Tots on Taiwan (22 Aug - 3 Sept 2005)

these latest pictures were taken while i was travelling in Taiwan from 22 Aug till 3 Sept 2005. it was great to meet up with Peter and Sam. I will def go back to Taiwan, and it will most prob be a road trip, so i can see the southern parts of taiwan.. heard that kenting is beautiful. so, i will def make a trip down there soon.

walking for 5.5h from tianxiang to the visitor center, was the highlight of this whole trip. met a family along the way who was taking photos at the same spot; checking out the liwu river and the faces of the marble/rocks caused by the flow of the river - seeing this view for 5h, made me realised a lot of things. i was surprised that i could just walk and walk and walk alongside cars that whizzed passed me, in the tunnels as well as under the hot sun.

on the train from hualian to taipei, met a group of girls and just one guy (just had a roadtrip). sat next to one of the girls, and she just offered me muah chee as she was offering her friends. surprised by her friendliness, and this makes me wonder if any singaporeans would be able to do it. (afterall i have this pissed-off face when i don't smile yeah.. - pointed out by some friends. ha.. and i was so tired and i know for sure that iwas not smiling.. ) had a great time talking to them and playing big 2 with them throughout the whole journey back. (ha, i did singapore proud, i won all the 3 rounds that we played ;) )

witnessed the first typhoon of my life. typhoon talim. well, was indoors when it really was all over taipei. but , hearing how the winds howls, and how the wind was trying to suck the large window glass of the room, was enough to make me scare - i wasn't when i was out with peter having dinner and walking ard to find a pub; ha. but, i was half hoping for the large window glass to be sucked away by the typhoon, so at least it's another kind of experience.

lots of night market + realisation of how boring cities are + for the first time, i can't wait to get home = taipei

after 12 days in taiwan, i realised how lousy my mandarin is and how much i felt at peace when i am surrounded by nature. and another sum of money added to the debt i have to return to my folks... ;D

should i be planning for another trip in asia before i start work? hmmm...

3 Sept: waiting to board the plane at the CKS airport terminal.  

3 Sept: view of Taipei from Taipei 101 

3 Sept: view from the lift lobby of the building of that i was staying.. and i realised that there are a range of mts at the back then..  

2 Sept: at the Taipei House along Zhongshan .. had drinks over there and it was a really great atmosphere..

2 Sept 2005: the Wulai falls at Wulai  

1 Sept 2005: at the underpass at ZhongShan road, after dinner with Peter .. and the typhoon was about to begin 

30 Aug 2005: the temple at the Rao-he night market  

30 Aug 2005: tea at ding tai feng 

30 Aug 2005: me and the famous queen's head 

30 Aug 2005: see the elephant's trunk and a fish? it's all sand and rock formations  

30 Aug 2005: at the Yeliu National Park - which is so cool...  

30 Aug 2005: view of kee-lung harbour 

29 Aug 2005: at the fisherman wharf of Damshui  

29 Aug 2005: was walking around the Shilin food market and saw Sam.. taipei is really small..  

29 Aug 2005: at the Miramar shopping center.. which has a ferries wheel . a new shopping center  

28 Aug 2005: the meat-ball stall along one of the street market of fengling (i think) in taichung 

28 Aug 2005: the plantation is near the 921 Earthquake Memorial place.. wanted to have a look but no time ;(  

28 Aug 2005: went over to somewhere in Nantou area to pluck longans..  

27 Aug 2005: at Zhongxiao East road..  

27 Aug 2005: Taipei 101 from the Dr STS Memorial Hall  

26 Aug 2005: waiting for the 9pm train to get back to taipei from hualian - outside the hualian train station  

26 Aug 2005: view of the east coast bay..  

26 Aug 2005: at Shimen of the National East Coast Scenic Area  

26 Aug 2005: finally going to reach the national park center.. after 5h of walking along the highway..  

26 Aug 2005: see the indian man?