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| I'm back. Well, I got back on the 20th, ~12:30 PM to be precise. I was jet lagged for a week because I couldn't sleep on the plane, meaning when I got back, I passed out and woke up at night time. This went on for a week...not a good experience...it's like I'm Nelson!!! I can't remb exactly what I did in Taiwan since my last post...so...I'll just highlight some things I do recall.
1. Went to National Palace museum and saw the famous Jade Cabbage and fatty pork made from stone. They look so real, it was amazing. Unfortunately, we're not allow to take pictures...so here's a wikipedia link w/ an image of the cabbage: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Palace_Museum
2. Went to National History museum because there was a special terracotta exhibition from China. To my disappointment, it was a very small exhibition. Also checked out the botanical garden, also really small. I guess everything in Taipei is small.
(by the way, this particular figure was outside so I doubt this one is authentic)
3. Went to the restaurant on the 85th floor in Taipei 101. It was not bad, several courses. While we were having dinner, this guy proposed to his girlfriend. They were sitting next to the window. He had the waitress deliver a bouquet of roses to the girl and then he brought out a ring and proposed. He did not, however, get down on one knee. =)
(this table was right next to the couple's table, but this picture was taken before the couples arrived. It's funny b/c we commented on how its perfect for someone to propose here)
4. Went to a seafood restaurant call "Zhen de Hao" (Really Good) for lunch. I just thought it's a funny name for a restaurant. We had a bunch of small entrees...it was good...not particularly "really good." I just think it's overpriced.
(the restaurant's name...among the entrees, I had sashimi...pretty good.
 
5. Checked out Shilin night market. Lots of students. Food stands were very dirty. While we were eating this noodle, a cockroach was crawling next to our bowl. And then, while watching someone cook our egg pancake, a cockroach was crawling on that stand. I was grossed out, never going back again. Walked through the market...lots of cheap stuff (clothes, shoes, accessories, etc...). Did not buy anything.
6. Checked out Ximending. Much better than Shilin night market. Went to this famous and very old restaurant for dinner. The omelette rice was very good, not a big fan of the shrimp salad (too much mayo). It's funny, we were walking on the street when all of a sudden, all the vendors starting frantically packing their stuff and running away. We turned around and sure enough, there was a police. It was very amusing to watch, especially with the police standing there, purposely giving the vendors time to run/hide.
 
In summary, I had a fantastic time in Taiwan, thanks to Dennis' family who took really good care of me. Ate lots of yummy food (unfortunately, had beef noodle soup only twice!) and I cannot wait to go back.
I will update on Japan trip on the next post but for now, I have to talk about the movies that I saw. On Thursday, went to see Live Free or Die Hard. It was pretty good, although it definitely reminded me of 24. Friday, went to see Ratatouille. I enjoyed it a lot so I def recommend it, it was great...adults were laughing and lots of people clapped at the end of the movie.
Okay, time to eat dinner. Ahhhh!!!! Less then a week before wedding??
(botanical garden)
(pretty entree at taipei 101)
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| Wednesday
Drove down to southern Taiwan, went to Tainan. Visited two or three screws and fasteners factories (very boring). Met some of Dennis' relatives. Spent the night at Tayih Landis Hotel (http://www.tayihlandis.com.tw).
Breakfast: Chinese bakery w/ Mocha from Starbucks
Lunch: several seafood dishes at local Taiwanese restaurant
Dinner: Tainan's most popular rice noodle dish, fish ball soup, and other random Tainan dishes.
Thursday
Drove to Kaohsiung. Visited more factories. Met more relatives as well. Spent the night at Grand Hi-Lai Hotel (http://www.grand-hilai.com.tw)
Breakfast: breakfast buffet at Tayih Landis Hotel
Lunch: New Hama Steak House (www.newhama.com.tw)
Dinner: local Kaohsiung cuisine (tried lamb meat, yuck)
Friday
Went to a temple on top of a moutain. Met again with relatives. Went to a family friend house. Very impressive, definitely the most
luxurious house I've ever been in. Everything in the house was imported
from Japan, Europe, or US. Even the toilet is automatic (from Japan).
Seriously, I was afraid to drop the tea cup I was drinking from (tea
cup with saucer is $200). Drove to Chiayi. Spent night at Nice Prince Hotel (http://www.taiwanshotels.com/nice-prince-hotel.htm)
Breakfast: breakfast buffet at Grand Hi-Lai Hotel
Lunch: restaurant specializing in fresh goat meat (all the dishes had goat meat!)
Dinner: seafood restaurant, all fresh seafood (lobster and stone crab was yummy)
Saturday
Drove back to Taipei, took a scenic drive. Didn't arrive at Taipei until 7:30 PM because went to see several places. Went shopping after dinner in Taipei.
Breakfast: breakfast buffet at Nice Prince Hotel
Lunch: local Taiwanese dishes in the countryside.
Dinner: Japanese restaurant (sashimi, tempura, seafood hotpot, stir-fried udon, sushi rolls)
Sunday
Went to clubhouse again for sauna, jacuzzi, and hot spring. Went shopping again after lunch until dinnertime.
Breakfast: Chinese pastry
Lunch: Melange Cafe (a hip coffee restaurant famous for drip coffee) for coffee, club sandwich, and waffle
Dinner: New Hama Teppanyaki (much better than the ones I had in the US)
To conclude, I love Taipei, didn't like southern Taiwan (too boring). Not to mention majority of people spoke Taiwanese (that might contribute partly to why I was so bore since I didn't understand them). Oh yeah, it's been raining like crazy in Taiwan. We were suppose to go to Ah Li San but because of the rain, it was too dangerous (landslide). That's why we went back to Taipei sooner than planned. It's okay, I'm happy to be back in Taipei. Although, I did want to see the sun rise from Ah Li San, it was voted one of the most beautiful view in the world by National Geographic. Bummer. Next time. By the way, I have way too many pictures of food so I'm going to make a special post with just food when I'm done with Taiwan. Also, between clothes, accessories, and cosmetics, I've officially lost track of what I bought in Taiwan...Sigh, I love shopping here....even if the clothes do not fit, they can alter it for free...sooo nice.
Giant hello kitty at the Grand Hi-Lai Hotel lobby.
Sampling/buying tea at the Prince Hotel Lobby
At Teppan yaki Restaurant with Dennis second sister, Jennifer, and his cousin's daughter, Renee.
Teppan yaki chef preparing lobster tails
Temple
The beautiful house
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| And so, the end of an era.
I left NIH and moved to Chicago. Moved out of MD. Craziness. I've been living in MD for over 15 years.
Went to NYC w/ Julie, Jen, and Chi hea, I guess our last hang-out time for a while. =( Will miss you girls!!
My lab took me out for a farewell lunch. Also went to a lounge in DC with two friends from work for ping pong and drinks (well, just one for me, the margarita on rock was incredibly strong). I'm going to miss working at NIH, I'm sure this will be my most laid back work (where else can you go to work late, take weeks of vacations, and all while having great co-workers. Sigh, I'm really going to miss it.
I'm in Taiwan now! Left the states last Wednesday, arrived in Taipei airport on Thursday night. Oh my gosh, it's incredibly humid here!! I got out of the airport and had to take a deep breath b/c the air was so thick. I was so tired (didnt sleep on the flight) and went straight to bed.
Friday
Breakfast: Fried shrimp and chive buns with warm soy milk.
Went to Daoist Temple w/ Dennis' mom.
Walked around market, buying fresh fruits, saw live chickens!
Lunch: Taiwanese noodles
Got hair perm (I think it's too curly!!)
Dinner: 12 courses dinner at Sheraton (Dennis' dad's b-day)
Saturday
Climbed mountain (there are so many mountains in Taiwan).
Oh, I saw butterflies for the first time in years!! I wanted to take picture but they keep flying around. Oh well.
Went to clubhouse for hot spring and jacuzzi.
Breakfast: Chinese pastry and lychees.
Drove to downtown Taipei
Lunch: Taiwanese won tons in food court.
Shopped at department stores next to Taipei 101 (or is it 110?). It's the tallest building in Taiwan. The malls in Taipei is awesome, I have never seen so many brands different brands! And the best part is, free alterations!!! Got eyebrow groom by a make-up artist in the Sisley counter (apparently, Dennis' mom always buy stuff from her). Oh, and a strange incidence occurred while we were shopping. This girl was shopping with her boyfriend. She started talking to me and asked if I could take a picture with her. So I did because she seems so friendly.
She emailed me the picture last night.
Dinner: Japanese udon and shaved ice. All the restaurants around Taipei 101 was full so we had to wait. I guess Taiwanese people loves to go out and eat.
There was an exhibition of Tainan so we went to that.
Drove up a different mountain. Couldn't get out of car b/c it was raining all day. Bummer.
Lunch: Taiwanese cuisine at top of mountain.
Drove some more, by the sea (Red China Sea?).
Stopped by a traditional fish market. All the seafood were alive! Saw giant shrimps and all these things I've only seen on TV.
Walked by Fisherman's dock (or wharf?). Apparently, this is a romantic spot for couples b/c view of sunset is beautiful. Of course, it was cloudly and raining so I wouldnt know.
Walked around a town (city?) called Danshui. A lot of little shops (acutally, aside from malls, all the shops here are small).
Dinner: random small eats from the street, some famous Taiwanese rice noodles wrapped in tofu skin, Japanese squid balls, and tomatoes covered with sugar (icing? syrup? no idea).
Weather here is so strange, it rain on and off all day. Literally, it would rain for a minute, stop for another minute, and rain again.
All in all, Taiwan has been fun. How can it not be, all I do is eat, visit new places, and shop. I only have two complaints: way to humid and at times (no offense) old and dirty. Oh my gosh, I went to several bathrooms at different parts of Taiwan...a lot of stalls still uses the old fashion bathroom where there's no toilet so you have to squat. Sorry, I havent used those since I was maybe 3 in China. I'm couldnt bring myself to using them.
I'm going to meet up with Joyce tomorrow!
Hanging out in DC w/ friends from NIH.Congrat to Lara for getting into Hopkins Med!
  
NYC trip with the girls!
View from moutain.
Random girl at mall
Dennis older sis, Joanna
View from mountain
Tainan exhibition (like my headdress?)
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| So I'm trying out a new diet, a low-carb diet, and I came to a realization: I'm addicted to CARB! Let's face it, I love rice, I love noodles, I love breads, cakes, bagels...I love carbs!!! Sigh, you're probably wondering why I'm trying this diet, well, perhaps you should read this book, "Life Without Bread." It basically proposed that people are eating too much carbs for their own good and that excess carb is poisonous to the human body. Furthermore, a high carb diet is contributing to all sorts of health problems including diabete, heart disease, and gastrointestinal disorders. Well, you may still think i'm nuts, but i think it's worth a shot. Darnit, if i can just stop thinking about eating carbs....
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