Kaohsiung Day 1 (Aug. 16, 2012)

Just came back from a wonderful, feet-sore trip from Taiwan.  My love for Taiwan goes beyond fangirling as I began to tour its lovely places outside the capital.  Since Cebu Pacific's flight is rarely convenient and its usage of the tarmac is just perfectly not usable by anyone, our ungodly hour arrival at Taoyuan Airport started the best hour since I boarded that budget airline.

My officemates and I were supposed to book the HSR to Zuoying (Kaohsiung Station) at 6:30am, first ride out. Unfortunately, the early bird discount of 30% was already sold out then so we decided to take the 9:36am train and stayed at Yi An Ju (益安居) for the night.  In case you want to stay in a cheap clean hostel, this is a good place. I'm not so sure if Mr. Huang speaks English, but you can try e-mailing him here: (hcs1205@yahoo.com.tw ). Actually, as of August 16, 2012 the Taoyuan Airport Terminal 1 is half reconstructed and there are benches where you can sleep, but paying 400 NTD /pax for an overnight stay with pick-up ride from the Airport is not bad than sleeping on the benches.  You'll get a good night's rest and a bath in the morning, then continue your journey with fresh snaps and unoily T-zone.  Also, an additional 400NTD for a taxi ride to Taoyuan HSR is much more convenient, so don't forget to tell Mr. Huang if you need one the next day!

Taoyuan HSR is 30 minutes away from Yi An Ju, while Yi An Ju is about 20 mins away from Taoyuan Airport. We left at 8:30AM and arrived around 9:00AM. I retrieved our prepaid tickets from the vending machine and bought breakfast from 7-11.
How to buy HSR tickets online to avail the 30% early bird promo?
Go to: HSR Online Ticket Purchase
Some tips on booking the online tickets:
-Book as early as 2-3 weeks before your trip to avail of the 30% discount, there are also discounts upto 10% so you need to book earlier.  July-August are vacation months and September is start of school for Taiwan so the chance of getting an early bird discount of 30% is slimmer.

-If you're not yet familiar with the vending machine thing, go to the HSR an hour earlier so you can buy time figuring out the system. Do not forget to print out your confirmation email as you will need your passport no. and your confirmation no. to retrieve the tickets from the vending machine.

-If you're coming from Taipei Main Station, make sure you have ample time to walk and retrieve your tickets as TMS is a big station.  The walk from the MRT to the HSR is quite far, but nearer if you are coming from the front lobby. :)

The Seven (Say-ven as the locals pronounce it)
Do not underestimate their 7-11.  7-11 is like a National Treasure.  There you'll see lots of food of all kinds.  There's the Mapo Tofu which I love (Rice meals), the Onigiri's (Get the 泡菜one- it's delicious), the Tea Eggs, the soup wherein you'll see lots of shrimp balls, pig's blood, wintermelon, tofu, etc (Just look at the pics below it and you'll know the price of each, there are two kinds of soup, the clear soup and the ma-la soup which is spicy), don't forget to buy the Xiao Long Bao in seal (湯包) It's just so wonderful you won't need to go to Din Tai Fung to eat them! Also, don't forget to try the dried squid with the label "Bento". By the way, you can always take these Onigiri's and Xiao Long Bao's home, just hand carry them. :)

Going back to our Kaohsiung trip, we took the 9:36am train and arrived at the station around 11:18. Perfect! We took the taxi because we had lots of luggage and it did cost us 230NTD split 4 ways.  Before you take the MRT, check the fare table coz you might end up spending the same amount if you took the taxi instead.  We stayed at Icon Hotel, a very cozy and artistic hotel which was where I stayed at last December 2011.
Icon hotel: http://www.iconhotel.com.tw/
Icon hotel is what they call a Boutique Hotel, you can choose from their unique selection of rooms.  If you come in at 12:00p.m. they will just let you choose what's available, but if you waited until 3pm, you can choose whichever room is available.  I've been wanting to see that 4-pax bedroom with slide 'coz I thought it'll be cool to have my pic taken there, I guess I expected too much lor~! haha~

We checked-in at around 12pm but the rooms are not yet ready so we went for lunch.  There's a small resto just 2 blocks away from Icon Hotel (from the hotel's door, turn right then walk straight ahead until you see a 7-11). It's quite visible 'coz a lot of people are lining up.  Tips in Taiwan, when there's a line, it should be good stuff!  Ate that bento box by the right and it's just about 65NTD (It's a ricebox containing adobo egg, mapo tofu, fish fillet and vegetables). The one at the left was from 7-11, the oh so yummy Xiao Long Bao!

Went back to the hotel to check-in and ate our lunch there.  Afterwards, we headed for the shuttle to E-Da Themepark. 

Later on that night, I took a shot of the theme from from every floor but I think I missed out 1 floor... and I think it was our floor's theme. xD

During our check-out time, I went for more rooms~!

E-Da Themepark
http://www.edathemepark.com.tw/Website/index.aspx

The official website's all written in Chinese.  Apparently it's not yet accessible to foreigners so if you can speak and read Chinese, well, then... let's go!  We'll try it the bahala na way and enjoy the Themepark while it's still new. :)

At the HSR, you will see a line of tables with staffs behind it.  Find the one for E-Da Themepark (you will see a Little Twin Star look-a-like doll on the table).  You can purchase your tickets there, it's ride all you can.
For adults it's 899NTD for the whole day, but if you plan to go in after 2:00pm, it's only 650NTD (limited until 9/2/2012). Since it's not Disneyland, I would suggest you guys to buy the 2:00pm tix only.  It's a Themepark but it is NOT Disneyland.  Don't expect too much out of it.  Children below 110cm are free, for those with kids 120-150cm it's 599NTD.

Shuttle: When you buy your tickets, the staff will give you a ticket for free shuttle ride, just a friendly reminder that the ticket for free shuttle ride is only applicable when you ride from Zuoying Station (HSR).  We weren't informed of this so we went to the nearest drop-off and waited for almost an hour because we were given the wrong direction, and when we gave our free ticket ride, the bus driver said that the tickets are valid if we ride from Zuoying.  The bus driver was quite considerate and didn't charge us for full, instead, he just asked us to add 19NTD each.  If you didn't alight from Zuoying Station's shuttle, one way bus ride for 30-45mins to E-da Theme Park is 58NTD.

The theme park has more activities for children, most especially their indoor rides.  The outdoor rides are quite nerve-wrecking and not for the faint hearted ones, so beware! :)

After our E-da Theme Park Trip ended at 8:00pm, we strolled the Night Market at Liu He.  Just get off at Formosa Boulevard Station and look for the Exit to Liu He Market. It's very accessible!

Alright, I'll be posting again my next few adventures in Kaohsiung in a separate blog.  Didn't realize that just creating this blog post has lasted me for 4 hours. whew~

Next: Formosa Boulevard's Dome of Lights, Ikea and Dream Mall tour.

What: First Puerto Princesa, Palawan Trip
When: Feb. 18-20, 2012
With: Nichie, Eric, Pochi, Joy, Michelle, Mai & Me



Flight Booking:
Booked our flight last September, 2011 for only PHP 1,515/pax, roundtrip MNL-PPC-MNL

Land Arrangement:
Package of 5,000PHP/pax
Includes:
3D2N Hotel accommodation w/ breakfast
Day Tour (lunch own pax) to Iwahig Prison, Crocodile Farm, Weaving Factory, Baker's Hill, Mitra's Ranch, Gift shop, Butterfly Museum
Firefly watching (dinner package)
Underground River (lunch package), dinner own pax
Island Hopping (lunch package) starting at Honda Bay, Pandan Island, etc (there were 3 Islands)

What to bring:
Snorkeling gears, Underwater Cameras or cases, sunblock, extra shirt for both Underground river and Island Hopping.

Didn't get much pics on our day tour due to inadequacy of my camera.

Took much picture during our Day 2 adventure at the Underground River

Had fun with our Island hopping and snorkeling in Pandan Island, Honda Bay etc. Better bring your own gadgets 'coz it costs a lot to rent these things. It's like buying a new one. Really~

Ending my long overdue post as there is lesser memories left for me to blog about. I remembered enjoying the whole trip with my siblings. It was a special getaway trip, would just like to say... hisashiburi desu! (It's been a long while).

I got this from a friend.
30 Things About Me:
1. I am adopted. My biological parents and siblings are now my "cousins".
2. I'm not keen at numbers and details, if I miss your birthday, I'm sorry.
3. I am a fangirl, I started when I was 14. It became official when I was 24.
4. I embrace my Chinese culture deeply, but I despise the people.
5. I have stage fright. I am better in the behind the scenes. I can be a good assistant.
6. I stick to only one thing at a time. I hate quick turnover of events because I get easily satisfied with things I like the most.
7. If I'm not interested, don't even bother to ask me to do something.  I"ll never do it even if I said 'yes'.
8. I am a straightforward person, usually, when I say something, it's what I really think.
9. I help people a lot, most especially for those people who help themselves.
10. I hate user-friendly, money-sucking, social-climbing assholes. THey're my no. 1 worst enemies.
11. I can't get along with elite groups. Maybe 'coz I'm more of a middle class group.  I'm easy to get along, as long as we're in the same level of thoughts. No hang-ups, no bitchiness.
12. I love to eat all kinds of sisig. It's my only love.
13. I have strong tolerance for Chilli.
14. I can endure a day without eating.
15. I hate people commanding me to do things, the more you push me, the more I won't do it.
16. I love to travel in China. Just China. I'm saving for it.
17. I'm an extrovert, that's why I love posting my thoughts in public forum. In my pastlife, I could've been a lawyer or a public servant.
18. I'm an honest person. You can see through me if I'm lying. So, I never lied and will never lie. If I do, I'm sure I'll screw it up.
19. I'm hoping I can be some tree in my next life. Life right now is just so tough, sometimes I don't really know why am I still living up for it.
20. I love pink, black and transparent.  10 years ago, I'm such a sucker for transparent things.  That's why Anonymous was a well-loved shop of mine.  Then came the pink years which started in 2003.  The black should be combined with pink to be lovely.  I have a dream that I shall live in a transparent house with a pink  and white room, while my viewing room shall be in pink and black with a big projector, then all of my Jay Chou posters are hung up against the wall.
21. I used to play piano  but never finished the Thompsons. I still wanted to pursue, but I think it's too late.
22. I love watching chick-flick movies over and over again. Love make-over movies, it just makes me happy for the success of the main lead. haha!
23. I'm a sucker for dramas. I easily cry when I watch sad movies, and never rewatch them again. Ever.
24. Given the chance, I would like to go to Salzburg, Austria and do the Sound of Music tour. I'm such a huge huge fan. It's like a disney movie for me when I was a kid.
25. I can watch Stephen Chow movies almost everyday and laugh at his jokes.
26. I was able to kiss Andy Lau twice when I was fourteen, during his concert here in Manila at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
27. I love to watch the sunset. It's been a while since I went to the beach and watch one.
28. I was able to make 3 scrapbooks of Andy Lau, 3 for Jerry Yan and 1 for Paula Abdul.
29. I failed my Chinese class in High School and now I'm a translator.
30. I love to be single and will forever be single.  I'd love to travel the world someday and watch all the concerts of Jay Chou and Jacky Cheung as long as I'm able to move by myself. :)

That's all!

Dog Movie Marathon n Me

For the past few days, I've been watching Dog movies, mostly tragic ones just because Nankyoku Tairiku (Antarctica) is going to air starting October 16, 9pm. I'm a bit excited 'coz it's my once a year date with Takuya Kimura. I skipped Moonlovers last year, so I'm so anxious to see Kimura-san on screen.  Anyhow, I started with Disney's Eight Below, then worked my way to Hachiko (Richard Gere) and Old Yeller (a 50's movie), then tonight it's Marley & Me. Four tragic films for a doglover like me.  What I learned? Dogs are irreplacable.

I know for some people it's just a dog, but if you were the one who was stuck with it, as the trainer said in Marley & Me, only one shall be the true master... If you were the only one true master, you'll realize that after your dog has gone to heaven, any dog wouldn't live up to the dog that you had. 

I once had a dog named CK. He was a pomeranian. I named him CK, then eventually it evolved into C-kai then to kai-kai then to HOY-psst... But the hoy-psst was a term of endearment. Kaikai was a companion, he knows when I hate people, he knows when I'm sad, he knows when to stay away 'coz I'm angry, he's quite a smart dog.  He avoids puddles when it rained, he's clever! He knows I hate him being so dirty.  When it's his 'fall' season- meaning he's losing hair because it changes seasonally, he knows he's incapable of showing off himself and hides most of the time.  He got lost once, some stupid maid got irritated with him and sent him off.  He never leaves the gates of our house because of the bigger pack of dogs awaiting outside, that's why I know somebody else let him out- by force!

I found him 3 days after I cried for nearly 2 days.  He was fed fish, his eyes were irritated with what he ate and he smelled bad.  Had to bathe him twice and feed him more meat.  In the end, he died.  I cried and cried for hours until my dad brought me to the pet store to replace him.  I bought Ichiko, a Japanese Spitz.  He filled some of the sadness that Kaikai left me.  He too, was a smart dog.  I never let him out of the playground.  He stayed inside the house most of the time.  One day, someone let him out of the playground and he ate a lot of things in the garbage.  Few days after his stomach reacted and he was poisoned.  He died a day after he threw up what he has eaten and the water inside his body. After that, I never took care for another dog again. 

The ending of these movies except for Old Yeller are harsh reality that dogs die earlier than their masters and they're just not as replacable as cats or other animals.  They know how to touch or warm the feelings of a human being.  I was a bit depressed when I watched this last one- Marley & Me. The doctor had to give it to him and the camera focused on the dog slowly closing its eyes as its spirit leaves its body.  It's just so sad they had to show it that way.

Anyway, the moral of this entry is: Never watch a dog movie continuously. It could lead to depression and blog writing.

Good day!

Ang Babae sa Septic Tank

While on a leave, I took this chance to watch "Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank". I'm a big fan of Eugene Domingo starting Kimmy Dora, she's one helluva brilliant and funny actress. Even if her 'banats' and 'hirits' are super shallow, I admit, I too am a shallow person with a good sense of humor of course!

I didn't expect I'd be watching a fullhouse during a 3:25pm wednesday at G4. I love the crowd in G4 cinemas, they clap, they laugh out loud, they're such great movie goers! Those people can really make me enjoy more on the movies I watch.

SPOILER ALERT BEYOND THIS POINT!!!

Going back to Babae sa Septic Tank, the main cast which is Ms. Eugene Domingo as Mila is a mother of 7 children who lives in the depth of squatter area, a shanty beside a pozo negro. She has nothing to feed her children except 1 pack of noodle split to 7 mouths + hers. The movie evolves in the scene where Mila divides 1 pack of noodle into 7 cups.

The movie is a bit of like a docu drama + reality + comedy. It was a bit dragging at first but you'll see how the story begins to turn to a new topic when they started looking for Ms. Eugene Domingo. This movie has tackled the real thing, the dream, the pride, the arrogance, the ignorance and also, the addiction to social networking.

This movie has also shown the reality vs the movie vs the reality turned to movie. The 3 segment change in this movie has shown how Mila affects the screen when they are filming Mainstream, reality show/docu drama and Indie film. That's why Eugene's acting was really tried and tested in this film.

The part that caught me most was Eugene's 3 kinds of Acting:

1. “Elevator” (tamang comedy w/ body sway up & down)

2. “TV Patrol”(walang kasing drama, OA, End of the World to!)

3. “As is, Where is” (Emotionless acting. hindi OA, tamang sambit ng dialogue lang)

This part was so hilarious as these 3 are trademarks of Eugene as an actress.

In the end, a shock and streak of laughter from the whole cinema has echoed as Eugene started her day for sequence 7.

You'll know... if you watched. :)

Kudos to Mr. Chris Martin :)

Updates from Weibo 5/6/2011

Source: Weibo
@非常人萬力：言承旭主演的诡婚(冥婚)即将在六月十日在北京开机，请多留意

@非常人萬力：真想不到这么拥跃，大家粉丝放心，没多久会有官网报导的，希望都支持诡婚电影，除中国以外片名鬼婚，开拍之後我会公开剧照，thx 原文转发|原文评论

From: 非常人萬力
Jerry Yan will be the lead for a new movie called "Dangerous Wedding" (translated title); Filming will start on June 10 at Beijing. Do stick around for more news.

2nd post: Never thought this would stir attention, to all the fans, do not worry, there will be official press release for this movie, we hope that you will support "Dangerous Wedding". Aside from the China title, this is movie will be entitled "THe Ghost Wedding", when the filming starts, I shall post more of the BTS pictures, thanks!

Something about Mother's Day

There's something about Mother's day that I don't feel special about. I think it's because I haven't been with my mom since 1997. If there was a sibling's day, I'll be happy to celebrate it.

To you moms... Happy Mother's Day. Love your kids... so they won't forget to celebrate Mother's day with you...

~that's all!