Yeah! I'm Home!

I'm finally home after a week long holiday living like a nomad moving in & out hostel everyday in Taiwan. It may sounds like I’m complaining about it...but "NO NO"...haha...Instead, is a start of telling all the cool stuff I did in Taiwan. (One of the best trips I’ve been)

Our trip started off with a free upgrade to business class & direct flight by Cathay Pacific due to the flight was overbooked. We had a complementary meal at the Airport from them too by accepting the offer of changing the flight.

In the flight, we met Mr. Tan - A Taiwanese who has business dealing with Proton. He was really kind to offer us a ride to our Hostel in town...Furthermore, he came back by surprise with his wife to spend us dinner at "Din Tai Fung" main branch which is well known of their "Siao long pao". He took us for a walk too after dinner..Special thanks to Mr. & Mrs. Tan of their hospitality.

Subsequent days, we met up with many other very nice people...Once at Tarako National Park, we met a university professor whom he teaches Fine Art & Photography. He was with his students on a field trip. Guess what, he was so kind that he taught us some simple trick of getting a nice photo out of our own camera...hehe...turned out good!

Then it was my local tour guide in Hualien, a Singapore blogger fren recommended her. Thumbs up to Vivian (tour guide)....I would recommend her to any of my friends if they planning to visit Hualien. Vivian is really good in explaining the history of Hualien, relating stories, took us for a free of charge cultural show; look for cheap & good food!! haha.. oya, she even picks us up from train station, took us to hotel for check in & extended her tour guide service up to 12hrs.

At Alishan, we met some exciting people with great stories too. There were two pairs of father & daughter in our sunrise seeing group.
One of the pair was Taiwanese moved to Canada more than a decade & was back in Taiwan to visit their relative. The father likes taking photographs; we were amused to see him running up & down, in & out the forest taking photos. He was so energetic.

The other pair was Taiwanese too; the father travelled more than 130 countries since his retirement. Not forgetting the 9 times experiences in South Africa & 7 times in Egypt. He was with us on top of Alishan shortly after his one month old spinal surgery. Tough guy, yet humble thou. haha...his words to us "Travel as much while u can, u will never know how much u can learn from it every time".

In general, Taiwanese are really helpful & friendly people..See how God works wonder...we get to meet so many nice people, stranger that we hardly even know them but yet they extended their help & warm welcome to us that makes our trip so memorable. It really touches our hearts & means so much to us.

I’m still waiting for my friends to give me their copies of photos so that I can post it up in this blog. We took nearly 3000 photos including video clips. Taiwan is just too beautiful...will write more when the photos available.

Take off in 28hours 30mins & **** seconds!!

Yes! Yes! Yes! The long awaiting vacation is finally here...I did some final checking last nite on my itinery & reconfirmed the arrival time in Taiwan with the hostels & local travel agents. Will starts to do my packing tonite after dinner with some friends.

I was on the phone with this lovely travel agent in Taiwan yesterday...
"Hey, how's the weather now??" I asked...

Apparently she replied in a complaint manner :"Aww...is getting so cold for the past two days..u know, i'm wearing layers of clothes to cover me up." haha... I laugh.

"But what's the forecast for the up coming one week?? I read in the internet saying there going to be tonnes of rain by time i reach Taiwan."

"Oh...no worries, internet forecast often not accurate...weather will be perfectly fine...except..errr..is cold..." Again, she gave a little sigh after she finished talking.

Nway, i'm a bit doubtful about the weather thingy...to be on safe side, umbrella is a must in my luggage...hehe. Until then...See u all again in a week time.

TaiWan! Aku datang LOh!

Memory Lane - My Dearest Dad & his marathon

Yup! That's rite! 5051! That's my Dad!

While I was sorting out some of my old stuff in the box last night, I found a stack of photo albums which contain many of my childhood photos. To my surprise...haha...i found quite a number of my dad photos taken during his marathon back in 90's. (I wonder how these photos are in my box, must have took it from dad's drawer when i moved to KL years back...just cant remember...ah!! nevermind..hehe)

My dad stopped running 4yrs ago after he met an accident & broken his leg....His a healthy person & did his running daily at the lake. I still remember when he knew that he needed a surgery, the first thing he asked : " Doctor, can i continue running after this???"

"No, I'm afraid not...maybe big walk if u are lucky...but no more running for u." I saw my dad sad eyes & quiet down in the hospital.


He was happy eventually when he got to know that i pick up running a year back. Sometimes, he will call & check out my progress in run..Many times he will give advice & relate his story about his run...I guess these bring both of us closer. Thanks Dad!! You the best!!


Well, check out these photos of his ....they are in hardcopy, luckily i managed to use my camera & re-cap these images...turn out not bad though...hehe

Larian Obor - dad is on right hand side

Dont ask me - really no idea what run is this...but Dad smack in the middle of all the tall uncles

Yet another unknown run - Dad infront with his trophy

Another Great Story from my thoughful friend

I'm supposed to do some write up on the run i did yesterday in S'pore...still finding time to do so...coz i'm still in "zzzzzz" mood now...tired!! But i'm delighted to see this email when i open my mailbox this morning...thought sharing this story with u all before i get my fingers & brain ready to type something out later...hahaha ;p spare some time to read this & see how we find love from God's miracles.

******************
A little girl went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet. She poured the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Three times, even. The total had to be exactly perfect. No chance here for mistakes. Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she slipped out the back door and made her way 6 blocks to Rexall's Drug Store with the big red Indian Chief sign above the door.

She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention, but he was too busy at this moment. Tess twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise. Nothing. She cleared her throat with the most disgusting sound she could muster. No good. Finally she took a quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter. That did it!

'And what do you want?' the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice. I'm talking to my brother from Chicago whom I haven't seen in ages,' he said without waiting for a reply to his question.
'Well, I want to talk to you about my brother,' Tess answered back in the same annoyed tone. 'He's really, really sick..and I want to buy a miracle.
''I beg your pardon?' said the pharmacist.
'His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So how much does a miracle cost?'
'We don't sell miracles here, little girl. I'm sorry but I can't help you,' the pharmacist said, softening a little
'Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn't enough, I will get the rest. Just tell me how much it costs.'

The pharmacist's brother was a well dressed man. He stooped down and asked the little girl, 'What kind of a miracle does your brother need?'
' I don't know,' Tess replied with her eyes welling up. I just know he's really sick and Mommy says he needs an operation. But my Daddy can't pay for it, so I want to use my money.''
How much do you have?' asked the man from Chicago
'One dollar and eleven cents,' Tess answered barely audibly.'And it's all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to.'
'Well, what a coincidence,' smiled the man. 'A dollar and eleven cents---the exact price of a miracle for little brothers. '
He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her mitten and said 'Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let's see if I have the miracle you need.'

That well dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon, specializing in neuro-surgery. The operation was completed free of charge and it wasn't long until Andrew was home again and doing well. Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place.

'That surgery,' her Mom whispered. 'was a real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?' Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost...one dollar and eleven cents....plus the faith of a little child.

In our lives, we never know how many miracles we will need.A miracle is not the suspension of natural law, but the operation of a higher law. I know you'll keep the ball moving! Here it goes. Throw it back to someone who means something to you! A ball is a circle, no beginning, no end. It keeps us together like our Circle of Friends. But the treasure inside for you to see is the treasure of friendship you've granted to me.

MY OATH TO YOU...When you are sad.....I will dry your tears.When you are scared.....I will comfort your fears. When you are worried.....I will give you hope. When you are confused.....I will help you cope.And when you are lost....And can't see the light, I shall be your beacon.....Shining ever so bright. This is my oath.....I pledge till the end.Why you may ask?.....Because you're my friend.Signed: GOD