Welcome to Taiwan!

Welcome to Taiwan!!!
Naruwan... Yee Yah Naruwan.....Ok, you'll only get my joke if you visit here. Got it?? Haha

OK this is my promised post on my Taiwan trip. But I don't know where to begin and what to write at all!! I won't say this is an exhilarating trip, but it was indeed pleasurable and I had fun. I really miss Taiwan now, the night markets, the shopping... After I unpacked my luggage, I realised I've bought too lil stuff. There are so many things I haven tried, theme parks I haven went, food I haven tasted, places I haven visted and things I haven bought! I wanna return again, hopefully end of the year if I have the money. This time round, will be less of travelling and more OTOT of walking around, a more relaxed trip. Yes we did so much travelling, I'm still feeling tired haha. But I've been out almost everyday after I return, that explains why I am tired...

When we arrived on the first evening, on the way from CKS International Airport at Tao Yuan to Taipei, it was drizzling all the way and it was gettin dark so I made us worried that for the next 7 days, we'll be caught in such lousy weather and it'll be a wet blanket, literally! And onthe way we had ample time to ogle at the Bin Lang Xi Shi due to the jam... Haha Well fortunately from the next morning onwards, it was all sunny! So sunny that the sun's damn scorching I'm getting burnt. And it did not rain for the rest of our trip. The sun in Taiwan rises very early, starts at around 430am. The very first night, me and Es couldn't get to sleep, not because we were too excited but outta some unknown reasons lol. When we finally managed to fall asleep, we somehow woke up and I wanted to wash up thinking it was already 8plus, because it was already so bright outside and I saw that it was 7 or 8 plus on my watch (my mistake of cos), only to realise later that it was only 5plus....

It's so accessible in Taiwan, we took all kinda transport, from bus to cab to subway to railway train. And it's cheap too, buy the Easy Card (alike Easylink) for the subway and you'll get discount for every ride haha. The public buses cost like less than 1 buck regardless of how long or far you travelled. Then there are those long journey buses than cost around 4 or 5 bucks that are called 客运. Important thing is to plan your route and ask around! The people there are helpful enough to give you directions. Once, wee and I were conversing in English while waiting for the train and someone actually came up to offer help, thinking that we couldn't find our way. Then there was this other lady who pushed me her namecard after bringing us to our desinated bus stop and offered her services anytime we need help.

Let's see, we lived in a hotel located in the middle of Xi Men Ding (the youngsters hotspot), so it was very convenient. We visited many places, Snake Alley, Hua Xi Street Night market, Yehliu, Danshui, Miramar, Shilin Night Market, Jiufen, Keelung, Tong Hua Street and its night market, Wu Lai, Wu Fen Pu, Taipei 101, Warner Village, Sogo, New York New York, Zhong Xiao Dong Lu, Cheng Pin, Yang Ming Shan, Beitou and of cos not forgetting KTV at Qian Gui! Wow like listing the whole itinerary. Ok to get cheap clothes go to the night markets, especially Shilin cos it's bigger and at Wu Fen Pu, it's a wholesale centre so the clothes are really cheap!! Cheap foodstuff will be at Danshui but basically the night marktets sell almost everything especially the big ones. On the whole, stuff at Xi Men Ding cost more than that at the night markets, but there are certain shops and alley that sell real cheap stuff, comparable to the night markets. We never lunched or dined at any restaurant except for the time we were at yehliu, the rest of the time, we spent our time eating as we roam the streets and night markets, settling for any stores we felt like it. Seriously I prefer to get food from these road side stalls and hawkers at the night markets or those lil shops that sell delicacies instead of eating food in restaurants that I can get here in Singapore. There're still many food I have yet to try though I tried many too! lol Forget about getting stuff at the departmental stores, like Sogo and Warner, cos they are actually at the higher end. Food at such places cost more too. KTV at Qian Gui isn't exactly cheap, about 20 odd S$ per pax but well it includes buffet, eventhough it wasn't particularly good. Zhong Xiao Dong Lu is a long stretch I think there are 6 sectors in all. We only managed to cover a small area and the shops at this area are again of the higher end. But then there are cheaper stuff at other sectors of the road I haven been to. I returned one night and walked aimlesly (ok not exactly aimlessly, in fact with a particular aim) from sector one to two. It was a good night walk, though regretful.

I really wanna thank the guys for taking care of me during the whole trip. Because it was impossible to tag along with the couple, (I don't want to too), I would be left alone when we went our separate ways to do our own shopping. But the guys would feel unsafe and volunteered to walk with me. It was a very sweet and kind gesture. And I appreciate it alot. Thanks YY, Wee & JQ. However, on my part, I didn't feel good to hinder their shopping cos I know they had their own stuff to buy and also, I'll feel abit uncomfortable myself and end up not looking at the stuff I want to. So most of the time except once or twice, I'll assure them that I'll be alright alone. I think I particularly enjoyed one evening when I returned to Danshui alone to buy foodstuff. Managed to try some food, the ice cream and also took nice pictures of the sun set. I love to roam the streets myself, no restrictions at all. And erm yah I also enjoyed the time when I roamed the streets near Xi Men Ding at around 2am while the guys were playing pool. Yes I'm an independent gal, a bold one as well. Alone, 2am on Taiwan streets. Sorry if I made you guys worried.

Here's some pix to share, though you can find them in my new photo album

Our very own homegrown Yanzi!! She looks good in this advert!




It's blurred but artistically taken yah! Taipei 101




Lovely Ferris Wheel at Miramar




This is the beatiful sunset at Dan Shui, near Fisherman's Wharf. I zoomed in.




One of the shots taken while I'm eating. I love Niu Rou Mian(beef noodles)!!!




It's not just a Yoshinoya but full of memories and story behind it. Though in the end, I was the only one who came here, at least I achieved what I wanted to, eventhough it wasn't a fulfilled dream....




And lastly! A very artistic picture!! Haha and of cos u guessed who the "director" was huh! Haha


For more detailed Taiwan intinerary that might help you plan your trip, click here

Lastly, the newly uploaded song is one that I heard everywhere in Taiwan!!

=I'll be back!!=

I miss Taiwan!!

I'm back!! But I'm still too tired to blog.... A long entry I mean.... So all I managed to do is to change my blog music... Meanwhile, can view the pixs I took during my Taiwan trip. Stay tuned for updates! And I'm gonna revamp my blog... I hope. Haha

Yes and I miss Taiwan loads!

Great Memories

I realised something. The number of hits on my blog has dropped drastically. This is inevitable as I haven been blogging as actively as I used to. Lack of ideas, lack of topic and most importantly, lack of time. I guess it is just normal, like how people get forgotten over time, feelings change over time and pain lessen over time. It's all inevitable, feelings fade as things and time changes.

But my blog hits picked up over the past one or two days and I know it's the AHSCDS people visiting my blog. Ok because I have a tracker, lol. Now that the production is over, it's the blogs that are linking us together. Haha. The show has ended, all the efforts worthwhile. After reading many blogs of the juniors (be it the alumni or the students, yes yes I'm one of the very seniors in the production lah) I realised everyone's writing about the same things. Happy on Day 0, that everything has finally ended and we indeed put up a great show. But on Day 1 onwards, I see posts of nostalgia and bitter sweetness. I know it's hard, we used to be so occupied with rehearsals, and for others with the props and all, and now that life is back to normal, it's just too calm for us like an empty space too vast to be filled with anything. But hey life has to go on yah, we have to move on, to work towards greater goals, be it in our own lifes or in terms of drama, together or separately. I mean we have been through the same phase so many times, we'll pull through. Before you know it, life is back to normal again, but that does not mean the memories are erased, that does not mean we are no longer a family. When the call comes, we'll still be there.

Now this is ironic to what I had written in Para 1. Well, I guess some things last, some things don't, and that applies to feelings and memories. I remembered LLB mention something eons ago, that we'll return for the passion for drama and not so much for the people itself. I guess there's truth in it but people matters alot too. As much as I love to act, I won't be obliged to return to help had it not for the people I know and who share common memories. So I'm looking forward to 29th where I'll see these people again.

I think my recent blogs make no sense to my other non-drama friends. Because only people who went through what we went through together understands. It's 革命情感, for me this is already the 10th year. Our first public performance was when I was in Sec 4 and I'm proud to be involved for every one, to be on the stage for all 4 public performance. Yes I guess I know of nothing else except to act, Haha which was why when me and Wanping thought of contributing in other ways for the future productions, we cracked our head but thought of none. Our love for the theatre, the stage, the limelight, for each other, they'll never understand, except in their own terms.

=The special bond that we share=

*This will be my last post before I'm outta town for a week*

Great Show!!

It's all over! In a flash... after more than 3 months of hard work. I would really like to thank everyone for coming to show me support, even to Zhiyong and Qiurong, who bought the tix but couldn't come in the end. I believe you have more important things to settle.

To S45 ple, thanks for coming to watch my show for the 1st time, (except Wanyi and Shuling who's been here before), this is likely to be the first and last time you see me in the production.

To Cynthia and Shiqi, thanks for showing your support and being so enthusiastic in watching me act. Haha it was a pity I didn't have a chance to speak to you all.

To 4L ple, thanks for coming year after year, showing me support since the very first year of my public performance. This is already the 6th year and perhaps the last. I know it would also mean the last time you guys return to watch Anglican High Chinese Drama Society's Production.

To my family and cousins, thanks for coming to watch me this time round. It's the first. But I had wanted you all to come to my performance for at least once. I really felt very emotional seeing you all seated at the audience.

Thanks to these dear friends, eventhough I may be rather hostile over the phone or smses for the past few days. Please try to understand, we had to go into the theatre 2 days earlier to try out the lights, the stage, the settings. the sound etc., we had to stay for like 12 full hours in the theatre, it was tiring and things wasn't going well. We ran into many technical problems and thus didn't have enough time to try all our lights and sound cues. The full rehearsal wasn't a very smooth one as everything was pushed back by more than 6 hours. There is limited time in the theatre, we have limited resources to spend on booking the technicans and stage. We didn't have ample preparation time like we did in the past at other theatre as we are new to this one and we had 3 shows instead of the usual 2. There are many things which you guys don't know, hence I do not blame you for asking me directions and how long is the show and what time will it end. But at the same time you can't blame me if I had already sent out information on the location and it's you who didn't pay attention, afterall I won't be able to tell each and everyone of you how to get to the theatre from your exact location. And it does upset me that even before the show started, you are already wondering when it will end. But it's all over and I apologise for that. In the end, the 1st show(Sat noon) served as a warm up, so sorry to the people who came for this show. Hee.

It's sad to know that this is likely to be my last show, although I would very much want to participate in future. It's hard to juggle my time when I start to work, I don't think I have as much determination and discipline like my fellow cast Wanping. And the most important thing is, with Lee Lao Shi and Lan Lao Shi leaving CDS, I don't see the point in going back. The feeling would be different and there won't be any familiar figure. After all they are the ones who watched us evolved, taught us about drama and appreciate us, who also share our memories. Perhaps if we were to come up with our own production, I would stil wanna get involved, though I know things would be alot tougher, having to handle and source for everything on our own.

It has been a very memorable journey indeed and of cos I share these memorable moments with my fellow cast, Wanping, Dewei, Yongbin, as well as my very RA director Boon, very 38 Assistant Director Guangfeng (aka xiao mao qiu), very busy but efficient Stage Manager Kaili, (I've already written what I wanna say to you guys so I shall not disclose here haha) and the rest of the crew, Rain-look-alike lights op Qinzhi, no nonsense but efficient sound op Qi Quan, the props team Maggi, Alan, Jianfeng, Qingnian, Hui, Jeanette, Louise, Huiying, Jennifer, and not forgetting our 'foreign talents', set designer Nicholas and lights Jingwen.


Thanks to everyone, the show couldn't have proceeded without the contribution of any one of you!

*Pictures here and here*


Ok I think I sounded abit sad on my post, so I decided to add this in! haha. I'm affected by the nostalgic vibe no doubt, eventhough it's just ONE day after my production and I'm still feeling dead beat but I'm super high (yes, still!). From last night's alumni and junior gathering at AHS after moving the props back, to eating the 16 huge pizzas, chatting and gossiping under the starlight, to looking for the $500 lost cheque (haha everyone pressured LLB!!), everyone was so high! The 全民恋爱's ending song and our OST(the 谢幕) song keep ringing in my ears haha ok even the 灰姑姑 song! Like I haven had enough! I'm so happy all the alumni's so united and got to know the juniors more especially my 3 dearest sec 1 props team! And I'm glad many people liked my show, ok they won't tell me even if they don't like haha. And some were even touched to tears, kudos to my director cum script writer Boon! Personally I thought the Sat night show was the best, though I can't stop crying towards the end of the last show on Sun noon haha. Then cried like mad during curtains fall. Yes! I'm a running tap!!

And how can I forget to thank Dear Mr Weichuan for sending me several good wishing smses and even called me from Melbourne to ask me how's the show! Thanks sooooo much!! Touched me alot!

Ok I can't go on, or it'll be a never ending post!
Kudos to everyone!!!! 这真是一个真真实实的Great Show!!

Oh before I end, I still must scold ple. There are many ple who bought tix or agreed to come but did not. This is totally irresponsible. When we sell tix, we hope audiences would come and appreciate our show, we don't sell just for the sake of selling and earning money and then fuck care when zero people come. We would rather these people not buy tix in the 1st place. Because our tickets were 100% sold, there are many who truely wanted to come but there ain't anymore tix. And there are many who were late. We are kind enough to let people in after each show, in pro theatre productions, audience will be denied entry until intermission. Ok perhaps many who came have never gone for a single production, but it's just showing basic courtesy and due respect for the whole production to come on time. And please keep your mouth shut or at least lower your volume when the show is going on. Ok finished scolding. Haha

My Graduation Day

Finally! Something interesting for my Blog! And it's none other than my commencement aka my graduation! Well of cos the ceremony itself was nothing much Haha mainly queueing up and collecting our scroll on stage. But because my ceremony was held at night (8pm to be exact), it was a pretty short one. Only awarded to the faculty of pharmacy and bachelor of science, major in life science, concentration in biomedical science, so the ceremony closed slightly before 9pm. The fun part was of cos photo taking sessions BEFORE and AFTER the ceremony! I was like a busy bee flying among the flowers taking pictures everywhere cos everyone was over the place! Pretty exciting huh! Oh and a few of us felt a ceremony isn't a ceremony without the mortar board (that is, our graduation hat or si fang mao in layman's term) throwing session. So we gathered like around 20 life science graduates and started our own lil ceremony Haha we ended up doing it twice and some couldn't find their mortar boards. Well there are still many whom I haven had the chance to take with! It's too chaotic inside. And many of my friends had their ceremony at 3pm but couldn't wait til late afternoon cos they can't possibly make their family wait with them. I was pretty embarrassed by the fact that my fellow graduates prepared lil gifts for me but I had nothing for them!

Here I wanna thank everyone who came, my family who waited like crazy while I was snapping pictures all the way, my bro as the camera man, my friends who attended my ceremony and those who came all the way just to congratulate us and take pictures! And lastly to my dearest Eileen who waited all the way from her ceremony at 3pm just to pass me stuff and take pictures with me. Thanks so much! To everyone who made this day so memorable, thank you and I love Ya all!

Below are few of the many pictures. Click here for more.


First some yandaos (Candidates selected by my Mum haha). Take your pick.


M1. Mr. Zhigang, who's finally back for the US. My Mum's favourite haha


M2. Mr. Wei Seong, who's a post-graduate. Bright future! anyone? hee


M3. Mr. Weiguang. Boyish huh, but No way!! He's already taken ok! haha


Well, but I'm more interested in this pix... uhum! haha



Now for 2 pictures I think are pretty cute


He's got everything!! The balloons & the bear!! So act cute! haha


And then this sweetie makes the picture looks soooo sweet!


Tribute

My dearest gal, who waited for me after her ceremony at noon just to take pictures with me!!!


Dearest friends


And lastly, a solo shot! haha I've graduated!! Whether it's for the better or worse..



More to come from other friend's cameras.
=Congratulations & Jubilations=