Taipei Day #2: Curse of the Smelly Tofu!

Too bad I don't have photos from breakfast, headed down before work to get some chow and didn't bring my camera, will remember tomorrow.

Had a good start to my day, Jane my colleague in Taipei picked me up with a taxi - I think everyone's pretty worried I'd get lost in this city, they kept calling her to make sure I was ok and when we finally made it through the archway of the office, she announced quite loudly, "she's here safely!"...I half expected them to burst into cheers, but no, they didn't - much to my delight.

Was given the usual tour, the usual brief (although I must add, they have lots of post-it notes in this office! yup, 3M was once they're client) and taken to my seat, which apparently belonged to a part-timer who was shipped off to a nearby purple desk because of me, must remember to apologize to her before I leave - poor girl :(

Anyway, got some lead time to work on my presentation, finally! And headed out to lunch with the Tech team, which cost them a whopping RM 230 for a normal chinese meal, apparently, that's the norm around here.....

We spent at least 2 hours there...and we finally went back to work all sleepy and such.

But the night was the fantabulous one, I had many firsts on this second day, my first:

[+] night market on Tong Hua street

[+] cup of Bubble Tea in Taiwan

[+] fried rice cake covered in duck blood

[+] tianbula (Taiwanese version of Tempura)

[+] oyster omelette a.k.a o-chien, and

[+] SMELLY TOFU!

Zhien, that's 4 out of the list of 13 things to eat and I've done the additional duck blood thingy! At the rate I'm going, I think we're going to have to find new food to swallow when you come :)

Oooohhh...can I just say that the tofu is really really disgusting, it looks better than it tastes, it doesn't smell as bad but when you put it in your mouth and start chewing, it really taste like you're eating pooh - and I only had the fried version! Apparently if you eat the boiled one, its even worse because the juice is simply *yuckylicious*....and they find durians smellier than this - no way! I'd eat the durian anytime! As you can tell, this is one of those once-and-never-again situations :)

But it was a good night, both Elsa (my guardian) and Jenny went to great lengths to get me back to my hotel, even walked me all the way there...and then went home. I'm really so grateful they're taking real good care of me, Elsa would know because she didn't receive the same courtesy when she was in Beijing and understand what it was like to be in a new city by yourself.

They're awsome! They've planned all my lunches and nights out til next week so I'll be able to blog lots of stories :) You girls rock!

Going to work by bus tomorrow, Jane's meeting me at my drop-off point and we'll walk to work together. After this, I should be able to get to work and back on my own, these girls are really the bomb :)

I'm off for now....eeks, curse of the smelly disgusting tofu!

*out*

Taipei Day #1

Left my home at around 6.45am today and arrived in my hotel in Taipei at around 4.00pm - it's crazy! I just spent my whole day traveling!!! So now I know what Tine goes through every couple of months she flies to and from home between her rotations - it's crazy!

As you can see from the photos, I've already made myself at home in this little room of mine -my stuff is everywhere. Mum, you'd be really proud, I took out all my stuff, hung my clothes, lined the sink with my toiletries and etc :)

Although I've physically settled in, I'm still quite nervous about being here. I thought I did quite well with my mandarin when the mr.lu-the-nice-merc-driving-limo-guy came to pick me up. I managed to find out quite a lot of things and share a bit of info with him too! Ofcourse, then there was when I told him that the trip from KL to Taipei only took 5 minutes! hahahahahaha :) yea, I corrected myself after I realized why he was looking very confused...poor chap.

So I was quite confident until I stepped out again about 6.00pm (after discovering that my hotel only serves breakfast and nothing else! yes, no food room service) and had to walk around to look for my own food. Finally settled on one that said, "English Menu Available" - so sad :(

Ended up ordering "noodles with mixed vegetables and pork":

I know it looks oily daddy, but it really wasnt and it came with so many things, including sea cucumber! They should've called it "mixed everything noodles"!

Anyway, my survival insticts led me straight to the nearest 7-Eleven where I bought some instant cup noodles and snacks to keep me alive if need be. *sigh* Hope things will look up tomorrow when I don't have to do this alone....

ANYWAY...

Here's another photo of my baptism and the video if you'd like to share the experience with me! :)

The water was really warm to the touch - I had an awesome time dunking.

Thanks Nick for the photo and video!

Aight, this is goodnight from Taipei....

*nervous out*

I'm finally baptised in water!

It's definitely one for my books!

I've officially been baptised in water! Woohoo!!!
I've waited so long for this moment and its really been just such an awesome experience for me. Just moments before I stepped into the water, I started crying like a baby.... :)

I got a call from Karen the other day, saying how she felt it would be good for me to share my baptism testimony - how life was before and after I became a Christian. We spoke about it and felt one of the more significant details is why I've decided not to wait anymore, after 6 years of journey with God.

Yes, i hear gasps! Believe me, a lot of people were very surprised to hear that I was yet to be dunked into the water - if I could take the myriad of expressions I got, I'd have quite the collection! But it's all good...

I was inspired so much by my baptism class yesterday that a song just came to me, full and complete with lyrics and the melody - Jon and I wrote our first song together, and it really meant a lot to me because it speaks so much of how I really feel right now, in my walk with God.

I'll put up the recording soon, but for now, the song sings...

"Oh Lord, I thank You for today,
that I'm able to come,
to declare and to say,
that I'll pick my cross,
and journey with You,
and I'm able to see...

Chorus:
To see the old pass away and the new come to life,
Renewed by Your grace,
Jesus, Lord, I'm amazed,
to see the new come to life as the old passes away,
seen through the eyes of love....
created by You

Bridge:
Jesus, You gave me life
Given me hope to carry on
Given love's sacrifice, to set me free
set me free......"

I'm just infinitely amazed that I'm seen through His eyes of love, and that my Creator loves me for who I am, and He knows the desires of my heart.

I cried again like I baby yesterday when Ps Julie suddenly went up to the pulpit and said, "God is asking me to ask you today, what are the desires of your heart?"...just a day ago, I wrote my baptism testimony based on this verse. And how I truly finally recognized that my obedience to God's will had to be greater than the desire of my heart, that I needed to trust God to see His promise come to fulfillment - and it did!

One of my heart's greatest desires, is to have my parents witness my declaration that I belong to Christ. So thank you mom and dad for coming today, it really meant more to me than you could ever imagine! *hugs*

So if you haven't been baptised yet, what are you waiting for!?!?!? :)

*happy*

Like the lilies...

Lilies are like my favourite flowers....well, basically any white flowers do it for me, but lilies look the best, white.

Was just reminded yesterday....

"Like a lily among thorns, is my darling among the maidens."

Song of Songs 2:2

Thank You for reminding me that I'm beautiful and beloved at a time like this. I thank You for Your words of truth and comfort that surprise me when I'm not even looking.

Love...

Little gangsta at the playground

I ain't no likey you, step away, further away...or I'll stare you down with my little eyes...

This has just got to be my favourite photo!

We had family photo shoot last Sunday - we traipsed off to Lake Gardens in the wee hours of the morning (no kidding! it was like 8.00am) for the shoot with Jenny and Ju.

Jenny spotted these lady-bug like boulder and asked the kids to stand against it making funny faces, one-click, two-clicks and Olivia ran off to play with some other thing whilst little Celine suddenly folded her hands and gave us this gem of a photo!

I was the official sweet-holder while the kids took centre stage as the camera shutter went *chi-chak* *chi-chak* *chi-chak*...explains why I have this photo amongst many to post, because I had time to take them!

We had such a blast at the big huge-mongous playground, with the slides, the bubbles, the running, the sweating and the little picnic, it's not complete without the picnic sandwiches. Great way to spend Mother's Day!

Thanks che for putting it together, Happy Mother's Day to you and mom!

I'll leave you with some pics...

Celine & Olivia

Papster

Mumster

my cheerleader

I already sent my computer to slumberland, really didn't think I'd switch it on again.
Or that I needed this verbal release.

It's been an emotinally draining day, I didn't have to do much brain work yet there were so many things that needed to be straightened out, discussed, rationalized, understood - it really took the wind out of me. The toughest part was to except that the impending loss (with a shred of hope to salvage) isn't even our fault.

Three and a half years of sweat, blood and toil comes to this. I recognize it might be a change of seasons, a time to move on, to climb bigger mountains. But today, it was just too hard, harder that I had to stay tough for them, because they needed to see me pulled together - the encourager, the calm, the rational. If the chirpy and most-often optimistic one turned introvert, things would take on for the worst. No, they needed their cheerleader.

I compartmentalized and tucked it away.

I came home with this heavy heart of mine, tried to let the usual bubbly self out but to no avail. I thought the food would help and it did for awhile, but then, I'm back there now.

......

On any other given day, I'd be perfectly happy being the cheerleader, but just for now, just for this hour or even the next 5 min....could someone just take over....just for awhile....and be my cheerleader?

I just need you to be my encourager, my iron, my edifier for 5 min...that's all I ask and I promise I'll take on my normal character again.

please...

And it flies by like the wind....

The weekend's just up and gone on me again, I think I'll never be able to keep up with the pace it runs, like how Sue says, she stopped running ahead of age, she's let it catch up and now they're fast friends! hahaha...cartoon lah she.

I told both David and Stevie today that I'd blog a post about how I'm maintaining so many blogs that I don't have time to update my own! hah! It's true, however, I didn't think it warranted one entire post just dedicated to this really uninteresting topic.

Maybe then, just what I've up to lately...

Taipei, Taiwan
So it's set, finally confirmed the dates I'm flying off and it sounds like I've got quite the packed schedule ahead of me. Good thing is, I've got this really beautiful hotel I'm staying at which can fit like ten people (okay, so I exaggerate) but I might just be coming back to sleep and that's it.


I kid you not, that's how pretty it is! I'm really blessed.

Hoping that my colleague will come visit so I've got some company while I'm there...hopefully they've built in some sight-seeing time for me, what I've heard so far though is that the city's like a concrete jungle.... :o/ Well, seeing is believing, am heading there on May 26th and will only be back come June 12th - so call me at your own risk! :)

Work Schmirk
It's been tough for the past couple of days, and it seems like this grey cloud is hanging over our heads - something unexpected happened last week that could cost us a whole deal. Got me a little demoralized there, and i still have trouble picking myself up from it.

Thing is, I'm well assured that it'll be alright, that God's got this whole thing sorted for the best, so I've just got to take it as it comes. Thing also is, that I also need the time to just cry a little, take it personal a little and just do whatever I need to do to rid myself of the "greyness", in due time, His assurance will take over as it should.

Please do remember us in your prayers, us meaning me and my team members, we're trying our best to brave on under the circumstances. Really appreciate the covering!

Pillow Talk with Crimson Girls
Yup, us girls had a nice sleepover at Sue's the other day, and since I've blogged it at superlame, head there if you want to read more about it. But here's what I wanted to share - after a night of nail-painting-eyebrow-trimming-movie-shadow-puppet-fun, I was awaken by Sue's upset and exasperated call, "Yen, you gotta come down and see what they did to my car!"

Ooohhh, Rachel, if you were there, you'd kick some butts!

These guys really put in a lot of hours to get this going - I've got more photos to prove this was meticulously orchestrated, there were no holes amidst the newspapers, the hearts were really cut quite nicely and the balls of paper was stuck on with double-sided tape. The "surprise" came topped with a little note to say starch and newspaper are harmless, with some trash bags under the car to clean up and RM 10 for a car wash.

......she was pretty mad, but I think, she can laugh about it now :) Things people do these days...

Recharge me-charge
I finished off the weekend with my much-loved family time. That, i appreciated so much.

Now, i need my sleep.
*toodles*

p/s: Bubs, I know its been a tiresome and trying day, but you know, the sunshine always comes after the rain....(oops, that just sounded so cheesy, but you know what I mean!).