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Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Came back from Taiwan after a week of fun, food and a tinge of annoyance. I managed to capture some precious moments and have also met several nice ppl. Our group consists of 22 Singaporeans, from teenagers to middle aged adults. And the most interesting and entertaining thing is that our tour guide is quite knowledgeable and seems to like to make fun of my sister and I.

But i's ok. Apart from that, i've learnt pretty much abt the differences between taiwan and Singapore. Some distinct differences are the way they speak, their food, lifestyle, and attitude towards ppl.

We've all went around Taiwan, from North to South. Apparently, there's a lot of things that could bought. But the cost is not very attractive. It's somewhat similar to the prices in Singapore. They have the latest and up-to-date fashion wear, and the food stores are mostly packed together in one place. For example, u can see several shops selling smelly tofu (which does not smell really bad to me) within several metres. The flaw is that vehicles are allowed to enter the alley and drive past without really alerting ppl.

Other than the delicious aroma emanating from the cooking stoves in the streets, the next repulsive thing is that the toilets aren't up to expectations. The hygiene there is not very good and I had to either hold my breath or put my sleeve against my nose to prevent the stench from making me feel disgusted. This scenario worsens when we visit crowded places. I'll never forget that. Currently. I am unable to post the photographs I took coz i'm still trying to figure out how to use the card reader. haha.

My aunt and cousin went to Taiwan so it is a great chance for us to strengthen our relationship.

Next, I'll talk about some of the most memorable things i've done. I had the rare opportunity to enjoy the hot spring built exclusively for females only. It's amazing how Taiwan females are used to seeing one another naked. Oh gosh! There is a slight tinge of sulfur smell and I think it is probably from the spring water. I totally couldn't adapt to the shockingly hot water so I only dipped in the water for a while and came out. Did my skin become more supple and moisturized just like what the tour guide described?

For the first time experiencing cold weather with temperatures falling to as low as 10 degrees celsius, my skin became dry ad my lips are definitely not spared from cracking. Indeed, my lips cracked and blood oozed out while I was sleeping.

Bathing is also not a good experience either. The moment you turn off the shower tap, goosebumps start appearing like never before and your body shivers. How I wish i could just let the water run. After I've finally cleaned my body, it's time to be courageous again. The floor is like ice, freezing your feet. Thus, the only solution is to use the available towels provided to decorate the floor.

Since our itinery is those kind where you have to change hotels as you travel to different parts of the country, you can distinguish between good and bad standards of the hotels even though they claim to be of 4 /5 stars. The best quality hotel is the Grand Hyatt Taipei. The moment we entered the hotel, we gaped and wowed. It is really very impressive. The excellent and fine decoration, the cosy and thoughtful resting place suitable for reading and chatting where there is a hearth and chimney (it's a fake one) adds on to the cosiness.

When the porter rang the doorbell, we searched for our luggage and found thet we didn't have enough NT$. So, I jokingly gave them the rest of the NT$ and S$ (coins) I had. 'I don't have enough money, so can I give you S$?' I asked. 'Yes, of course you can', he replied gladly. 'You can keep them (S$) as a souvenir!' I laughed.Feeling pleased, the two porters walked out after delivering our luggage inside the big room.

The bathroom is considered of a high standard too. A shower area with glass doors enclosed prevents the floor around it from getting wet. There is also another bathtub at the opposite side of the bathroom. The taps are installed to let you adjust the temperature. The hotel even provided bath robes which no other hotels we went provided!

Guess what. A yoga mat in the cupboard? Interesting huh?

Looking outside the window, we can enjoy a beautiful scenery- Taipei 101 building. In the shopping mall, branded goods fill the building. Can you believe that it is possible to spend up to NT$20 000 in 2 hours?

In Grand Hyatt, we all relished the superb quality and exquisite food the chefs prepare. Do you know how turkey meat tastes like? It's time to have a try! The chefs serve diners whole-heartedly. You can request for a freshly cooked egg or waffle to many things you can think of. Isn't it wonderful?

After savouring smoked salmon, even my burp smells of the salmon! Haha. I think i have so much more praises than complaints for the hotel!

In the gym, there is a friendly uncle to welcome us. He taught us how to use the equipment. A television showing ESPN channel is placed in front of the machines so that we won't get bored. There isn't anyone else apart from the 6 of us. So, all of the machines belong to us, yay! lol.

Finally, our tour comes to an end. My brother can't bear to leave Taiwan after so much fun and laughter. But he still has to serve the army the next day! Haha.

I want to thank my parents for spending their hard-earned money to let me enjoy my holidays in Taiwan. So, I will also try my best to earn more $ so that I can repay your kindness! Thanks a lot!

Sang at 7:39 PM