DAY 2 - KENTING : Go Kart / ATV /  小海豚半潛艇 / 白沙灣 /  貓鼻頭公園
It's the day to do land activities! Couldn't remember the exact place that we went for the activities but I guess can google them! Should have a few recommendations around. We just followed where the cab uncle brought us to :)

Tried something special in the area - shave ice with noodles (粉條冰) from 正黃家! We got two different flavours, one with taosuan if I remembered correctly. Hehehe but I like everything iced :) Icy noodles is interesting though :D



Headed for Go-kart first! :) Not expensive, and they have different types for cars to try - one for beginners/first-timers, one for intermediate players and one for parents & kids! And yeaps, we tried the beginner's one first to have a feel of it first. And I guess I really needed the beginner's one cause I've never tried driving real cars before; bumper cars don't really count cause for those you are supposed to bump into others' cars and the impact isn't strong; I think for these kinda activities if you drift or crash into something it'll be damn scary!

Ben didn't join us for the games cause he wasn't very interested so he became our photographer for this activity!

While waiting for our turn :)

Waiting and waiting~

Took photos with Ben also! Sigh why they all so tall!! And I bet I stood at the wrong position; stood beside the ~1.8m guys and looked so short HAHA. The height difference was so obvious.. #20cmdiff :(

M-shaped #1

M-shaped #2

Each round is about 10 minutes and we get to drive around the course in one direction. Quite fun eh, I cannot remember if it was right/left to accelerate already but I remembered me struggling to step on the accelerator because... My legs were too short. Like most people don't really have to straighten their  legs to drive but I needed to stretch my legs a little more HAHA. (And this was probably why I wasn't moving as fast as the others :P) Yay to surviving my first outdoor "drive"! Was thinking I may get into some sort of accident but glad I didn't!


Weishan, Chongkai and Bryan went for the second round with the intermediate cars; didn't join cause I think it's a bit too scary; like even the beginners' drive was a little scary when I kept trying to avoid accidents. So I joined Ben to watch their drive! (PS: from the first day we realized we can spot Ben easily - he's always near the shades! And that time he was under an umbrella LOL.)

Really scary, can see them drift sometimes. Lucky I never join them; next time okay!! I really don't have a good feeling when it comes to games cause I always get injured, somehow, Like when I play softball I get hit on the mouth last time; when I run I fall; when I cycle I flyyyy! But glad they had fun!


Headed to the next venue for ATV rides! That place was cool though, they had horse riding and archery as well?! But we headed straight for ATV. It's NT600/ATV for a ride up the sandy hills but we get to practise driving and getting used to it at a training course. Didn't want to ride it at first but sadly I was called to try it right after the first guy! (I think it was Ben/Bryan)

They taught us how to start the engine and NEVER TO MAKE SHARP TURNS or speed up suddenly. But sadly Idk what happened to me; was a little distracted and hence when I suddenly focus on the ATV again I realized I needed to make a turn if not I'll move straight and go out of the range. But I made a very sudden turn, such that the whole ATV fell on me >.< Don't know to feel pain or embarrassed at that moment, but my mind was just... Blank~

Chongkai drove to where I fell and asked if I was alright, but I think I was just too shocked that I just stood up, swept off all the sand and just smile. But Idk what the others saw from their side cause apparently it was very funny - Like Chongkai drove past, peeped into the accident scene and just drove away. LOL. But he did ask la!! He's not that mean y'know. Sigh this accident became le mean housemate's favourite story - nobody can understand how I fell off a 4-wheeled bike. Even Idk also HAHA.

The person in charge came over to drive me back to the starting point, only to ask me try driving another few rounds to let me get used to it after I cleaned my open wound. But sadly... though I managed to make a safe turn I still crashed into a fence :( Sighhh think by that time the person also don't dare to let me try already! Cause when we were gonna try the actual route, he was saying I should just tag Bryan's one!

Thankfully I didn't drive alone cause it was really scary and sandy; I was sooooo scared that sand particles would fall into my eyes like what happened when I went cycling with Bev before leaving for Taiwan. And I wasn't driving. Imagine if I drove and that happened :S Probably would've panicked and gotten some serious injury like falling off the slope *touchwood*

& Thank you Bryan for being a safe driver and ensuring I'm safe! Hahaha was holding on to his shoulders but there were times when the roads were quite dangerous that I kinda lost my grip a little and he probably thought I flew away LOL. But I didn't ok! *inserts smug look* Didn't get to drive this, probably wouldn't drive this anytime soon till I get over my fear for this, but I hope to drive this someday! Hopefully with them again, but I guess it's not possible! Unless one fine day we all decide that we want to travel to Taiwan again :P

Group photo at the end of the trail! Only one photo, and it wasn't on fb hahaha.

Headed for another game - it's some activity on the waters. And having just fell with an open wound I decided not play with it though they kinda assured me that I wouldn't be wet, but nahhhhh. And Ben sat out for this too :O But anyway it was just to drive the boat around a course within their boundaries. I kept hearing Chongkai getting called for moving out of the boundary; and that he did't have good driving skills. Wah if I went for it I'd probably be screamed at cause I don't even know how to drive :X

Didn't have pictures on my phone but I remembered helping them video the activity; but Idk whose phone I used!

Went for lunch after that, which was near the half-submarine area :) The place had fresh fish around! Like we have to choose the fish we wanted and the other dishes before we got our seats. The had sashimi too; le housemates' favourite! Didn't have much food for me but it was okay! I did tried some fish haha still not used to it :P

Sashimi!

Went for the half-submarine tour after that, it's just right outside where we ate - 小海豚半潛艇. The lower deck is submerged underwater so you can see what's in there! And the upper deck are for those who want to enjoy the scenery / if they get motion sickness.

Us in the lower deck! :)

The view wasn't very clear but can see fishes and corals!! Quite nice :D And I'm thankful that my motion sickness wasn't that bad! I didn't puke though I did feel dizzy, and the person beside Bryan was puking damn badly :O But CK didn't felt that well so after the ride he needed some rest!

The underwater view!

Headed to 白沙灣 after that, the beach is super nice!! Felt so bad cause the cab uncle was saying that he could drop the rest there and bring me out to get medicine, but it's so weird and I didn't want to make it seem like it was some serious injury so I just went ahead with the others! Kinda stuck together at first, and I was avoiding the waves cause I know my wound couldn't be in contact with seawater.. But after the waters hit my wound the first time I kinda just gave up and just let them get soaked :X

Beautiful waters

Selfie with the selfie king HAHA.

Asked him to help me take photo but he took a selfie instead rawrrr.

:D

Found Ben afterwards; we sat down to chill and talk about life while Bryan went to change and played in the waters. Went to change out of our wet clothes - bought a pair of beach pants at $6 cause I think I don't have enough bottoms to change into, and I feel bad if I wet the seat in the cab!

It's a good day~

When it got significantly darker!

Headed back to our minsu for the night! It's quite cool, like our room has two levels - the upper level just have a bed for two people to sleep in! The bottom level has the bathroom(with a bathtub), another bed for two people to sleep, and a mattress cause we had five people! Ohoh directly below our bed and beside the stairs up there's an area where we can use our laptops! :) Can still remember clearly how our accoms looked like; if only there were photos or if I could do an artist impression!

Went out to explore the area, and to get medication for my wound! Like just the cotton bud, disinfectant and the lotion :) First to bathe (but nooo I couldn't use the bathtub cause of my wound) and tried to clean my wound. But I think I did a horrible job; probably should've accepted help from Bryan lolol.

Turned on the television and we heard JJ's version of 當你 omg reminded me of those older days when I still listened to Chinese pop! Then we kinda went crazy cause we were searching for the song and deciding which version was the nicer one, And I also remembered we played some game to decide the bathing order for the next day - the later you have the bathe the more you get to sleep in!!! Hahaha.

Didn't sleep very early cause I was quite scared for my wound, though I told mummy that my old scar made a new scar friend and it's right beside it. :$ But thankfully I avoided the "talk" that Ben wanted t have with those awake cause I kinda know what he was up to LOL.

Yay and that's the end of Day 2! Super long omg I thought less pictures meant less stuff to blog whoops.

Wheee so happy that I remembered all of these though there weren't many pictures. Hopefully when I look back again someday the feeling will be the same, still :)

Labels: debzintw

Second #weekendtravellingggg post, finally! Le housemates' tutorial clique Benjamin (aka Ben) joined us for this trip since he hasn't been to Kaohsiung so we asked him to visit us and travel together. Thankfully it wasn't awkward cause I knew Ben before that; think the world is really small. We worked together with wsck for MA back then, and he knows Bev so yeaps! :)

We booked a cab for this trip also, which kinda total up to quite an expensive weekend trip again. But at least I had fun, though I returned to Kaohsiung with a new scar. Had rashes after my first trip too, oh well~ Have fun worry later :P

DAY 1: TAINAN - 安平古堡, 安平樹屋, 台江國家生態園區
While en route to Tainan~ Didn't really sleep throughout the ride and yayyyy to no/little motion sickness that day! :)


The cab uncle was saying, 來到這些地方就要吃當地的美食! Cause at different parts of Taiwan they have different 名產, so yup have to try! So he recommended the pearly soya bean. Yayyy first time eating soya bean since I came to Taiwan! Was so happy initially cause I didn't see this around Kaohsiung, or rather I probably didn't check this out. (Cause subsequently I realized that most of the shaved  ice shops near our apartment actually sells them)


Headed to Anping Old Fort (安平古堡)! Super sunny day was good for travelling but wearing two layers of clothes weren't. Literally sweating throughout :(

Saw this stall selling Dragon's Beard Candy (龍鬚糖) this is something like cotton candy!  we bought 3 boxes but we couldn't finish! I'm not exactly a sweet sweet person so I didn't finish my share.


The famous Anping Fort Cannon~

BBT with le roomie :)

Mandatory group shot before leaving :D


Headed towards Anping Tree House (安平樹屋) after that! Saw this petty lake along the way :)


Bought tickets and queued to enter! But as the name suggests, it's really just a tree house, a house full of branches :P But okay, at least it wasn't too hot in there! Nothing much, and it's not expensive to enter.

Photobombbbbb!

Selfie w roomie! :)

As usual, a group photo in the tree house / under the trees! 那天, 我們一起在榕樹下拍的照片 HAHA :)



But before that, we have to wait, and we get free flow supply of.. OYSTERS. Hahaha their fave!! Ben & I just kinda sat there and watched them; I've got no idea how to roast them and I'm not eating them! But it looks kinda fresh!

All looking so happy while waiting to cook their oysters!

Cooking cooking~

It opens up when it's cooked and ready to be savoured HAHA.

Lots of dried salted fish when we reach there!


Group photo near the waters; a little muddy and it was sooo windy. Look at how messy our hair (WS and mine) were. :(

Followed the trail along the park to the end where you can see the beach and sunset! :) And it's time for group photos again~

With le housemates! :)

With Ben, who's probably sick of us spamming group photos HAHA.

Beautiful sunset at Taijiang :)

Headed back to the boat after that! Pretty pretty sunset captured by Weishan on the way back!


Lots of oyster shells, must be from the free-flow supply of oysters provided! Can't imagine how many are there cause it's a super long trail.


Headed for dinner somewhere around the area with nice seafood! Hehehe doesn't matter if I don't eat, so long as the rest ate well I'm happy too :D And I realized I found a food buddy who doesn't eat vegetables and certain food as well. #notalone :P

Took a cab back to our minsu after that! More photos HAHAHAHA. Front camera cui, so no nice/glam photos! (But I think these aren't too bad... :X)

With Bryan and the cab uncle this time! :)

Labels: debzintw

Oh noooo I think I may have interpreted stuff wrongly, one of the rare times omg.

This word has two significance to me these days. Like 1) how I realized some stuff, and gained more insights from them, and 2) the realization of my grad trips! They don't sound like it's anything bad right ^^ Happydebs have been keeping her mood in check - like I try really hard not to be bothered by certain issues that can potentially make me upset or cranky.

Have to remind myself that my life doesn't revolve around that few people, and that no matter how important I place someone in my heart it does not mean the same otherwise. That is, it is not reciprocal. So what if you treat them as the most important people? They don't know and probably.. wouldn't care sometimes.

So I came about this quote on elitedaily:

"You gotta understand the difference between someone who speaks to you on their free time and someone who frees their time to speak to you."

Somehow it felt so relevant cause I was telling some people that I don't like it when people don't reply my messages, and that's the way how people can get me really angry. Sounds so petty right, cause people who know me probably know me as someone who probably never gets angry, or at least not in front of them. But I just felt that I needed to voice it to people cause I'm starting to feel that sometimes people are taking me for granted - Like sometimes they are only looking for me when there're some sort of benefits, if not I'm as good as nothing. Or you'll only come talking to me when the person you're always talking to is not free so I'm the next best alternative. If I don't know anything it's fine, but technology spoils relationships, literally.

This falls under the former - people who look for you in their free time. And I don't know how to classify them lolol. Maybe just people I shouldn't pay too much attention to, but it's so difficult :/  Cause when they ask for help I still feel bad to reject sighhhh. I need people to teach me how to ignore such requests!

The latter are those that people would consider true friends I guess! Idk, I think I make friends too easily that it's a bit difficult to differentiate friends and "friends" until I realize I'm not being appreciated sometimes. But I know who are those people whom I truly value; cause they are also the ones who would spare time for me when I needed them :)

Then you have abnormalities like Kary - who don't reply sometimes but then again she would make out some time to listen to me or just spend time with me to just hear me rant. But okay la, I've known her long enough to know her pattern; and they say friends who lasted at least 7 years with you are friends to keep! So sorry ahhh VHG I'm stuck with you girls forever already. (Come to think of it I've even known Chelsea for at least 7 years already!!) Now that I'm so comfortable with them I guess they should be used to seeing my hilarious/crazy side soon HAHA.

And the way I differentiate friends and "friends" are by what they say as well. Like if you know the person well enough there is not need for sweeteners/客套話. I mean truth hurts and if you don't know the person well enough you wouldn't want to risk the friendship by saying things that the other party don't want to hear. For me I'm thankful to have truthful friends to be my "eyes" sometimes; cause I always overlook flaws in my friends. Like I don't see the point to pinpoint their bad habits if I'm not affected. Unless it's something that I really cannot stand like using phones when we're out ('cause I see no point in hanging out with people AND their phones) or not listening to what people are talking about when we're all together. So I'm glad that when I'm over-complimenting someone they will go "actually, xxx..." to remind me that they are not as perfect as how I perceived them to be.

Okay, moving on!! Hahaha don't want to harp on this too long; I'd rather talk to people about this. Like a debate, cause it's nice to listen to what others think about the same issue! Cause I know sometimes I'm quite self-centered so I need to have a broader perspective and that's through listening.

Speaking of grad trip, I'M HEADED FOR KOREA IN ABOUT 2 WEEKS' TIME! Excited much, but I think my family is more excited cause they are flying on Friday!! Le bro is excited about abandoning me alone in Singapore tsk. :( But no la, really cannot join them cause they are also going Seoul/Busan. If only they booked it earlier than my tutorial group mates then I definitely would have gone with them! But okay since they are going first they can get all the masks and CDs, I'll get my skincare products there and have less baggage! :D I'm hoping this would be a good trip!!

And MY TAIWAN TRIP MAY BE ON AFTERALL. Like I'm using may be cause we have yet to buy tickets! But still, really thank you Lynn <3 Cause most people thought I was joking when I said I wanted to go Taiwan again. Like when I said my grad trip plans included Taiwan, most of them went like "Taiwan, again?!" Sighhhh why cannot? I mean there're things that I miss there, stuff that I have yet to tried and places I have yet to visit. So why not? I'm not just going back to Kaohsiung leh, though I really miss that place a lot a lot!!

Even when there were people who may be interested... It's not finalized or anything. And being Debbie I cannot really stand last minute planning especially if we don't have human GPS around! Or at least plan when to go or places to go at least. But nothing was confirmed up till now I was damn sad lor. :(

Just when my hopes were kept so low, Lynn agreed to go with me!! I thought she was joking also leh! But you can tell the difference when this time she was the one who kept asking me to confirm whether we are going together. So I was quite convinced that we both wanted to go together. Yay yolo travel buddy!! :) And extra thankful cause our schedules really clash!! Like I planned to go in early June but there was no way she could squeeze out more than 5 days cause of her youth classes. So in the end we decided towards the end of June for now, at least we can go for at 7-8 days and come back in time for work after a day's rest HAHA.

Also very thankful cause she's a vegetarian so I thought dining would be an issue, but no it didn't seem to pose a problem cause she researched on places to get her food at the various places that we plan to visit. She even tried to put in Kenting though she wasn't very interested. Thank you v v v v much!! Though tickets are not booked, we already planned what we want to do and places we want to visit on Tuesday afternoon!! So happy it really feels as though I am definitely going already. But if the tickets are really too expensive and we end up not going (cause we both set budgets!) I'm still happy looking at our itinerary :) Also glad to have known that I have a friend like her :D

Ending here, took damn long cause le bro and I were having our mini karaoke session at ungodly hours HAHA. Need to finish unpacking my Taiwan luggage if not my family may not have enough space to bring stuff back!! Shall start my Tainan/Kenting post soon!! :) Omo I realized I still have.. Taipei, Alishan, Hualien & Taitung! And Cing Jing Farm if I even have time HAHA. Hopefully I can finish the bulk of it before I start my grad trip posts. Got a feeling I'll post on the day itself like what happened in Hualien - the sounds from some furious typing was actually for my post then :X

Had my first exam this semester, which also marked the last paper in my entire university life. Sigh felt so surreal, like part of me still wished I'm still studying cause to be honest, I really enjoy life as a student - I enjoy the process of learning and acquiring new knowledge on things that I'm interested in, I enjoy going to school to meet people who make my days, enjoy those random/small talks in school with friends, even enjoy having meals with people in school and just rant about life.