halfway through my one-week "vacation"...
what was planned to be filled with activities...
became filled with..well...unplanned activities
-_-
for one, did not plan to fall face down when roller-blading at pasir ris park :(
and did not plan to chat online till 2+am since last sat night *yawn*
so far, so good.
enjoying the break from work...
and the absolute joy of waking up to see the sun shining :D
4 more days of holiday left :(
time pass too fast when one is having fun...
or when everyday is packed with activities, planned and unplanned...
as of today, i have yet to
1) pack my room!! argh!
2) eat indian food at little india (just regain appetite, staying off spicy food)
3) go ice skating
4) have breakfast with YQ dearest :(
hmm..cannot remember what else we have planned...
sigh..
oh well, this was supposed to be a 'do what i feel like doing' vacation..
any planning gets thrown out of the window anyway...
mmm...4 days..
maybe maybe...
by day 4, my stomach is strong enough to tahan some indian food..
and if can't, i'll just have to take mc the next day *smirk*
gah, sleep deprivation is depriving me of my morals..
Sleeping time!
如果可以，请让我回到过去。
回到那不明事理，单纯的日子。
长大，就是幻灭的开始。
懂事，失去了那白色的简单美。
成长，换来了世间复杂的关系。
成熟，无法像从前无辜地微笑。
曾几何时，牵牵手的代价，只是同学们的取笑。
如今，勾个手指头都意义重大。
从前从前，跌倒后，学会爬起来。
现在，怕跌倒，所以不敢走出自己的城堡。
原本很简单的，都因为岁月而复杂化。
我们都在摸索，找寻一条保护自己，保护别人的路。
可是，偏偏这个世界，没有十全十美，甚至没有两全其美。
总会有一个人受伤，总会有人幸福美满，有人孤苦伶仃。
为了找寻这条路，过程中，我们也伤害了其他人，伤害了自己。
一句顺其自然，好像很潇洒。
可是我们都认为，自然不是一定最好。
所以在自然中，想要掌控某个方向。
随缘。
那么为何当缘分到来时，还是那么抗拒？
又为何缘分离开时，还是那么忧虑？
人，就是太爱想。
仗着自己的思考能力，想要超越自然的现象。
顾此失彼，结果受伤的是自己，还有那些想保护的人。
跟着感觉走。
心在说的话，我们学会了不理会。
用大脑压抑着，害怕跟着感觉的后果，将是遍体鳞伤。
心中的话，嘘！不要说出来。
经过了大脑，加减乘除后，包装好了，再说吧。
可是，这样长期的压抑，心，还是会受伤的。
“忍”，心上的一把刀。
不停地忍，心就背着把刀，会受伤吗？
心里的话，说出来吧。
其实一切很简单，不要自寻烦恼了。
回到那不明事理，单纯的日子。
长大，就是幻灭的开始。
懂事，失去了那白色的简单美。
成长，换来了世间复杂的关系。
成熟，无法像从前无辜地微笑。
曾几何时，牵牵手的代价，只是同学们的取笑。
如今，勾个手指头都意义重大。
从前从前，跌倒后，学会爬起来。
现在，怕跌倒，所以不敢走出自己的城堡。
原本很简单的，都因为岁月而复杂化。
我们都在摸索，找寻一条保护自己，保护别人的路。
可是，偏偏这个世界，没有十全十美，甚至没有两全其美。
总会有一个人受伤，总会有人幸福美满，有人孤苦伶仃。
为了找寻这条路，过程中，我们也伤害了其他人，伤害了自己。
一句顺其自然，好像很潇洒。
可是我们都认为，自然不是一定最好。
所以在自然中，想要掌控某个方向。
随缘。
那么为何当缘分到来时，还是那么抗拒？
又为何缘分离开时，还是那么忧虑？
人，就是太爱想。
仗着自己的思考能力，想要超越自然的现象。
顾此失彼，结果受伤的是自己，还有那些想保护的人。
跟着感觉走。
心在说的话，我们学会了不理会。
用大脑压抑着，害怕跟着感觉的后果，将是遍体鳞伤。
心中的话，嘘！不要说出来。
经过了大脑，加减乘除后，包装好了，再说吧。
可是，这样长期的压抑，心，还是会受伤的。
“忍”，心上的一把刀。
不停地忍，心就背着把刀，会受伤吗？
心里的话，说出来吧。
其实一切很简单，不要自寻烦恼了。
i'm blogging almost everyday...
too much going on in life?
nope
too little going on in life?
narh
so what exactly is going on in my life?
too much of something, too little of others
too many thoughts, too many patients
too much pain, too much anger
too little time, too little sleep
too little food, too little peace
the list can go on and on and on...
but strangely, i'm not in the mood to rant or vent...
just feeling bored...and HOT! what is wrong with the weather!?
and the lack of appetite is seriously affecting my concentration and energy levels
i can barely keep my eyes open for more than 15 mins. need to close my eyes and rest for a min or two every now and then..
yet, i have yet to seen any weight loss...
maybe too fast bah, since i lost my appetite only about 2-3 days ago...
mum think i have heat stroke from all the time spent under the sun...
been drinking so much water cos it's the only thing that doesn't make me wanna throw up
i've been reduced to the state of playing with my food during meals
usually i'll finish my meal in 15 mins
now i take about 45 mins..
if it's really heat stroke, i hope i'll recover soon...
because the inability to enjoy food is totally disabling me...
like i've lost my identity!
*sob sob*
2 more days....
hanging on....
1st thing i'm gonna do for my upcoming vacation?
Haircut!
snip off this frizzy and uncontrollable mane
and hopefully get a normal looking hairstyle.
2nd thing i'm gonna do?
hmmmmm....probably pack my room...
3rd thing i'm gonna do?
hhhhhhmmmmmmmm....
stop planning and just do what i want to do
argh...dinner is not sitting well in my stomach...
i think i've been downgraded to eating soft-moist diet
life without craving for food is meaningless to me...
~LOA~
too much going on in life?
nope
too little going on in life?
narh
so what exactly is going on in my life?
too much of something, too little of others
too many thoughts, too many patients
too much pain, too much anger
too little time, too little sleep
too little food, too little peace
the list can go on and on and on...
but strangely, i'm not in the mood to rant or vent...
just feeling bored...and HOT! what is wrong with the weather!?
and the lack of appetite is seriously affecting my concentration and energy levels
i can barely keep my eyes open for more than 15 mins. need to close my eyes and rest for a min or two every now and then..
yet, i have yet to seen any weight loss...
maybe too fast bah, since i lost my appetite only about 2-3 days ago...
mum think i have heat stroke from all the time spent under the sun...
been drinking so much water cos it's the only thing that doesn't make me wanna throw up
i've been reduced to the state of playing with my food during meals
usually i'll finish my meal in 15 mins
now i take about 45 mins..
if it's really heat stroke, i hope i'll recover soon...
because the inability to enjoy food is totally disabling me...
like i've lost my identity!
*sob sob*
2 more days....
hanging on....
1st thing i'm gonna do for my upcoming vacation?
Haircut!
snip off this frizzy and uncontrollable mane
and hopefully get a normal looking hairstyle.
2nd thing i'm gonna do?
hmmmmm....probably pack my room...
3rd thing i'm gonna do?
hhhhhhmmmmmmmm....
stop planning and just do what i want to do
argh...dinner is not sitting well in my stomach...
i think i've been downgraded to eating soft-moist diet
life without craving for food is meaningless to me...
~LOA~
三天的假日，就这样过去了。
这三天，好像一场梦一样。
似乎发生过，因为那些情绪依旧困扰着我。
却犹如紧握在手中的沙粒，一颗颗慢慢地滑出，
只剩下了淡淡的回忆。
和干爹谈了谈，发生过的事，没有人对，也没有人错。
或许真的如他所说，天时地利人和，还有那莫名其妙的缘分！
偏偏那一天真的如此，无法控制，现在也不能改变。
该当放下那一晚的愤怒与沮丧，
那天的事，已经改不了。
只能希望下一次，不会历史重演。
可是，当他问我，我到底是在气什么。
那股怒火，马上就涌了上来。
气什么？？
我还真的不知该从何说起呢！
也许最气的，是眼睁睁看着两个我认为是我现在 最好的朋友，
突然之间把我当成透明的。
他们做了这样的决定时，我是该如何去面对呢？
不希望可贵的友谊，突然缘尽了。
但要我做垂死的挣扎，我还真的没有力了。
制造机会，就要牺牲友谊吗？
顺其自然，难道这样是最自然的吗？
很累，很累。
刚才谈得我又是泛了泪光。
心酸的感觉，再一次淹没我的世界。
这三天，像是做了恶梦，再做美梦。
梦醒后，遗留下恶梦里的不愉快，
却记不住美梦中的幸福感。
这三天，好像一场梦一样。
似乎发生过，因为那些情绪依旧困扰着我。
却犹如紧握在手中的沙粒，一颗颗慢慢地滑出，
只剩下了淡淡的回忆。
和干爹谈了谈，发生过的事，没有人对，也没有人错。
或许真的如他所说，天时地利人和，还有那莫名其妙的缘分！
偏偏那一天真的如此，无法控制，现在也不能改变。
该当放下那一晚的愤怒与沮丧，
那天的事，已经改不了。
只能希望下一次，不会历史重演。
可是，当他问我，我到底是在气什么。
那股怒火，马上就涌了上来。
气什么？？
我还真的不知该从何说起呢！
也许最气的，是眼睁睁看着两个我认为是我现在 最好的朋友，
突然之间把我当成透明的。
他们做了这样的决定时，我是该如何去面对呢？
不希望可贵的友谊，突然缘尽了。
但要我做垂死的挣扎，我还真的没有力了。
制造机会，就要牺牲友谊吗？
顺其自然，难道这样是最自然的吗？
很累，很累。
刚才谈得我又是泛了泪光。
心酸的感觉，再一次淹没我的世界。
这三天，像是做了恶梦，再做美梦。
梦醒后，遗留下恶梦里的不愉快，
却记不住美梦中的幸福感。
found this personality test via my brother's blog
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/mind/surveys/whatamilike/index.shtml
So here's my result:
Your answers suggest you are a Nurturer
Summary of Nurturers
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/mind/surveys/whatamilike/index.shtml
So here's my result:
Your answers suggest you are a Nurturer
Summary of Nurturers
- Care for the important people in their lives
- Strive for harmony and avoid confrontation
- Think of themselves as gentle, conscientious, and mature
- May have trouble making decisions that could hurt others
More about Nurturers
Nurturers are quiet people who believe in order and diligently look after the people they care about. They focus on the needs of others and establish routines to help them meet their commitments.
Nurturers remember details that are important to them, such as their friends' birthdays and anniversaries. People with this personality type value others' feelings and may challenge behaviour they think is insensitive.
In situations where they can't use their talents or are unappreciated, Nurturers may feel bitter and seek support by complaining to their colleagues. Under extreme stress, Nurturers may become preoccupied with the worst possible outcome and believe that they are heading for disaster.
Because they are so caring and loyal, Nurturers run the risk of being taken advantage of.
Nurturer Careers
Nurturers are often drawn to jobs that allow them to help others.
it's so accurate, i'm abit freaked. then again, if it's not, then i'll be skeptical and disappointed *shrug*
gah, don't like feeling sick. worse still, don't like feeling the lack of appetite. food is my motivation in life. no appetite=no motivation.
i've lost the will to live
~emptiness~
缘分，很奇妙。
毫不胜防，夺走你最珍惜的。
出乎预料，带来意想不到的。
我试着随缘，用一颗平常心来淡化一切。
但平常心，谈何容易？
心情的起伏，跟着缘起缘灭忐忑不安。
不喜欢拥有，因为害怕失去的心酸，心痛。
不喜欢期待，因为害怕失望后的惆怅。
我始终学不会放开胸怀，看开一点。
狭小的心，似乎就只会找毛病。
如何才可以坦然地面对自己的不完美，欣赏世间的缺陷美？
惜缘，每一段缘分都来得不容易。
昨天的陌生人，今天可以是谈心事的好朋友，明天却成了话不投机的过客。
昨天“五分熟”，今天变“七分”，明天会熟到几分？
没有人担保“十分”的，不会太熟。
“七分”的，也许刚刚好。
火候的控制，往往除了自己，还有那莫名其妙的缘分。
要到几分？
还要看个人口味呢！
没有不散的宴席。
所以宴席桌上的每一道菜，
尝了后，记着那个味道。
也许某天，在另一个宴席上，会有类似的菜肴。
“认识新朋友，原来可以是很开心的。
失去旧朋友，原来也是一种解脱。”
如果我这样告诉自己，
下一次缘起缘灭时，
或许惆怅减一些，焦虑少一些。
累了。
闭上眼，忍耐已久的泪慢慢滑落。
解放心中的惆怅与焦虑，
睁开眼，
模糊的字晃动着，心终于慢慢平静了。
Note: Thank you to MJ for giving me the inspiration to write the part about “五分熟”， “七分熟” .
毫不胜防，夺走你最珍惜的。
出乎预料，带来意想不到的。
我试着随缘，用一颗平常心来淡化一切。
但平常心，谈何容易？
心情的起伏，跟着缘起缘灭忐忑不安。
不喜欢拥有，因为害怕失去的心酸，心痛。
不喜欢期待，因为害怕失望后的惆怅。
我始终学不会放开胸怀，看开一点。
狭小的心，似乎就只会找毛病。
如何才可以坦然地面对自己的不完美，欣赏世间的缺陷美？
惜缘，每一段缘分都来得不容易。
昨天的陌生人，今天可以是谈心事的好朋友，明天却成了话不投机的过客。
昨天“五分熟”，今天变“七分”，明天会熟到几分？
没有人担保“十分”的，不会太熟。
“七分”的，也许刚刚好。
火候的控制，往往除了自己，还有那莫名其妙的缘分。
要到几分？
还要看个人口味呢！
没有不散的宴席。
所以宴席桌上的每一道菜，
尝了后，记着那个味道。
也许某天，在另一个宴席上，会有类似的菜肴。
“认识新朋友，原来可以是很开心的。
失去旧朋友，原来也是一种解脱。”
如果我这样告诉自己，
下一次缘起缘灭时，
或许惆怅减一些，焦虑少一些。
累了。
闭上眼，忍耐已久的泪慢慢滑落。
解放心中的惆怅与焦虑，
睁开眼，
模糊的字晃动着，心终于慢慢平静了。
Note: Thank you to MJ for giving me the inspiration to write the part about “五分熟”， “七分熟” .
如果真的不在乎，为何念着自己‘都不管我的事’？
如果真的小事情，为何不能说出口？
如果真的‘随遇而安’，为何不停挂在嘴边'随遇而安吧’
如果真的顺其自然，为何不自然的克制自己？
为什么要那么累？为什么把力气花在无谓的心理游戏？
说‘不管’，然后再用力地不去管，那样算不算自寻烦恼？
说‘放’，然后再使力松手，那样就算放了吗？
说一套，再用力实行，是白费力气吗？
忙着用理智压抑，那不是随心所欲。
极力用头脑掌控，也许是要做对的事。
做了对的事，为何却总觉得不称心？
一种违背了自己的心意的背叛感。
我试着去感觉自己的喜怒哀乐，尝尽活着的酸甜苦辣。
有很不理智的时候，也有太理智的例子。
但我尽量不去约束自己。
不喜欢，所以觉得刺耳。
喜欢，所以多听几遍。
碍眼，所以不瞄一眼。
讨喜，所以爱不释手。
不为什么，就因为那时我的感觉是如此。
也许某天，我会学到用理智去控制。
如果会有那么一天，我希望我已经忘记如何去感受。
一切都在意料中，理智上的决定超越了人的本能。
我变得可以控制自己的情感。
就像一个机器人，我被固定的模式抄控了。
那样的我，还算是个人吗？
人与人之间，会有磨擦，会有火花。
因为人基本上还是动物，都有本能的反应，但却是不同的反应。
尽管有思想，很多时候，本能还是胜了一筹。
不同的反应混在一起，乓！
可以是如烟火般的灿烂美丽，
或是大火似地烧灭一切。
有些人，讨厌这样的‘无法预料’。他们选择了去控制自己。
我不要做仙，我喜欢有七情六欲。
有起有落的日子，缤纷多彩。
当有一天，我被这复杂的情感烧到手了，
或许我就会要自己学会控制一切的情绪。
在这之前，如果我真的不在乎，我不会多此一举地说‘不管我的事’。
但如果我真的在乎，没有任何理由让我去不闻不问。
我，就是喜欢这样。
如果真的小事情，为何不能说出口？
如果真的‘随遇而安’，为何不停挂在嘴边'随遇而安吧’
如果真的顺其自然，为何不自然的克制自己？
为什么要那么累？为什么把力气花在无谓的心理游戏？
说‘不管’，然后再用力地不去管，那样算不算自寻烦恼？
说‘放’，然后再使力松手，那样就算放了吗？
说一套，再用力实行，是白费力气吗？
忙着用理智压抑，那不是随心所欲。
极力用头脑掌控，也许是要做对的事。
做了对的事，为何却总觉得不称心？
一种违背了自己的心意的背叛感。
我试着去感觉自己的喜怒哀乐，尝尽活着的酸甜苦辣。
有很不理智的时候，也有太理智的例子。
但我尽量不去约束自己。
不喜欢，所以觉得刺耳。
喜欢，所以多听几遍。
碍眼，所以不瞄一眼。
讨喜，所以爱不释手。
不为什么，就因为那时我的感觉是如此。
也许某天，我会学到用理智去控制。
如果会有那么一天，我希望我已经忘记如何去感受。
一切都在意料中，理智上的决定超越了人的本能。
我变得可以控制自己的情感。
就像一个机器人，我被固定的模式抄控了。
那样的我，还算是个人吗？
人与人之间，会有磨擦，会有火花。
因为人基本上还是动物，都有本能的反应，但却是不同的反应。
尽管有思想，很多时候，本能还是胜了一筹。
不同的反应混在一起，乓！
可以是如烟火般的灿烂美丽，
或是大火似地烧灭一切。
有些人，讨厌这样的‘无法预料’。他们选择了去控制自己。
我不要做仙，我喜欢有七情六欲。
有起有落的日子，缤纷多彩。
当有一天，我被这复杂的情感烧到手了，
或许我就会要自己学会控制一切的情绪。
在这之前，如果我真的不在乎，我不会多此一举地说‘不管我的事’。
但如果我真的在乎，没有任何理由让我去不闻不问。
我，就是喜欢这样。
it's one of those days... or rather, one of those nights...
when i come home and just wanna sit and rest
yet somehow, something deep inside is restless..
and an irresistable urge to come online to blog finally drove me from the sofa to my comp chair...
yet, as i am blabbering this nonsense u are reading,
i have no idea what to blog...
because...nothing has happened which is interesting to blog..
but so much has happened in the past few days...
perhaps venting it out will be the best way to stop the restlessness...
unfortunately, for the privacy of others, they cannot be published on cyberspace...
long weekend ahead, and all i can think of is sleep sleep sleep...
not to say i am not keen about the plans made so far...
because to be honest, the one thing that will keep me going till the end of this week are the activities over the weekend...
but physically, i am stretched to my limits...
for the first time in 1 week, i am actually NOT aching..
my muscles have been sore since last monday...
and it won't be long before i'll get sore muscles again...
mentally, i am stretched beyond my limits...
not thinking too much...just too many things to think about...
been having relapses of those dream-filled nights and then wake up feeling un-rested...
have even started dreaming of my patients!
goodness...i've beyond my limit of elasticity..
permanent plastic damage to my brain...
emotionally, i am stretched and then released and then stretched again...
and it won't be long before i snap into pieces...
like a piece of wire that has been repeated bent and straightened...
days/nights of extreme highs...days/nights of extreme lows
thinking for others, thinking for myself..
my emotional capacity has shrunk to just being able to cope with my personal space..
anything over the boundary, i have no ability to deal with...
all part of growing up...or rather, growing old..
when life and its unfairness begins to unravel, i struggle to cope with dealing it...
ups and downs...
yet what goes up will come down...
and what comes down may go up one day...
each day, i woke up and wish that it's an up day...
and when it isn't an up day, i lay down and pray that it will be one tmr...
laid down my hopes for things to get better...
hopes comes crashing down...
maybe it is in such a cycle..
that life continues...and doesn't become just exisiting...
deal with it, and things may get better...
give up and spiral down further..
can't keep eyes open..
ranting and venting depleted all the enery i have left...
i wish for a night of dreamless sleep....
close eyes, and then open eyes to the sound of my alarm..
no waking up with palpitation, no opening eyes and feeling disoriented...
the simplest things in life are the hardest to get..
because life is complicated...we are complicated...
even when a simple solution presents itself, we complicate it and create another problem...
we think, therefore we are humans
not for the first time in my life, i wish that i am a hamster...
~missing my rodents~
when i come home and just wanna sit and rest
yet somehow, something deep inside is restless..
and an irresistable urge to come online to blog finally drove me from the sofa to my comp chair...
yet, as i am blabbering this nonsense u are reading,
i have no idea what to blog...
because...nothing has happened which is interesting to blog..
but so much has happened in the past few days...
perhaps venting it out will be the best way to stop the restlessness...
unfortunately, for the privacy of others, they cannot be published on cyberspace...
long weekend ahead, and all i can think of is sleep sleep sleep...
not to say i am not keen about the plans made so far...
because to be honest, the one thing that will keep me going till the end of this week are the activities over the weekend...
but physically, i am stretched to my limits...
for the first time in 1 week, i am actually NOT aching..
my muscles have been sore since last monday...
and it won't be long before i'll get sore muscles again...
mentally, i am stretched beyond my limits...
not thinking too much...just too many things to think about...
been having relapses of those dream-filled nights and then wake up feeling un-rested...
have even started dreaming of my patients!
goodness...i've beyond my limit of elasticity..
permanent plastic damage to my brain...
emotionally, i am stretched and then released and then stretched again...
and it won't be long before i snap into pieces...
like a piece of wire that has been repeated bent and straightened...
days/nights of extreme highs...days/nights of extreme lows
thinking for others, thinking for myself..
my emotional capacity has shrunk to just being able to cope with my personal space..
anything over the boundary, i have no ability to deal with...
all part of growing up...or rather, growing old..
when life and its unfairness begins to unravel, i struggle to cope with dealing it...
ups and downs...
yet what goes up will come down...
and what comes down may go up one day...
each day, i woke up and wish that it's an up day...
and when it isn't an up day, i lay down and pray that it will be one tmr...
laid down my hopes for things to get better...
hopes comes crashing down...
maybe it is in such a cycle..
that life continues...and doesn't become just exisiting...
deal with it, and things may get better...
give up and spiral down further..
can't keep eyes open..
ranting and venting depleted all the enery i have left...
i wish for a night of dreamless sleep....
close eyes, and then open eyes to the sound of my alarm..
no waking up with palpitation, no opening eyes and feeling disoriented...
the simplest things in life are the hardest to get..
because life is complicated...we are complicated...
even when a simple solution presents itself, we complicate it and create another problem...
we think, therefore we are humans
not for the first time in my life, i wish that i am a hamster...
~missing my rodents~
22 and 23 Feb 2008
day 7 and 8 - ping xi - jiu fen 九份 - dan shui - taipei - singapore
after an exhausting night at shi fen, everybody slept pretty well. i've also gotten use to the tatami mats...but too bad, it was our last day at ping xi.
went back the same breakfast shop for breakfast, then the kind boss made us coffee again :D
entrance to the stairs that will lead to the rooms...miss this place so much!
with our trusty guidebook from NLB, we hunted down a few of the famous food in jiu fen...
fishballs, meatballs, fishballs with meat inside...YUMMY!
we couldn't get enough of the 'balls', so headed into another shop for more food. the taiwanese have the CUTEST containers!
at the top of these steps is a rather famous shop that sells yam balls (yeah, we had a 'balls' day at jiu fen). the shop also boasts of great in-house seats that overlook the scenic jiu fen...
and it was really good view, can see the mountains in the distant!
even doggie knows how to appreciate the scenery! (yes, pets are apparently allowed in the shop...this doggie also had a few yam balls from its master)
this 'tunnel' actually leads to more shops at the top. only i went up to take a look...in the darkest part of the steps, i couldn't see my own fingers at all, so it was quite challenging to descend the steps
all the food we ate was quickly digested with all the climbing and descending. such stairways are found all over jiu fen, linking the whole town together.
we chose one of the many teahouses in jiu fen to rest our feet. al fresco, and a fantastic view...
mummy looks like she can really fit well into this relaxing atmosphere :D
day 7 and 8 - ping xi - jiu fen 九份 - dan shui - taipei - singapore
after an exhausting night at shi fen, everybody slept pretty well. i've also gotten use to the tatami mats...but too bad, it was our last day at ping xi.
went back the same breakfast shop for breakfast, then the kind boss made us coffee again :D
entrance to the stairs that will lead to the rooms...miss this place so much!
the mummies having a chat with the boss over cups of coffee
instead of heading straight back to dan shui (where we will stay at the same accoms), we decided to make use of the day and explore jiu fen 九份, a town not far away from ruifang 瑞方 where trains to taipei connect to the ping xi train
jiu fen is a town that is kinda built into one side of the mountain, hence the whole town is like a giant lookout point. it's a fairly well-known tourist spot, especially for its tea houses 茶楼. also for its numerous steps that links the shops together. a few travel shows to taiwan have introduced this place before, and many people who visits taipei does a day trip to jiu fen, mostly for the scenery, food and tea.
can u see why there are so many stairs in jiu fen? it's the only way to link all these streets together
with our trusty guidebook from NLB, we hunted down a few of the famous food in jiu fen...
fishballs, meatballs, fishballs with meat inside...YUMMY!
we couldn't get enough of the 'balls', so headed into another shop for more food. the taiwanese have the CUTEST containers!
this shop we went into had pictures of the lady boss plastered ALL OVER the shop, some blown up to 8R....the lady boss had many poses, and for someone her age, she really knows how to pose :D also, many celebrities have come to this shop before, including jolin tsai and jacky wu. how do i know? because lady boss took pics with them lor
at the top of these steps is a rather famous shop that sells yam balls (yeah, we had a 'balls' day at jiu fen). the shop also boasts of great in-house seats that overlook the scenic jiu fen...
and it was really good view, can see the mountains in the distant!
even doggie knows how to appreciate the scenery! (yes, pets are apparently allowed in the shop...this doggie also had a few yam balls from its master)
this 'tunnel' actually leads to more shops at the top. only i went up to take a look...in the darkest part of the steps, i couldn't see my own fingers at all, so it was quite challenging to descend the steps
all the food we ate was quickly digested with all the climbing and descending. such stairways are found all over jiu fen, linking the whole town together.
we chose one of the many teahouses in jiu fen to rest our feet. al fresco, and a fantastic view...
too bad for the hazy skies, otherwise i'm quite sure the picture will turn out even better than this
mummy looks like she can really fit well into this relaxing atmosphere :D
after all the huffing, eating and relaxing, we decided to catch a bus back to taipei instead of going back via train. the bus ride wasn't too bad initially, and we manage to all get seats after a while (i got one right at the back of the bus though)
however, the driver apparently is super confident of his driving, and although i was asleep 99% of the ride, there was a point when there was a loud SCCCREEECH, and then horns sounded and everyone (except me) gasped in the bus. i got woken up by the sccreech, but didn't manage to catch what happened. judging from the gasps, i'm just glad that i didn't hear a crash.
i promptly fell back to sleep...and then suddenly, i heard someone calling my name to wake me up. 3 mummies, YQ and Dinnie were all getting ready to alight! i hurriedly get off the bus, last thing i heard the driver saying was '松山车站' (songshan station). as we all tried and clear our heads and orientate ourselves to the surroundings, it dawned onto me that we seem to have gotten off at the wrong stop. i guess someone heard '车站' and mistook it for the MRT station. luckily, a taiwanese gentleman told us which bus to take that will take us to the nearest MRT station (which another lady told us is very long way to walk to). so we got onto another bus, and the MRT was VERY far..cos the bus journey took like 20mins or more.
on the way, we passed by 小巨蛋, kinda equivalent to singapore's esplanade. there were some concerts going on...but too bad we don't have time to go and take a look :(
we finally arrive back into the heart of the city, and our stomachs were growling in protest! went to a rather fancy restaurant for dinner, but the service wasn't really good. probably cos we ordered the cheaper dishes? after dinner, mrt ride back to dan shui, where YQ's aunt and cousins are gonna meet up with us...
back in danshui, back to the homey accoms...everyone shrug off their backpacks and begin our nightly routine of showering. while we waited for YQ's relatives to come, we also started to pack our bags as it's our last night in taiwan! :(
YQ's reunion with her cousins and aunt was...a noisy affair. can definitely tell that they are all very close to each other. and that night, they planned to go to KTV and sing the night away. well, avid KTV lover like me found it very hard to say 'no', so everyone else went back to sleep, while YQ and i followed her cousins and aunt to the KTV
now now, taiwanese KTV is nothing like kbox or party world. it's an art...a culture...and the WHOLE building is nothing but KTV rooms. each room has its own toilet somemore! and the drinks were yummier...sound system better...only flaw is that in between songs, they will play some random new MTV while loading the next song. that kinda waste ur singing time...but otherwise, OMG, i only wish that a whole building in singapore is just purely KTV rooms.
we sang (i didn't sing much...kinda tired from all the days of travelling here and there) till about 4+am, then walked to YQ's cousin's apartment (it was like a 45mins walk, i think) walking at that time of the 'night' was quite an experience, especially since i was more like floating from the lack of sleep. reason we head there is to check in online, so that we don't have to rush to the airport. after that, YQ and i caught about 2 hours of sleep, before we depart and walked back to our accoms.
i was impressed with YQ. with just 2hours of sleep, she managed to remember the way back and we didn't get lost anywhere. *applause* after waking everyone up, then washing up blah blah blah, we heaved our backpacks onto our back and begin the end of our taiwan trip :(
breakfast was 豆浆油条 at a rather famous shop, and it was good! first time i ate a youtiao in taiwan that wasn't dripping or saturated with oil
after breakfast, we took the mrt down to taipei, dumped our backpacks in lockers and then?
u guessed it...shopping lor! where? back at taipei underground streets...
no choice, everyone has to buy something back to feed their colleagues. besides, i think dinnie was super happywith her bargains. shoes, bags etc...in the end, she had to buy a big bag to put all her shopping in..impressive lor.
however much i wished we can stay in taiwan forever and ever more, it came to a point where we had to get to the airport. original plan was to take a bus, but we found out that there are no bus available! so in the end, we had to call taxis...
and guess what? it started to rain again...
even the sky is sad that we are leaving....
it was a fairly long wait cos of the traffic jams everywhere in taipei (it was a saturday)..and everyone kinda got abit angsty.
finally, eventually, one of the cabs appeared. dinnie and mum went off first cos their flight is earlier. the 2nd cab never came (or at least we didn't wait that long). we hailed down another cab to take us to the airport.
everything else after that was kinda forgotten cos 1) i was asleep all the way to the airport 2) everyone was kinda grumpy cos it's the end of our hols...
and so, with this entry marks the end of my 'travelouge' for taiwan trip...
next destination in taiwan? i hope to go to 垦定，YQ wants to go to 南投.
hopefully we don't have to wait too long...because my travelling withdrawal symptoms are starting to act up again..
~the end~
9 days to this blog's 4 year-old bday...
re-reading past entries make me wanna laugh at myself..
or rather, make me wanna hide myself in a hole...
sometimes, i just forget that people actually do read this blog...
some mushy words...and some angry words just shouldn't be published..
in the past, i go by the 'this is my blog and i'll _____ if i want to' principle...
and then i realised that people who read my blog are
1) friends who see me so often, they already know what i am talking about
2) friends who dun see me at all and they have only a vague idea what i am talking about
3) random people who happen to come into this blog and therefore have zero idea what i am talking about
so i realised that sometimes, really need to have the inspiration to blog
i started to blog less often...
over the years, the few who had been consistently blogging started to dwindle in numbers...
initially, my nights can be spent just surfing through these people's blogs...
now, i barely have enough blogs to visit to keep me entertained for 5 mins...
so i realised that one really needs to have something to blog about in order to bother with logging in and blogging it
i removed the links to others' blogs cos they haven't been updating since.....dunno when
also, when i set up this blog 4 years ago, i wanted the title of the blog to sound cheem..
like i am some deep and unfathomable (is there such a word?) ocean, waiting to be discovered
*KUA KUA KUA*
but, obviously i am not...
not deep..not cheem...maybe a puddle by the roadside after a heavy downpour?
so with some guidance from JF, i changed my blog name from 'disillusioned' to "kari-pok'd"
kinda cute...girly...less...depressing?
and then, back to the initial bloggging days, i love to have ppl comments
that time installed haloscan and then a tagboard for ppl to tag me...
but i guess that trend kinda faded...or i've lost a portion of my previous readers *shrug*
less comments..less tags...
so i realised that blogging is actually more 1-sided than 2-way flow...
i removed haloscan...and then i removed the tagboard
cannot believe that i've been noting down events in my life on this blog for almost 4 years...
4 years..that as much time as i've spent in melbourne...
only wished i did started to blog when i was in year 1..
just to see how much i've grown or regressed in my uni days...
a few friends asked me where do i find the energy to maintain this blog
usually, i just *shrug*
now i realised that my energy stems from things in life that gets me riled up
in a good way..or a bad way..
e.g. travelling, some MBBS who pissed me off, emotional turmoil etc etc etc
and of course, every now and then, just a visit down memory lane stirs something inside that makes me wanna note it down...
and tonight, as i read through more of my past entries
i revisit many events of my past...
the homesickness (and lovesickness) in melbourne
the travelling in various countries
graduation, starting work
the ups and downs on a LDR
have i grown?
well..definitely grown old...
have i matured?
i hope so...
just in case i dun log on in time to say it..
Happy 4th Birthday to niyihs.blogspot.com!
~nostalgia~
re-reading past entries make me wanna laugh at myself..
or rather, make me wanna hide myself in a hole...
sometimes, i just forget that people actually do read this blog...
some mushy words...and some angry words just shouldn't be published..
in the past, i go by the 'this is my blog and i'll _____ if i want to' principle...
and then i realised that people who read my blog are
1) friends who see me so often, they already know what i am talking about
2) friends who dun see me at all and they have only a vague idea what i am talking about
3) random people who happen to come into this blog and therefore have zero idea what i am talking about
so i realised that sometimes, really need to have the inspiration to blog
i started to blog less often...
over the years, the few who had been consistently blogging started to dwindle in numbers...
initially, my nights can be spent just surfing through these people's blogs...
now, i barely have enough blogs to visit to keep me entertained for 5 mins...
so i realised that one really needs to have something to blog about in order to bother with logging in and blogging it
i removed the links to others' blogs cos they haven't been updating since.....dunno when
also, when i set up this blog 4 years ago, i wanted the title of the blog to sound cheem..
like i am some deep and unfathomable (is there such a word?) ocean, waiting to be discovered
*KUA KUA KUA*
but, obviously i am not...
not deep..not cheem...maybe a puddle by the roadside after a heavy downpour?
so with some guidance from JF, i changed my blog name from 'disillusioned' to "kari-pok'd"
kinda cute...girly...less...depressing?
and then, back to the initial bloggging days, i love to have ppl comments
that time installed haloscan and then a tagboard for ppl to tag me...
but i guess that trend kinda faded...or i've lost a portion of my previous readers *shrug*
less comments..less tags...
so i realised that blogging is actually more 1-sided than 2-way flow...
i removed haloscan...and then i removed the tagboard
cannot believe that i've been noting down events in my life on this blog for almost 4 years...
4 years..that as much time as i've spent in melbourne...
only wished i did started to blog when i was in year 1..
just to see how much i've grown or regressed in my uni days...
a few friends asked me where do i find the energy to maintain this blog
usually, i just *shrug*
now i realised that my energy stems from things in life that gets me riled up
in a good way..or a bad way..
e.g. travelling, some MBBS who pissed me off, emotional turmoil etc etc etc
and of course, every now and then, just a visit down memory lane stirs something inside that makes me wanna note it down...
and tonight, as i read through more of my past entries
i revisit many events of my past...
the homesickness (and lovesickness) in melbourne
the travelling in various countries
graduation, starting work
the ups and downs on a LDR
have i grown?
well..definitely grown old...
have i matured?
i hope so...
just in case i dun log on in time to say it..
Happy 4th Birthday to niyihs.blogspot.com!
~nostalgia~
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