Our Honeymoon (Taiwan) - Part I

Ahem ahem... I know this is kinda late to write the details of our honeymoon, but hey, better late than never? ;) Before my memory starts to fail me, I better write about this first!

Pi has heard many positive "review" of Taiwan from his friends/colleagues, so he wanted to go Taiwan for our honeymoon, and I'm the type that will be happy to go anywhere.. Hahaa.. So one day, we went to this Natas Fair at Singapore Expo, and saw that one of tour package from SA Tours had the places we wanted to visit (the must-visit place was Alishan and Taroko Gorge), so we booked it straightaway. I remember we actually booked it for 26th Dec 2007, so we don't need to take so many days of leaves. But somehow, the person handling our booking must be blur or something, she wrote it as 13 Dec 2007! And that day I was in a rush, as I remember I need to go home early to watch Swan Lake show with Allie. So after booking, we only checked some fields, such as our names (that's the most important thing right?) and kinda assume that the date would be correct!

Oh yeah, I think I should mention this, for the first time ever, pi & I was quite lucky! There was a promo that we will get a sure-win thing if we pay using Citibank credit card. Initially I thought, with our luck, maybe what we'll be getting is... hmm, let me see.. Pen? Book? LOL... But guess what? We got a Electric Steamboat & BBQ set! Waaaaaahh.. Soo happy.. Ahem, not that we use it often.. I think so far, we have used it twice only.. LOL...

Reaching home, we put the form aside, and kinda forget about it, until few weeks (or was it months?) later, when someone from SA Tour called me, I think it's about the briefing or remaining payment or something, then she mentioned the date "13 Dec 2007". And I was saying that our departure date was "26 Dec 2007", but she said she was sure it's 13 Dec and ask me to check the form again. To my horror, the form did write it as 13 Dec!! Aiyoooooooo.. and by then, nothing we can do to change it back to 26 Dec since it was already few weeks before departure date. Felt kinda upset, coz what we paid should be for more "peak" period (well, 26 Dec must be a super peak period right?) but in the end, going for a not-so-peak period. But there was no use keeping ourself upset about this, just let it go and enjoooyyy the trip ^^

DAY 1

Oh oh, finally our departure day was coming. I remember we were quite excited. We're meeting the tour guide in the airport in the afternoon, then we checked in (our flight was China Airline, about 3pm+). And a pleasant surprise is.. The plane was quite full, so we were upgraded to Business Class! Yippeee...

The journey was about 5 hours+, and the movie played during the journey was The Bourne Ultimatum.

When we reached Taipei, it was already quite late, I think about 8pm - 9pm. And once we went out of the airport, it was sooooo collddd we literally run to the bus. OK not as cold as snow season of course, but it's our first time going to a place during winter time, even though not as cold as snowy places. And considering we're from Singapore where it's hot hot hot hot hot summer all year round... Hmm.. the coldest weather in Taiwan that time I guess should be about 10-15C..

Since it was already late at night, the tour guide (we have 1 tour guide from Singapore, Gene, and another local tour guide, Tony) brought us to a nearby mall (Tai Mall) where we have our dinner in the foodcourt.

[caption id="attachment_1079" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="First Meal in Taiwan"][/caption]

We bought beef sukiyaki served in hot plate. And I must tell you.. It is veeeeeeeery delicious. Moreover compared to Singapore food that's mostly bland in taste.. LOL.. And the mall was cutely decorated with cute figurines for Christmas.. I love it!

[caption id="attachment_1080" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Tai Mall"][/caption]

 

DAY 2

We woke up very early morning to start our journey.. But we didn't feel sleepy, coz we're too excited maybe.. kekekekeee...

After breakfast, we took a bus to Jioufen Old Street, which was, as the name suggest, and old street.. LOL.. The street was quite narrow and the decoration was traditional Chinese. It was nice! There were many small shops along the street, selling food and other stuff. Here we tried (and bought) a lottt of packets of mochi. The mochi there are niceeeee! We bought quite a lot for our family and friends. And here we also bought some ocarina, which is Taiwan's traditional music instrument.

[caption id="attachment_1081" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Jioufen Old Street"][/caption]

Oh yeah.. we reached there quite early morning, so most of the shops were still closed. But not long after, the shops started to open.. And you know what? Small cars and motorbikes are also going thru this street! Tsk tsk tsk.. such a small street and yet some cars still wanna go thru the street..

Afterwards, we took a train, followed by bus, to go to Taroko Gorge, which was huge huge huge mountains of marbles. The view was amaaaazing. We suddenly felt like we were just small small ants as compared to the nature.

[caption id="attachment_1082" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Taroko Gorge"][/caption]

I think the photo doesn't really do the place justice. The real one was muuuccchh nicer.

That night, we stayed overnight at Promised Land resort.

<< to be continued >>

First Visit to the Zoo

On Sunday, we brought Vio for the first time to the zoo. The zoo friends card (from pi's company) was already booked 2 months in advance. That time, it was the earliest available timeslot for the card.. Wow! Seems like this card is so hot.. Anyway, actually that day my parents were also in SG, but they weren't interested to go to the zoo again, so they chose to go around SG themselves.

So we also brought my MIL and our maid to the zoo (since there are 4 adults that can go to the zoo for free). We went with full enthusiasm, thinking that Vio will be very excited to see all kinds of animals.. Elephants, tiger, monkeys, etc etc..

We started off from home at about 9:30am. Yeah it was quite late already... annddd... apparently that's the timing of taxis change shift... We waited for 1/2 hour for a taxi to stop and pick us up! Tsk tsk tsk.. And during the journey in the taxi, Vio fell asleep... And he was still sleeping when we reach there, and watch the first show about monkeys and other rainforest animals. He woke up during the 2nd show that we watched, which is mainly abt sealion. But it was soooo crowded that I think he can't see much.

So after that, we brought him to see the elephant show. And guess what? .... He's not interested at all! When we pointed the elephants to him, he pointed back the "fan" that's rotating above our seats.. -_-  Apparently, fan is more appealing than the biggest animal on earth.. LOL..

And when we brought him to see a polar bear, he didn't feel interested to see the gigantic bear swimming around. Instead, he keep saying "ball.. ball.. ball.." as there's a ball in the pool where the polar bear is swimming..

Apparently, Vio is still too young to appreciate the zoo. We felt quite disappointed that our visit to the zoo didn't turn up to be the way we expect it to be. As in, Vio didn't really enjoy the zoo, maybe coz it was so hot... Or maybe coz he has not enuff energy to be excited (as he refused to eat almost anything). 

Maybe we should try again next year or even later than next year..

[caption id="attachment_1075" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Singapore Zoo"][/caption]

The Trouble Eater

For the past few days, Savio refused to eat!! This time more serious than ever, since he's not even willing to open his mouth to try the food. When he sees food, his mouth will shut tight. I wonder what's wrong with him? There are so many possibility of the causes, and we don't know which one is the real cause:

1. The big teeth is coming out?


2. He has sorethroat/ulcer?


3. He's bored with all food?

And he even sometime rejects milk. Sooo worrying! When I tried to give him the biscuit that he once love, he'll open his mouth, but after few seconds, spit the biscuit out. And he doesn't even want to eat banana, the fruit that he loves so much! But there's a new biscuit that he just tried, and he can finish it. Maybe he's just bored of the old one?

I'm not sure whether it has any relation with the method used by my old maid to make him eat: she'll say that she's giving him biscuits, and hang the biscuit in front of his mouth to make him open his mouth. Once he opened it, she'll slip the spoon full of porridge to his mouth instead of the biscuit. I didn't agree with the method, actually. But since my MIL seems like didn't mind the method (as long as the baby's eating), I just closed 1 eye. But now I kinda regret. Maybe somehow it now caused Vio to dislike mealtime? And maybe not believe in what we'll give him to eat? *sigh*

He's getting skinnier again now, and I feel that when he walk, is not as stable as before. As in, he'll fall down easily because the feet is not strong enough. Well, he doesn't have enough energy coz he didn't take any food! He even doesn't want bread, which he normally like very much too.

Out of desperation, finally on Sunday we brought him to... KFC! LOL.. Yeah not a good place to bring a baby for a meal, but better than not eating at all, right? So we let him try the mashed potato.. and he likes it! He can finish the whole bowl! Wah I was sooooooo happy.. At least there's something that he's eating that day! hahahaa...

So going back home, my MIL tried to imitate the mashed potato, even reuse the same packaging from KFC. But somehow, Vio just knew it.. He didn't even want to open his mouth to TRY.. *sigh*

Well, today I met a friend during lunch time, and she mentioned that her baby (same age as Vio) is also going thru exactly the same phase! He refused to eat anything after breakfast. Not even milk, bread, etc. Feel so relieved that there are other babies going thru the same thing. So tonight I'll try making the breakfast that my friend's baby like: Swedish Muesli.. sounds nice hor? Kekekkeee.. I hope Vio will want to eat it tomorrow morning! ;)

PS: we've also just bought a multivitamin for Vio to boost his appetite. I hope it's working! Otherwise, need to bring him to see paediatrician liao :(

At His Own Time

It's just amazing to see that a baby can suddenly do something by his own..

Like for example, we have this little doughnuts stacker, the baby's supposed to put the doughnuts through the standing "stick" base. And since the box has the sign "6m+", which means that the toy is for 6 months+ baby, when Vio was 6 - 7 months old, we kept trying to show him how to put the doughnuts thru the stick. But he didn't seem to be interested at all. All he was interested in was to either bite the doughnuts or throw them around!

That goes on until we kinda give up teaching him to put the doughnuts thru the stick. And then, the stacking toy was kinda "buried" under all other toys, and Vio didn't get to see them much, until recently when I tidied up the toys, and he saw the doughnuts again.

When he started playing them again, it was justtt.. amazing! Without us telling him that the doughnuts need to go thru the stick, he put them thru the stick! Isn't that amazing?

[caption id="attachment_1064" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Stacking the doughnuts - Savio Style!"][/caption]

Ahem, of course for now he's stacking them as according to which doughnuts his hand can reach first. but sometimes he's getting it correctly too.

[caption id="attachment_1065" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Stacking the doughnuts - correct way!"][/caption]

Now, next stop is.... shape sorter! Kekekekee.. since Vio 11m+, we have started showing him how to put the correct shape to the correct hole. But again, he doesn't seem to be interested. All he does with the small shapes is... spinning them or throwing them around, only to catch them and throw them around again. Soo... all the small shapes are now scattered around the house, some maybe hidden under the sofa or under the bed or under the TV console, I'm not sure... but I know for sure that the number of shapes we are left to play with is getting lesser and lesser.. WHAHAHAA.. I hope when it finally occurs to him that it would be fun to put the shapes into the holes (instead of spinning/throwing them around), there's still some shapes left for him to play with.. hehehee..

Becoming Less Wiser?

I have just had one of my wisdom tooth extracted yesterday! But of course, it does not making me less wiser.. wahahahaha..

Early last week, my gum was swollen, and according to the dentist, I need to extract my upper right wisdom tooth coz it's getting "longer" such that it's biting my gum now. And the bottom wisdom tooth is not out yet. I hope it won't be out ever!!

So since my parents is coming to SG, I scheduled the extraction to be yesterday. At least I'm getting an MC on that day, so I can accompany them going around before the extraction.. kekekekee.. So yesterday, I brought them (and Vio) to IKEA, which is near to Alexandra Hospital, where my tooth will be extracted.

It was their first time going IKEA, and they quite like it. And Vio love it a lot. According to my parents (who was taking care of Vio when I went to the hospital for a while to get my tooth extracted), Vio was sooo happy he kept running around, and wanting to climb the tables, and also busy spinning the TV console base for TV.. ahahaa.. He kept walking around for about 1 hour.. wow... amazed he didn't feel tired.. hehehee..

Oh, anyway, the extraction process was (luckily) simple one. And it was so fast!! Just when I thought the lady doctor is going to start doing it, she said that it was done already! I was so amazed... Not much of "krrkkkk" sound that I was expecting (it's the sound of teeth roots I guess).. The process was like.. less than 10 minutes.. (including the anesthesia injection!)

And sadly, since it was just considered a simple extraction, she didn't give me MC for the next day. I was kinda hoping she'll issue an MC on the next day (so I can accompany my parents going around again) hehehee... hey, even my boss this morning said to me: "oh, so finally you didn't extract the wisdom tooth? Why are you here today?" *sigh sigh sigh*.. I want MC!

Well, honestly, since this morning I saw some bleeding again, I was tempted to go to a doctor to get an MC for today.. After all, I got an "excuse" to get an MC.. Hahaa! But in the end, my conscience stop me.. kekekekekee... That's a proof that I'm not becoming less-wiser without 1 of my wisdom tooth, eh? ;)

Latest update on "A booo"

When we ask Vio the standard question: "What's your name?", there are only 2 possible answer:

1. No answer


2. "A booooo"

I wonder whether he really refer to himself as "A booo" ?

This morning while I carry him in the living room, he pointed to his photos displayed in the living room and said "A boooo"... And when I point to the photos and ask "Who is that?", he tap his own chest to say that the baby in the photo is him. So.. does that mean... "A booo" = Vio? I wonder where he learned "A booo" from... hahahaa...

Anyway.... when he was sleeping, I measured his height. And it comes to be.... 84-85 cm! Wahhh.. maybe when he's 2 years old, we'd really need to pay for his MRT & bus fare liao... :S

And so far, he has 7 teeth now! The bottom left has shown its face on Friday.. The 8th one (top left) is coming real soon.. No wonder last week he drools a lot..

Oh oh.. have I told you... now he prefers to sleep "nungging" style? When he feels like sleeping, he'll turn his body and find a comfy position for his nungging style, more often with pillow under him. Hahaaa.. so cuteee..

[caption id="attachment_1059" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Nungging"][/caption]

A Blessing in a Bad Day

I won't deny that I hateeeeeee hate hate supporting one of a system at work. Sadly, I'm the only one supporting that system and all the problems will come to me. The system was soooo utterly very very poorly developed, and the database design is really cannot make it.. I've never seen a system so badly developed as that one. I think not even in my university time I'd develop something that bad. I'm not exaggerating here.. If you need to support the system, you'd know what I meant. The processing and all was actually supposed to be simple, but the developer made it such a way that it's complicated, and even so troublesome and time-spending to maintain.

And last friday, the big boss requested to change some of the figure in the report. And with this so-called "great" system, it's not just a matter of changing the value in db, and "poof!" the report is changed. Well, I think a system should behave that way! Sadly, this system design makes things difficult since it copies the data from one table to another table, and from the other table to some other table etc etc etc.. so I need to trace the code to see which data need to tweak and which process need to be re-run... And instantly, on Friday I was such in a baaaaaad mood!

To lighten my mood, on 11am, I decided to go for Laines make&take session. (Laines is a local scrapbook store in SG). Well, initially I didn't intend to join it, as the thing to make isn't that interesting. But hey, going to a scrapbook shop will certainly brighten my day, won't it? ;)

So finally I went to join the make&take, we made a Valentine's door hanger. Not bad, at least I can hang it on my door! haha.. And the thing I love about make&take is... having a discount voucher for shopping! That day the promo was 4 item for 40% off. And so I grab 4 items that I like, and I see this 1 paper that I like! But that makes it as 5 items, right? So the additional 1 paper would need to be paid as a normal priced item.

When I went to the cashier to pay, the conversation goes like this. FYI, I frequent the shop so often (most of the time to see see and oh-ah only, and sometime to buy something small), until almost all the shopkeeper know my face liao :">

Cashier: You own a VIP card, right?
Me: Umm.. No, I'm a privilege cardholder
Cashier: Waaattt? You've been coming here for so long, how come still holding privilege cardholder? Currently we have a promo: spend min $50 and you'll get upgraded to VIP (normally must spend a LOTTT to be a VIP member, that explains why I'm not a VIP yet hahaaa)
Me: Oh.. I think my items are less than that... No need la..
Cashier: Hmm.. tell you what.. I'll give 15% discount for the normal-price item (that's the VIP discount), and issue you a VIP card.

Waaaaaaahh.. I was so happy! The cashier girl was so nice to me! I got Laines VIP card now... (15% off normal priced items) kekekekee... At least I got something happy in the blue day :)