| Wow. It feels like I haven't updated in awhile. I've got homework, tests: all that jazz. Whatever. I don't feel like doing them right now, so this entry will be a picture entry from all of the memories this last winter break: my first Christmas away from Coppell. Dallas. Texas. Yeah, foreign Christmas. Japan and Taiwan: Out with 2005, In with 2006. I miss it already.
--------------------------
JAPAN
Anywho, the stay in Japan was about five days. We [my family and I] arrived at Narita on Christmas Eve and stayed at the Narita Hilton, where they served us yummy food. TEMPURA<3 There was also this little performance where some people rang these bells to play Christmas carols.
The next day was when touring really began. First stop was at Kamakura. There was this really big shrine and it had this extremely huge storage of beer. Huge. No joke, man. Then, we saw Daibutsu, the 2nd largest Buddha in the world [I think]. Preeeetty big. After that was the Odawara Castle, which I think looks really pretty outside, but has a zoo surrounding it. Yeah, it's weird. We then arrived at the Akao Hotel, where a nice lady played on some instrument [forgot the name] for us when we arrived. It was pretty awesome.
The next morning, we woke up to see the most beautiful sunrise ever. From the view of our room. It was.. just too amazing. It's almost as if you can forget about everything in the world. It was that beautiful. We then got to see Mt. Fuji. Smelled horrible though because of all of the sulfur. x.x" Took a cable car down to the crater Lake Ashi and ate some rock-looking chocolates. Yuummmmm. Later that night, I got to meet up with Sam, who I haven't seen since OCAC. Exciting, man. We were at Shinjuku and it reminded me so much of Xi Men Ding, except bigger. Ate at a really nice Korean BBQ restaurant and then took some sticky pictures. Maannnn, we look sooooooooooo white. Crazy. Along the way, Sam somehow got change of Y2000, which is really rare since the Y2000 bills were only issued during the year of 2000. Pretty cool. It was nice to see an OCAC-er again! :]
We then went to the Meiji Temple the next day and saw some of the religious followers [??] perform some traditional thing. I know you can't see from the picture, but their shoes were crazy thick. Afterwards was Asakusa, a place with another religious temple and little shopping market on the side. Then, there was the Imperial Palace, where the Japanese emperor lives. Pretty, yeah? :] Then, Ginza. Freaking crap, man. There were so many brand name stores there all on that one street. Dior, Coach, MaxMara, Armani. All of them there. It was insane. OH! But at night, I saw the sexiest car ever at the Toyota Showcase. Yup. Hot, I know. Ate at a shabu shabu place later and devoured so many plates of meat. It was worth it though. So freaking good and I got to see a tall tower of sushi. Crazyyy.
Well, that's it for Japan. Sayonara. If I can, I'm definitely going to make an effort to come back again.
--------------------------
TAIWAN
After Japan was Taiwan, where we arrived on the 29th of December, I think. It was a big reunion for the Twu/Too/Tu brothers. Haha, yeah. Got to see some of my uncles, aunts, and cousins and then attended my dad's cousin's engagement/wedding ceremony, but I forgot to bring my camera. Blah. Right after it was over, we went to Ali Shan and did some freaking hardcore hiking, man. But it was all right because after that I played some intense mahjong with my cousins. Haha. Love them. <3 We lived in a nice little place and they had some amazing food. Amazing. Had a really good view too and the owners of the little house grew some really pretty flowers.
After that, we went up to Taipei and I bought so many CDs: Jay Chou [November Chopin], Wang Lee Hom [Kai Shi Ying Hsiung], Yiruma [First Love, Yellow Room]. So much more, but I don't remember. Too bad I didn't have time to go back to Shilin or Xi Men Ding or much less even use the MRT. Sad. :[ Oh, well. Overall, I freaking love Taiwan.
Oh, yeah. For those who don't know, new haircut. Got it in Taiwan, of course. :] It grew out a little since the time I took the picture.
I guess this concludes this entry.
Happy [late] New Year from Taipei 101.
Always remember. J&T: 05-06. |
