2nd Day in Taiwan

13/5/09

I woke up at 0700 hours after rolling on the bed for quite some time. Get a quick hot shower and pack my luggage. Then, I went down to basement to get my breakfast in the hotel. My first impression when I reach there was how come nobody at all? After I tasted the food, it does not taste as nice as what people normally said how good is Taiwan's food. But, another assumption is food in hotel especially low rated hotel is always bad. LOL! Okay, I have to get my luggage and check out already. After meeting with another AIESECer, Zhen Wei at 0815 hours, Chief Executive of the school, Mr. Sun, arrived at 0840 hours to pick me up to 尖石 (literally meaning sharp rock) where my elementary school is located. We reached the school at 0930 hours. The place is very nice with beautiful scenery and cool weather(everyday is Genting, haha). It's known as 尖石 due to a huge sharp rock situated near the river side. It is said to be a 'male' rock and there is another rock opposite it which is 'female'. After getting to know the teachers here, I went to unpack my luggage in my hostel and cleaning up the place. It is a small house, equipped with heater, oven, rice cooker, stove and etc. Nice and simple, that's just like what I need. The distance from my hostel to school is just up a slope with 2 minutes walk. After that, I walked around the school compound to get familiar with the place. Around 1500 hours, when I was about to leave, the students here dragged me to play basketball with them. So, I spent another hour to play and chat with them while motivating them in their studies. One of the students injured his hand while playing basketball with us. I feel bad as I was the one who blocked him that time. 1600 hours, I went back to room and fell asleep immediately. 1800 hours, woke up and reheat my dinner which I packed from school this afternoon. After eating and so, I went back to school office to online and also watch television. Hardworking? haha.. About 2015 hours, one of the female teacher came back and got shocked as she see me right here. She did not know that 張主任 left me a key to enter the office at night. About 20 minutes later, I got tired and went back room to sleep again.

I hope I can upload pictures after this weekend as I will be going to Taipei to join an event organized by other Local Committee(LC) in Taiwan.

First day in Taiwan

12/05/2009

Back from Pulau Bidong, Terengganu last night and stay a night in my roommate - Sharma's room. I woke up at around 0730 hours from my 'bed' (oh yea..I slept in a sleeping bag on my roommate's table..). After wash up and packing my stuff, I am ready to leave. I carried my belongings to the Aminuddin Baki's foyer to wait for my family. Had a very lovely and nicely prepared breakfast, thanks a lot!! Waking up so early to prepare breakfast must be tiring, really appreciate that! After my parents arrival, we bid farewell and I drove to Bunka Kaikan to collect my overseas visitor's pass to Taiwan. Soon after our early lunch at around 1100 hours, we started our journey to KLIA. Fortunately, without any problem we reach KLIA at 1140 hours. After changing my clothes, I checked in and gotten a not-so-nice window seat as it is located besides the plane's wing. I waited at Mc Donald with my Sundae until 1420 hours then we moved on to the waiting hall at H 4. At around 1500 hours, they allowed us to enter the aeroplane and at 1511 hours, the air hostess showing us the emergency procedures, such as life jacket, air-sickness bag and mask. Around 1518 hours, our plane started to depart from KLIA towards Kota Kinabalu's airport for a transit then to Taipei, Taiwan. Right after the seat belt signal went off, our pilot greeted us and announce the current status of the flight. Right at that moment, we are at 2,300 ft above South China Sea and our plane is moving at the speed of 800-850 km/h. It is cloudy all the way and current temperature is 31 degree Celcius. Speaking of cloud, thinking of cloud already. Around 1400 hours, our lunch are served. We have chicken satay or beef satay with fried rice which I chose the latter one, a pudding, orange juice amd 3 Ferrero Rocher in a pack. Oh yea, there is a Spritzer mineral water too. LoL! 1738 hours, we landed at Kota Kinabalu's airport. Called my dad and cloud to surprise them as I did not tell them about the transit. Haha! 1815 hours, we entered the plane again and continue our 3 hours and 20 minutes flight to Taiwan. 1830 hours, we are back to the sky again. 1910 hours, it's our dinner time. We have chicken with white rice or fish with noodles. Well, this time I chose chicken. It comes with a prawn salad as starter, pudding as dessert and also bread with butter. I request for a cup of red wine too, haha. 2120 hours, woke up from a short rest and I can already see Taiwan which is right below me now! The night scenery of Taipei is wonderful, very structured design as we can see the lightings of the streets and highways. 2140 hours, we landed at TaoYuan International Airport, Taipei, Taiwan. We were welcomed by the AIESECers, Darrien and Roger. We took a bus to THSR TaoYuan Station and reached there about 2250 hours. From there to Hsinchu station by this high speed railway(bullet train) only took us 10 minutes. The train facilities are just too complete, there is vending machine, telephone booth, restrooms, After we arrived at 2332 hours, we took a free shuttle bus to National Tsing Hua University(國立清華大學). We reached there about midnight and directly check in in our hotel which we gotta pay NT$ 500 per person as I shared room with the Malaya University EP - Cheng Cheng. Then, we gathered with some AIESECers, chit-chat while eating our supper. About 0140 hours, we are back to our room and get a shower then sleep immediately after a tiring journey from Malaysia.

I will upload the pictures as soon as I gotten a convertor for my laptop charger. Stay tune for the pictures taken!