Taiwan's Love

Taken at Taroko Gorge

 Holiday has been beautiful, extremely beautiful. 

As much as it was only a month long semester break, it was a productive and inspiring one. Even before the last submission, my family and I left for the perfect (A.C) weather in Hong Kong. It was good wandering back and forth streets from day to night, stopping by small dessert shops for a drink and a snack or two only because our feet were begging for a break. All we really do in Hong Kong was basically eat and shop. Even when we were in ocean park or victoria peak, we snacked from the hair raiser roller coaster ride to the crazy galleon, from watching couples do their wedding shoots to admiring the sparkling skyscrapers. 

But the eating was only a warm up for the Taiwan trip.

You see, the family prefers Taiwan cuisine to Hong Kong's. We like almost everything that was along the street market including the smelly tofu. In fact, that is my favorite Taiwan dish. It's almost like, four squares of smelly tofu for everyday keeps the doctor (and everyone) away. Similar. We ate from day to night, starting the day with the best oyster noodles(蚵仔麵線) hidden in a corner near Taipei 101, and ending the night with a bowl of hot dessert. Of course, along our way while traveling, sightseeing and visiting, we saw food carts which we always stopped to do something we consider as "tasting" before we continued. I mean, don't you agree that mountains are greener and skies are more blue with a snack in the hand. Double happiness!

Taken at the (unknown) Lake

Definitely the trip was not only about eating throughout the day. 

It was about the wonders of the Greatest's creations and blessings which were showered on us through the locals. The other half of the trip was spent in Hualien and there we received so much love, care and knowledge about the tribes and cultures there. At the home which we stayed by the pacific ocean was almost perfect. The host and staffs treated us as though their own family and it felt more sincere and homely than ever in another country. We had steamboat and fellowship when they shared with us about the history and culture of their tribes. The Truku tribe(太魯閣族) reminded me of the Maoris where facial tattooing is/was an important cultural practice. However, both differs in the significance and design of the tattoos. To the Truku tribe it symbolizes adulthood, eligibility for marriage and is a pass for them to join the ancestral spirits after death. Whereas, the tattoos on the Maori tells the story of the wearer's family and tribal affiliations, and their social status.

These cultures never bore me and i guess it is what intrigues me most about traveling. 

Till May,

xoxo

p.s. Thank You, Dad & Mom<3

CHEERS(;

Small Fry

Back to school, back to blue.

It's actually getting quite funny that i'm wearing so much blue even after having to wear blue pinafores to school for the past eleven years. It's as though i haven gotten enough of the uniform look but i can't help it especially since i feel most comfortable in that colour. I am aware of the number of posts on blue outfits, but i can't help that either, so please be tolerant. Maybe just some time, when i change a little bit more, something else may take over the blue clue's trend. When i stop being such an old fashion. Or never. Who knows, other than God.

So, small fry was loved by a super cool bean from Wellington. He has the most amazing clothing like a dragon baggy jersey that i was super tempted to grab despite of it being over over-size. However, due to my indecisiveness, some other cool lady took it off the rack. Other than that, he was giving everything away as though they were all such small fry. It's a pity that i didn't have more time in welly, if not…i would love to see his wardrobe. My blood would rush and my heart would beat so fast, i may just die in welly.

In fact, i almost went cuckoo.

Right, the weekend flea markets (and not forgetting the food markets) all around welly was amazing. There were so many streets to rushed to, food to taste, people to talk to, museums to visit and only three days in welly. It was surely not enough especially since there were so many job vacancies available for girls like us that even worked in an orchard. Nonetheless, I'm super thankful and glad to have made it during the weekends-when everything gets even more happz and loud in welly.

Dang. The alarm has gone and i should get up from (day) dreaming already. It's time to get back to my mundane assignments. Anyway, here's cheers to an exciting weekend!

CHEESE(;

First Month of The Adventure.

Firstly, may i apologize for the possibly longest hiatus ever. Back packing in New Zealand has officially ended and I have had the craziest time of my life meeting all sorts of people from all over the globe, understanding cultures (especially Maori) from tours, interactions with the locals and working with them in the same orchid and factory. Never thought that I would ever do more grocery shopping than any, and even finding fun skating away on trolleys looking out for the best deals or promotions on the shelves.

The trip started off with a week in Auckland looking for jobs, sending emails for job availability, trying to grasp a bit of the lifestyles of the kiwis and extremely curious about the maori culture. Other than that, we were just being typical tourists doing impulsive shopping, snapping pictures of every other leaves that are not green and feeling fortunate about the perfect (pre-winter) temperature in Auckland.

Due to the lack of input on this space and overwhelming output NZ has drowned me with, i find it a little confusing as to how i should even continue blogging. So, i'm thinking maybe i will just post as my emotions and memories in NZ flow. I hope to share with you the magnificent sceneries and extraordinary experiences i've had throughout the pass 2.5 months.

AUCKLAND

That was a day at Mount Eden, then to Alleluya cafe for the brunch menu in the evening and our journey around was as though we were on a walkathon-the horribly sad fate of my feet. The view there was alright, it felt similar to being up on Mount Faber in Singapore, but knowing that we're on a volcano and technically the highest non-manmade point in Auckland made the walk all worth it. That was the born of our fruit on a mountain top "tradition" which lasted for as long as we had fruits stocked up in our bags. 

OPOTIKI

It was our second destination, one small town where you could walk through in an estimated ten minutes (and i mean at an average walking speed). We stayed there for as long as we could earn some money and gained insane experiences and strength during the kiwi season-picking at orchids, packing and grading in factories. In a week at the orchid with my hands up picking 2-3 kiwis in each hands and a bag weighing 30kg in front (like a mama kangaroo) for 6 hours on average each day, my body grew tough and big. That one, i promise, is an once in a life time experience. Never in my life am i ever going to try working in an orchid again. 

The locals would puff away early in the morning, following with a smoke of weed to give them a boost of energy before the tough work begins and to keep them warm in winter. In a full car with windows that were slightly wind down, the mind instantly switched to the thought of my poor lungs. How it would slowly fade into a dark colour as a second hand smoker… 

The cycle repeated itself until we received a call from the factory after a week. Anything out of the orchid and out of the car made us really excited and thankful. Being able to work at the factory was like a miracle for us since they told us that the possibility of getting a place during the peak season was almost zero. Other factory workers would look at me and wonder about my joy and excitement since all we really do is pack kiwis into boxes for 10 hours everyday. But all understood as soon as i told them what i was trying to do previously.

At the factory, we met a big group of chinese mostly from china and malaysia-fellow backpackers on working holiday visa. They were a great bunch of people that made us feel welcome and in less than two weeks, friendship has been built. Despite a few random and weird (people related) incidents during our stay in Opotiki, I could never be anymore thankful for the people who have helped us and made life less difficult in an environment that we city girls were so foreign to.

During days when there was rain or no work, the library was our crib. Where we claimed our sanity. As well as the coexist hub. Other off days, we went to the bay of plenty to blow sea breeze, warf to watch sunset and borrow G's car to Whakatane with our first friends, P&M. Thankful for their company if not we may blame life for being too cruel.

Despite of the tough times we've had in Opotiki, it has still accommodated us and we certainly missed the community there. The locals were friendly and kind towards us even though we've self invited ourselves into their territory, used their public library free wifi and took up positions in their factory. 

The future will come as I return to recollect my memories and possibly create more. Seeya!

Basically, these are the brief events that happened in Auckland and Opotiki during our first month in New Zealand. There were certainly more details along the way but some are for me to forget and the rest to lock it in my heart. As for the rest of the journey, i'll continue in the next posts! Cheers! (It's the kiwi's favorite word)

CHEESE(; 

(not forgetting my own favorite word)

Urban

This is another day in Opotiki while i reminisce my days in the urban district.

Along the street of Karangahape is where this vintage store lies. Most people know how bright i light up when i come across a vintage store, especially in a foreign place. These stores gives me a sense of familiarity and i just love the smell of the aging clothing, shoes and bags. It's a little strange but it's so comforting.

Vintage, craft and tea isn't exactly like those sort of stores that collects everything vintage, or thrifted, but the owner picks out just a few of a different kind of vintage clothing that she likes. It's mostly like her collection of clothing that she wants to share with people who has the same liking as her. I'm sure she gets customers that recognizes her store for her range of interesting and precious vintage collections. It feels as though she's living a girl's dream to set up a store that has her favorite clothing, pretty-artsy notebooks and a cup of tea for people who knows how to live life. 

The day continues on as a tourist, everything a little bit more fascinating than the ones at home, we stop for a picture. 

When we finally made our way through the park, supposedly the shorter way to the central district, we found our oyster bar. Depot eatery serves fresh-salty-ocean oyster ever. I mean, it's not like i'm even a food critic but i'm confident of making a distinction of the "ah, this is fresh and okay" ones from the "oh man, this is FRESH AND REAL". It was awakening and the best starter for the rest of the meal. The fish for the main course tasted like an indian cuisine which i absolutely enjoyed but i didn't expect such flavors in an oyster bar in new zealand. Everything at depot was fresh and exciting. 

The day ended well with all the amazing finds and it rounded off even better after getting a taste of the nightlife at the social bar along Ponsonby. The local beer was enough to keep us warm while we journey back to Freeman's, down the slopes only. That's a picture that we took with a warm and friendly kiwi that we chatted a bit with on the streets. 

CHEESE(;

Auckland City-Day1

 Now that i have settled down a bit in new zealand, i can finally try to coexist. It has been a week in Auckland city and the weather is almost perfect over here. Although the day ends earlier since it's almost into the winter season but there was still enough sun to help us find our way back to our hostel. The backpackers hostel that we lived in during our stay in Auckland was really good. Freemans Lodge is a pretty homely place where people are mostly friendly and outgoing. The free wifi allowed us to send tons of emails out for job applications and we could search our ways around to visit around the city. Additionally, the kitchens and toilets are considered clean and good for living in hostels. Infact, it was so good that me and my cousin were afraid that we wouldn't be able to accept the others as we continue our journey down south. I don't want to miss you, Freemans. 

The focus of this picture is definitely not about me getting excited over a tree trunk but the camouflage patterns on the trunk. It was one of the most amusing things i saw after the beautiful leaves seen along Wellington St, outside Freeman's. Isn't the trunk something interesting? 

O yea, one other thing about the city is that there are so many slopes that you have to conquer. I actually think Freeman's was build on a valley which means in every direction we head to, we always have to climb uphill. So when we get to the CBD area we'd look for treats like this deep fried cheese churros (that is still making my mouth water just looking and thinking about the time we shared). I am sure to get a few more tries when i return to auckland city in July. Wait for me, Churros.

We continued our journey around the CBD area along queens street and we were looking for a place to settle our dinner, hoping to walk into one with a slight crowd. But the thing is that there isn't many people around and the city isn't that happening during the weekdays so we decided to let our senses make the call. Nearing the end of the street, we found a mexican restaurant with hipster graphic designs on the brick wall and really fresh food behind the counter. Hoho. Look at the cheese towering like the volcanos around. California Burrito was it.

Then, it was a happy first day already.

 I was scooting around on the trolley in New World (the common supermarket in NZ) to get breakfasts and dinners for the week in Auckland. And Z was so happy when we reach the cheese section. Look at how satisfied she is with her brilliant idea to use margarin to cook instead of getting oil, since it was more convenient and pocket friendly. But the 10 litres well that i impulsively decided on getting before checking if there was a water dispenser in the hostel had Z furious to the maximum. She was so unwilling to drag the grocery bags back up and down the slopes back to our hostel because of my (water) buffalo bad decision. I'm sorry ya.

Although it was a tiring and enduring walk back to the hostel in the cold night without our coats, it was still quite entertaining listening to Z whine away like a big baby. Overall, it was quite a good and productive day 1 because we think that we may have finished the main street in the city.

*Photos by HuiZhen & I

CHEESE(;

If you are ever at a loss to support a flagging conversation, introduce the subject of eating. Leigh Hunt

These contents are a little unusual from what i normally have on this space but i promise they are a few of the many good ones in NYC. Besides, they are places both my new yokers cousins recommended so they were marked, tried and reaffirmed by a tourist from Singapore too.

Any kind person with better food radar, please kindly leave a comment below so that everybody can grow fat in NYC together.

ShackStackBurger

After trying the different burgers throughout my whole trip,

...Bobby's Burger Palace's L.A.Burger> ShakeShack's ShackStack> In-n-Out's DoubleCheeseBurger...

FriedRiceCakes(NonSpicy/Spicy)

FriedBonChonChicken(Spicy/NonSpicy)

Best place for chicken wings and fried rice cakes so far.

I can't remember the different names of the dishes but the MangoLassi(yogurt drink) is best there. 

I don't think it's Ippudo in Japanese though.

WashyuGyuAmiYaki

PorkBun

KarakaMen

Banana, LemonBlueberry, ChocolateMarshmallow

My favorite cupcakes,

RedVelvet> Black&White> LemonBlueberry> ChocolateMarshmallow...

CHEESE(;