11 May 07
Beitou Hot Spring
Tian Mu
Wu Fen Pu
Xi Men Ding


Despite the hot weather that's melting all of us, we were all keen on experiencing hot spring! Went to the famous Long Nai Tang where it has a rich history... though it doesn't look like the kind of hot spring that I was expecting =p I guess I must have watched too much tv, 'fantasizing' about those outdoorsy hot spring with a towel on your head, admiring the clouds and chit chatting with friends at the same time.

However, the kind of 'treatment' that we were entitled to were the complete opposite haha. They do have the common pool for all to soak in, but being conservative Singaporeans we were all too awkward to be so exposed together with some strangers (no towels allowed). And the towel that we bought from them were a joke - so small that you dont have to think of where to cover. Just BIG enough to put on your head -_-""" Probably the only consolation was that there were multi colors for you to choose, if it helped anyway.

I had a peeped into the common pool... the ladies common pool to be exact. Coz I almost peeped into the wrong pool haha =p The scene was sort of like what we would see in the IMA (GIP people would know keke)... until the lady boss said 有什么好看的！ then i quickly stopped being a peeping tom =p

We settled on the private pools and the guy boss was kind enough to let us have 6 individual pools. As there were 5 gals and 3 dudes, there was only one permutation and combination for this. 5 gals would take 5 individual pools and the 3 poor dudes were all thrown into 1 pool. Despite allocating the biggest pool to the dudes, frankly speaking it should be too cramp for all of them coz the maximum people it could hold was just 2 people. But just additional one dude wont hurt right? heehee. Afterall during my hall orientation camp we could squeeze around 20 people into one toilet cubicle, so what's so difficult about having 3 dudes sharing a pool right? heehee =p I'm sorry that there was no democracy with the dudes, the gals have a final say in this haha.

Test the water with my feet and ouch! Its soooo HOT! Started to pour cold water into it so as to neutralise the effect and it took me like 10 minutes to bravely immerse myself into the hot spring. During the 10 minutes there were lots of shouting here and there haha. I never knew that hot spring will get so noisy haha. Coz Suhui whose cubicle was just beside mine kept complaining that hers was too HOT and she just couldn't step into the hotspring. And every few minutes we would be asking each other whether we have go into the hot spring, updating about our progress of pouring cold water, testing the water and how the hotspring was still so hot etc haha so Auntie wor!

And apparently it doesnt help that the dudes kept saying that their hotspring aint hot enough and they were like already in the hotspring almost immediately -_-"" Such a huge contrast hearing them to be so relax and Suhui to be so gan jiong coz we were saying that the 30 minutes would be up before she could even step into the hotspring =p

Under the time pressure I had to force myself to go into the hotspring, afterall that's what coming here is all about. When I'm in it its actually not as bad as I thought it would be. Felt so bored that I just started 'swimming' in the hotspring, meaning moving my hands and legs about given the limited space. Had to be in it for about 10minutes, come up and rest for 5 minutes and go back in again.

After I'm done with mine, went around other cubicles to test the water heehee. Now I can finally understand why the dudes landed themselves into the hotspring almost immediately, coz the water aint hot enough. In fact its just warm, can almost jumped into it without 'ouch!' While Suhui's hotspring is the hottest, I'm just surprised that there aint any steam coming out haha... coz its really very hot that I dont think I would be able to ta han leh haha.

And its only after we were all done then uncle told us that we should stay still in the hotspring with our hands in the air, reason being that our hands are the delicate parts of the body. Eh... isnt it abit too late to say so? =p Coz' I was happily 'swimming' away just now haha.

So what's the immediate effect of the hotspring?

Sweat and my face turned red!

Just had to put the towels on our heads coz I think this is part of the fun of hotspring heehee


All wakie and in alert mode after the HOTspring haha

Next we visited a nearby hotspring museum to understand more about the history. Too many words but luckily, they had some english translation too. By the time we were done, its almost lunch time so we headed to the Pu Pu shop at Tian Mu for some pasta.

Pu Pu was the place where the casts of Meteor Garden had a dining scene, evident from the unique car seats and displays in the restaurant. We aint sure of the way to get there, so we engaged in conversations with strangers at the bus stops as well as on the buses. While on a bus, we were talking to a lady as she spoke to us in english. When we were about to alight, an older Auntie turned to us and spoke english! We were all surprised as there was this stereotype that older Auntie doesnt know how to speak english. I mean those Taiwan variety show that we have watched, some of the young artistes and hosts doesnt even speak very proper english, thus making us formed the stereotypes that older Auntie doesnt know how to speak english too. Boy this Auntie totally proved that we were so wrong about it! And we jokingly said that she must have 忍很久， 忍到终于我们要下车时才 showoff 一下 english! =p Of couse its just meant to be a joke, we dont literally mean it.

At this point of time, it reinforces a belief that I always had.

"The only way to counter prejudices and stereotypes is to expose yourself to it"

真的是要亲身体验才能纠正 any prejudices and stereotypes that we had formed both consciously and sub-consciously.

On the 2nd bus to Pu Pu, we asked the bus driver for directions and to alert us when its the right stop to alight. We had a shock when he pulled the bus right infront of Pu Pu, where there wasnt a bus stop stand there at all! Sooooo nice of him to do so! Landed ourselves in the restaurant with each ordering a pasta. Finally we had a plate to ourselves without sharing haha.

Yingjie, with the 'so called' Initial D pose by photographer Jin Xin


This is the car that we dine in. Again, no democracy exists among the dudes and the gals concluded that we had to take the seats in the car hohoho


Group shot

Happened to see a post office so I got Ronald and I some stamps for souvenir sake. Too bad that I didnt have a postcard with me else I can mail myself something haha. I guess after the New York trip I enjoy mailing myself a postcard whenever I have a chance to drop by overseas post office. I like the surprise of receiving something when I'm back home, though not exactly a surprise afterall since its 'To LQ From LQ' haha.

As there was nothing on the itinerary, we declared that the remaining day shall be a free and easy day haha. So typical tour itinerary where the last day is always a free and easy day hohoho. Because the dudes will be flying off tomorrow, we thought that it would be good for them to visit some places that they desire, and Suhui could land herself in her comics land while I could pay Panny a visit.

So Yingjie and I did some shopping in Wu Fen Pu first... last minute 血拼 before we try to squeeze all our stuff into the luggage. Finally bought a pair of shoe over there, and its so easy to 'kill price' in that shop heehee. Wasnt expecting a further discount and the dude just quoted a lower price to me, unexpected =D Didnt get to meet Panny coz she was on a business trip out of Taipei. After Wu Fen Pu, we headed back to Xi Men Ding to meet up with the rest of the gang to take neoprint!

Haha so many heads in the neoprint! If I didnt remember wrongly this is our last group shot together bah. This neoprint machine is so well worth the money haha... coz it just kept snapping us till we all complained that its too much le lah haha. Even the gals buay tahan le, let alone the guys! =p This is also yet another of our nonsense of fun hohoho

After the shot, the gang headed off for their 299 steamboat. As I dont have any appetite, I wandered around the Xi Men Ding area alone. Its pretty late, around 10 plus or so I guess and many of the shops were closing already. Hence, not much things to see as there wasnt much night life around this area, except for the movie theatre that was still crowded with teenagers.

Back to the hotel room trying to squeeze the Tai yang bing and pineapple tarts in the luggage. Didnt know that 2 boxes each were so heavy!!! Next up was to have a farewell party thrown with leftover dunkin donuts where we played zong ji mi ma to finish it.... and poor Jin Xin was the biggest winner (considered winning donuts to eat =D) and also the biggest 'loser' (considered eating the donuts after the 299 steamboat =S)... pat pat. He lost 3 times and Suhui declared that he must hide in the wardrobe for a minute! Haha what a true and dare 'punishment'?! And the choya thingie that they got was very nicey... totally love it but couldnt find any of such in Singapore =( An award ceremony by Suhui who gave out 'graduation academy gown' to those who graduated heehee thanks wor! This farewell party ended at 4am where Soon Fatt, Yingjie and I took a cab to the train station to buy early tickets to Hualien. This is because we missed the sale (we got there like 10 minutes late only!) and thus, had to be the first (they opened at 4am) to get hold of the tickets in case they sold out! Typical kiasu Singaporeans eh? keke.


Thought there wouldnt be anyone at the train station at about 415am... But looked at those people whose camping there waiting for their train!


Yeah we got our tickets! Still alert at 4.15am heehee

10 May 07
Tamsui Old Street
Fisherman's Wharf
Shi Lin Night Market


It's time for us to shift our luggages again haha. From Taiwan Hostel Happy Family back to Paradise Hotel.


All of us in the train heading to Tamsui


Reached Tamsui Old Street, where there were a list of famous food that we had to track down. But before that, we just had to get dunkin donuts! As they were having some kind of promotion, we bought a dozen of assorted donuts and couldn't resist taking a few shots of it.




Dunkin Donuts... my childhood donut hehe

As we were too early, most of the shops in Tamsui weren't ready to do business yet. Went to a shop selling coffee and other 3-in-1 beverages... Auntie was too kind to us that she kept pouring samples of drinks for us to try till we ended up being full haha. Reckon that we were in the shop for more than half an hour till other shops began to be in operation too. Just in time for some makan-ing heehee.




Matching hats and shorts. Just lack of a fishing net heehee


Some munching here and there... and Suhui recommended us this shop where its voted by her as her favourite stall.



Their menu is written on the ceiling, unique eh?


Take a look at the logo. What does it reminds you of? keke

Tried most of the recommended food but there's this Ah Gei that we couldn't find! Ended up its on a 'hill' and you really need to 'climb' (consider the hot weather) in order to savor it.




Climb so hard of coz must take a picture - lah

There's this suuuuppppppeeeeerrrr taaalllllllllll ice cream that we must laid our hands on! So touristy heehee.


The gals with the suuuuppppppeeeeer taaalllllll ice cream

Fisherman's Wharf is the place where the show, Meteor Garden filmed the sunset scene. As its highly recommended to catch the sunset over there, how can we missed it??



Me so act cute wahaha puke. Taking this yatch reminds me of the one that my GIP gang took to see the statute of liberty from afar. If only kaka is here and we can sing Home together haha

Finally reached Tamshui Fisherman's Wharf!! =D Very relaxed place that shares similar ambience with San Francisco - with the artists drawing portraits of people and scenery, soothing music and some pubs from a distance.



Yu Ren Ma Tou


I cant think of a caption for this pic



Thought this pic is kinda lonely with the background of the mama and kid


从下面拍上去有不一样的感觉



我喜欢这样安静的凝望着日落

Ah... finally the moment that we have waited for has arrived!



Beautiful sunset. Even more so beautiful with my friends around me


The gals with our back facing the cam



This is one of my favorite photo. Love it so much that its currently on my desktop. I think I love pictures that capture our backs haha. The last pic of my desktop was the one taken in portland, with our backs too. 这张照片非常有感觉！



这张也不错！



Under such beautiful sunset, we all had our share of fun and laughter.



朋友和日落， 在加上一点欢笑 = 永恒的回忆


All of us at Qin Ren Qiao - Lover's Bridge. Jin Xin wants the uncle to kneel down and take this group shot.. Uncle sweating wor hehe

As its getting dark, Mei Xuan, Suhui, Jun Pei and me headed to the Mirarmar Ferris Wheel while the rest headed to Shi Lin Night Market first. As long as I remember, this is my first time taking the ferris wheel. The view wasn't as awesome as we thought, but we had fun on the ride heehee. Caught something unexpected though =p



Ferris Wheel


After we were done, we went back to meet the main group for some eating and shopping in Shin Lin. Tried lotsa food like guan cai ban, where I literally took it as a coffin snack -_-"" Turned out that the meaning is 升官发财， and not direct translation of coffin. My favorite is the peanut ice shaving thingie... Wanted to look at how Auntie do it but she was done in seconds. 来不及偷师！



Famous Shi Lin chicky

Did some shopping in Shi Lin and its kinda comical to see those mobile vendors moving about whenever they heard rumours of police coming =p



They just love this kind of basketball arcade

九份是我最喜欢的地方。。。 喜欢边逛小镇， 边吃东西。 那种小镇味道 + 朋友 = 非常棒的感觉！ Moreover the inspiration for 'Spirited Away' is derived from there.

渔人码头是第二名！ 日落 + relax ambience + 朋友 = 构成出美丽的画影。 Also, we had some nonsense of fun there. 感觉是非笔墨所能形容的。

如果要来个第三名的话， 就是淡水！只是因为有很多好吃的东西而已。 感觉 normal. 只是非常的热啦！

A little bit of regrets in Shi Lin. Didnt master the courage to try 猪血糕！ 因为大家都说很好吃哈哈！ 不过， 听名字就够吓人了。 哈哈我这么肤浅。。。 以后要勇敢的尝试！

9 May 07
Zhong Zheng Ji Nian Tang
Taipei 101
New York New York
Raohe Night Market

Set off from the Taiwan Hostel Happy Family to the train station. Was just taking the escalator down when I suddenly remembered that I forgot to bring along Panny's gift! As we would be heading to Raohe tonight which is near Panny's house, there might be a possibility of meeting her. So Suhui and I told the gang to go ahead first while we went back and take her gift.

You wont be able to believe it but yes... we were LOST!!! Sobzzzzz!!!

We past by it so many times but it didnt occur to us that that's the staircase leading to our hostel! Grrr....

And I'm so smart to claim that it should be further down the streets as I remembered seeing this coffee logo. It turned out that the coffee logo actually exists, but we didnt past by it while leaving the hostel.

Hmm... now the question is if we didnt past by the coffee logo while leaving the hostel, where do I see it then???

I saw the coffee logo on a drink in 7-11!!!!!

And this coffee logo actually left such a deep impression in my head that I THOUGHT we walked past it -_-"""

I would never forget Zhong Shan Bei Lu!!! There's so many Zhong Shan Bei Lu!!! Everywhere!!!

So ended up Jin Xin and Soon Fatt came and 'rescue' us... and once again, I had to let Panny know that I couldn't meet her =(

Okie anyway, met up with the rest of the gang at the train station and off we proceeded to Zhong Zheng Ji Nian Tang. It was a super hot day and I was stuck with the bananas. Let the following pictures do the talking then.


So neoprint style heehee


Everyone fall in


Yup... I'm still continuing my banana


Jun Pei, me and Yingjie


We are so patriotic! Orchids!

Some of us decided to go up Taipei 101 while others decide to give it a miss. So for those who went up, they were rewarded with awesome views and some nonsense of fun. For the rest, we were bored trying to lengthen our stay in a shopping mall called New York New York. Really nothing to shop - lah.


Taipei 101 from afar


Jun Pei, Suhui, Soon Fatt and Jin Xin went up


See, this is what I mean by some nonsense of fun heehee


Suhui acting scared =p


You're captured hohoho!


Awesome view of a bridge out there


Nope, its not the dining restaurant. Its the shopping mall

Guess what? I saw cold stone in Taiwan!!! Never did I expect that cold stone has franchises in Taiwan, so how could we miss it? We went and grabbed a strawberry something thingie coz its officially declared that there should be no banana in the ice cream. Yes, strictly no banana coz enough's enough hehe.


Eh.. statute of libery also loves cold stone in Taiwan?

Saw the biggest Cheng Pin Shu Dian... of couse must dropped by so that Soon Fatt could conquer yet another Cheng Pin hehe.


This is the ceiling with the flap flap thingie


Found a nice corner to settle down to read mags. On the floor lies a mag with Arashi as the cover


We had to take this simply coz of the word NTU over there keke

Went to Raohe Night Market. Its quite a small night market as there's only two rows... and I thought that the air was worse than the other night markets. Very difficult for me to breathe so no more hehehaha from me. Couldn't talk, couldn't eat... felt that everyone is fighting for oxygen and my share was getting smaller =( So after exploring Raohe, Suhui and gang went to ask the police for the nearest hospital. Actually it wasnt that serious, just that clinics were all closed at that time so the option left was to head to the hospital.

Suhui, Mei Xuan, Jin Xin and I took a cab and off we go. Had to register myself at the counter, fill up the particulars and take blood pressure before the doctor could attend to me. While waiting, I saw a patient who's having difficulty to breathe.... and her family is beside her. See liao very heartache... then I started to cry. The doctor must have thought that I'm such a baby come hospital sick also cry. Anyway, hope that the patient is okie le. So the doctor asked me what happened and took my temperature etc. It turned out that I was having a fever by then... and somehow it also affected my breathing too. The doc is very patient and detailed... kinda impressed by him hehe. Saw this cutie torchlight on his desk and meddled with it, then he showed me how to go about using it. I thought they would be keying chinese into the system and so I was caught in a surprise when I saw him typing english into the system. Not that I thought he dont know english, but coz I thought people in Taiwan would prefer tying chinese. He explained to me that sometimes he found it faster to type in english thats why now he's typing in english lo hehe. And I started complaining about the poor air quality in Taiwan and he agreed keke =p

Went over to get the medicine. Their packaging kind of different from ours... so many chinese words were typed on the packaging to describe the medicine and its usage etc. Couldn't understand so I have to get the nurse to explain to me what each medicine is used for, afterwhich I diligently wrote the following words on the packaging: flu, fever, cough. Jin Xin laughed and commented that I'm wasting their efforts of typing the chinese explanation out when one english word of mine will be able to make me understand le hehe. Paiseh ah my chinese standard cannot make it.

Took another cab and returned back to Taiwan Hostel Happy Family. As the walls for the individual rooms were quite low, I was able to climb onto the upper deck of the bed and throw the cab fare over to Jin Xin's room... and so we began a series of money throwing haha.

Hmm...

First time got lost in Taiwan...

First time stepped into a hospital in overseas...

Experienced a lot of emotional ride today.

Nevertheless, I need to thank the gang. Without them, I guess I would still be struggling to breathe in the hostel. THANK YOU ALL!


Entrance of Raohe Night Market

7 June 07
Ouch Ouch!

Went back to NTU to pay the medical centre a visit. Boy I was surprised by the number of patients they had in the holidays! It took me slightly more than half an hour to land myself in the doctor's consultation room. This is twice the amount of time taken for me to queue in Canteen B during peak hours for Chinese mixed rice wor hehe.

At the registration counter, the lady asked me what year I would be in the coming academic year. I said graduated and she stunned keke. It took her like one minute to understand my status right now and she reminded me that after July I would no longer be entitled to student rate in the clinic... okie okie yes mdm!

I was stuck in the doctor's consultation room for soooo long that I lose track of time. Conversations were briefly summarised as follow:

Scene 1
LQ: Hello, I need to get a medical checkup as I'm going overseas soon.
Doc: Okie. You have the form for me to fill in right?
LQ: Yup. Here it is. You need to read the introduction as it tells you the kind of activities we will be doing.
Doc reading and flipping.
Doc: Eh... you didnt sign here.
LQ: Oh, I dont have to sign here as I'm above 21. That's for parents to sign if the participants are below 21.
Doc: Oh okie. Do you have any heart problem etc.....
LQ: No... no.. no.... no........

Scene 2
Doc: Height and weight must be filled in over here.
LQ: Yup. I know my own height and weight so I just fill it in later.
Doc: Nope, I'll get the nurse to measure your height and weight.
LQ: Huh???!!! So even if I know my own height and weight the nurse still has to measure it and fill in for me ah?
Doc: Yes that's right.
LQ: Then what about blood group? If I know it the nurse must also take a blood test for me?
Doc: That one no need. You can just look at your IC and fill in yourself.
LQ: Ah... okie -_-"""

Scene 3
LQ: So what kind of vaccinations do you recommend to take for going to Cambodia?
Doc: I'm not sure of it but you can look at the recommended ones... we have a phamplet that you can take from outside.
LQ: My friend took malaria pills. I understand that there are many different kind of malaria pills so which one do you recommend to take?
Doc: It depends on which kind of mosquitoes are present in Cambodia. Because some mosquitoes are more resistant to certain malaria pills, so it really depends on which kind they are over there.
LQ: Then which kind of mosquitoes are present in Cambodia?
Doc: I wouldnt know. You need to ask the locals in Cambodia.
LQ: Eh... My friend took the once a week pill so I just take that can?
Doc: Can. But besides taking pill you also need to do other preparation.
LQ: So the pill is not 100% effective? What other preparation?
Doc: Of coz its not 100% effective. You must get those insect repellants from pharmacy. And when sleeping you need to sleep in sleeping bag. The sleeping bag will cover your legs so mosquitoes wont bite. As for arms, you need to wear long sleeve. Then your head how? You know the cover food that cover? Must use that cover to cover your face so that when you sleep the mosquitoes wont be able to attack your face.
LQ: Wah... really must use that cover ah? So funny leh haha.
Doc: Not funny ah.. last time got one gal like you... she go... then ah.... so preventions very important! If possible also must buy those patches to put on your hands, legs and face so that it will be have a smell then mosquitoes wont come near you.
Doc: Also, that time my whole family we went to eat in a restaurant at... The food is cooked so we are okie. But one thing i'm not okie is the water. The source of the water we dont know! It can be from the tap, or from the river. So after dining we all got diarrhoea. Why? Must be the water problem!
Doc: Unless you can tell me that you dont eat outside food in Cambodia. Not possible... even brush teeth must use bottled water! So Hep A, Typhoid and Cholera are very important too. They help to prevent diarrhoea all these... especially if the preparation of food is unhygienic.
LQ: Eh.. diarrhoea only mah. Not very serious right?
Doc: Aiyo, diarrhoea is enough to make you suffer liao leh.
LQ: Then since Hep A, Typhoid and Cholera about the same, can just take one?
Doc:........

Scene 4:
Doc: So you need malaria pills and compulsory to take tetanus. Any other things that you want?
LQ: Nope. That's enough for now.
LQ: By the way, I have another form for Malaysia. Can shun bian help me fill in the medical stuff as well? Hee.
Doc: Wah, Malaysia also monsoon season. Also have malaria. You need more malaria pills then. Your personal particulars havent fill in yet for the Malaysia form. You need to fill in.
LQ: Yup. I'm going to fill in later so that one no worries.
Doc: Cannot lah. You must fill in now then I can do the medical checkup. You go outside and fill in while I attend to the next patient. Later then you come in.
LQ: Orh.

Scene 5:
LQ: Okie I'm done.
Doc: What's all these dashes under your medical history?
LQ: Dash means dont have lor.
Doc: Dash can means have, dont have or dont know. Cant put dash lah. Must put nil. Nil is confirm dont have.
LQ: Orh.
Doc: Okie you go out and the nurse will help you take height and weight.
LQ: Okie thanks bye!

Scene 6:
Taking height and weight.

Scene 7:
At the counter, discussing about vaccinations with one of the lady in a suit over there.
LQ: Do you recommend people who go to Cambodia to take flu vaccinations?
Lady in suit: Yup. We recommend all travellers irregardless of where's their destination to take flu vaccinations.
LQ: Okie I will take it too.
Lady in suit: Actually typhoid also very important for going Cambodia. You can consider to come back and take next time.
LQ: Ah.. dont want lah very troublesome. 2 jabs enough liao heehee.

Scene 8:
At the dispensary.
LQ: Auntie how much is the malaria pills?
Auntie: 1 is $3.50. Altogether plus other things is $78.
LQ: Wah so ex ah. Can cheaper anot?
Auntie: Cant lah haha. Already student rate liao. We absorbed GST leh. When GST increase to 7% then we absorbed more ah.
Another Auntie: Ya lor... cut into our bonus leh haha.

Scene 9:
Looking for room 6 to get the jabs done.
Nurse behind me: Yes how can I help you?
LQ: Oh, I need to take 2 jabs. This tetanus thingie and flu.
Nurse: You paid already?
LQ: Yup.
Nurse: Wait ah I go prepare. You sit outside first later we go another room coz this room is occupied.

Scene 10:
Nurse: You sit here. I give you a certification first before jab okie?
LQ: Wah still got certification ah?
Nurse: Yup.
LQ: Very scary leh... pain anot?
Nurse: The flu one not so pain. The tetanus abit more painful than the flu.
LQ: Ah.. that time i took the anti chickenpox and the NMR or MNR... wah that one very pain leh.
Nurse: Ya lah. That one of course more pain. But this one not as pain as the previous ones that you had. Pain also depends on whether I jab your fats or your muscle.
LQ: Then you jab my fats better lah.
Nurse: No. Fats more pain ah. I jab your right arm first with flu. This one not pain one ah... Relaz. Breathe in.. out.. slowly.
LQ: Okie a little pain only.
Nurse: Then now is the tetanus on the left arm. This one more pain than flu. But still okie one lah.
LQ: Ya this is more pain than flu. But not as pain as last time that one... that one really scary leh.
Nurse: Ya lah told you already. After jab no drinking ah.
LQ: Ah? I havent drink leh. Chum thirsty liao.
Nurse: No... its no alcoholic drink.
LQ: Oh okie... thanks ah. Byee!

Manage to get out of the clinic at 4.20pm. Oh man I was stuck inside for 1.5 hours!!!
Ended up late for meeting... late for 1h 45min! Aiyo.... Terrible me!

The above dialogue is based on the author's personal experience. No offence to anybody in the clinic hee.

1 June 07
Dinner with GIP gang

After shopping for pressies with the JC gang, I headed to the vines restaurant over at Novena to meet up with the GIP gang for dinner. The last outing was in May over at Settlers' (I think). Jackie reminded me that I wasnt there coz of planning itinerary with Suhui and Yingjie haha. I guess I have been missing out a few of the GIP outings as the proposed dates always seem to clash with my schedule, so sorry about it! But this time round, I'm able to make it okie... coz I'm the one who pick the date haha =p

Xiao Jun joined us for dinner too. Its good to meet her in sgp... which reminds me of how times fly when we last met in seattle. Everyone's still pretty much the same and I think we were the noisest in the restaurant oops. Apparently we seem to be all too long winded so we continued chatting in the nearby mcdonalds before we caught the last train home.

2 June 07
Grasshoppers in Action

Met up with Wan Wen for kbox session and the conclusion for the day was that we were two big jokers haha.

Our theme songs were Cao Meng aka Grasshoppers' songs! They are like classics of the classics... our primary school era haha! These are great songs for us two big jokers out there. I'm glad that our friendship is still going strong despite meeting like two or three times a year only. Hang on friend... Brave through the OT and you'll be fine~ Jia You!!!

4 June 07
Auntie... Aunties

Went shopping in NTUC for a full one hour haha! We bought so many things that less than half of them were on our shopping list... really powerful Aunties! Next headed to Dilys house to start our main purpose, ie to design shoe for Lijun, and to cook!

Dilys started cooking the tang yuan while Suhui and I took charge of the guan cai ban. Guan cai ban is a taiwan snack thats rather popular over there. While in Shi Lin, I still claim that guan cai ban is so easy to do and its appearance is really nothing impressive. Just have to cut the bread and put the filling inside. So Suhui and I tried our own version of guan cai ban today with the ingredients as below:

English muffins X4
Eggs X 3
Chicken satays X 1 pack
Satay sauce

Procedures are as such:
1. Cut the english muffins to have a hole for you to put your fillings in. Take note that the hole should not be too deep else the sauce may leak out from the bottom. The cover should fit the muffins as well.
2. Fry the chicken satays for about 5 minutes.
3. Fry the eggs till golden yellow.
4. Heat the satay sauce till you see steam coming out.
5. Cut the eggs into half or to your desired size and place in the hole that you have created from the english muffins earlier on. This egg will serve as the base for your chicken satays.
6. Add the chicken satays in. Do not be too greedy else the cover may not fit the muffins properly!
7. Add in some chicken satays sauce and wrap it up using the fried egg.
8. Close the hold with the muffin cover and you are ready to savour it!

Of course this version of guan cai ban, if prepared in front of the taiwan version of guan cai ban will be ban men nong fu! At least our guan cai ban is edible, thanks to the nice chickey satays haha. There's really a lot of differences - theirs is square while ours is round. We couldnt get those square thick breads haha. There's much more varieties in their fillings while ours are just chicky satays. But I guess if I'm still unemployed for long, I might start my own business of guan cai ban in singapore first haha.

Oh, one tip for interested chef-to-be.. you might want to consider toasting your english muffins!

The preparation is actually very simple, yet it took us like 1 hour plus (?!) to get it ready for serving. So tired after cooking wor haha... Had our tang yuan in dou hua shui as well. Yeah! Tried the 'whatever' and 'anything' drink. Not very impressive =p Didnt have much energy left for designing the shoe so ended up playing with Dilys's Chip soft toy keke.

Too bad its getting late else we four aunties can try and play mah jong too haha!