My Trip to Taiwan (台湾)

Mom and I had wanted to go to Taiwan for a long time but some how we always end up going somewhere else or could not find the right time to go.

This year my brother decided to take his family to Taiwan for a holiday. Mom, 2 nephews, niece and I went along with them. Visited Taipei (台北) and other small town near Taipei.

We arrived at Taoyuan International Airport (桃园中正国际机场) around 7.30pm. I can’t remember an hour or half to reach Taipei. It was cold when we arrived at Taoyuan International Airport as it’s near the sea. I think the temperature was around 16c to 20c.

The local tour guide took us to one of their night market called Shilin (士林夜市). Since I am a vegetarian and it was late at night I did not want supper. The others tried their local food. They tried their Or Ah Mee Suah, Fish Ball, Fried Crab and a few others. They find the food quite bland. Just like when an India person eating Chinese food in Malaysia, the India friend will always said Chinese food no taste, not enough spice. There were still time we took the opportunity to shop, niece, nephew and I went into a shop that sell local brand. We find the fashion and price was okay, we bought quite a bit there, especially me, as I like trouser with lots of pocket. We bought scarf and gloves too.

We check in the Hotel in Taipei. The next day we left for Leofoo Village Theme Park (六幅村). It is divided into region, like you have the Wild Wild West, Arabian Nights and so on. All the rides in the Theme Park are free. I find our Genting Highland Theme Park and Sunway Lagoon is much better. When we watch Jacky Wu in his game show, the place looks like it is very big and the ride so scary, actually it is not that scary. We tried the boat ride where the boat falls at 90degree before you fall out the boat goes back to 0 degree again. Here the water will splash onto your face. It was a good thing my brother got us some recycle rain coat. If not……

No doubt the rain coat is from the dustbin, I appreciated it, to me better than nothing. Most of them get it from the dustbin nearby anyway. Anyway the dustbin had only thrown away rain coat.

We had lunch at the Theme Park and continue to Yilan Winery (宜兰甲子兰酒文物馆), it shows the history of traditional wine making. Did not find the wine interesting but my niece and I found some hand make handicraft.(手工艺品）The biscuit with that molasses is very good. I had yet to try it. Those that had tried said it is good. From here we moved to our next destination. That is Yilan Traditional Art Centre.

Yilan Traditional Art Centre (宜兰传统术中心), this is quite an interesting place. You get all their local tribes arts here. I had a wonderful time here, we bought bracelets, earrings and phone-chains. We bought this magic Absorbent Coaster. This coaster when you place your cup or mug on it, if there is water at the bottom of the cup or mug it will absorb the water, leaving your desks dry and clean. It had beautiful picture on it too. Mom tried spinning the top, and she did it, after so many years she still had the magic there. My brother and I were super excited over it, especially me I was jumping up and down getting the others to clap too. I guess I was proud of my mom as others could not spin the top. We were not interested in the Chinese traditional show, to us it is boring.

That night we had dinner and check in at Shangri-la Boutique Hotel, for a small town like Yilan that Hotel or resort is consider 4 stars. After dinner, some went fishing, some wanted to dip in the hot spring. All was abandon. We end up watching the 8pm movie on chocolate. It was quite entertaining.

The next day we went to Yehliu Geopark (野柳地质公园) this is where the famous queen’s head and fairy shoes. It was very windy and cold.

The tour guide took us to Danshui Oldtown and Fisherman’s Wharf( to watch the sunset. It was so cold and windy that all end up eating Ah Mah Fish Ball except me. The tour guide asked did you all saw the sunset, we said no but we saw Ah Mah Fish Ball, we had a good laugh.

Next day visit is nothing special, visited the home of Chiang Kai Shek, Miniatures Museum and Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall. I don’t find Taipei 101 Observation Deck special. We had to pay, while our Petronas Twin Tower we don’t have to. When we were at the Taipei 101 Observation Deck, the staff came to our tour guide saying there is special gift for guest that day. We were having high expectation on the gift, guess what it is. It is a bookmark, just a strip of paper with a Chinese painting on it. I guess better than nothing lah.

Things are very expensive at 101 malls and those malls around it. This is what I called branded. The whole mall is so classy. Luckily there is Giordano on Christmas sales, we got some pants. Did not walked away empty handed. I bought Aska Yang Star Start DVD concert. Had watched it, for a beginner it is good.

Had been to Hong Kong, Taiwan and China, if you want to shop and eat it is better to go to Hong Kong. There is more to Malaysian taste bud. I still prefer shopping in China they have lots of their local brand which is not bad too.

This trip I learned a thing from niece, the luggage strip during check-in there is name on it. I thought only number, silly me.

My Trips to Dad’s Birthplace, China（中国）

I have been to China 7 times including dad’s hometown. I remember about 10 years ago, I wanted to see China, my ancestor’s home country. So I booked my first trip to China, on MATTA fair.

The first was The Silk Road. I did not know where to start, so I decided to start from the west. It’s started from Urumqi（乌鲁木齐） and ends in Xian（西安）. But we departed from Chengdu Sichuan’s （成都，四川）airport for home. I can’t remember how many states we went but each day was a different state. So it should be about 8 to 9 states as it was a 12 days trip. Each state you can see the influence of the Arabs traders, that is the Islam religion. Some have more and some have less influence. Thru out the trip the most exciting part is the camel ride to the dessert sand dune, where you ski the sand hills. The most difficult part or most uncomfortable was the train ride to the next city thru out the night to cross the dessert. It was so dried. I had a bleeding nose the next morning when I tried to sneeze. I think most of us had, and water was running out especially the toilet. I don’t think I will go for another Silk Road tour again. If I do I will only visit Urumqi.

When we landed in Urumqi’s airport, I noticed besides the airport’s name in Chinese characters, it was also in Jawi. The announcement thru the intercom was announced in Mandarin (华语) and Russian language. I was like what language is that. Then the tour guide said, Urumqi is near to Russia’s border. Don’t think the place is very backward, to our surprised it’s very modern and clean compared to Kuala Lumpur.

I remember in a town (can’t remember which town) it was Mahgrid, you can see the Muslim leave their duty and run to the mosque for prayer once they hear the announcement thru the loud-speaker. Once it is finished they will run back to their work place.

This trip I saw the ending or the tail of The Great Wall of China (万里长城), here the step are smaller compared to The Great Wall of China in Beijing.

Those of you that want to see China should take this trip, The Silk Road. It is very different compare with east China. This trip is not meant for the old or those with high blood pressure.

Those days, digital camera was not invented so to post is to scan the photos, maybe later when I have time. Or digital camera was too expensive for me, should be too expensive for me.

Other part of China that I had been to is Beijing(北京). Here the only thing I find very special is The Great Wall of China(万里长城), others I find it interesting but not that special.

Next was Shanghai(上海). It is not solely Shanghai, the trip takes us to the neighbor town or state. I had been to this trip twice, once with my friend then with my mom. As mom had not been so I took her there.

Been here twice, I only find the Yellow Mountain (黄山) very breath taking. On the way up the scenery is exactly like the Chinese brush painting on mountains. It is so beautiful. When you are on top of the mountain, you can feel the freshness of the mountain air. Here every thing is man carried from the foot of the mountain to the top of the mountain. Pollution is kept to the minimum, hotel’s laundry are carried to the foot of the mountain for washing. Those that go to Shanghai trip should visit the Yellow Mountain, a beautiful place. It’s good to have strong legs, lots of climbing. If you don’t want to climb you can pay to be carried around.

Hainan Island(海南岛) and Shenzhen(深圳), I find nothing special, will not visit it again.

After so many trips to different part of China, I wanted to visit my dad’s hometown and see my aunties and uncle. Just wanted to see them, see how the province looks like. In 2007 last year, my dad’s friend was going back. Mom and me tagged along, as without his help locating my aunties and uncle will be difficult. My dad’s province is in Fujian (福建), a 4 hours drive from Xiamen (厦门).

My aunties and uncle are very old already. I am glad I get the chance to see them as I won’t know when my mom will want to go again. At least I had see them and called them aunties and uncle.

Houses in the province are much bigger than what we had in Malaysia. If you meet Chinese from China, when they said they are trying to build a house in their province. You should ask how big the house is. I enjoyed my stay there, but they keep calling us Malay.

Here are some pictures I had taken at the province.

My Trip to Cambodia

Few months back went with my mom and her friends to Cambodia. I wanted to see the famous Angkor Wat. Besides their own currency, USD $ is also use in Cambodia.



Angkor Wat at Siem Reap. It is the only big attraction in Cambodia, people all over the world wants to see one of the great wonders of the world. It is as breath taking as The Great Wall of China.

Food in Cambodia is very expensive, I remember there was this lunch, the dishes was like vegetarian dishes, you get taufu and vegetables but no meat like chicken, pork and mutton only one fish dish. Being so used to Malaysia good life, they complained even the Malaysia tour guide complained too. It was like I paid so much you give me this, with this price I can get better in Malaysia. They were comparing with Malaysia. The local tour guide had no choice but tell them, food is very expensive, 300g of cabbage is USD2. So meat is even more expensive. What was served was consider very good in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Then only everyone quite down. It is better to go for buffet, lunch and dinner.
I noticed the fruits are also expensive,

I had some sweets in my bag. I gave it out to the children. In less than 5 minutes, the children were surrounding the bus for more sweets. They keep calling tang guo(糖果 sweet). My mother’s friend said why you do that, now we cannot even get out of the bus. Well, I saw the children will not get to eat sweet like what I have, that is why I gave them. Try mah! Anyway after about 5 minutes, the children know no more sweet, they go about their business, selling souvenirs (纪念品).

Do you know that the children (those above 10 years) selling souvenirs, will spend their time gambling when there is not so many tourists. My mother’s friends and I was waiting for the others, we walked around the souvenirs shops. No money to eat but got money to gamble. Sad view for me.

Spiders is one of Cambodia delicacies, it is deep fried. It seems spiders are in abandon in Cambodia. The way they eat it, in another 5 years it will be extinct.

I did the same thing when I was in the capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, but this time I did not distribute as I was scared the children will surround me. I gave all the sweet to a little boy who kept following me. When I gave him the sweet I quickly get on the boat. We were taking the boat to visit the Vietnamese immigrant village. Here I find it is also a mistake to give all to the little boy. The children were fighting over the sweet. It’s like you give also wrong, you don’t give they keep following you.


In Phnom Penh, the only attraction is the palace and casino. Building in Phnom Penh cannot be taller than the palace. So they make antenna on top of the palace, if not you can only build 2 storey high. The casino, heard is build and open by a Malaysia, the famous Genting Highland.

Nothing interesting in Cambodia, if those that like gem, then Cambodia is a good place to get. It is much much cheaper than home. You see, the people are poor but their faces show they are contented, no worries. We have lots of material comfort but we are not…...

What Captured My Eyes, Trip to Tirupathi, Tirumala, India (Feb 2008)

In India, you see cows by the road side it is a common site, as this is not my first trip to India. It was hard to take picture anyway I never thought I post my thoughts here. In future I will try to take pictures.

I saw this funny or unusual, selling helmets by the roadside and nobody is manning it too. At first I do not know it was helmet as they were wrapped up. I asked my god-sister what are those things. She said helmets. I was surprise you mean they sell helmets by the roadside not in the shop. The funny part is most of the people on the motorbike don’t use helmet.

While traveling on the highway, I thought I saw girls selling jasmine flower garland. They don’t sell in group, you see one after about a mile or so. They were tried to sell to vehicles passing by. I told my god-sister did you see the garland girls. She said see what, okay she did not see the girl. It is so dangerous selling on the highway, and I asked myself who would stop and buy as it is so dangerous and cars are moving so fast. On the way to the airport, I asked the driver if he sees the flower girls by the road side please stop. I was trying my luck or to proof me wrong. Yes the driver stop, when he stopped the girl will come running towards the car. I bought 2 garlands, one for myself and one for the driver. It was so cheap, 5 rupee for a garland. I pay RM10 in Kuala Lumpur for a garland like that. With RM10 I can buy the whole tray of flowers from her.

Paddy harvest season was just over. I noticed all the straws were stack nicely by the side. I saw farmers cutting mud in the shape of a brick. They were stack up like an oven, (the type of oven you burn bricks). I asked myself why are they stacking it in the middle of the paddy field, are they going to build a house right in the middle of the paddy field. On the way to the airport, at certain places I saw farmers putting all the paddy straws on the mud bricks. At one place I was lucky I saw a farmer burned the straws, I was so that is what they are trying to do. They are making bricks. You get fertilizer and bricks at the same time. No wonder some of the houses are half finished. I told myself they look backward but they really know how to make full use of what they have.

Let me tell you about my first trip to India March 1999, it was Calcutta (now it is Kolkata). What you heard about Calcutta is true, the dirtiest city in India. Pack with vehicles, which city is not packed with vehicles. I had a cultural shock here.

From the airport to the temple, we were going to the temple hostel to stay. The taxi that we got in, his car horn never stop horning. It was noisy. Every vehicle on the road will horn at each other. Each driver tries their level best not to stop their car. Red traffic light then no choice else it is like go go go. Here in Kuala Lumpur or Malaysia if two cars come so close that they scratch each other, you get out and look at your car, the damaged done. In Calcutta, no such thing, keep driving. I told myself no wonder all the cars have scratch and bang mark on them. I cannot see a car with no scratch mark.

Besides this, I saw man standing against the wall. I told myself why in India, men like to face the wall. I asked another Malaysian that had been there many times. What are they doing? He replied they are urinating. I was shocked. You mean they urinate in the open in the public eyes. No wonder the streets smell of urine.

I learned when I am in India, when you see a man facing the wall, don’t look . I will try to get away from the place as fast as possible.