If you are free this sunday you guys should totally go to this event:

Bella Sera, A World of Glamour

Things I've learned, discovered, realized etc while being in Taiwan and Hong Kong:

-There are 2 types of police: criminal and traffic. They can regulate on their position so a traffic cop cannot catch criminals and vice versa. You can't tell between the 2 kinds on the street.
-police cars sirens are always on, letting others know that they are working. But my brother says they are lazy and will usually not pull you over for speeding or what not.
-Cars are parked everywhere and anywhere. Up the side walk, unto the curb. They block the roads and over vehicles so you're suppose to leave this card that has your number on it so they can call you if you are blocking their car.
-Tipping is not needed in restaurants
-It's courtesy to not throw garabage from one store to another store.
-There's no such thing as "NO SMOKING" in the restaurants
-There are barely any public trash cans
-Driving here is dangerous and scary. There is basically no right of way. If you hit someone, no matter the circumanstance, you are at fault. 
-The roads are built weird so you can almost drive in any matter that you want. ie making what seems like an illegal U-turn etc 
-2 opposing lane streets. All the cars pass the slower cars and drive into the side of the opposing traffic.
-Advance public transportation
-no dryer. You have to hang up everything and so it takes at least a day for you to be able to wear the clothing. 
-Seafood is abudant and cheap. Milk tea and beverage as well.
-7-11's everywhere
-Lots of ugly dogs on the street. They are homeless because they are ugly. 
-most public bathrooms don't give you toliet paper. Still trying to get use to crouching down. gross.


to be continued....

Today I am officially a Taiwan noob. My brother didn't wake me up to eat breakfast so I was hungry at 11 am. I went down to the place with 8 choices of bentos and it showed samples in the display case outside. Yet, I couldn't tell which number it was because I couldn't find it. Then, I thought it wasn't opened since there wasn't anyone inside and the door wouldn't open. Later, I found out that I was suppose to press this knob instead of pulling on it. I decided to walk back to the apt complex but the front door wouldn't open. I stood there for a while until the security person came and open the door. The other security person was asking me questions b/c he thought I didn't live there. I showed him my keys and he said there was also a sensor key pad that I could not find. Sadly, my first independent day was a failure and my brother picked me up to eat lunch.

We ate at this noodle soup place. They gave us a huge bowl with lots of things inside and it only cost $3.50. There's no tax or tip required to eat out. It's so awesome! I've also noticed that they give you a big sweet tea with your meal which is included in the price on top of the other drink that they serve you in the beginning. Food here is so cheap. After dinner, my brother drove to this dessert cafe place to pay for his wedding pie that he is handing out to the bride's guest (apparently chinese tradition is that only the bride's side gets it...what a jip! hahaha). He bought me a tiramisu slice and red bean slice and it comes in a cute little box. Yumm.

Instead of writing a long entry of what I've been doing here and what's cool in Taiwan and Hong Kong, I'm going to list them:

-Stayed at Lanson Place Hotel in HK. Best hotel I've ever stayed at. The plasma tv in the middle divider swings back and forth viewing the bed and then to the other side to the couch.
-Mong Kok busiest, most crowded place I've been too. Night markets galore, cheap stuff!
-Dim Sum @ Serenade restaurant with a nice view of the Star Ferry Harbor
-Roasted Goose and crispy pig skin
-Time Square. Life sized Beijing Olympic dolls. cute!
-Shopping Walking Shopping Walking!
-Masses of ppl at Louis Vutton store and subway trains
-Ocean Park, roller coasters, dolphins, seals, sharks, longest and tallest cable car ride, Steep, long escalators up the mountain.

-long foot reflexoogy massage...kinda painful but relaxing
-traditional stone pot hot pot
-milk tea for only 50 cents and only a 1 or 2 minute walk away.
-cheap yummy food
-high speed rail
-bus cards that are sensed through anything so all you have to do is place your wallet to the sensor and it'll deduct money from your account. Same with subway train cards and coins. This way they recycle them and reuse them.
-Sensor keys in addition to regular keys in order to get into the apt buildings and go up and down the elevators. I think it's a cool safety feature though it can be bothersome. 
-Plasma tv, full body massage chair, and ellipitical in brother's apt are a plus.
-The shower/bathroom in the apt is awesome. 
-Water savings toliets


OMG I just found out that Heath Ledger died. I'm missing all the news here.