Taiwan

Yup, my first day in Taiwan. We reach the airport and it looks kind of rundown. but nevertheless, that's not the main point that we are there. My friends and I are there for our graduation trip. This trip doesn't come easy but thanks to Shinwen who did most of the planning and coordinating. =)

ok. Taipei. We arrived and was greeting by a man who would be out tour guide for just that day. Our real tour guide went on a meeting and would only take us from the evening time till the rest of our trips in Taiwan. Well, i was relieve to hear that because the temp tour guide was kind of speaking in such mixed language that i think i can hardly understand.

anyway, we went to Danshui (淡水) and fisherman's wharf (渔人码头). There is this Lover's bridge (情人乔). Its called lover's bridge because once on this bridge a beautiful love happened between a man and a women upon their meeting on this bridge. But their love was struck with misfortune and the couple ended their life on this bridge. So people called the bridge Lover's bridge in remembrance of their wonderful and great love... Well.. that's a made up. The true reason why it was so named was because this bridge is officially opened on Valantine's day. That simple.. no fairy tales of beautiful and romantic pictures of a guy and a gal. duh.

We then went to some streets with lots of snacks and interesting things to see.. We saw a shop with it's name 老娘的店. Super funny, it kept me laughing after some times, some days. There is this ice-cream that's very tall until you got to bent yourself before you can eat it. not too expensive, NT30. then i realise taiwan has got no dustbin. many of us find it hard to find a better place to throw away the litters after eating the stinky tofu and my half finished ice-cream. Woah. there is also a strange museum right in the middle of that street. It showcase insects and animals that are born differently from their own species.. like two headed turtles, giantic sotong fish.. this musuem even have a very strange ticketing system. if you can lick your nose with your tougue, you gain free admission to see some giant snakes..

Soon.. its time to reach our first hotel. Paradize Hotel. Not bad, checked in and off we go to Hesinmending (西门町). Its quite small actually. Not as big as i assume such that i could get myself lost inside it. the things sold there are rather expensive. I dint dare to go into the shops that are not traditional in taiwan (meaning taiwan born shops) neither am i able to step into the shops selling foreign imported goods. look not just expensive, but also never my kind of clothings. Many of them saw this shop that sells leather stuff. they brought keychain and the shopkeeping provide free crafting services so that you can craft your name or what ever you like on it. Not bad for a gift to family and friends. NT 200 if i am not wrong. This shop even has their own online sites. but i din buy any of those, so i could not remember the website.

Then we came upon some voodoo dolls. waoh. lots of choices of voodoo dolls for different purpose. not for me but cute nevertheless.

I must recommend the Ah tong Mee Sua. well, i don have to "recommend". The Meesua that they are selling will convince you right away that its good.. not base on the look of the shop but rather from the kind of queue they have. Its not very long though, coz they are fast at serving, but based on the never ending queue EVEN when they are serving fast. It one kind of enjoyment to eat standing up coz there are no seats for you anyway. Very tasty. Thank God Ida is getting better. I share with her but we uses different bowls so its ok. somewhere around this famous stall is this hair dressing shop called 乱剪. Cool is it not? to let someone who is going to anyhow cut your hair DRESS your hair.

hum.. that's the last destination of the day. . but if you think that's the end of our photo taking session you are wrong. More photo taking session back in our hotel rooms and we are so excited and full of energy. After taking a shower, we turn in for the day ready for the next morning's 6am morning call.

Ida and i were thankful for the wonderful day and prayed that Ida would get well soon. She asked me to be true to my feelings regarding the trip and i am glad that someone care to know my true feelings. But i am still thankful for the friends and the trip. More is to come and it is still too fast to make a conclusion. not to forget, our tour guide is very good looking. he is so good looking that I couldnt keep quiet about it. He is the type of guy that Ida and i would look for. =)