Just wanna write something on this day that only comes once every 4 years.. :)
Since school has just started a couple of weeks ago, here is a quick overview of how my new semester is gonna be..
Taking 4 subjects and auditing one, so it is gonna be a 3-day week for me this semester.. all my classes are in the Tamsui campus, so I don't have to travel to Taipei City to attend any of them.. 3 out of 4 subjects require more in-depth research and writing.. and I need to submit a mid-term and a final-term paper for 2 of them, and all 4 of them require a final presentation..
Since I'm not very happy with my result for the 1st semester, I'm gonna try to do a better job this semester.. but more importantly, I need to narrow down my research area so that I can approach the suitable (and "compatible") Professor to be my mentor.. So in a way, this semester is gonna be pretty important..
Then, there's my part-time freelance translation jobs.. so far, orders have been coming in fairly regularly and sometimes rather urgently.. anyway, no complaints from me as this meant extra cash... :) :) :)
Hopefully, when this day comes again 4 years later, I would have gotten my PhD or at least in the final stretch of obtaining it.. ;) :) ;) :)
These 2 poems that I've here was published in New Hampshire, his 1923 Pulitzer Prize-winning volume of poems.
Fire and Ice
Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
Nothing Gold can Stay Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf,
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day
Nothing gold can stay.
Today is my 6-month "anniversary" since arriving in Taiwan.. although at times, it does feel like I've been here longer and didn't just settled in less than 185 days ago..
People say that time flies when you are doing things you like.. and I couldn't agree more.. my days are packed with school-work and work-work.. reading, translating and writing.. with FB-surfing and TV/drama-watching thrown in as R&R activities.. :)
Though I am not earning big bucks, I am enjoying my life right now.. I'll bet that not many people can say that about their own lives.. :p
I love books.. no doubt about it.. thus I won't miss the chance to visit the Taipei International Book Exhibition (TIBE) 2012 held earlier this month.. and boy, was I disappointed..
Student priced ticket at NT$80, instead of NT$100.. :p
TIBE Guide & Maps
The exhibition spanned over 3 different exhibition halls. Hall 1 was for books, Hall 2 for Comic/Anime/Manga and Hall 3 for Stationery and Children's Books.
It was called 'International Book Exhibition', but unfortunately, almost 98% of the books there were Chinese books.. so what kind of "International" is this??
Ground floor of Hall 1, taken from 2nd floor
Lots of works by local authors but many of them are books translated from other languages.. most of them were translated from English, and books from Japanese authors have a huge following too.. I will always read a book in its original language, especially if it is in English, thus I didn't have much interest in most of them, much less buy them..
Hall 1 was not very packed with people, especially if I were to compare it to Hall 2. The venue for all things anime/manga was crazily packed with teenagers and the not-so-young-but-equally-anime-mad. When I walked into Hall 2, I really thought that I've walked into the ground-zero of mass hysteria. Almost everyone there had that dazed look, as if they are thinking to themselves "what more can I buy??!! I need to get more!!".
look at the crowd!!
People were either queuing to get into the booths or they were crowding around some stage hoping to bid for some "limited edition" memorabilia.. many were already exhausted from all the grabbing and queuing that they just sat along the aisles, looking dead tired but ridiculously happy.. and it was barely after 1pm!!
one of the many mini stages for (comic) book signing..
one of the merchandise booths..
This was one of the many merchandise booths.. you can see how the fans were busy scanning through the catalogs and placing orders.. clearly there was some herd mentality at work..
I was rather surprised to see that the place was not monopolized by boys/guys alone.. there were lots of girls too.. still they do have different "taste", with guys going after skimpily dressed female characters and girls going for dreamy-looking male characters..
Here is a closer look at the 20-paged catalog..
Anything from towels, key chains, pillow cases, alarm clocks, mugs, life-size bolsters, note books and badges/buttons/pins can be bought.. and they don't come cheap either.. a square-sized pillow for NT$530, a button for NT$45, a mug for NT$270.. yet the steep prices do not have any effects on the fans.. I won't be exaggerating if I were to assume that these "fans" spent more than NT$2000 each that day..
Before coming to TIBE, I had allocated myself a budget of NT$1200 for books. But unfortunately, I didn't get to spend that much..
In one of the 3 booths that sells English books, I bought the first 2 books from George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire, at a 23% discount costing me NT$486. The 3rd book that I bought was Buddhism and Ecology: The interconnection of Dharma and Deeds. It was originally written in English and was translated to Chinese. I had 2 reasons for buying this book - one is that I am more familiar with Chinese Buddhist terminology than in English. The other was that it was selling at 50% discount.. :p
Though I didn't buy as many books as I would have liked, I didn't go back quite as empty handed.. I managed to collect, for free, some very nice/cute book marks and postcards.. and here they are..
these aren't bookmarks but name cards of illustrators/cartoonists..
I tried to take two of each so that I can keep one and use the other one.. :)
Some thoughts about TIBE:
If Taiwan wants to be (more) competitive in the global market, it has to improve its level of English.. and what better way to improve a language than to promote reading? Yet, it is very disappointing to have an international book exhibition to be dominate by Chinese books alone. If that's the case, the organizer(s) should stop misleading people by using the word "International" and just call it "Taipei Chinese Book Exhibition".
Another classic romantic (sad) song to share with you, sung by one of the 4 "Queens" of pop from my younger days... the other 3 being Celine Dion, Madonna and Whitney Houston.. May she rest in peace..
Without You
performed by Mariah Carey
No I can't forget this evenin'
Or your face as you were leaving
But I guess that's just the way
The story goes
You always smile
But in your eyes
Your sorrow shows
Yes it shows
No I can't forget tomorrow
When I think of all my sorrow
When I had you there
But then I let you go
And now it's only fair
That I should let you know
What you should know
[chorus]
I can't live
If livin' is without you
I can't give
I can't give any more
[end of chorus]
[chorus]
Well I can't forget this evenin'
Or your face as you were leaving
But I guess that's just the way
The story goes
You always smile
But in your eyes
Your sorrow shows
Yes, it shows
[chorus x2]
(No, I can't live)
(No, I can't live)
Nooo I
No no no no I
I can't live
(No, I can't live)
If livin' is without you
(No, I can't live)
I can't live
I can't give any more
I can't live
(No, I can't live)
Have a great week ahead!! Stay healthy and be safe!!
After my first online shopping experience with one of the popular online shopping sites in Taiwan that went smoothly without hiccups, I've decided to try another shopping site.. this time, I went shopping for clothes.. or more precisely, long-sleeve blouses/shirts/jackets... :)
I did the shopping mid of last month, before CNY as I was in need of clothes.. not just new ones but also those with long sleeves and could keep me warm.. I went searching through sites that sell clothes, and in the end I decided on this one.. their prices seemed more reasonable, and I like their designs as they are simple and neat..
They were having several winter/CNY promotions and I choose this one - 5 pieces of clothing for NT$800.. and since they charge a delivery fee of NT$50 for purchases under NT$1000, I decided to add a hooded fleece jacket at NT$250, for a total of NT$1050..
The website provides size charts for each of its merchandizes, thus I was able to get appropriate sizes.. and with my wide shoulders, I had to get a few from the men section as well.. I paid using my credit card and I didn't have to incur extra charges for paying via credit card, unlike some online shops (like Air Asia, which kinda pisses me off)..
I got a call from the delivery company on the 4th day after placing my order...
and here they are.. still in their plastics..
They are in plain colors (dark blue, dark military green, maroon stripes, chocolate) and long-sleeved.. in total I bought 2 micro fleece jackets, 1 micro fleece shirt and 3 cotton t-shirts.. 3 were made in China, 1 in Taiwan, 1 in Indonesia and 1 origin not stated..
These might not be Uniqlo or those "branded" stuff , but they are good enough for me.. :)
To love someone is not just a strong feeling -
愛一個人並不單純是種強烈的感覺，
it is a decision, it is a judgement, it is a promise.
愛是決定，愛是判斷，愛是承諾。
If love were only a feeling,
如果愛僅僅是種感覺，
there would be no basis for the promise to love each other forever.
那就沒有對彼此承諾天長地久的基礎。
A feeling may come and go.
感覺來去無蹤，縹緲虛無。。
How can I judge that it will stay forever,
我怎麼知道愛會長久，
when my act does not involve judgement and decision?
若我的行為不牽涉到判斷與決定？
One of the "iconic" songs of the 1980s would have to be Richard Marx's Right Here Waiting.. this is one song that was played everywhere and anywhere, in almost every extra-curriculum activities that required music, whether it was appropriate or not... :p so here it is..
Right Here Waiting
Oceans apart, day after day
And I slowly go insane
I hear your voice on the line
But it doesn't stop the pain
If I see you next to never
But how can we say forever
[chorus]
Wherever you go, whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you
[end of chorus]
I took for granted, all the times
That I thought would last somehow
I hear the laughter, I taste the tears
But I can't get near you now
Oh, can't you see it, baby
You've got me goin' crazy
[chorus]
I wonder how we can survive
This romance
But in the end if I'm with you
I'll take the chance
Oh, can't you see it, baby
You've got me goin' crazy
[chorus]
Waiting for you
Have a good week ahead! Stay happy and safe!!
Happy Valentine, in advance! :)
I Loved You by Alexander Pushkin
I have loved you -
even now I may confess,
Some embers of my love their fire retain
but do not let it cause you more distress,
I do not want to sadden you again.
Hopeless and tongue-tied, yet, I loved you dearly
With pangs the jealous and the timid know;
So tenderly I loved you- so sincerely;
I pray God grant another love you so.
"My love was warm.." by Robert Louis Stevenson
My love was warm; for that I crossed
The mountains and the sea,
Nor counted that endeavour lost
That gave my love to me.
If that indeed were love at all,
As still, my love, I trow,
By what dear name am I to call
The bond that holds me now
Beauty and Love by Andrew Young
Beauty and love are all my dream;
They change not with the changing day;
Love stays forever like a stream
That flows but never flows away;
And beauty is the bright sun-bow
That blossoms on the spray that showers
Where the loud water falls below,
Making a wind among the flowers.
Although I am not a big fan of fast food (think McD, A&W, KFC and BK), I do have them once in a while.. and while in Malaysia, I tend to have them a couple of times every month as my sis is a big fan of fast food.. :p
Since coming over to Taiwan, I only had McD once, which was last week! In fact, the other fast food that I had was Subway.. in my opinion, Subway is healthier than the rest of the fast food "gang", but even then, I don't have it more than once every month..
my first McD.. last week.. for dinner.. :p
Also, I don't drink soft drinks.. when I'm out, it's either plain water, bottled tea drinks (like green tea, English tea or milk tea) or fruit juices for me.. I was never much of a Coke/Pepsi drinker.. however there are several interesting-looking soft drinks that I would love to try out... maybe I will try these out in summer when the weather seemed more appropriate for cold drinks..
Last week I met up with my uncle and auntie when they were here in Taiwan for a few days.. they came over to visit Tamsui Old Town.. other than the usual knick knack, souvenir and tit-bit shops, we also went to one of the temples in the area.. Fuyou Temple.. (福佑宫)
exterior of the temple.. view from the road
As it was a working day, there wasn't that many people in the temple..
interior of the temple
At closer look, there are quite a number of deities being worshiped in this temple.. a total of 10 actually.. and in order to guide devotees through the proper sequences of praying, there are several plaques that show the correct order of offering joss sticks to these deities..
sorry 4 e reflection.. e sun was setting at tat time..
Also, the joss sticks are free.. so devotees can just take and pray..and instead of the usual 3 joss sticks per deity in Msia, here is 1 each.. thus the temple is not as "smokey" as it would have been..
Notice the red box in the middle of the photo?
Students or those sitting for exams, academic or professional, will put photocopies of their exam registrations or exam IDs into the box, praying for good results.. and the box was pretty full..
God of Marriage and Love
Another one of the more "popular" deities.. :p
God of Wealth and Merit
The big golden yuanbao (元宝) in front of the urn made sure that people know what this God is in-charged of...
For those who reads Chinese and wishes to know more about this temple, you can visit this and this websites.
Here's another song which I've heard many times over the radio when I was young, without knowing the name or its singer(s), which was often the case back then.. unlike now, when we can just google for it, it was pretty difficult to find out the names and the performers of songs..
Anyway, here is another song from my "younger" days.. :p
Shout
performed by Tears for Fears
Shout, shout, let it all out, these are the things I can do without
Come on, I'm talking to you, come on
Shout, shout, let it all out, these are the things I can do without
In violent times, you shouldn't have to sell your soul
In black and white, they really really ought to know
Those one track minds that took you for a working boy
Kiss them goodbye, you shouldn't have to jump for joy
You shouldn't have to
Shout, shout, let it all out, these are the things I can do without
Come on, I'm talking to you, come on
They gave you life, and in return you gave them hell
As cold as ice, I hope we live to tell the tale
I hope we live to tell the tale
let it all out, these are the things I can do without
Come on, I'm talking to you, come on
Shout, shout, let it all out, these are the things I can do without
Come on, I'm talking to you, come on
Shout, shout, let it all out
These are the things I can do without
Come on, I'm talking to you, come on
And when you've taken down your guard
If I could change your mind, I'd really love to break your heart
I'd really love to break your heart
Shout, shout, let it all out
(Break your heart) these are the things I can do without
(I'd really love to break your heart) come on
I'm talking to you, come on
Shout, shout, let it all out, these are the things I can do without
Come on, I'm talking to you so come on
(Guitar solo)
Shout, shout, let it all out, these are the things I can do without
Come on, I'm talking to you, come on
(They really really ought to know) Shout, shout, let it all out
(Really really ought to know) These are the things I can do without
(They really really) Come on, I'm talking to you, come on
(They really really ought to know) Shout, shout, let it all out
(I'd really love to break your heart)
These are the things I can do without
(I'd really love to break your heart)
Come on, I'm talking to you so come on
Shout, shout, let it all out, these are the things I can do without
Come on, I'm talking to you, come on...(fade)
With no kitchen in my room and no freezer compartment in my fridge, I can't and don't cook as much as I did in Japan.. so most of the time I'll eat out or buy my food and have it in my room...
The food in Taiwan is relatively cheap if you consider its portion and tastiness.. I normally spend between NT$60 - NT$70 each on lunch and dinner.. I usually have rice once a day, and bread, noodle or some other non-rice food for the other 2 meals..
Here is a few of the Taiwanese-styled "bento" that I've had..
Paper boxes are used, instead of Styrofoam ones.. in fact, I've not seen any styrofoam container/box used as a container for packed food in Taiwan..
It is a norm to have a main dish, which is usually a meat/fish dish, and 3 or more sides... most of them are quite delicious.. :)
shredded chicken..
Taiwanese sausage.
braised pork.. one of my fav..
minced pork..
The above 4 "bento" were from the shops near my senior's house, where I stayed for a week when I first came to Taiwan.. As his place was in downtown, their portion and prices are slightly more expensive, between NT$70 - NT$85.
I'll share more photos of 便当 in my future blog entry.. there's never too many photos of good food, right?! :)
As the weather remains cold and wet, and I being one who drink the recommended 2 liter of water daily, it is boring to just drink hot/warm water.. so I bought an assortment of beverages, just to add some flavor and taste.. a few are familiar brand names, but mostly not....
Tea
a familiar brand..that tasted e same..
milk tea with black sugar
made in taiwan.. taste: 2 out of 5
Chinese tea is popular here but I've yet to buy any.. I don't want to get those that come in tea bags.. I wanna get a good (chinese) teapot to properly make tea.. so I think I'll wait and see if I can find the proper apparatus for brewing tea..
Coffee
Although I am not a regular coffee drinker, I do drink coffee when I'm in a mood for one... and the shelves in the shops are filled with diverse brands of local/imported coffee.. so I decided to start from instant 3-in-1 coffees and work myself up the quality chain..
3 different brands.. and one of them is a familiar brand..
First, a disclaimer: I am no expert on coffee, so the reviews were based on my own taste and preference.
3 in 1.. taste: 2.5 out of 5
4-in-1 latte.. taste: 2.5 out of 5
Maybe it is my taste buds, but the coffees that I've had so far tasted either very mild, bland or both.. even when I've used 2 packets instead of 1 while making my drinks...
Others
Other than tea and coffee, there are other beverages too.. most of them are produced locally in Taiwan..
familiar brands.. but peculiar taste..
I need to first point out that although the brands, Milo and Ovaltine, are the same as those found in Malaysia, their taste couldn't be more different.. so pardon my bluntness, but Ovaltine here tasted like crap.. it is beyond horrible.. :x :x while Milo tasted somewhat similar but not as nice..
taste: 4 out of 5
This chocolate drink came from the US, so no difference in taste.. thus it remains one of my few favorite drink during those cold morning/nights.. :)
Date and longan tea on the left is okay, though lacking in aroma.. taste: 2 out of 5. Ginger tea with black sugar on the right.. yet to taste it as I'm not a big fan of ginger, whether it is in cooked food or as beverages..
So usually I will have one of these beverages once a day, or twice a day, maximum.. and most of the time, I prefer to just drink hot water.. as plain water is still the best.. :) :)
