Nice trip

I had a nice trip with great experience. Awesome people with fantastic views lighten up the trip. I felt relaxed.


After the tensed up exam month, it was really a nice timing for the trip. It loosened me up for the end of the year. Gotta miss it though. Blog about it when I'm free.


So my holiday is a few months long till the day that results will be out. What to do? 


Guys, plan some stuffs. Haa. Thinking...

Penang's Cruise

Lazy me to update this blog now. I was so enjoyed in the holiday that I didn't spend time here. Well, I think I'm going to update it once per week, I supposed. 


It was a crazy weekend. My uncle family took me all the way to Penang for cruising. Star Cruise Pisces. Well, it'd been awhile. My cousin bro drove us all along the highway to Penang. We reached there quite early. So I ended up strolling around Queensbay Mall with my cousin bro while the others do shopping. Shopping can be quite boring when you can't find pretty girls around. Gah. But the mall was kinda huge and my legs were kinda tired. Shopping does not do me good. Later, we had lunch for the day, some shop selling mama's food.


In the afternoon, my cousin bro drove us round the island to Rasa Sayang and Hard Rock area. I went into Hard Rock for the first time, just for sight-seeing, and not staying for the night. Maybe the next trip. Ah, I took some photos for the trip, but ain't uploading them yet. Boarded up the cruise, was waiting for the departure while having my dinner. No international buffet, ah.


Honestly, I can't find much to do on the ship rather than strolling around and enjoying the strong wind. Salty feel of the air, I can barely stand still. I sat on the bench and found myself alone. I was like, 'where's everyone?'. Oh, busy spending money and in casino. Ah, I still can't get in. I found myself in another place - theater with pictures but no sound. How funny. There are many things in the ship, but none suits me plus it's damn expensive. I slept for the night in my cabin with cousin bro. Woke up for breakfast then bye bye shippie. It was fun, at least I went on a cruise and Penang. Holiday seemed to pass quickly this time. I had basketball sessions with my friends. Love it, the basketball gang is growing larger and larger. HAA


By JM

Pacific Ocean to Love River

Next on the list, it was a long drive along the coastal highway to Kaoxiong. The coast, Pacific Ocean was strong and mighty with an aura of grandness. Thousands miles across the ocean, it could reach USA or Japan. How vast was it. Remarkable. I watched in awe along the road trip. I had music rocking in my ears, such as Whatcha Say, Love Story, Numb.. I was just relaxing.


But then, we went to a Buddhist temple. Nice. Commercialize, I thought. With ancient-design temples and statues, students study and research Buddhist here. I was told a great master from here, is now traveling around the world to promote Buddhist. 


Afterwards, we reached Kaoxiong. Nice city with neon lights aglow everywhere. It had a river, Love River cutting the city into two parts. We had a boat ride on the Love River. Why it was called the Love River? I'm not so sure about it. It must have something to do with the word 'love'. I just enjoyed the ride and nice views. Bridges of different heights was rigid regardless of the salty river water's splash. Love River, I was told that someone jumped into the river once before, just to show his love to his girlfriend. He made news and happiness. What a buzz! Hah!


We also went to the Kaoxiong harbour. We climbed up to the fort at the hill. With surprising Dutchmen fort and clear harbour's view, we took photos and noticed a lighthouse too. Couples sat around the fort, overlooking the harbour, so romantic. It went better when there was a club singer sang near the fort. Hah! Just a singer. By the seaside, by the barricade, couples sat and cuddled happily. Just another sight to behold. Whole row of couples. Nice.


By JM

Natural Vista

On my trip down the coastline, the bus cruised onto the mountain highway for awhile. We had to take this route to embrace the wonderful Taroko sceneries. Taroko was fabulous, with lush green trees and fast flowing streams between the stiff cliffs. The natural setting was fantastic indeed. We walked along the roadside while embracing every bit of it as much as we could.

Later on, we left and stopped at a coffee shop for some coffee and cakes. Overlooking the distant temple and waterfall, the view was spectacular. I even took a photo with some foreign tourists, Korean and Bulgarian. Hah! Then, we continued our journey to the Seven Stars Beach ( I think). The beach was long, sandy, and shone when rocks reflected the sunlight. Enchanting as it was, the strong waves made it better. The clear sea water washed its way up. The wind was strong there, with plenty of tourists. This place was once a military base before it became a tourist sites. Hah! We had lunch with style - cracking bamboo sticks for rice.

After that, we visited a barnyard which did not have much cows or horses at all. Nothing much. We went for a hot spring bath too. Hot, steamy, and relaxing to be in it. Lets try it again next time. We checked-in to our recreation so-called hotel. That night, there was a party which we danced and let off 'Sky Lanterns', even fireworks. It was magical and fun.

Natural vista.

You see?

Look! The waves were coming!

By JM

From City to Rocks

The bus took us down the east towards the southern part of Taiwan. Along the road, we stopped at some places for sight-seeing. The air was simply fresh and windy. 


By taking the High Speed Railway (HSR), we reached Taipei from Taoyuan within 45 minutes. We had a city tour around Taipei before that. Just some memorial halls with grand statue of important people. Later, there was a daily marching in one of the halls. The soldiers marched patriotically in front of the hall and the public. They wore neat, formal uniform with badges reflecting off the sunlight. With grace and still movements, they marched through the wide hall corridor or passage. There were two soldiers stood still at the both side of the gate. Unmoved by any disturbances. The soldiers continued their march until the front gate. We watched till then, and took off again.


After that, we visited the Yeliu Park too. The park was a place with remarkable geometrical scenery such as stones and pillars with various shapes after centuries of wind and rain. The scenery was magnificent with all kinds of pillars and stones of imagination. There was one particular rock looked like a Queen head. Majestic with a thin neck. Hah! The park was beside the open sea. The air was refreshing. The park was filled with enchanting rocks and some weird ones too.


Then, we reached this place called Jiufen. Long time ago, this place was inhabited by only nine (Jiu) families. But now, there were multiplies of that, in counting. What so special about this place? The one and only old street of Jiufen. We strolled along the street and had lunch. They sold all kinds of stuffs and food. Looked delicious. We had a decent view of the ocean from the top. Old street, Taiwan had too many of these. Hah!


Later, before the train arrived, I was still rocking the music with smile. Hah! When the train came, I stood for a few stations because there were not enough seats. Hah! The train was one of the earliest models, with rows of seats by the side and handrails for me to grab hold of. 


Sleep tight then. 

Jiangjiesi statue

The soldiers march

Do they looked like mushrooms?

By JM

Hike

I woke up, feeling refreshed and alive. The morning light pierced through the sky earlier here. The curtains were drawn, blocking sunlights from the outside. Another day, gotta have fun...


I ate my simple and satisfying breakfast down at the hotel's cafe. They served ham, eggs American style with coffee or tea and a glass of juice. Nice. I took a bus to Taipei's Yangming Shan. It was a mountain with some attraction sites.


The 260 bus took us there, bumping and racing through traffic even though it was just early in the morning. The bus was full with passengers already when we aboarded it, consisting of old folks, young students and other civilians. I stood, grabbing the holding strap tightly and swayed with the bus. hah. Then, some left and some came up. I sat down beside a student. She was just sleeping all the journey. hah. Quite nice. University students don't get enough sleep, I thought. Or perhaps the nightlife?


We alighted at the last stop after the bus was almost empty. We waited for another bus to reach our destinations. In the bus, we met some good people who helped us with some tips. Fortunately, one of them - Mr.Lee and his family guided us throughout our visit in Yangming Shan. He took us round the mountains with his experience and kind warmness It was so generous of him to help.


In Yangming Shan, we visited Erzi Ping. It was in a valley between Xiaotun Shan and another one. hah. We hiked along picturesque trails, between enchanting trees along the way. The air was clean and fresh without pollution. We watched the sceneries of Xiaoyou Keng and Milk Lake. Both were views formed by natural phenomena - volcanic cracks. In Xiaoyou Keng, the sulphur caused yellow gases billowed out of the fume holes. The air was exceptionally stale, smelled of rotten eggs. Sulphur. Milk Lake was about the same with its water white like milk, or rather white chocolate. hah.


Later, we went back to the nearest railway station to board the metro. The less than 1 hour ride to Danshui was rather fast. After awhile, I found myself near the sea, breathing in the salty air. We reached the Lovers' Bridge after sunset. Lights from the bridge itself lighted up the dark sky with green lights. Or was it white? I strolled across the bridge briskly. It was kinda short but elegant. I caught sights of happy couples cuddling by the side as the cool air blew. Lovely, sweet and happy. I enjoyed the cool air with the happiness of others filled the space. Empty yet satisfied. We took the metro back. The night was just as bright as the day, I thought.

By JM

Taiwan's Trip - Prologue

At this year-end holiday break, I took a trip a Asia entertainment country - Taiwan. 


I had been in KL before boarding MAS to Taiwan. The flight was quite pleasant except for one problem - there was only one lavatory available. yikes. The four hour flight brought us down to Taiwan's ground. The weather was windy and just nice. It was sunny with the sun shining up high. The city looked almost like KL, with its expressways, freeways, and turns. The traffic was congested as in KL too. Terrific.


By night, we strolled the streets for food and fun. We savoured the famous 'Ah Zhong Noodles ' there. I stood by the side, eating away every bit of its content. It was simply mouth-watering. The place was different, I reckoned. I could see pretty girls around much more often here. Nice and sweet. Schoolgirls. LoL. I ate, walked, enjoyed the night walk. It was a great way to end the day. Besides, food in Taiwan were delicious.


To be short, I will end here. Photos taken will be uploaded later. Stay tune. 


p.s. : this post will be updated later coz time's short. lol.


By JM