i was warned
i didn't believe it
i didn't think it could happen to me
i didn't think i would be a victim
but here i am
virus in full affect
before i went on my homeymoon to club med...
i talked to a few people who have been to club med before
after answering whatever questions i had...
they said... "you will get it"
"get what?" i asked
they said... "the virus"
"what virus?" i asked
they said... "the club med virus"
just like you, i had to do a double take and asked "the what virus?"
they said... "the club med virus"
and just like you, i had the same reaction... what the fuck?!
yup, that's right... what the fuck is the club med virus?
it's basically when you return home from club med...
and miss it...
and wish you were there...
and can't wait to go back...
and yup, i miss it and wish i was there right now
it's been more than a week
and yup, i still miss it and still wish i was there right now
especially since it's been raining and cold everyday since i came back
the people i talked to...
they just can't stay away
they've been going back...
again and again and again... and again
to different club meds all over
this shit ain't got nothing to do with club med
everytime i return from a vacation...
i wish i was still on vacation and can't wait for the next vacation
it ain't no fucking virus
it's human nature
but then again...
i can't wait to go back
i am definitely going back
Sunday, April 30, 2006
virus
Thursday, April 27, 2006
chew on this
just about 100% of the business i do is with countries outside of taiwan
so naturally, i get a lot of foreign visitors
everytime a customer visits...
tons of questions are asked
particularly about our culture and things they see in the streets
and things, they definitely see
one of the things that always grabs their attention?
betelnut stands on the side of the road
is it the neon lights?
or the girls in skimpy outfits that sells them?
i'd say a combination of both...
but in reality probably the latter
what is betelnut you ask?
more info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betelnut
altho' it's chewed throughout asia...
only in taiwan...
will you find the little glass booths...
decorated with bright, flashy neon lights...
with scantily dressed girls selling them
only in taiwan
it is without a doubt one of the most unique parts of our culture
the following should help you understand a bit more...
video credit: TaiwanSaffies.com
video credit: meiguolangren
more info:
http://www.eslisland.com/intro/TaiwanBetelNutGirl.htm
http://betelnutgirls.blogspot.com
http://taiwan.8m.net/betelnut.html
and for the record
i've never ever tried it
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Sunday, April 23, 2006
honeymooners
and we are back
it was great
way too short, but great
5 days, 4 nights
no stress
fun in the sun
lying on the poolside or on the beach
snorkeling
kayaking
massage & spa
all you eat and drink (wine and beer) all day everyday
and much, much more...
also met lots of great people
from the guests to the staff
especially the staff
bunch of fun, friendly folks out there
and the village chief looks like Adam Sandler
how awesome is that?
proof?
here...
good times
great times
we shall be back
here is a pic of the pool area which i took from the restaurant
yup, we definitely have to go back
Monday, April 17, 2006
travels
going on my honeymoon tomorrow
but already, i'm thinking where to go for my next "vacation"
which is 4 months after i return
why 4 months?
for those who don't know, every male born in taiwan has to serve a mandatory military term
presently, this term has changed to approximately 1.5 years
it was 2 years not too long ago
despite the fact that i'm a male and born in taiwan...
i haven't served this mandatory military term
why?
because of my "over-seas chinese" status
meaning i migrated out taiwan before the age of 16
i was 6 when we left
so now i'm only allowed to stay in taiwan for 4 months
every 4 months, i need to "escape the military"
military escape = vacation
well, not everytime
more than a few times i've taken the plane to HK or Macau...
never leaving the airport nor checking out of customs...
and just simply taken the next flight back
yup, that works too
as long as i leave the country and return and "renew" my entry
besides thinking where i haven't been as possible destinations
i started thinking where i've already been
places i've set foot on...
1. Hawaii
2. Vancouver, Canada
3. Seattle, USA
4. Chicago, USA
5. St. Louis, USA
6. San Francisco, USA
7. Los Angeles, USA
8. Mexico City, Mexico
9. Panama
10. Costa Rica
11. Japan
12. Taiwan
13. Hong Kong
14. ZhuHai & DongGuan, China
15. Macau
16. Bangkok, Thailand
17. Singapore
18. Phuket, Thailand
19. Penang, Malaysia
20. Jakarta, Indonesia
will be able to add Bali, Indonesia next week
hopefully i'm just scratching the surface
gone and seen so many place
yet so many places to go and see
Sunday, April 16, 2006
happy birthday mama
happy birthday mama!
56!
hope for many many many more!
with all my heart and soul...
thank you
thank you for everyday
thank you for everything
love always
Friday, April 14, 2006
morning call
5:40am
my cell phone goes off
what the fuck?!?!
who the fuck is calling me at this hour?!?!
i struggle to find my cell
with my eyes still closed... "hello?"
nothing... no sound... no answer... no one
again... "hello?"
now i open my eyes and gather my thoughts
that was no phone call... it was the alarm clock on my cell phone
but why did i set up my alarm at 5:40am?
i can't even remember the last time i woke up this early
but i do remember going to bed this late more than a few times
just remembered
set the alarm because i had to go to the airport
eddie and paul have a 9am flight and i was driving them there
operating on a 3 hour sleep
still feeling full from last night's seafood and my breath still smelling like whiskey and beer...
i'm out the door by 6am
i snapped the picture up there as i'm driving out
it's a picture of a street just a few blocks from my place
usually packed with cars and scooters
at 6am, barely anything in sight and i'm loving it
one of my biggest pet peeves about living in taiwan?
the traffic
so, it's actually pretty nice to be out this early in the morning
hardly any traffic, hardly any people
eddie and paul are staying at paul's in-laws' place
been there once
to meet up with liza, paul's sister, when she visited taiwan a few years ago
sorta remember where it's at, but not really
with a couple lucky guesses and turns... i find it
it's 6:25am
10 minutes later... with bags loaded up, we head to the airport
on the way there... eddie asks:
"do you miss vancouver?"
my answer:
"yea, all the time... especially when i'm stuck in traffic"
and on cue i start missing vancouver because suddenly we are stuck in traffic
the highway is now the slowway
what should normally be a 40 ~ 45 minute drive, turns out to be more than 1 hour
but that's taiwan for ya
welcome to taiwan
and now you are both leaving
lucky bastards
drop them off, say our goodbyes, give our high 5's, handshakes and hugs
off they go
i'm now at work
still operating on 3 hours of sleep, but not completely functioning
holy shit
it's barely noon
most folks here take a nap during lunch time at work
i almost never do
today might be an exception
might take a 30 minutes power nap
fuck that
i'll just skip lunch and nap the entire hour
i don't need no food
i need coffee
lots and lots of it
just looked out the window
and what do you know?
the rain has stopped and sun is sneaking through
that's right, take that shit back with you
i miss vancouver, but not the weather there
y'all can keep that
Thursday, April 13, 2006
paradise gangstas
eddie and paul are in town
and it looks like they brought vancouver's weather with them
it's been hot and sunny all week
until yesterday
rain and windy... cold and soggy weather
yup, vancouver weather
they flew in yesterday
flying out tomorrow morning
3 days, 2 nights
a business trip
i've known them for a long time
how long?
over 10 years
damn, it's been that long?
we used to work together
that's how i met them
the company?
paradise entertainment
paul, i haven't seen since those days
he's now married with a newborn kid
by the way, CONGRATULATIONS on your new kid paul
hope you have many more
be a great father
as for eddie, we've been in touch throughout the years and actually see quite often
they both have been to taiwan many times
in fact, paul's wife is taiwanese
but we've never had a chance to meet up here
last night i met them for dinner, along with antonio, paco and some of his friends
seafood, karaoke, whiskey and beer
the picture up there... me, eddie, paul, paco, mr. "bitter"
good times
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
reverie
slow day at work
it's 30+°C outside (that's in the high 80's °F for you imperial-system-using fools)
hot and sunny
not a cloud in the sky
just a beautiful day
and here i am... sitting in my office
with not much to do
still a few more hours before i get out of here
wish i was out there basking somewhere
better yet
wish i was at my favorite watering hole...
Le ble dor
an outdoor beer garden in the middle of taipei city
a rare commodity in this concrete jungle and land of million of scooters
good atmosphere
good eats
good beer
correction...
GREAT beer
they brew their own beer
their best beer?
the dark beer
i love cold beer
i love hot sunny days
combine the two...
and nothing beats a cold beer on a hot sunny day
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Saturday, April 08, 2006
and one
finally
we've won one
even if it's by one point
i'll take it
a win is a win
the league?
A&P League
the record in this tournament?
1-6
games left?
1
my team?
XBL
tournaments joined thus far?
4
total wins
3
yup
3!
yea yea, i know
we suck
of those 3 wins...
twice by 1 point
the other time?
a forfeit... because the other team didn't have enough people to play the game
but hey... i'll take it
a win is a win
Thursday, April 06, 2006
matrimony
now that you know
for your viewing pleasure...
our "Love Story": http://www.yuni.com.tw/ka-love-story.wmv
pre-wedding photos: http://www.yuni.com.tw/ka-wed-pics.wmv
engegament ceremony / reception photos (january 14th): http://www.fotop.net/3eyes/20060114
wedding ceremony / reception photos (march 18th): http://www.fotop.net/tinayann/wedding060318
... i do & i will
honeymoon
i got married a couple weeks on march 18th
if you didn't know... well, now you know
most frequently asked question since then?
aside from "when are you gonna have a baby?"
"where are you going for your honeymoon?"
we've always planned on going to club med all along
but which one?
bali, indonesia it is
curious?
here it is:
that should give you an idea of where i will be and what i will be doing in a couple weeks
basically... relax, eat, sleep, drink, spa...
yup, i will be a lazy muthafucka for a whole week
what more can i say?
actually... one more thing
HA HA! suckas!
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
r e s p e c t
no work today
it's a national holiday
"Tomb Sweeping Day"
a day to pay your respects and commemorate ancestors
prep offerings
pray
bless
burn "money"
ah-con, ah-ma... we miss you
forever in our hearts
Monday, April 03, 2006
leaving on a jet plane
the kids left just a couple hours ago
will miss them alot
hope to see them soon
hope they move back soon
hang in there sis
Saturday, April 01, 2006
april fool's
yup, it's april fool's day
but no, this is not a prank
but i am probably a fool for this
and yup, i am adding to my cyber geekness and starting a blog
well... actually, this could be considered my second "blog"
the "first"?
my photoblog
that has no writing, just photos of things as i see it through my digi cam
this will definitely have writing
sometimes a lot, sometime a bit, sometimes... just a whole lot of nothing
i think most of the time will be a bit tho'
i know people don't wanna read an essay nor a novel when they are reading a blog
i sure don't
will a lot of people read this?
probably not
does it matter?
absolutely not
so why?
because i need an outlet... and because i'm bored
now, what will this be about?
my life
... stay tuned
