soooooooo looking forward for it to come.

Still have 1 blog post and 1 reading log to complete. Final assignment will only be annouce on Monday class. We're done... Almost done...

1025. busy recently

Rant of the day: I'm still coughing...

I'm beginning to enjoy working in this new group.

Anyway, had been busy and seriously, barely any chance to update my blog. 4 classes a week!!! Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday (full day class)... There's homework to submit on every class. This means after each class, had to rush home to read the stuff and write the logs, so that I can print in office next day. By the time I finish my homework, it's almost 2am!!!

*yawn*

Class on Saturday... Sian...

1024. decision made

Rant of the day: Cough cough... Sniff sniff... The seasonal flu vaccine didn't work...

I hope the decision I'd made is the right one and will benefit everyone in one way or another. And of course, I don't think I'll regret my decision. But it is a lil sad when people talked about you...

When people changed, things have to change as well to suit the environment. So when that happened, I have to change as well.

Anyway, back to the reading shit now. Lotsa things to read and write by tonight. Not sure how long I'll take but I'm seriously not feeling well...

1023. recap taipei day 5

Rant of the day: Throat feeling really bad... Drank some herbal stuff my mum grounded. Yuck!!!

Sunday is ending soon. Gawd... I hate this feeling...

Back to the taipei trip. Day 5 was an eventful day. Last full day we will have before flying home the next day. So we gotta cover as many places as we can.

If you are in Taiwan, how can you not make a trip to 九分 (Jiu Fen)? But the journey ain't easy. There's no direct MRT to this place because it's on another district off Taipei and somewhere up in the mountain. Gotta take train (yes... the traditional chu-chu train but without the smoke though) to 瑞芳 (Rui Fang) and take a bus from there.

Problem is, we cannot understand their train system!!! There wasn't clear direction nor signages. So everything depends on "ask". The first person we asked gave us wrong message and we boarded the wrong train. It was after quite a few stops then dear realised we boarded the wrong service. Asked the train operator and we got off for the correct train. *phew*

The bus to 九分. Not bad leh. The seats quite comfortable.

View up from 九分 was splendid. But the weather is very much colder though. Wind damn chilling and I was pretty worried about dear's foot injury.

So where is 九分 in the mountains? Here's the street where the bus dropped us.

And here it is, 九分!!!

Up here at 九分, there are some food you must try. Everyone (inclusive those in Taipei City) will tell you to try the 芋圆 (orh yee or yam dumplings). It's fragrant, delicious and chewy. I wanna have them again!!!

We all know Taiwan's sausages are damn delicious but this one, you can't get in Singapore -- black pig sausage. The taste is more wholesome but a lot more oily than the normal ones.

This cute lil pancake (or dunno what the heck is it) was spotted along the way when we were about to leave. And seriously, it doesn't taste good. It's got that uncooked flour taste. Eeewwwww...

Gotta recommend this -- braised beef noodles!!! The beef are succulent and juicy. Handmade noodles but yet chewy. Soup thickened with Chinese herbs. Totally sedap!!!

After hanging out at 九分 for a couple of hours, we headed back Taipei City but this time, the train was soooooooooo packed. We were almost squashed flat!!! But at least we took the right train this time round. Hahaha...

When you are in Taiwan, how can you not have steamboat? Especially when the weather is cold!!! There's one near our hotel at 西门町. At NT$399, it's all you can eat including all the shabu-shabu and Haagen Dazs ice-cream!!! *hungry*

After dinner was done, we went to their largest KTV in Taipei -- Partyworld. Yup. Same as Singapore but theirs ain't play play hor. They have got the entire building to themselves and a lobby that looks like a 5 star hotel!!! Come's with valet parking service as well. Cool~~~

They even got this cute teddy bear section for souveneirs!!! Awwwwww...

Just look at the waiting area. OMFG!!! It's huge!!!

Their smallest room is meant for 6 pax but as compared to Singapore's, it's equivalent to room for 8 to 10 pax!!! And, the room comes with a personal toilet!!! We sang cheap as well 'cause we went on a Sunday night and they had some promo for 6 hours... Wah!!!

The song selection machine. Took us quite a while to figure out how to find the songs because... THERE ARE WAY TOO MANY SONGS IN THEIR DATABASE!!! I tried using the remote but too chim... Don't understand how it works. But anyway, the microphones are fantastic, the sound system damn cool and very nice of the operator to provide herbal candies!!!

And you know what? The best drink during a KTV session is NOT honey-based drinks. Try Chinese tea in the future. It really soothes the throat. We sang for only 4hrs and couldn't take the zzzzzzz monster anymore. Decided to head back hotel for a good night rest before preparing the next day flight home.

That's all for day 5. Stay tune for day 6... Our flight home...

1022. recap taipei day 4

Rant of the day: I can feel the sore throat coming. Downing water now...

Was telling dear how crap it is on the email I'd received pertaining to CNY period leave application... And seriously, I think it is very insensitive and inconsiderate for the non-Chinese to apply leave on the CNY period. Afterall, the Chinese did not apply leave on Hari Raya nor Deepavali even if it is a long weekend.

Peeved...

Anyway, back to the Taipei trip. Day 4 was to resume our original plan and also, one of the must do objective in Taipei -- HOTSPRING!!! Skipped the plan on day 3 because we woke up too late and also dear just hurt her foot. Don't want any hot water to aggrevate her pain.

We booked the private room so that we don't need to see other peeps openly in the public... naked... Room ain't big but cosy enough to rest. Here's the area to let the hotspring water flows in. Temperature of the hotspring at about 40 degree celsius.

And this is the shower area. The challenge to the entire hotspring thingy was to first get into the hotspring when the weather is damn bloody cold and then, go for the shower after the entire body gets hot. *shivers*

Totally refreshing after the hotspring. The soak almost removed all the pain and aches we had after all the walking. Guaranteed to let you have a good night sleep...

After the hotspring, decided to head back to 淡水 (see previous post) for lunch. We wanted to have BBQ at Kanpai (highly recommended by many peeps and books) but apparently, they had some stupid opening hours only during designated meal time. Crap... So we headed back to the street for more street food that we didn't had on the previous day. We really love the corn. They sorta dipped the corn to some floor and fried it. And then sprinkled those flavouring on them. Totally delicious...

After lunch, headed for 五分铺 (Wu Fen Pu), their goods/business district. This is where you can find all the fashion clothings (latest fashion wear) at distribution price. Damn cheap lah!!! But because they are distributors' warehouse area, they do not have fitting room. So, the only thing you can try on are the jackets and outers. Not advisable to buy bottoms here. Never rely on the neck size test. It's not accurate...

We were quite suay lah... It was raining when we were here and it's quite crowded as well. So, very hard to walk, see, touch and buy... After 2 hours, we only covered about 50% of the area. With a growling stomach, it really didn't make things better. And also, our shopping bag was already full!!! That goes to show how many things you can buy here lah...

To "re-fuel", we settled for dinner at this famous 卤肉贩 store just opposite 五分铺. It's the famous 胡须张卤肉贩!!! So we each order a 卤肉贩 and some pork loin, vegetables and soup. Totally delicious. I wanna eat this again!!!

Think this was the day where all our luggages and carriers started to overload... Hahaha... We really bought alot of clothes here. =P

That's all for day 4. Time for me to hit the bed...  Night peeps...

1021. recap taipei day 3

Joy of the day: So many new quests in Country Story!!!

Day 3 in Taipei was the start of the "painful" journey. This was the day where dear accidentally kicked into the hotel room pillar and had almost the entire right foot swell up. Her journey was painful. Taking every step with caution and pain. My heart ached but she insisted that we continue with our iternary with minimal amendments to the plan.

We planned to have hotspring session on the third day but due to the sudden injury on dear's foot, we decided to postpone 1 day to monitor the situation. So we headed for 淡水 (Dan Shui), one of the busiest street near the costal area in Taipei. But before that, we sorta grabbed some bite near our hotel before the trip because we woke up around 11am. All thanks to the late night countdown.

I'm always curious about this 官东煮 (Guan Dong Zhu). It's like sticks of don't know what in the store. So we decided to give it a try. And......... It's like our Yong Tau Fu. Just that the taste are alot stronger. It's nice actually to eat during such cold weather.

Reached 淡水 in about 45 minutes via MRT. It's really pretty much like taking MRT in Singapore from Pasir Ris to Boon Lay. Just look at how crowded the street is... All in all, we barely covered 60% of the street because dear's foot was too painful to continue.

You get to see quite a handful of these game stores in Taiwan. Apparently, I'm pretty good in the pistol shooting game. I shot 17 targets out of 20. Steady ah...

Plus the targets dear shot in her game, we exchanged for this awfully cute blow up Minnie Mouse hammer. Haha...

We tried having more food but we couldn't too full to eat. So, only had BBQ squid and 猪血糕 (pig blood cake). The latter seriously ain't disgusting. It taste almost too delicious to resist a second serving but because it's made of glutinous rice, it's a filler...

As night falls, we headed to 士林夜市 (Shi Lin Night Market). It's one of the most famous night market in Taiwan and almost marketed to the World as one of the tourist attraction.

And if you are in a night market, how can you not eat their street food? Just look at how ginormous their drinks are. I had grass jelly with ice milk, something you cannot find in Singapore. But of course, they do serve the traditional bubble tea in almost all their drink stores.

These are extremely lovable and tasty sweet potato balls!!! Oh very nice... I wanna have them again!!! The purple taste sweeter actually.

And not forgetting their crispy fried chicken fillet!!! Look at the size of it!!! It's even larger than dear's face!!! OMFG!!! We took quite a long while trying to "settle" the chicken fillet. Too large lah...

As we walked along the night market, dear spotted this shop. According to her, it's sorta spree shop with all the spree items for the ladies. The shop was infested with women of all ages! Selling from fashion accessories to tops, bottoms and dresses... And this was where dear grabbed alot of stuff. Anyway, I loved the design of the exterior.

Think we spent alot of time at the night market. By the time we decided to head back hotel, it was already mid-night. Oooohh... *yawn*

Those who saw my Facebook message on the hotspring, that's coming up on day 4 of the trip. I'm extremely sleepy now... Night peeps...

Oh, for those who had been waiting for the fireworks, it's finally up in YouTube!!!

Enjoy~~~

1020. recap taipei day 2

Rant of the day: BUSY day in office. Sianzation...

Alright. Moving on to day 2 in Taipei. It was 31 December 2009. Hours to 2010! So, woke up early for breakfast at the hotel. They serve hot porridge for breakfast every morning. Something perfect for the cold hours.

Washed up. Get dressed. And get ready for the countdown event in that was held at Taipei 101. I seldom got the chance to wear so much. That's a t-shirt inside. Plus a fleece. Plus my down feather jacket. Plus a neck scarf. Temperature hanging around 13 to 15 degree celcius. Oh yes... The wind was strong plus light drizzling.

The MRT ain't too difficult to understand. Very similar to Singapore's train system. Just that they do have quite a number of lines going in different directions and so, have to be cautious not to take the wrong train. Their "EZ-Link" is call 优游卡 (You You card). Funny name when spelt out but it actually means travel with ease.

We sorta went around the more famous streets along the MRT line and managed to reach Sogo!!! It's pretty huge inside.

Lunch at MacDonalds. Look at how neat they packed the burger. This is call PROFESSIONALISM!!!

And they are now having promo on the blueberry pie!!! Taste damn good!!! The blueberry oozes out from the pie. Nice...

After all the short exploration area Taipei streets, we headed towards Taipei 101 for dinner and for the countdown concert. To get a good view, we have no other choice but to be early. This is the best night shot of Taipei 101.

The concert was damn freaking long. Started from 7pm till of course, the countdown at 12 midnight. But we were there since 6pm.... STANDING. So we were literally on no move status for about 6 hours!!! That's worse than the parades I had done during Army days lah!!! But the concert was nice. Seen artistes like Rainie, Claire, Ding Dang, Fahrenheit, SHE, Mayday and etc. This is one of the clearest picture I took when Fahrenheit came right in front of us.

Sad to say, most of the photos of the performing artistes are damn blur. We were actually quite a distance from the stage. But in any event, we made out of the crowd and took a sit near Taipei 101 for the fireworks. And just to get out of the freaking crowd took us about 20 minutes!!! It's HELL!!! Can't breathe lor!!! WTF!!!

Can't have enough time to upload the fireworks video to YouTube at this moment. Once I uploaded it, I'll post it here as well. So do keep a lookout.

After the fireworks, it was another round of hell. NO CAB!!! Imagine more than 20,000 peeps on the street and about 6 to 8 streets closed in all directions near the countdown event. So what if the MRT operates 24 hours? We can't even get close to the MRT entrances!!! So we literally walked for almost 2 hours towards our hotel before dear gave up. And we decided to take a break in a 7-11 store for instant noodles. Love it. There's REAL beef in this instant noodle brand!!! But it's about S$3.00. That's damn expensive for instant noodles lah.

We got a cab after the break. So by the time we reached our hotel, it was almost 3.30am. *yawn* And we had plans for the next day. This countdown thingy seriously drained all our energy from the rest of the trip.

That's all for the second day. Next post on the third day.

Sleep now. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

1019. recap taipei day 1

Rant of the day: Sleepy and it takes FOREVER just to upload a short clip onto YouTube!!!

I'm back and first day in office in 2010 is almost hell... Anyway, my original intention was to blog everyday during my trip to Taipei but realised it's almost impossible to do it. Because, I'm SUPER DUPER tired!!! The worse day (or night rather) was the night after countdown. We will talk about in the next post. Back to the first day recap.

I love airport! Changi Terminal 3 by the way. Love the way the ceiling was designed. It's supposed to "open" up during day time to save electricity by bringing in natural daylight. Well, can't witness that 'cause our flight was early in the morning. No daylight to talk about. Moonlight ok mah?

I haven't flew for aeons... So pardon me if I'm over excited in the plane. But the view from the sky is seriously breath-taking. Look at the mushmellow clouds! Ohhhhhh... *swoons*

Our hotel, Wonstar Hotel. If you sorta google it in Google Maps, it may seem a lil far from the shopping district. But it's actually just 5 minutes walk to 西门町 (Xi Men Ding), their seriously famous local shopping area similar to Bugis. And, about 10 minutes walk to the MRT station. The funny thing was, our room has no window. Eh... But think about it again, we don't really need the window if we are just using the place to bathe and sleep. Hahaha... Think about the convenience.

We headed to 西门町 almost immediately for lunch. This is the evening picture at around 5pm. It gets dark early in Taiwan during their winter season.

This thing is  totally worth queueing for -- 阿宗面线 (Ah Zong Mee Sua). No oyster. Just mee sua with pig intestines and sauces. I'm hungry now already. Shit...

Dinner was rather simple yet local. Taiwan is seriously well known for their local delicacies. Ordered each a small bowl of 卤肉贩 (braised minced pork rice) and 蠔仔煎 (oyster with egg). Filing. Affordable. And seriously D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S!!!

I'm missing their food already!!! Darn... Anyway, that's for the first day in Taipei. Nothing much as alot of time spent on the flight. But just a mere walk around 西门町 took about 2 hours plus and we did not cover all the places. Wow... But their stuff ain't cheap. So if you wanna know where to look out for cheap clothings and stuff, do come back for my post on our 4th day in Taipei.

Cya. =)