'dolce far niente' - "the sweetness of doing nothing"...

this was a slow and easy day..

initally, I was planning to do to Jiji today but woke up late and body is aching from all the walking, so I decided to just stay in the malls today.

I started with a korean food at the food court in 星光三越. Not great but it fills me up.

Suddenly, there was an urge to watch a movie. It been ages since I watched a movie and the movie theatre was just upstairs. It was a choice between Wall street and Eat, Pray, Love. I went for the latter since it was 1pm when i got to the ticketing counter and the movie starts at 1.05pm. If it is not for the timing, I probably would have gone for Wall street.

Indeed, it is a good movie. I guess it is pretty applicable to myself at this stage of my life and the exact situation I am in right now. The movie got me thinking a little bit and I particularly like the phrase 'dolce far niente'. Living in Hk in the last few years has made me increase the pace of my life totally. I aim for efficiency, perfection and maximize every minute of my time. Weekends is not for resting, but for running errands, meeting up with people, going places that I want to. I can be out from morning 10am and be back home only at 11pm. If something small goes wrong, even as insignificant like ordering the wrong drink during lunch can make me feel uncomfortable, just simply becos things are not perfect. I become harder and harder on myself and people around me to deliver what I think should be, or more of what this world expects of us, not only in work but also in life.

I think the decision to just take it easy for the day is not a co-incidence. I believe God wants to me do just that and watch the movie. Believe it or not, I really heard God telling me yesterday night that I need to slow down. He told me that It is fine if I decide to just stay in the hostel after dinner. I do not definitely have to arrange for programs after 6pm. Afterall, I am on holiday.

The thing is, I thought already slowed down and I started the day thinkin that I am going to waste the day today. But now, I think it was a great day and i guess i need to be slower and enjoy this time, really.

so, enough of philosophy.....

one interesting thing happened today while I was looking around Sogo (the second mall today). 2 college kids suddenly came to me and started exclaiming how nice my bag was. They started chatting, ask me where I was from, where i bought the bag, then started talking about a skin doctor. Initially, I really thought they were friendly. After awhile, they keep insisting that they want to show me where the skin doctor is, then I start to think they are trying to pull me to some beautician salon and they get paid for it. Why would you insist on recommending a skin doctor to me when I told them that I am only here for a few days. In the end, i politely decline. The girl made a comment that really got me laughing but i guess she was trained this way. She say that my skin is fair! hmmmm........ i guess this is probably the first time I hear anyone saying that I am fair-skin!!!!!!!!! after she said that, I knew something was fishy.

and... when i told them that the bag was from 耐克。They couldn't understand me. They only understood Nike. Isn't Nike called 耐克 in taiwan?

then, i walked to the back of sogo where they are supposedly tonnes of eateries (and indeed!) Unfortunately, i had quite a unhappy encounter at the food outlet. They did not deliver some of the food I ordered but they lost my receipt! When I asked them about it, they question my order and was so reluctant in sending me the things that they missed out. The worse thing is that the person who took me order knocked off and they had to call him to verify!! Gosh, it is probably something that costs only NT40, the cost probably is what, NT5??!!! Did they have to do that?? I was totally pissed... they send the remaining food eventually and I told them tha tI did not want the food anymore and walked out of the store even though I paid for it. Guess what, the receipt was somewhere else in the kitchen and they found it while i was walking out of the door. Well, it was a unhappy 鲁肉饭 dinner. Not satisfying at all! but still going to post the pics here, but only the food, not the outlet because I dun want to do free advertising for them. The sad thing is that their food is really not bad and if the service was perfect, I would have posted up pics of their store as well. too bad! I will just need to find another 鲁肉饭 place to fully satisfy this craving.

along the way as I was walking to get a bus back, saw this cute cafe in a semi-detached house. Next door is actually someone's home. Interesting. I think it is a theme cafe with cartoons characters which of course, I will not know!

really have to go Jiji tomorrow la, if not no more time. but, who knows, I might decide to watch Wall street tomorrow instead. haha...

sudden craving for ice-cream... shootzz....

Round of applause for taxi-free 5 days in a row

so proud of myself because I have not taken a single cab for the whole of 5 days. I either depend on trains, buses or my reliable legs! APPLAUSE PLEASE!!!! I think i can shake off the title of taxi queen for awhile.

Today was 鹿港 - 彰化 day trip. Took a bus from the bus company right next to the hostel and it took about an hour to get to the Lugang. While waiting for the bus, I bought a rice bun from the convenient store, to filll up my stomach before I get to Lugang and try the local food.





Hmm, was a little appalled initally because it was featured as a place to visit but the tourist attractions are all so spread out. And the place that I got off the bus is like in the middle of alot of buildings with no major attractions around. I had to sit down to really study the map and figure out where i was. The nice thing is that there are (of course) free maps available. There are also free shuttle buses to key areas (just have to make sure if you are taking the inner city line or the outer city line). I got on the inner city line and had to make a change. The bus driver was not exactly helpful on where I should be changing the bus and it took me 30 mins and quite a bit of walking before I found the other place to board the bus!!!! Well, this is the first unhelpful bus driver I met in the last 5 days!

Lugang is a town of lots of temples basically but I am totally not keen on temples, so i just walked around and markets and the glass museum.

So, at the glass museum, i saw this interesting sign (this is right outside of the building that the glass company is building). Still a very traditional country... with quite a bit of superstitions! :D

AS requested by friends who are not very proficient in Chinese, this is a translation of the sign (i try my best to translate la!).

Taiwan Glass Museum 2nd construction project.
For those who are
1. Pregnant
2. Just held a funeral at home
3. having your period
Please stay away from the construction site.

(basically, this is to prevent bad luck and they hope to avoid all accidents during teh construction)



of course some local food for the day...











some glass pieces at the glass museum and me trying to take a picture of my reflection in the mirror.

some interesting sights along the way......

So, some translation again. Under the tree, the sign says "喜乐的心乃是良药". It means. A happy heart is the best medicine for all illnesses!

i decided to take a much longer bus route back to Tainan since I am not rushing anyway. The bus instead of going straight from Lugang to Taichung, goes thru Changhua city as well. Took a good nap since I was so tired from walking under the sun for the whole afternoon.

After a good nap and a good long walk from the train station, i got to the night market and got myself a 煮炒 dinner. Pork fried rice and cabbage. It taste really good and the portion was just nice. Something funny happened at the store. I saw the helper taking a HUGE heap of rice for the cook and i turned around and said, "I cannot finish, not so much rice pls." The helper turned around and look at me smiling... "no worries, the other half is for me!" hahaha... I was just thinking why the portion was so big!!! this is not hong kong lo!

and the walk to the night market was interesting. I thought that the night market is quite near and decided to walk but that is probably the worst decison i made in this trip so far. The place was bl**dy far. Alot of dark streets with little people and i think i walked through the redlight district too. There were many darker skin people sitting around doing nothing. Glad i made it safe and sound home! along the way, i walked past bridal shops selling really nice wedding dresses. Suddenly, i feel like taking picture in those dresses. Dun get me wrong, i dun want to take wedding photos (and definitely no plans for it now). I just like those dresses.... and jsut want to wear them.

5 days in taiwan, i am really liking how leisure this break is. No time pressure, no massive pre-planning. Do everything as it comes along. Since I am by myself, it is perfectly fine that I get lost, eat when i like it and est when i want to.

People are generally friendly and nice here. the only thing probably i still need getting use to is the massive number of scooters here and the fact that they can be everywhere, on the pavements, turning round suddenly etc. Road hazard!!!!

tomorrow...集集or 清静农场。。 see how tomorrow la...

Taichung - First day

this is one interesting sight on the platform of Taichung train station. These are seats using toilet bowls and in the shape of a clog.

Was under a little stress when I got out of the station because Taichung is not as organized as Taipei. Was not too sure where I should be taking the bus and there was SO many people around. Luckily, I found a tourist information station with a very friendly staff and TONNES of guidebooks whichi are so amazing good and better than anything that I paid for! And they are free!!!!!!

finally, found the bus, went onto the bus and got to the hostel (Suncake Hostel). Due to the low price, I was initially thinking that this might be a hoax but it really exist! It is run by the owners of a suncake (famous Taichung biscuit) shop. The entrance in in the shop!! haha.... I found the place and thought that I was at the wrong place. The place is decent, though it can do with some renovation but all basic necessities are here. Hot shower, lockers, TV, dining area etc. nothing to complain for NT250 a night! So, this is my home for the next 2 days (at least), extendable to 5 days depending on how the sleep goes tonight!

REally convenient as well. There is bus next door to go to Lugang. You can walk to 星光三月。There are buses to Feng Chia night market and direct buses to many places within Taichung city. A few more steps away, there are buses to go to Jiayi, pingtung, and taipei and taoyuan airport! not too bad hor!

after starving for a whole day, i decided to treat myself to a nice Tonkatsu dinner! I think i deserve it!

and after dinner snack... fried mushroom and bubble tea (OF COURSE!) at Feng Chia night market! Nice!

One day done... tomorrow.. church and Lugang day tour!

lazy friday..............

went to night market near gongguan station (dun know the name though!!). I think it is near a university, so alot of nice food and cheap stuff. hmm, why they say taiwanese not good looking. Aiyo... i buy bubble tea, got cute boy. I buy chicken cutlet, also got cute boy. But, realliiiiieeeeeee boys hor. prolly only late teens! I think i have potential to be sugar mummy la!

my dinner... so satisfying!!! the black sugar bubble milk tea is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the fried chicken is SO much better than the one in Shilin.... thick, juicy chicken cutlet. the marinade is a little sweet, but well, everything in Taiwan is just sweet and salty anyway! final touch, a cabbage bun. FULL! I think i want to get the green tea milk again!

sigh.....how to lose weight like that!!!!!!!!!!!!

my english book.... from a second hand bookstore for NTD120.



alright.. need to go get ready for taichung tomorrow morning!

Maiden trip on public bus (公车）

wanted to take a direct bus to Taipei station from just outside the apt...BUT... i got on the wrong one. Instead of getting on the one that is the full trip, I got on the one that only goes halfway. but then, lucky me, the bus driver kinda knew I am TOURIST, so he announce during the final stop that "要前往台北车站的乘客，请在公馆站转车，这是区内线”。(passengers going to Taipei station, please drop off here. This is limited area route only). So nice of him la! Lucky me, if not go back to my original station.

So after walking here and there and trying to find my way to find the railway station, I finally bought my ticket to Taichung after 2 hours. Why?? The railway timetable was so confusing la! who knows how to read it man!!!! after staring at the table for like dun know how long, i muster up all my courage, went to the ticketing counter and ask the counter auntie la. She was so nice. Ask me what time and then help me buy ticket!

so ticket done. hostel booking done. found a new hostel, Suncake hostel in Chaoma area. hope it will be nice!! so, on my way to taichung this sat! YEAH!!

after so much effort to buy ticket and finding out about travelling around Taiwan, I really think there needs to be a lot more effort to make Taiwan a more tourist friendly place, especially for people who can't speak or read chinese.


and dinner today. 内陷饼 葱油饼 绿茶牛奶！！内陷饼 is nice... regret that I did not buy more! greedy me!

and my dessert for the day...豆花芋圆。It was difficult choosing this over bubble tea today, so I am determined to have bubble tea tomorrow!

new found drink

Green Tea Milk! Nice!

Home for the next 2 months

Landed in Taoyuan at 11.40am. Took a bus to SongShan airport, a train transfer and a car ride, here I am in the room that will be home for the next 2 months.

Nice little room. convenient area with lots of eateries and supermarkets around. It is a little far from the Taipei Station but well, I am not in a hurry anyway!

once i am done with my itin for Taichung (almost done!)... will post that up so at least some people know where I am and when.

Stay Tuned!

Start of my Taiwan Adventures

Adventures will start in 2 days i.e. 6th Oct.

Not exactly planned but well, let's play by ear.

Taiwan has this alluring draw for me. I don't really know when it started and how it started. I just like the country, the people, the accent, the music, the tv.
Finally.....after mustering enough courage, I will start my tour of taiwan, to be more exact, round the island tour. One backpack and a couple of guidebooks, flexible schedule....Taiwan... HERE I COME!

i just pray for safety, no food poisoning, nice people along the way and lots of great fun!