28 September 2006: Dinners and Papers

Francoise, Hisashi, Marcus and I have indulged ourselves in Western cuisine for the past few days. We have pasta and pizza for dinners, and then we pamper ourselves with cakes and coffee at nearby cafes. Truly European style. Anyway, here's introducing Marcus (seated at very back) for the very first time in an entry (actual spelling should be Markus):

Marcus is a chubby, friendly guy. He's comical and witty, and I'm glad to have him as my fellow roommate. Austrians are really a nice lot!

Can anyone advise me on must-see attractions and sights in Seoul, Korea? Jingmin (my USP pal who had just returned from a Summer Programme in Korea) and Daniel, HELP!

Prior to my departure from Singapore, I was asked by USP to contribute an article to the free circulation My Paper （我报）, from which they will access my critical writing skills and perhaps grant me a regular column to report on my SEP experiences in Taiwan. I doubt I will do it anytime soon. No time lah. Hopefully everyone forgets about it (including the editor). I can remind myself to write the article if there will be a good increase in tender balance for doing so. Running low on reserves now.

27 September 2006: Cosy afternoon at Teahouse

Francoise, Hisashi and I went to Taiwan's oldest teahouse this afternoon. Hisashi had read a strong online recommendation of the teahouse on a Japanese website, so we paid a hefty NTD 200+ each for three pots of exotic brew (much to the reluctance of thrifty me and Francoise). Nonetheless, it had been a very good experience! Absolutely no regrets!

There were Japanese carps in the ponds, and climbing plants twirled themselves round the wooden constructs that had filled the landscape. We entered the teahouse proper, and were ushered onto tatami mats. We ordered green tea, red tea and pu'er (pardon me for not knowing the specifics), and the staff demonstrated the steps and etiquette to brew and drink tea. Soon it was our turn and we had our hands on the ways in rounds. As a consequence, water spilled all over the table, but we had much fun in the process with our butter-fingers.

Good tea comes at a price. I had hurt myself on my way back to campus. I guess this was to be expected of my poor cycling skills. Sigh......

Happy Birthday to Yuting! May you always stay cheerful and youthful! See you next year!

26 September 2006: Hong Kong delights

Hisashi and I love the Cantonese cuisine served at a nearby restaurant to our campus. We patronize it everyday, but Francoise does not seem to appreciate the food much. The roast pork and chicken are fabulous, and obviously lunch-hour business is so good that we always have to share a table with other patrons. I hope that gourmets such as Raymond can come over to taste the food. Welcome friends, if you intend to drop by Taiwan in the December holidays!

25 September 2006: Taiwan and Beyond

I just did a search on the Net for the cheapest airfare rates from Taipei to other Asian cities. Please guess which of the follwing cities is the cheapest to travel to:

1. Tokyo
2. Seoul
3. Ho Chi Minh
4. Hong Kong

And to my surprise, the answer is actually (2)! It costs about SGD 400+ for one adult ticket on Korea's national carrier (inclusive of airport tax). I wonder if Korean Air is good though. My dear friend Daniel loves Korea, and he had been there before. How fun can Korea be? Hmmm......

By the way, just to enhance my knowledge of these things and the like: Where can I get the cheapest airfares online? I've heard that booking straight from the airliner websites may cost me a bomb. More specifically, are there any cheap tickets to both HONG KONG and Seoul?

24 September 2006: More Books and Chicken Rice

Francoise, Jasmine and I went to the Eslite Main Store at Zhongxiao Dunhua South Road（忠孝敦化南路）. The usual foursome became a threesome today because Hisashi had abandoned us for his newfound friends of the NTU cycling club. A sense of despair overwhelms us, but WE HOPE THAT HE ENJOYS HIS NEW COMPANY!

Francoise bought some children's books, and Jasmine a novel entitled The Dante Club. We all agreed that the store offers a small English collection, and so proceeded down to Taipei 101, which houses a bookshop known as Page One on its fourth storey.

Page One is an exact replica of Singapore's Kinokuniya Orchard. The books are slightly steeper in price, but many bestsellers and English classics can be found there. Page One can certainly boast of a wider foreign collection than the Eslite franchise.

For dinner, we ate Hainanese chicken rice at the restaurant that I had mentioned in my previous post the day before. The chicken was not tender enough, but the rice passable. Simply put, it's just plain decent for an exorbitant NTD 120 that I had paid for the meal. The best chicken rice in the world can only be found in Singapore! Singapore rocks!

23 September 2006: Jingmei Night Market

Francoise, Hisashi and I went to the Jingmei Night Market（景美夜市） this evening. The nights have been chilling these days as autumn approaches, so we settled on some steaming hot dumplings for dinner...apt for a weather like this!

Tonight, we saw Hisashi the Thrifty on a shopping spree. Hisashi had bought a pair of New Balance shoes, some funky shirts, and a pair of bermudas altogether. Prior to this, we patronized the Yong He （永和豆浆油条）outlet in Jingmei, and I find both the soybean milk and the doughsticks of a different taste from those in Singapore's Geylang shop. I can't really describe the difference, but either version has its own virtues so there's little need for comparison. We had also walked past an expensive restaurant that whips up Singapore delights as its theme, and I wonder if the restaurant indeed offers dishes of authetic taste for their prices after all. I hope that Hisashi will treat us to a meal there soon for me to find out.

22 September 2006: Happy Birthday, John!

This post is dedicated to Foenander John Paul, a great pal whom I have known since JC days. Please take care, and stay in touch!

This post serves the additional function of announcing that I'm still alive after being traumatized daily by diligent ants that go the extra mile of crawling over every inch of our room. The ants have certainly made my SEP experience a more memorable one.

21 September 2006: Taiwan and Thailand

I can still vaguely remember the 9-21 Earthquake of 1999 in Taiwan, and was glad that the same disaster did not happen 7 years later. At the moment, my life is not threatened by possible earthquakes or even typhoons. On the other hand, there are so many ants in our room that Marcus often uses the f- word on them, while I am getting used to the presence of dead ants on my desk by the use of an aerial insecticide in our room. Let's hope that the insecticide can kill the invading ants before it kills us.

I have not been watching the news lately, and was surprised to hear from Raymond that Thaksin was ousted by army generals and is in de facto exile in London. I hope that Boredin can get over this soon, because I suppose he's a Thaksin supporter. Thaksin was overthrown before President Chen of Taiwan is toppled. How surprising! I hope that stability will be restored in Thailand soon after this political turmoil. After all, I have some Thai friends whom I met in a Youth Expedition Project (YEP) two years ago.

20 September 2006: Buzz

It seems to me that everyone is busy across the globe. Studies occupies all of us and we are now virtual slaves of endless mugging. I wish everyone happiness in whatever they are doing at the moment. Worst post by me here; please forgive my indulgence.

19 September 2006: Autumn

The summer rains had stopped, paving the way for the arrival of autumn. The weather is turning cold, and Marcus whom I thought has a high tolerance for low temperatures as an Austrian temperate dweller actually complains of the air-conditioning in our room. Well, at least at night.

Reading for leisure has always been a luxury that I could not afford in NUS, and I am glad to have cleared two books by Jared Diamond: Guns, Germs and Steel and Collapse. Both are worthy reads if you have the time to do so. I had just bought a new book, The Classical World by Robin Lane Fox on the histories of ancient Greece and Rome, something which Raymond may be interested in. Like my Marist pal William, I have a short attention span for novels, and would very much prefer non-ficition books on the various sciences. Of course, I still love Chinese books, and would grab one if it's reputably good.

Reading in autumn is a unique experience. I don't get autumns in Singapore, do I?

18 September 2006: Good Grades=Good Life?

Good grades=Good Life in the future meh? GPA or CAP, all are just grades on paper. I get As and you get Bs, does it mean that I'll have a chauffeur driving my Mercedes and can sit back reading newspapers, while you can only drive it on your own in the future? NO!

Students slog so much for grades. Reverse their biological clocks like what the guys do for their favourite soccer matches pitching Ars, Chelski, the Black-and-White Jailbirds, Livers, and Muees. Good certificate can translate into good money, but can become good health meh? Irreversible change! What if good pay can't pay for good medical bills? No use lah.

We pollute the environment, exploiting the resources and raw materials for economic profits. Yeah, will be rich for a while, but if all used up how? All the germs and smog would be killing us then, and we can flee from Earth to either Venus for guys or Mars for gals to be blessed for eternity meh? NO! Metaphorically, Earth is our health AND happiness, and pursuing good grades is like pursuing economic benefits. What's the point?

Therefore, good grades may create blind spots for us. Never abandon the good things in life for merely good grades.

17 September 2006: Campo Arts Bazaar

We went to Ximending (again and again) for the Campo Arts Bazaar (at the suggestion of my volunteer, Connie), which is held monthly at the heart of the shopping district. The bazaar showcases the works of young aspiring artists and designers, and serves to generate income for them through public sales of these works. These works come in the form of badges, decorative items, memo pads, paintings, postcards, T-shirts, and others. Besides displaying these things, the bazaar has also designated a flea market corner for second-hand products.

The bazzar was bustling with activity. First I saw this "Hotdog" at my feet, and I wonder if it will survive in China (even without its "buns"):

Then I saw some ladies who were not shy of flaunting their assets on stage:
Later, I saw gals in Cosplay garb and Gothic makeup. For a moment, both Hisashi and I imagined ourselves to be in Japan's Ginza district:

Connie bought postcards, and Francoise had purchased two badges from a stall that was operated by homosexual vendors. Taiwan is really a liberal society, and the homosexuals there seem to disregard the possible social stigma (if there is any) that they may be facing. This is unlike many traditional societies bearing conservative outlooks, where both gays and lebians alike may be marginalized or even victimized. Another attitude to be adopted towards disenfranchised groups in societies, perhaps?

16 September 2006: Miramar's Ferris Wheel

Francoise, Hisashi, Jasmine and I (the usual foursome) went to the Zhongxiao Dunhua（忠孝敦化）district in the afternoon amid a light drizzle, which is considered tolerable after consecutive days of heavy rain that had killed any incentive for us to travel outdoors. In fact, the weather today had been welcoming, with occasional winds that cooled us as we walked along the packed streets of shopping malls and outdoor vendors. I liken the district to a downsized Orchard Road, but the variety of merchandise available there can still satisfy an average shopper.

We left for Miramar Shopping Mall in the evening. A ferris wheel is located next to the Mall, and a seat at its carriages gets the passenger a clear view of Taipei's night scene. We paid NTD 150 each for a ride that had lasted for 20 minutes. For the skyline view and the casual chats between friends on board in such a setting, I think it's kinda worth the money. The whole ferris wheel flickers in shades of different colours at night, rendering it dazzling to watch from the ground. If I'm not terribly mistaken, some productions of Taiwanese idol drama serials had come for shots here.

We went to MacDonald's for supper, bumping into Bingxun and his female friend there. This constitutes to the second coincidence, and we wonder if there will be a third awaiting us ahead.

15 September 2006: Nearby Typhoon

It all explains the bad weather experienced these days; there is an approaching typhoon off the shores of Taiwan, and rain can fall anytime in bright sunny afternoons. It's that unpredictable, so never be deceived and leave home without an umbrella in a Taiwanese summer.

I was forced to stay indoors, and hence did not make a trip down to see the march by Taiwanese protesters to encircle President Chen's office and nearby residence. It has been a very heavy rain out there, and the protesters' determination to effect political change deserves some admiration. Nice watching the news in Taiwan. They are always so exciting, be them any channel. So full of activity and energy, a far cry from news in Singapore.

14 September 2006: Danshui

We had a fine weather, finally! It felt so much like a boon after so many depressing days of either heavy rain or dark clouds that loomed and threatened to fall upon us anytime. Like caged birds set free and eager to seek new wonders in other lands, we decided to take a long subway ride to Danshui（淡水）, which is located at the northernmost point of Taipei.

The ride took us more than an hour, and I felt that the journey from Boon Lay to Pasir Ris (for Daniel, sometimes!) would have taken a shorter while. Anyway, Danshui is truly a scenic coastal area! We strolled on the promenade by the sea and had enjoyed the cool breeze of summer. There is a neat line of eateries, from which we could grab local favourites to munch while visiting the nearby souvenir shops.


Jasmine then proposed for us to take a boat ride together to both Bali（八里）and the famous Fishing Harbour（淡水渔人码头）, and we all accepted it as a great proposal. Bali is a quiet islet that resembles Pulau Ubin to a certain extent. It has many cute wild dogs running around, and the seaview is just as charming(hmmm..but then again..?). However, we soon ran out of things to explore on the small islet, and rushed to board the boat bound for the Fishing Harbour to catch the sunset before we missed it.


What a disappointment! The weather had been clear and fair, but there were simply too many clouds floating about in the sky, and an ultra big one had literally blocked the beautiful sun from our gaze and masked it as it set below the horizon. So we came to a darkening of the evening sky without taking any pictures of a panoramic sunset. A great pity indeed!

A nearby gorgeous bridge compensated for our loss, and we soon occupied ourselves with taking photos of it. The bridge shines in pink at night, and offers visitors a picturesque view of the boats and wharfs on shore. Stunningly attractive!

Our rewarding trip came to a pleasant finish with a nice walk down the old alleys of Danshui. An authentic feel, combined with a sense of tranquility, will fill the soul of any traveler in Danshui.

Happy Birthday to Mr. Nicholas Ong, my dear pal whom I met in NS days! May you stay happy and healthy in the year ahead!

13 September 2006: A Million Voices Against Corruption--Chen Must Go!

Some of my friends have been concerned with my safety in Taiwan these days. After all, political activist Shih Ming-te（施明德）had launched a campaign called A Million Voices Against Corruption--Chen Must Go!(“百万人民倒扁活动”）, with tens of thousands of protesters (donned in red) responding to his call and demonstrating in the streets of Taipei, and many people have joined the protest near the Presidential Offices. Thanks for the well wishes, but the situation in Taipei is calm and kept under control, so it has been a peaceful demonstration so far. I'm safe in my small haven of the university dormitory, and had decided to venture out to the "chaotic" ground in the evening to experience the atmosphere depicted by the Taiwanese mass media.

I had visited the parade square located next to the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall in the past weekend, but was never this near to the protesting crowd. I saw protesters holding or hoisting interesting banners and posters, and they chanted the words “阿扁下台!” repeatedly with every appeal made by their advocates on the central stage. Then I saw fanatics such as this lady below:

My friends and I then proceeded inwards towards the centre of the crowd, where we may catch a better view of both the central stage and the main body of the protesters who sat on the grass patch facing the stage. However, there were simply too many people; look at the crowd here and you will know what I mean:

Instead, we were forced to stand on a side aisle to watch the procession. The following scene reminded me of a Brazilian carnival:

Some of the people there looked really jubilant, and they lit red sparks as if to hold celebrations in advance. That is, if President Chen becomes overwhelmed by the people's calling and steps down eventually(but chances that he will do so are slim).

We could not view the central stage clearly from our position. However, I could distinctly hear an Ah Bek sing in the background, and I strained my neck to see who he was. Jasmine managed to take a snapshot of both him and the gigantic projector screen that featured him. The elderly man had rather powerful vocals for his age, I would say:

Before we left, we saw some people looking really bored and seemingly in need of activity. This forms a stark contrast to the scene that I had described above. Were they there as onlookers like us, or genuinely interested in contributing towards making an impact on their society? Singaporeans are generally apathetic towards politics (perhaps rightly so), so it has been a fresh experience for me here in Taiwan to witness how a full-fledged democracy functions in its own unique manner.

12 September 2006: Yawnz

If you are reading this to catch a glimpse of Taiwan, please skip this post. It has been raining all afternoon! With rain like this, who needs reservoirs and freshwater imports?! Anyway, I had done nothing much today, and I coop myself up in my room surfing the net, playing PC games, and penning down my reflections on the Beijing leg of the Lee Shiu Summer Programme. I am in the University Scholars Programme (USP) of NUS, and had participated in the 2006 Lee Shiu Summer Programme just recently. I had mentioned about the Programme in some of my previous posts, and the following is more or less a replica of what I will be submitting to USP as a post-Programme assignment. Memories of the Programme are still fresh in my mind, so the assignment is not really a daunting task to complete.

The 2006 Lee Shiu Summer Programme was one of the most significant programmes that I had embarked on, with a clear focus on both realizing possible opportunities presented by an emergent China and tackling potential problems that may plague the nation and hence impede its progress. The Programme had comprised three legs that were conducted in the cities of Hong Kong, Singapore and Beijing, aimed at introducing fresh perspectives of what China will become in the next few decades. I really enjoyed the last leg of Beijing, and would deem it the best one that I had gone for in the Programme. It was there that I personally witnessed the development of China into a global political and economic power, and this valuable experience coupled with a sense of loss as we were approaching the Programme’s end made the Beijing experience both an enriching and memorable one.

Three seminars were conducted in Beijing for the delegation, and they offered us an informative avenue to interpret China’s rise in the future more accurately. Despite the vast amount of knowledge that we had received from these talks, they were conducted in Mandarin, and many of the delegates failed to understand them comprehensively. It was a slight pity that the English medium was not adopted for the seminars, and we hope that organizers of the next Lee Shiu Summer Programme would consider this and make the appropriate arrangements.

We traveled on fieldtrips to the famous Great Wall of China and the Temple of Heaven, and marveled at their spectacular and haunting beauty. The grandeur and scales of these historical sites testify to the former power and wealth of their builders, and we may see comparable feats performed by descendants of the builders within the next two generations of our times. We went to Lenovo and the Olympics Committee Building as well, and saw how China has engaged itself in preparations to engage the global economy and the world at large. However, accelerating environmental damage poses a grave threat, and China may require bold corrective policies to rectify it.

I miss my Lee Shiu friends from China, Hong Kong, and the United States (the Princeton students). Many weeks have passed, but a feeling of nostalgia still lingers in me. We parted with the other delegates at the farewell lunch in Beijing, after the Programme’s finale of the Young Leaders’ Forum. I sincerely hope that our parting will translate into enduring friendships that transgress all boundaries and cultures.

11 September 2006: Zhongshan's Shopping Malls

Francoise, Hisashi, Jasmine and I went to Zhongshan in the evening. In Zhongshan, there is an underground shopping alley linking three subway stations, and many departmental stores on the ground. The underground shopping alley was a disappointment, because the shops there sell a limited variety of merchandise. We saw mainly books and clothes, and both Eslite and Pacific Sogo could have fared better in those aspects. Our Citylink outshines the long alley by a huge margin, I would say.

We arrived at the ground to two Japanese shopping malls. Hisashi had remarked that Zhongshan reminded him of his hometown Nagoya, with its neon lights and flickering boards at buildings. Gosh, the things in both places are sold at exorbitant prices. There was no wonder that the staff bowed to me at the sliding doors when I entered the malls, even before I made any purchase. After all, I'm a prospective patron in their eyes. In any sense, the overall customer service offered by the Taiwanese surpasses that by the Singaporeans, and any shopper can muster all the help he/she needs just by asking politely.

Francoise and Jasmine went for donuts at Mister Donut (a well-known franchise across Taipei) after our window-shopping (of course) experience. We agree unanimously that donuts were the only decently-priced items that we could have found in Zhongshan tonight.

10 September 2006: Linjiang Night Market

At Hisashi's suggestion, Francoise, Jasmine, Mu'en and I headed for the Linjiang Night Market（临江夜市）, because he had read from a Japanese website that there is a famous restaurant at the Market that sells delicious buns（割包，or in our language 扣肉包）. The kong ba bao and the Foochow fishballs are indeed delectable, but Mu'en who is a Foochow Chinese herself said that there are better ones in Singapore. I look forward to coming back to Singapore to taste them.

It has been raining for the past few days, and I'm getting sick of this bad weather. I wish for summer to pass and autumn to arrive, although I have heard that a colder climate will be experienced then. The rains do not encourage our frequent trips to the night markets, but there are so many of them left for us to explore that we feel compelled to visit one every evening! To put it simply, Taipei is floated with night markets. Every locality has a bazzar, although there are only a few notable ones. This is unlike Singapore, where a basar malam pops up only once in a while and and is mainly restricted to densely populated housing estates. I think that night markets can enliven our neighbourhoods effectively, and thus should be organized on a regular basis. I'm so amazed at the vibrancy of Taipei's night markets!


Love has blossomed between two individuals in our group of exchange students and volunteers. I sincerely wish them all the best on the track to seeking true happiness. May the force be with you!

9 September 2006: Conscience Revolution, A-Bian Out!

I went to Ximending (umpteen times) with Connie (my Taiwanese volunteer) and Francoise for an arts bazaar, but bad weather had forced the rescheduling of the bazaar to next week. We changed our plans to visiting the shops selling electronic goods in the vicinity, and I find them labelled at competitive prices by our standard.

Tens of thousands of red-clad protestors had thronged Taipei today, demanding that incumbent President Chen Shui-bian resign over a series of alleged corruption scandals involving his family and inner circle. Therefore, we went to the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall in the evening and saw a massive crowd of Pan-Blue supporters gather at a nearby parade square. Some of them took to the stage, chanting slogans and singing songs to condemn and ridicule President Chen. The slogan on the banner raised across the stage reads: Conscience Revolution, A-Bian Out（良心革命，阿扁下台！）, and the heavy downpour did not diminish the spirit of the protestors.

Anyway, we have been hearing Jay Chou's 《千里之外》 so much that our dear Francoise and Hisashi can hum its tune from beginning to end! Mind you that they are not native speakers of Mandarin and they have only been in Taiwan for a fortnight. Too much is too much! This is ridiculous!

8 September 2006: Shilin Night Market

For the third time in my life, I came to the popular Shilin Night Market. Francoise, Hisashi, Jasmine and I had a late dinner at the Shilin Food Centre, feasting on steaks and fillets. Jianhao had recommended them to me when we went for a speech contest in Taipei just recently, and I find them delectable. So did Francoise, Hisashi and Jasmine. Thanks Jianhao!

Due to a shower at dusk, we strolled on wet roads and pavements, and I was glad to be wearing sandals at such appropriate timing. Taipei's weather has been erratic, and I am now used to sudden downpours on clear and sunny days that drench me at times (that is, if I do not carry an umbrella then). Nevertheless, the night life that we were witnessing enthrilled us, and we saw delightful stuff from cute puppies to funky street wear. In a nutshell, Shilin is a place for everyone! Of course, visitors will be enjoying Shilin more if they know how to bargain for their merchandise. Half the fun of shopping in Shilin lies in the satisfaction derived from a slash in original prices as a result of persistent haggling to purchase desired products.

We met a friendly stall owner as we were trying to capture shots of Shilin, and he asked at his own initiative if we needed help to take a group photo of ourselves. The Taiwanese are so amicable! We then decided that he should appear in a photo with us:

We felt bad that we did not buy a single thing from him; we were rather broke then. However, it is obvious that he had approached us out of sheer kindness, and with that friendly gesture exposed a fundamental difference between the Singaporeans and the Taiwanese. Generally, Singaporeans are too shy and perhaps even self-absorbed at times, but Taiwanese can open themselves up to strangers readily and offer a helping hand to anyone if need be. My dear Marist pal Raymond had once mentioned that a Taiwanese man who was a complete stranger actually walked up to him and initiated a conversation on the MRT in Singapore. I have experienced great hospitality in Taiwan, and shall testify to this pleasant trait of the Taiwanese.

7 September 2006: Grand City Sights

The sporty Taiwanese volunteers and our SEP pals had gone for a game of badminton, and left Francoise and I to our own devices. Both of us made an impromptu decision to travel to the city centre of Taipei, where main blocks of ministries and government agencies are located. We went to Ximending(again and again) and from there proceeded to the Presidential Building. We wanted to see Mr. Chen Shui-bian in his seemingly ending tenure, but sentry guards stopped us at barricades on the pavement. This is the best shot that I can capture:

The failure to enter the Building and a light drizzle later had not dampened our mood much. We continued our journey to explore the principal district, and dropped by at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. There are about 30 flags hoisted on short poles at the lobby, and these are flags of nations that have established diplomatic ties with Taiwan. I saw Men in Black, and reckoned that they are ones not to be reckoned with. I restrained my urge to take a snapshot there and then, and this is my best shot of the Ministry from across the road:

Francoise and I then walked past the Ministry of Education:

......then the National Taiwan University Hospital, which is afiliated to my SEP partner university despite the distance between them:

......later the Supreme Court:

......and finally the Ministry of Legal Affairs:

We made a special effort to visit the Taipei New Park, which was renamed the 2-28 Peace Park recently. The 28 February Incident was an important event in Taiwan's history--an infamous, controversial and tragic massacre. Dear friends who are interested in knowing more about it may wanna search for more information on their own.


Here's the Little South Gate（小南门），one of the remaining two gates of the original walls that once enclosed the old city. It is located at the junction of a road circus:

The sky was turning dark, and we enjoyed the opportunity of seeing schoolgirls who were just dismissed from the day's lessons in the best high school of Taiwan (a version of RGS?), the Taipei First Girls' High School（简称北一女）:


In the evening, Francoise and I met Hisashi, Jasmine and the Taiwanese volunteers for dinner after their friendly badminton matches. With our bellies filled, we went to patronize the Pacific Sogo Departmental Store, which is one of the bigger shopping malls in Taipei. We window-shopped till the store was closed for the day, and were greeted by bows (in Japanese style) at the sliding doors. Seeing two rows of staff bowing to me in royal fashion, I truly feel like a reincarnated Emperor. Takashimaya Singapore to have such a practice too?

Thoroughly bushed. Signing off here!