29 November 2006: Notice
Dear all,
I suppose NUS exams are ending soon, so for those of you who may wanna come over to Taiwan for an enjoyable vacation in December, please inform me soon! Thank You.
Best Regards,
YK
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
28 November 2006: Taipei Metro
Commuters should find it a breeze to use the Taipei Metro. However, train frequency is lower than that of Singapore's SMRT, and stations become cans of live sardines at peak hours, so the subway must be avoided at all costs at such timings.
Commuters should find it a breeze to use the Taipei Metro. However, train frequency is lower than that of Singapore's SMRT, and stations become cans of live sardines at peak hours, so the subway must be avoided at all costs at such timings.
Special carriages are reserved for female passengers at late nights:
Monday, November 27, 2006
26 November 2006: Official End of NTUMUN 2006
Today is the third and last day of NTUMUN 2006. We discussed draft resolutions, cast votes, and on a lighter note, took photos together. After lunch, we attended the Closing Ceremony, and frankly speaking, I almost dozed off when the distinguished guests were speaking on stage. Later, we were shown captions and footages in a video clip produced to depict the past few days of activities, and a sense of loss overwhelmed us as we knew that all had finally come to an end. Nevertheless, negotiations (at our own initiative this time) are underway for us to travel on trips to other parts of Taiwan in December, and I certainly look forward to such a gathering. I was glad that amid the heated debates, we had not lost our cool and had instead pledged to keep in touch.
Andrew (an American representing Peru), Bing and I were asked to share our reflections and thoughts on stage in the Ceremony, and I offered some comic relief by expressing boldly in the presence of the guests that I had achieved little at the conference, but beyond which, I had forged enduring friendships that I am sure will last for many years to come. Ultimately, who really cares about the clauses or points raised in the discussions? Therefore, I was lucky to have received the Award of Diplomatic Excellence (I think it's due to the fact that I always have something to say at the conference) for the conference. Francoise is a prophet who had guessed this last week, and thanks! In our committee of 24 member states, the delegations of Indonesia (Bing), Japan (myself) and Turkey were presented this award in the Ceremony. Thanks again to my USP friends and others who had helped me in preparation for the conference!
Both Bing and I agree that it had been meaningful and significant for us to participate in NTUMUN 2006, because it was a model UN conference organized by a political pariah of the global community, namely the Republic of China. I have no wish to step onto minefields by expressing my political views here, but I believe that the Republic of China has taken an affirmative and bold step forward with regards to global politics and international relations.
Today is the third and last day of NTUMUN 2006. We discussed draft resolutions, cast votes, and on a lighter note, took photos together. After lunch, we attended the Closing Ceremony, and frankly speaking, I almost dozed off when the distinguished guests were speaking on stage. Later, we were shown captions and footages in a video clip produced to depict the past few days of activities, and a sense of loss overwhelmed us as we knew that all had finally come to an end. Nevertheless, negotiations (at our own initiative this time) are underway for us to travel on trips to other parts of Taiwan in December, and I certainly look forward to such a gathering. I was glad that amid the heated debates, we had not lost our cool and had instead pledged to keep in touch.
Andrew (an American representing Peru), Bing and I were asked to share our reflections and thoughts on stage in the Ceremony, and I offered some comic relief by expressing boldly in the presence of the guests that I had achieved little at the conference, but beyond which, I had forged enduring friendships that I am sure will last for many years to come. Ultimately, who really cares about the clauses or points raised in the discussions? Therefore, I was lucky to have received the Award of Diplomatic Excellence (I think it's due to the fact that I always have something to say at the conference) for the conference. Francoise is a prophet who had guessed this last week, and thanks! In our committee of 24 member states, the delegations of Indonesia (Bing), Japan (myself) and Turkey were presented this award in the Ceremony. Thanks again to my USP friends and others who had helped me in preparation for the conference!
Both Bing and I agree that it had been meaningful and significant for us to participate in NTUMUN 2006, because it was a model UN conference organized by a political pariah of the global community, namely the Republic of China. I have no wish to step onto minefields by expressing my political views here, but I believe that the Republic of China has taken an affirmative and bold step forward with regards to global politics and international relations.
Sunday, November 26, 2006
25 November 2006: NTUMUN 2006 (Day 2)
Our assembly continued to debate on the issues of pluralism and minority groups, and Japan had once again contributed much to the discussions. However, some of the points raised by Japan were actually crappy, and again I was really trying hard not to fall asleep in the conference room. Anyway, I had emphasized numerous times the importance of economics in solving the problems of discrimination and marginalization of dispossessed entities, and some delegates had disagreed with that. Nonetheless I had worked on the working paper with Bing (Indonesia) and a native American, Andrew (Peru), so hopefully we will submit a wonderful draft resolution for further discourse tomorrow.
Our assembly continued to debate on the issues of pluralism and minority groups, and Japan had once again contributed much to the discussions. However, some of the points raised by Japan were actually crappy, and again I was really trying hard not to fall asleep in the conference room. Anyway, I had emphasized numerous times the importance of economics in solving the problems of discrimination and marginalization of dispossessed entities, and some delegates had disagreed with that. Nonetheless I had worked on the working paper with Bing (Indonesia) and a native American, Andrew (Peru), so hopefully we will submit a wonderful draft resolution for further discourse tomorrow.
After a long day of seemingly endless debates, the Taiwanese delegates kindly brought Bing and I to the Shida Night Market （师大夜市）for dinner. We had gorged ourselves silly with smelly beancurd, marinated assortment（卤味）, and ice desserts（刨冰）, and were really appreciative of the efforts and time of the Taiwanese delegates to make us feel comfortable and happy. By the way, I heard that Evan Yo（蔡旻佑）, a newcomer to the Mando-pop scene, is actually a student of the National Taiwan Normal University（国立台湾师范大学）. More importantly, his talents have been discovered and realized by Jacky Wu（吴宗宪！）
Last but not least, I had finally appeared in the latest Taiwanese variety show of 我猜我猜我猜猜猜 hosted by Jacky Wu (aired on 25 November 2006) in the evening! For eager and interested friends who may wanna catch a glimpse of NTU foreign students like myself in the programme, please visit some of the "illegal" websites for more details (especially so for Yuting!). Anyway, it had been both exciting and weird seeing myself on national TV here!
Friday, November 24, 2006
24 November 2006: NTU Model United Nations 2006
It had been a long day for me. After an early breakfast with Marvin, I went to the NTU activity centre for the NTU Model United Nations 2006 Opening Ceremony with Bing and Rafael. After some entertaining speeches by our distinguished guests, we finally proceeded with the conference proper. I had completed my agenda and position papers just in time for this conference, and heartfelt thanks goes to my USP friends such as Crystal, Gail, Soon Kit and William, who had gathered the necessary information and resources for me to draft the papers last night. My sincere gratitude to Marvin too, who had been a great friend accompanying me through the silent hours of breaking dawn. Thanks to all here!
Bing and I happen to be in the committee of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and we represent Indonesia and Japan respectively. I had voiced countless opinions in both the general speeches and moderated caucuses, and Bing remarked that I may be awarded "Most Enthusiatic Delegate" by the committee body of the conference. I don't really hanker after that, because I speak up for the simple reason of keeping myself awake in the conference proceedings.
In the late afternoon, I bade farewell to Markus' girlfriend Angie, who had stayed with us in Taiwan for the past month and would be heading back for Austria later tonight. She will be missed!
In the evening, Bing, Rafael and I went to the Ambassador's Hotel for a Diplomatic Soiree, which is similar to a high-table dinner in a formal setting. Curious Taiwanese delegates had bombarded me with questions about Singapore, and Bing seemed to know more about my country than I do, having done much of the explanation for me. Bing actually likes Singapore very much and contemplates doing an internship there. Indeed, he is more "Singaporean" than I am. The dinner ended with delegates dancing to their hearts' content on the ballroom floor.
It had been a long day for me. After an early breakfast with Marvin, I went to the NTU activity centre for the NTU Model United Nations 2006 Opening Ceremony with Bing and Rafael. After some entertaining speeches by our distinguished guests, we finally proceeded with the conference proper. I had completed my agenda and position papers just in time for this conference, and heartfelt thanks goes to my USP friends such as Crystal, Gail, Soon Kit and William, who had gathered the necessary information and resources for me to draft the papers last night. My sincere gratitude to Marvin too, who had been a great friend accompanying me through the silent hours of breaking dawn. Thanks to all here!
Bing and I happen to be in the committee of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and we represent Indonesia and Japan respectively. I had voiced countless opinions in both the general speeches and moderated caucuses, and Bing remarked that I may be awarded "Most Enthusiatic Delegate" by the committee body of the conference. I don't really hanker after that, because I speak up for the simple reason of keeping myself awake in the conference proceedings.
In the late afternoon, I bade farewell to Markus' girlfriend Angie, who had stayed with us in Taiwan for the past month and would be heading back for Austria later tonight. She will be missed!In the evening, Bing, Rafael and I went to the Ambassador's Hotel for a Diplomatic Soiree, which is similar to a high-table dinner in a formal setting. Curious Taiwanese delegates had bombarded me with questions about Singapore, and Bing seemed to know more about my country than I do, having done much of the explanation for me. Bing actually likes Singapore very much and contemplates doing an internship there. Indeed, he is more "Singaporean" than I am. The dinner ended with delegates dancing to their hearts' content on the ballroom floor.
Thursday, November 23, 2006
23 November 2006: Long Night Ahead
I'm doomed. I have yet to complete my agenda papers and conference scripts. I may need to blabber nonsense and crap my way through when the time comes. At the meantime, I hope that this worst scenerio will not happen.
I hope that my blog can allow my friends to know more about the wonderful place of Taiwan. In this entry I shall talk about the cafes in Taiwan. Taiwan is a nation of cafes. These cafes have good ambience and setting, serving good brew and great snacks. Everywhere is a Holland Village. Moreover, their cheese cakes and chocolates are cheaper than those found in Singapore. Many of Taiwan's cafes operate on a 24-hr basis, and students burning the midnight oil can always be found in these places, mugging hard through the night. When the cafes play songs such as Daniel Chan's 比我幸福 and the like in the wee hours of the morning, it sets an atmosphere of serenity. I can describe this feeling experienced more aptly in Chinese--淡淡的忧伤. Not that I had eaten too many cheese cakes to behave cheesy here, nor am I emotionally dampened in Taiwan, but this is the mood or sentiment felt when few or no one is around in a cafe, at one night in Taipei.
I'm doomed. I have yet to complete my agenda papers and conference scripts. I may need to blabber nonsense and crap my way through when the time comes. At the meantime, I hope that this worst scenerio will not happen.
I hope that my blog can allow my friends to know more about the wonderful place of Taiwan. In this entry I shall talk about the cafes in Taiwan. Taiwan is a nation of cafes. These cafes have good ambience and setting, serving good brew and great snacks. Everywhere is a Holland Village. Moreover, their cheese cakes and chocolates are cheaper than those found in Singapore. Many of Taiwan's cafes operate on a 24-hr basis, and students burning the midnight oil can always be found in these places, mugging hard through the night. When the cafes play songs such as Daniel Chan's 比我幸福 and the like in the wee hours of the morning, it sets an atmosphere of serenity. I can describe this feeling experienced more aptly in Chinese--淡淡的忧伤. Not that I had eaten too many cheese cakes to behave cheesy here, nor am I emotionally dampened in Taiwan, but this is the mood or sentiment felt when few or no one is around in a cafe, at one night in Taipei.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
22 November 2006: Counting Down
I will be leaving Taiwan in about two months' time. In my future posts, I shall emphasize the culture and society of the Taiwanese and upload pictures depicting their daily lives here (if I have the time to). Many friends had asked me if I spend much time blogging, and my answer is negative. Boredin, Jacky and Yuting had remarked that all my posts seemed grammatically correct (and "formal"), and some of these were long enough to match the length of USP response papers. Well, I usually spend an average of 5-10 minutes on each post, and uploading the photos actually takes longer. Anyway, I believe that I must have committed some grammatical errors here and there, as I only proofread once before publishing a post. Here's a photo of Yeliu's famous "Queen's Crowned Head" (I heard that it's breaking apart), as mentioned by Hogzilla. I had missed this out in my Yeliu post donkey weeks ago. And Hogzilla, Nothing is Impossible, and as I have always mentioned, I can never match your interest and proficiency in Chinese (especially the former), so I have full faith in you pursuing your passion in life.
I will be leaving Taiwan in about two months' time. In my future posts, I shall emphasize the culture and society of the Taiwanese and upload pictures depicting their daily lives here (if I have the time to). Many friends had asked me if I spend much time blogging, and my answer is negative. Boredin, Jacky and Yuting had remarked that all my posts seemed grammatically correct (and "formal"), and some of these were long enough to match the length of USP response papers. Well, I usually spend an average of 5-10 minutes on each post, and uploading the photos actually takes longer. Anyway, I believe that I must have committed some grammatical errors here and there, as I only proofread once before publishing a post. Here's a photo of Yeliu's famous "Queen's Crowned Head" (I heard that it's breaking apart), as mentioned by Hogzilla. I had missed this out in my Yeliu post donkey weeks ago. And Hogzilla, Nothing is Impossible, and as I have always mentioned, I can never match your interest and proficiency in Chinese (especially the former), so I have full faith in you pursuing your passion in life.
I have a couple of essays (both NTU and non-NTU others) to complete here, and my spinning headache is becoming a hindrance to their completion. Anyway, Ciao!
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
21 November 2006: Memorable Date
21 November has always been a memorable date for me. Recounting my entire academic life, most of my final-year examinations had ended coincidentally on this date. The more notable ones happened to fall on my 'A' Levels examinations and my first semester of the last academic year (that is, exactly a year ago). I finally bade a complete farewell to rigid rote learning in both high school and junior college after my Physics 'S' Paper in 2001, and that was the last time I was seen donning a school uniform. Since then, I have been enjoying a sense (and perhaps culture too) of intellectual liberty. In the latter case, I (remarkably to me) finished sitting for 4 examinations in a matter of 3 days, so it was a mad rush of catching up (I AM lazy at times) and reading up. After that, I actually felt a sense of loss that it was all over.
I heard that it is now the so-called "study week" for NUS students. May all five caps be worn when you meet Dean in person.
21 November has always been a memorable date for me. Recounting my entire academic life, most of my final-year examinations had ended coincidentally on this date. The more notable ones happened to fall on my 'A' Levels examinations and my first semester of the last academic year (that is, exactly a year ago). I finally bade a complete farewell to rigid rote learning in both high school and junior college after my Physics 'S' Paper in 2001, and that was the last time I was seen donning a school uniform. Since then, I have been enjoying a sense (and perhaps culture too) of intellectual liberty. In the latter case, I (remarkably to me) finished sitting for 4 examinations in a matter of 3 days, so it was a mad rush of catching up (I AM lazy at times) and reading up. After that, I actually felt a sense of loss that it was all over.
I heard that it is now the so-called "study week" for NUS students. May all five caps be worn when you meet Dean in person.
20 November 2006: Joe Hisaishi's Concert in Taipei!
Joe Hisaishi had begun his Asia performance tour in Taipei! Francoise, Jasmine and I went to catch this only concert in Taiwan in the evening, and the philharmonic orchestra (judging from the instrumental setting and the number of musicians) had been stunning! I know very little about symphonic music, but had felt really great listening to the beautiful melodies and tunes from soundtracks of popular animated films such as Laputa: Castle in the Sky and Howl's Moving Castle. And yes Daniel (the Tuba King!), they had played those pieces from Princess Mononoke too! I wish you were here to catch this concert with me, so that you could educate me on the technical aspects!
Joe Hisaishi had begun his Asia performance tour in Taipei! Francoise, Jasmine and I went to catch this only concert in Taiwan in the evening, and the philharmonic orchestra (judging from the instrumental setting and the number of musicians) had been stunning! I know very little about symphonic music, but had felt really great listening to the beautiful melodies and tunes from soundtracks of popular animated films such as Laputa: Castle in the Sky and Howl's Moving Castle. And yes Daniel (the Tuba King!), they had played those pieces from Princess Mononoke too! I wish you were here to catch this concert with me, so that you could educate me on the technical aspects!
Joe Hisaishi was fond of giving solo piano performances, and I was slightly disappointed at the fact that he did not engage and conduct the musical ensemble for the pieces from Spirited Away. Nonetheless, I had enjoyed almost every second of the 2-hr concert. There were alogether 3 encores, and when the orchestra performed music from My Neighbour Totoro the audience was thrilled. I guess the movie is an evergreen that evokes our childhood qualities and memories, and these are things which we can identify ourselves with. Joe Hisaishi himself gave another solo performance on the piano in the last encore, and the audience responded with thunderous applause and a standing ovation befitting a gifted composer of his calibre.
We went for dessert at a restaurant named 糖朝 after the concert. If I am not gravely mistaken, it is part of a franchise marketed from Hong Kong. The dim sum and the desserts were delectable, and indeed I had not eaten them for the past three months. All in all, it had been an enjoyable night for the three of us here.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
19 November 2006: Leofoo Village
Jasmine and I went to Leofoo Village（六福村）with a group of foreign students of NTU. This was my second time there in four years, and little had changed. Leofoo Village is known as the "Disneyland of Taiwan", but I think it may not be as fun as Disneyland.
Jasmine and I went to Leofoo Village（六福村）with a group of foreign students of NTU. This was my second time there in four years, and little had changed. Leofoo Village is known as the "Disneyland of Taiwan", but I think it may not be as fun as Disneyland.
Leofoo Village is divided into four main sectors, namely "Arabian Kingdom", "South Pacific", "Wild West", and "African Safari". In a nutshell, the Village is a miniature world showcasing features of different regions on the globe. As in all other amusement parks, there are theme rides for either the frail-hearted or the daredevils to enjoy. We had taken some of them, but our emphasis remained on the stage performances of dance, magic and music in the "Arabian Kingdom".
Jasmine and I love the "African Safari", because it was there that we had enjoyed a train ride through the plains and savannas of free-roaming wild animals (well, still in limited captivity), such as antelopes, bisons, deers, giraffes, ostriches, rhinos, and zebras. After which, we took a bus tour in the carnivora area, where we had seen gibbons, lions, and tigers. It was about lunchtime then, and my stomach growled with every sight of these animals. I am not into wild game though.
Our activities ended at dusk, and it had been an enjoyable day.
Saturday, November 18, 2006
18 November 2006: Confidence
I have not been selected for both Norway's ISFIT and America's GWU. I have been receiving mediocre grades for my assignments. This half of the year has been a total contrast of the first one for me.
Jingmin told me, "You're a Dean's Lister", and had even sent me some weblinks that show my name on the lists. Yeah true, but all these things are transient. It was about then that Sharon said, "You're Ying Kit leh." Now that had brought my spirit back.
Life is not a bed of roses. Even if it is, there are still thorns around us that we have to look out for. We may be pricked at times, but all of us need to have the confidence of treading well in this crimson sea of hope. I am who I am, and I know that I will do fine one day. Thanks for the encouragement, Jingmin and Sharon. All the best for your exams.
I have not been selected for both Norway's ISFIT and America's GWU. I have been receiving mediocre grades for my assignments. This half of the year has been a total contrast of the first one for me.
Jingmin told me, "You're a Dean's Lister", and had even sent me some weblinks that show my name on the lists. Yeah true, but all these things are transient. It was about then that Sharon said, "You're Ying Kit leh." Now that had brought my spirit back.
Life is not a bed of roses. Even if it is, there are still thorns around us that we have to look out for. We may be pricked at times, but all of us need to have the confidence of treading well in this crimson sea of hope. I am who I am, and I know that I will do fine one day. Thanks for the encouragement, Jingmin and Sharon. All the best for your exams.
Friday, November 17, 2006
This is just for the benefit of those who have yet to see it. I have been trying to get more photos of Jacky Wu from other foreign students who went for the live recording with us last week.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
16 November 2006: A Moment of Anguish
Oh my gosh. I was just informed that I had not been selected for the 2007 George Washington University Dialogue on HIV/AIDS. This dialogue will take the form of two electronic conferences, one in January and the other in March. The magical part of these all is the highly-sponsored trip of selected delegates to Washington in February, and we USP students will in turn host a group of students from their Dean's Scholars Program in June.
Jianhao and I had applied for the Dialogue, and just last week USP sent us both an email asking for our return dates from SEP. Later, Jianhao told me on MSN that the fact that they had bothered asking for them meant that our chances ran high. By default, I believed so. However, USP had just informed me today that I can't join the GWU 2007 because I will be returning too late in January. I am slightly disappointed now, but all along I had known to keep my fingers crossed for the simple reason that the exact dates on which the electronic conferences will take place have yet to be confirmed, and I may not be able to return on time for the first one. My worst fears have finally come true. If Jianhao is chosen to go (I will ask him soon), it would have proven precisely my point.
Simply put, the NTU academic calender has been my bane. I will miss the first two weeks of lessons in NUS. I have also lost the opportunity to go to the States on heavy subsidy. Finally, I will not be able to contribute to the discussions on global health issues, a matter that I have more interest in than studying the classics.
Oh my gosh. I was just informed that I had not been selected for the 2007 George Washington University Dialogue on HIV/AIDS. This dialogue will take the form of two electronic conferences, one in January and the other in March. The magical part of these all is the highly-sponsored trip of selected delegates to Washington in February, and we USP students will in turn host a group of students from their Dean's Scholars Program in June.
Jianhao and I had applied for the Dialogue, and just last week USP sent us both an email asking for our return dates from SEP. Later, Jianhao told me on MSN that the fact that they had bothered asking for them meant that our chances ran high. By default, I believed so. However, USP had just informed me today that I can't join the GWU 2007 because I will be returning too late in January. I am slightly disappointed now, but all along I had known to keep my fingers crossed for the simple reason that the exact dates on which the electronic conferences will take place have yet to be confirmed, and I may not be able to return on time for the first one. My worst fears have finally come true. If Jianhao is chosen to go (I will ask him soon), it would have proven precisely my point.
Simply put, the NTU academic calender has been my bane. I will miss the first two weeks of lessons in NUS. I have also lost the opportunity to go to the States on heavy subsidy. Finally, I will not be able to contribute to the discussions on global health issues, a matter that I have more interest in than studying the classics.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
14 November 2006: My Life Philosophy
We are doomed to die, let us spend. We will live long, let us save.
I have always believed in this, and I think we should all adopt a relaxed outlook in life. I never like to think much into things, and would love to follow my heart so long as circumstances allow me to. All ambitions and dreams are transient, but I bear them, for aiming to achieve them proves my very existence on this planet.
Here's adding a tinge of "feelings" to this space. Regards.
We are doomed to die, let us spend. We will live long, let us save.
I have always believed in this, and I think we should all adopt a relaxed outlook in life. I never like to think much into things, and would love to follow my heart so long as circumstances allow me to. All ambitions and dreams are transient, but I bear them, for aiming to achieve them proves my very existence on this planet.
Here's adding a tinge of "feelings" to this space. Regards.
Monday, November 13, 2006
13 November 2006: Mid-Terms
The much dreaded mid-term tests have finally arrived, and it's really time for me to study. My NUS peers are now mugging hard for their final papers, and I wish them the best of luck. I will still be stuck here in Taiwan when they fly free into the arms of freedom and leisure in December. Haiz.
Autumn has passed, and winter with its cold winds has forced us to wear our coats or jackets even in broad daylight (sometimes, at least). Apparently, autumn in Taiwan lasts from September to November, and both it and winter are short seasons in the span of a year in Taiwan.
The much dreaded mid-term tests have finally arrived, and it's really time for me to study. My NUS peers are now mugging hard for their final papers, and I wish them the best of luck. I will still be stuck here in Taiwan when they fly free into the arms of freedom and leisure in December. Haiz.
Autumn has passed, and winter with its cold winds has forced us to wear our coats or jackets even in broad daylight (sometimes, at least). Apparently, autumn in Taiwan lasts from September to November, and both it and winter are short seasons in the span of a year in Taiwan.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
11 November 2006: Yangmingshan
Francoise, Jasmine, Mu'en and I went to Yangmingshan（阳明山） in the afternoon. Yangmingshan is not an attraction; it is a site of many attractions. We had only time to venture one of the attractions, which is the Chingtienkang（擎天岗）. I am serious when I say that many days would be needed to explore the whole mountain.
We LOVE the place. It is covered with a huge green blanket and herds of cattle had used to graze the pasture. I heard from Jasmine and other friends that this exact spot had been the filming location of some Rainie Yang and Mike He show, as well as of many MTVs of Mandarin-pop songs. As Mongoloids, we truly like the emptiness and vastness of it all.
After covering about 10km on foot, we finally caught the long-awaited sunset. This scene of the red disc setting beyond the horizon had more than compensated for the cold and long hiking up those tracks at our altitude. I was almost frozen in my "defenseless" shirt.
Friday, November 10, 2006
10 November 2006: More Accounts of My Best Day in Taiwan
I think my prediction has come true: for the past week I had devoted many posts to Jacky Wu and his show. Anyway, here are some of the guest stars whom we had managed to see while waiting to enter the set:
Makiyo. Poor me was almost out of the picture.
Alex To（杜德伟）. Ambrose 许绍洋 was with him but we had failed to capture him on film. Doesn't really matter though.
Here's Yang Qian Pei（杨千霈）with Rainie Yang. She was there to replace A-Ya（阿雅）as co-host.
Here's Jacky Wu pointing at me. He was saying that I had worn a shirt of similar pattern (black and white stripes) to his. I was too busy snapping photos of him to reply.
I think my prediction has come true: for the past week I had devoted many posts to Jacky Wu and his show. Anyway, here are some of the guest stars whom we had managed to see while waiting to enter the set:
Makiyo. Poor me was almost out of the picture.
Alex To（杜德伟）. Ambrose 许绍洋 was with him but we had failed to capture him on film. Doesn't really matter though.
Here's Yang Qian Pei（杨千霈）with Rainie Yang. She was there to replace A-Ya（阿雅）as co-host.
Here's Jacky Wu pointing at me. He was saying that I had worn a shirt of similar pattern (black and white stripes) to his. I was too busy snapping photos of him to reply.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
9 November 2006: Follow-up on My Favourite Day in Taiwan
We met many celebrities in the live recording on Monday. They are 2Moro, Pin Guang（品冠）, Fish Leung（梁静茹）, Zhuo Wen Xuan（卓文萱）and other relatively-unknowns.
We met many celebrities in the live recording on Monday. They are 2Moro, Pin Guang（品冠）, Fish Leung（梁静茹）, Zhuo Wen Xuan（卓文萱）and other relatively-unknowns.
We took to the seats before their arrival:
And we stood on the platforms:
Of course, co-host Rainie Yang was there too:
To put it simply, we had really enjoyed ourselves!
8 November 2006: Busy Taipei
The little green men on the city's traffic lights are animated. As the number displays count down the seconds the green men walk faster and faster correspondingly until the red men are seen. I (ignorant perhaps) had found them amusing and interesting when I first arrived in Taipei.
I hope to catch another live recording of Jacky Wu's variety shows. Wonder if it's possible.
The little green men on the city's traffic lights are animated. As the number displays count down the seconds the green men walk faster and faster correspondingly until the red men are seen. I (ignorant perhaps) had found them amusing and interesting when I first arrived in Taipei.
I hope to catch another live recording of Jacky Wu's variety shows. Wonder if it's possible.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
7 November 2006: Outdoor Photo Exhibition
I went for an outdoor photo exhibition held at the central square of the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall, and the displayed pictures feature facets of modern China in the past century. I hold strong sentiment for one of the photos there.
Granny Ren and her family were subsistence farmers living in a poor, rural village of Hunan province, China. Her husband died at an early age, and she had toiled hard to raise her six sons. It paid off eventually, when all her sons married and together with new members of the family, continued to labour hard on the soil against all odds. However, it proved to involve much more than sheer spirit and will to defy the odds, and life was becoming too harsh for the family to bear.
Opportunity to improve their conditions struck when a medical team arrived in the village and offered the villagers hefty sums of cash in exchange for their blood. Hospitals in affluent, urban cities of China have always been low in their blood banks, and rural villages offer a convenient source of blood. It would be easy anyway, with rural farms susceptible to natural disasters and poor weather that discouraged any harvest at times, and all it took were carrot sticks of money.
Granny Ren's sons and daugthers-in-law, along with many other villagers, participated in blood transfusions with the medical team, and had managed to survive the harsh winter with their cash rewards. Within the next few years, however, Granny Ren's family members died successively, and it was known only later that the cause for this was AIDS. Granny Ren was not involved in any unclean blood transfusion then, but had contracted the HIV virus when she cleansed and dressed the infected wounds of her now-deceased fourth eldest son. Her whole family was wiped out within years, and family photos or portraits hung in her room have now become painful memories for the tormented soul of Granny Ren.
I went for an outdoor photo exhibition held at the central square of the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall, and the displayed pictures feature facets of modern China in the past century. I hold strong sentiment for one of the photos there.
Granny Ren and her family were subsistence farmers living in a poor, rural village of Hunan province, China. Her husband died at an early age, and she had toiled hard to raise her six sons. It paid off eventually, when all her sons married and together with new members of the family, continued to labour hard on the soil against all odds. However, it proved to involve much more than sheer spirit and will to defy the odds, and life was becoming too harsh for the family to bear.
Opportunity to improve their conditions struck when a medical team arrived in the village and offered the villagers hefty sums of cash in exchange for their blood. Hospitals in affluent, urban cities of China have always been low in their blood banks, and rural villages offer a convenient source of blood. It would be easy anyway, with rural farms susceptible to natural disasters and poor weather that discouraged any harvest at times, and all it took were carrot sticks of money.
Granny Ren's sons and daugthers-in-law, along with many other villagers, participated in blood transfusions with the medical team, and had managed to survive the harsh winter with their cash rewards. Within the next few years, however, Granny Ren's family members died successively, and it was known only later that the cause for this was AIDS. Granny Ren was not involved in any unclean blood transfusion then, but had contracted the HIV virus when she cleansed and dressed the infected wounds of her now-deceased fourth eldest son. Her whole family was wiped out within years, and family photos or portraits hung in her room have now become painful memories for the tormented soul of Granny Ren.
6 November 2006: My Happiest Day in Taiwan
Prof Liew, Director of the International Relations Office of NUS, and Foong Sin had paid us a visit amid their busy schedule in Taiwan! They arrived in Tainan last week, and had just come over to Taipei for a meeting with their NTU counterparts. We were very happy indeed to see them, and had enjoyed a pleasant lunch with them at a nearby Chinese restaurant.
I am so excited now that I feel like typing a series of posts on this in the next few days! Do bear with me if I really do so!
Prof Liew, Director of the International Relations Office of NUS, and Foong Sin had paid us a visit amid their busy schedule in Taiwan! They arrived in Tainan last week, and had just come over to Taipei for a meeting with their NTU counterparts. We were very happy indeed to see them, and had enjoyed a pleasant lunch with them at a nearby Chinese restaurant.
GUESS what: Our group of international students had gone to CTV（中视）to watch the live recording of the popular Taiwanese variety show Guess X 3（我猜我猜我猜猜猜）in the evening! Needless to say, I was very excited, and had brought some of Jacky Wu's albums to the set for his autographs. Francoise had made some A4-size posters to congratulate him on his recent nomination for best compere in the upcoming 金钟奖 held within these two months. As such, Marvin, Shingo and I lifted these posters and Jacky Wu saw them! Haha! I did not have the chance to approach him before the start of the recording, but after a 10min break when he returned to the set for the second half of it, I mustered enough courage to ask for the autographs and a photo with him. The Local King agreed readily, and proceeded to sign on all the 3 cds that I had brought over. A female producer was furious that I had held up the entire filming process, but Jacky Wu still took pains to sign on the cd covers patiently, and he really took a shot with me in the studio! I was very pleased with his affability and sincerity, and even anti-Jacky Jasmine and Mu'en had agreed that Jacky Wu seems to be very kind and friendly to his fans! In contrast, Rainie Yang had appeared rather aloof, but we decided to give her the benefit of a doubt that she was simply tired after a long day of filming on the set.
Jacky Wu had talked to me a few times in the recording, so I GUESS I must have appeared in most of the show regardless of how much the producers will censor or edit to yield the final broadcast. Yuting (in her regular downloads online) and all interested friends, please keep a lookout for me in one of the Guess shows within the next few weeks! Anyway, Jacky Wu shook my hands (as well as those of Jasmine and Shingo) right before he left the set, thanking us for our support. I hope that I had made his day to the same extent that he had made mine.
I am so excited now that I feel like typing a series of posts on this in the next few days! Do bear with me if I really do so!
Sunday, November 05, 2006
5 November 2006: Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall
I had visited the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall（中正纪念堂）in the afternoon, and that was my third time there in past years. The square hosts public performances all year round, reflecting the vibrant art scene of Taiwan. The National Theatre（国家戏剧院） is located next to the Hall, and both are defining landmarks of Taipei.
The Hall exhibits belongings and collections of the late President, whom the Taiwanese affectionately refer to as "Lord Chiang"（蒋公）, and also houses articles and photographs that narrate his life in both mainland China and Taiwan. Some of the accounts are too inclined to Chiang and have lost much objectivity, and we need to view that part of Chinese history from more perspectives to gain a more holisitic facet of the situation then.
I had visited the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall（中正纪念堂）in the afternoon, and that was my third time there in past years. The square hosts public performances all year round, reflecting the vibrant art scene of Taiwan. The National Theatre（国家戏剧院） is located next to the Hall, and both are defining landmarks of Taipei.
The Hall exhibits belongings and collections of the late President, whom the Taiwanese affectionately refer to as "Lord Chiang"（蒋公）, and also houses articles and photographs that narrate his life in both mainland China and Taiwan. Some of the accounts are too inclined to Chiang and have lost much objectivity, and we need to view that part of Chinese history from more perspectives to gain a more holisitic facet of the situation then.
The changing of guard ought to be the highlight of any excurion to the Hall:
I went to the Longshan Temple later, and there were so so many people. Apparently the Temple has been registered as a historical site for preservation.
4 November 2006: Wulai
Francoise, Jasmine and I traveled to Wulai（乌来）, which is famous for its mountains and streams, as well as for the Taiya（泰雅） tribe residing there. Hot springs lie abound, and it was foggy in Wulai.
Francoise, Jasmine and I traveled to Wulai（乌来）, which is famous for its mountains and streams, as well as for the Taiya（泰雅） tribe residing there. Hot springs lie abound, and it was foggy in Wulai.
We took a "kiddy" train that was reminiscent of the one at the Children's Playground of the Singapore Zoo to the waterfalls. The train was operated by very mechanical means and kinda ran on its own, as I sat next to the driver who didn't seem to have worked much to get us there.
There is a theatre-cum-souvenir-shop near the waterfalls, and the staff there are all Taiya people. Rich Belgian Francoise had wanted to buy a bag there, but after flipping the price tag over dumped the bag back onto the shelf again. We had taken a free-of-charge photo with the staff:
Later, we watched a performance that showcased the traditional dances and music of the Taiya tribe in the theatre. The finale of the show came when the performers led the full audience onto the stage, and we had all danced in a jovial loop. To pump in the extra joy the performers took pictures of every individual dancing on stage, something like the instant snapshots taken when one takes a dive down a rollercoaster ride. For ultimate pleasure, some of us had willingly paid NTD 500 for each of the photos. One of them is yours truly.
We went for massage and hot spring bath before dinner. Finally at night, we left the touristy place for our dormitory.
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