Day 2- 11 Jun, Thursday

Woke up at abt 10am and headed out for breakfast even though there were free sandwiches and milk tea from the hotel. The staff would just hang the bag of breakfast on your door knob. Anyway, walked to Ximending area and settled on this JSP shop. Dun noe what it stands for, but surprisingly there were still ppl eating breakfast. I had egg sandwich while D.D. had black pepper noodles. One thing different about their sandwiches is there is a sweet taste like kaya or some sort of special butter.

Our cheap cheap breakfast


Next, we walked to the MRT station. Destination was Sun Yat Memorial Station where the shopping centres are located.

Mrt Station (most of the stations are underground)


Weather was not kind on us, drizzling. We got lost while looking for the shopping centres, so we decided to change course and headed for Jacky Wu 's Dessert Shop, Tang Chao, which was near-by. Shops in Taipei really open late like 11am.
The restaurant is really spacious with the chinese paintings and furniture. Ordered watermelon and honeydew grassjelly dessert while D.D. ordered Pudding and dim sum. Food was very fresh especially the prawns and the quantity of the dessert more than makes it up to the above average price.

Look at the dry ice in my dessert




Somehow we found our way to Pacific Sogo Department Store, Taipei 101, New York New York and other shopping centres. Generally, I prefer to shop at the night markets as the stores there sell branded stuff or their prices are so high that the average shopper (Me) would not be able to afford. Hehe... Nothing special lah, must save more money for shopping at the night markets.





As D.D. was pestering to go to Jay Chou's cafe, we took a cab to the place to find out that it was just a walking distance. Anyway, kind of hard to find the restaurant as the road signs are all hidden. Finally arrived outside Mr J French-Italian Restaurant. Decor is very european with bits and pieces of the Jay Chou like the menu and merchandise that is sold off the counter. Our set meal consisted of an enormous pizza, salad, soup, pasta with duck drenched with orange sauce, tea and pudding (forgot the name). I particularly like the pasta as the sauce is very special, who new orange could complement the cream and duck meat.











As the sun sets, we moved on to the much anticipated night markets namely; Wu Fen Pu (fashion wares) and Raohe Night Market. Our target was to reach Raohe Night Market not knowing that we would come across Wu Fen Pu 1st. As we walked and walked, we saw Wu Fen Pu and decided to visit it 1st. Was still raining, we only combed a few streets. Bought a top while D.D. bought Tees. All the shops look very small and congested due to the piles of clothing being stacked. After that, we walked for another 2 km before reaching Raohe Night Market. Shopping wasn't that great, probably a food place. Had Taiwanese Sausage and Ai-yu drink, very different from the SG version. Anyway, by the time we got home, was very tired already from walking so much. That's about it for Day 2.

Raohe Night Market (the arch looks like chinatown in US)

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Time to share about my Taipei trip with D.D in june and since D.D is bz at the moment, shall blog about the trip 1 day at a time to occupy my time.

10 June 2009- From SG to Taipei

Reached Changi Airport T1 early and checked in our luggage. Initially, we were discussing what to eat for before going through the immigration counter i.e. Popeyes or something. BUT, this had to happen. I went straight into the gate where the policeman checked my passport with D.D. following me behind. And just when we got through the counter, D.D. said I thought we were going to eat 1st. At that moment, I just wanted to slap myself as I forgot about it and it would be a hassle to get of the gate back to the hall. Anyway, we had to settle our lunch at the foodcourt. $6 for a plate of chicken rice. Aiyo!! I felt really guilty abt my carelessness. In the end we were hungry on the plane to Taipei. Haha..

Our ill-fated chicken rice


Waiting at Burger King to board the plane


Arrived in Taoyuan Airport at about 7 plus, took a coach to the city area before taking a cab to our hotel. The bus looked wierd with its pink interior machem like KTV area like that. Hehe..

In the coach


The wierd coach


As our hotel was near Ximending (Shopping area where youngsters hang out), we headed there for dinner. Didnt know what to eat, so settled for a tea house. Food was okay and not really cheap, about $20 plus Sing, no choice we were hungry.

Ximending


Food glorious food




Goofing ard


Big movie poster


Our next plan was to try out Taiwan's KTV, so headed to this place called Party World. Sounds the same as the KTV place in SG, except that the whole building probably 10 plus floors are occupied with KTV rooms solely for ppl to sing songs. Spent about $40 for 2 pax, we could actually sing from 11pm to 4am, but damn tired, we left at about 2am. Great thing about the Taiwan's KTV is that there is a toilet within the room, very clean and the sound system is better and you could actually adjust the room temperature unlike SG.

See the amount of ppl wanting to sing KTV on a Wed nite


Singing K


D.D. looking very comfortable as he took off his shoes


That's about it for Day 1. To be continued.

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D.D will be going for his reservist for the next 5 days. He got wind that there should not be any nite offs, so I will have to be contented jus hearing his voice through the phone. Been long since I have to part from him since his army days and my studies abroad. Will probably occupy myself with some reading, researching, art and craft and packing my room.

p.s. :Counting down to 5 days when I reunite with you.

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Dear ppz, will be away on a short trip. Woohoo!

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Finally! Roger wins French Open 2009. So happy for him. Exciting match.

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30 May 09, Sat, 8pm

On this fateful day, I experienced my first marathon of the year, Adidas Sundown Marathon 2009. Was replacing a friend of mine to run with the team, Red Dawn. It has since been about 4 years since I ran for such an event, the last being Poly 50 (yes, 50 rounds). Was quite nervous and excited as I have nv ever attempted a 10 kilometre run before. Anyway, I forced D.D. to run or walk with me till the end. He set a target of 1.5 hours to complete. The first 2 kilometres was ok and then, I just started to breath heavily through the mouth. So had to walk to regulate the breathing according to D.D. The first half of the run was torturous, no water point, only 1 during the way back. I am really grateful for D.D. accompanied me throughout even though I asked him to run off without me as I felt guilty dragging him along. Finally, the last 2 km, I decided to jog slowly to keep to the target of 1.5 hours. Saw D.D. standing at a junction waiting for me as he left earlier to run.
Walked and jogged abit till about 700 metres left where there were some of the ushers or watever you call them, shouting that we are near the finishing line that I started picking up pace and nv stopping till the end. Woohoo!

We kept to our target, 18 mins for 1 km. Not bad for a first timer for me. Next queued up for the finisher medal and a free cap. Drank the free 100 plus and went to collect our bags and met up with TF and Lynette whom were the 1st 2 to finish. Am really glad that I took up the challenge and hopefully will continue to join such events in the future. Yeah!!

Some of the pics:

The race tee & team no.



Totally happy after the run


Team Leader on the right


The takings


Counting down to 9 days:

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