Amarcord

Watched the 1973 Italian film Amarcord at the Taipei House (台北之家) on Friday evening. Directed by Federico Fellini, it is an artistic and absurdly creative film about a year in the life of hormonally-charged teenager Titta who lived with his granddad, parents and younger brother, and hung around a wild bunch of friends in an eccentric Italian town during the 1930s. The movie was quite a sight. But it's definitely not suitable for children under 18. :P

大山無價

Went for a relaxing brunch with three friends at Dashanwujia (大山無價), a Japanese-style restaurant located near Xiadian (新店) in Taipei County, about 10 km south of Taipei City. The interesting thing was that there was no menu to refer to, and the chef simply prepared for us to eat whatever he wished. The meal - I think it was 10-course - was served over a period of around 3 hours and turned out to be excellent - very fresh, delicious, nutritious and healthy. And from where we were seated, we had a great view of the green moutains too. :)

This was followed by a short drive to Pinglin (坪林), about 20 km southeast as the crow flies from Taipei City, a rural area famous for its tea and through which the Beishi River (北勢溪) flows.

Evening was spent shopping around Ximending (西門町), with a short visit to the Redhouse Theatre (紅樓劇場), before we headed to Hangzhou South Road (杭州南路) for a eating joint famous for its soup dumplings (小籠包). I hazarded some fermented tofu (臭豆腐) while I was there, and stopped after a second scoop of the foul-smelling beancurd. :P

Overall, it was a great day. And happy Mid-Autumn Festival, everyone! :)

今天天氣非常棒！適於拍照！：)

Took the MRT down to Yuanshan (圓山) in northern Taipei city this morning and explored the Bao'an Temple (保安宮), the Confucius Temple (孔子廟) and the Zhongshan Soccer Stadium (中山足球場) where the Chinese Taipei Road Racing Association (CTRRA) (中華民國路跑協會) office is located, but they were shut for the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday.

Then went over to the southwest of Taipei City to see the National Concert Hall (國家音樂廳), the National Theatre (國家戲劇院) and the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall (中正紀念堂), all of which were under some stage of renovation. Took a rest at the steps to the National Theatre and watched a group of students praticise a rather hip mass-dance in preparation for the Double Ten celebrations.

Then walked over along Ketaglan Boulevard (凱達格蘭大道) towards the Presidential Palace (總統府), before taking a short stroll in the 2-28 Memorial Peace Park (二二八和平公園) and getting a bowl of Three-Treasure noodles (三寶麵) for a really late lunch.

Walked a lot today. Think I'll sleep early tonight.

捷運木柵線

Decided to go check out the neighbourhood around the classy apartment in Linguang (麟光). The apartment was just 2 minutes' walk from the Linguang MRT station, so that was good; it meant that it was convenient and accessible although it was still quite a distance from the bustling part of the city. However, it didn't seem like there were many grocery shops or eateries nearby. But there was a lovely Fuyang Ecopark (富陽自然生態公園) just behind the apartment. A lovely park, but I wasn't sure if it would be a source of thirsty mosquitoes or other nasty bugs... :P

Then I took a long and leisurely walk from Linguang alongside the MRT Muzha Line (捷運木柵線) all the way back to Zhongxiao-Fuxing MRT Station (忠孝復興站), stopping for some mee swa and chilled beancurd with peanuts along the way. Discovered the 3rd California Fitness at right outside Da'an MRT station (大安站).

There's also tragic news today. A 70-plus year old man has died from a heart attack shortly after embarking on a 3-km swimming event (日月潭萬人橫泳) in Nantou County, Taiwan. This was an event which had attracted swimming enthusiasts from all over Taiwan. Later on in the same event, a 46-year old man who completed the course struggled to the medical point before his heart also gave way. This brings the number of fatalities at this event to two.

There's now a lot of buzz in the media about whether the organisers had done enough to ensure the safety of the participants. There were medical check-points at every 50m of the route, and a total of 300 medical staff present. However, members of the public are questioning whether 300 medical staff were sufficient to handle an event that had about 20,000 participants. They are also asking why the organisers had required the participants to show proof of their swimming ability as a prerequisite to join the race, but did not find out whether the participants had any history of medical problems.

I hope those concerned, both organisers and participants, will learn important lessons from these fatal accidents, and take steps to ensure that they don't happen again in future.

在台北的第一個末六: 西門之旅

Woke up late this morning and went house-hunting. Still can't decide if I want to live in a small but decent apartment in the middle of town within walking distance from the office and all the other shops and amenities, or a classy apartment downtown quite a few MRT stops away but comes with an incredible, jaw-dropping view of the Songshan (松山) Mountain and Nature Reserve. And both at the same price. Have to decide soon... Decisions, decisions, decisions!

Then spent the rest of the drizzling afternoon over in the Ximen (西門) District. A really happening place, and I chanced upon a street of cinemas along Wuchang Road (武昌路). And I discovered my 2nd California Fitness Gym there. Had NT$45 worth of egg noodles for dinner, and then joined some friends at a local joint for a drink and watch soccer on TV.

Wet. Very wet.

Typhoon Wipha's coming to town...

===============
Update as of 18 Sep 07

Just saw on TV a news report about a hit-and-run incident last night in which a male driver knocked down a motorcyclist from behind, causing the latter to be flung off her motorbike. After driving off from the scene of the crime, the man returned to the same place about twenty minutes later to retrieve the license plate which had fallen off his car during the impact. But he left the injured woman where she was, and she later died from her injuries because she did not receive medical attention in time. All this was captured on film by a security camera. It's terribly chilling watching the man pick up his license plate and then run off - for the second time - leaving the woman to die.

말아톤

Watched two films during my flight today. The first was the uncensored version of 300, full of Spartan glory, pride, valour and honour. The on-screen battle scenes were incredible. And it really brought alive my memories of Leonidas dating back to my childhood when I watched a more sterile presentation of the battle of Thermopylae on Discovery Channel. I want to be a Spartan, and keep on fighting to the end, never surrendering, never giving up. *roar*

The second movie was Marathon (말아톤), a Korean production about how an autistic youth Yoon Cho-wan, egged on by his mother, took part in a 10-km race and then went on to complete his first-ever marathon in sub-3 hour timing. I couldn't hold back my tears during this film, particularly because as a runner, I know how punishing the 42.195 km route can be, let alone for the protagonist who was unable to express himself and lost in his own world. It's an emotional piece, and you just have to watch it to find out for yourself.

Touched down at around 1320 hrs. Apart from a delay in take-off and all the turbulence encountered, it was a good flight. :D

==============
Update as of 2130 hrs

Walked around town for a bit before dinner at a 何首乌 restaurant. There's a massive California Fitness gym located just opposite my hotel. If I wake up in time tomorrow, I'll pop by before going to work. Can't wait for tomorrow to begin :)

小丑

小丑

沈峻雄

舞会结束了 音乐也停息了
灰暗的舞厅里 只剩我一个
拖下微笑的面具 轻轻擦干眼泪
沉重的心 总算能够起奏了

人生舞台上 是否别无选择
小丑必定失去自我 留下空心一个
在喧哗都市里 保持难受的沉默
只在夜黑人静时 才能够找回真我

表演结束了 观众纷纷散场
空荡荡的台上 只剩我一个
放下遥控麦克风 轻轻咳嗽清喉
沉重的心 总算能够起奏了

人生舞台上 是否别无选择
小丑必定失去自我 留下空心一个
在喧哗都市里 保持难受的沉默
只在夜黑人静时 才能够找回真我

贵人

Met a 贵人 this afternoon and for that I am really grateful. Later on, I headed to Borders to make some purchases (a travel guide and a map), went over to collect my second suit and then had dinner with cfred and dasher at NYDC @ The Herren. There was a big quake in Sumatra at around the time of our dinner, but we hardly felt a thing as we ate. Hope that all those affected by the quake are ok...

Ten Course Dinner

Dropped by the tailor's today to get another suit done to measure, and then bought a belt from Paragon. This was followed by dinner with some of the runners at the Soup Restaurant: tktan, doraemon, alvo2102, meteor, ripley, kops21, stazla and philip. We ordered the ten-course meal which was quite satisfying: garlic chicken with lettuce, steamed fish, spicy tofu, noodles with shrimp, chicken soup, pork ribs, stir-fried beef, broccoli with scallops and mushrooms, prawn stew and dessert. :D Coffee was settled at Coffee Bean around the corner, where we coincidentally witnessed a potential brawl between a young man and an elderly couple who were liberally hurling abuses (and almost fists and umbrellas) at each other. But thankfully, some security folks turned up and split them apart before the situation turned really ugly. Apart from that, it was a relaxed evening among friends and it was totally enjoyable. Quite a number of photos taken, thanks to tktan :D Thanks for spending your Monday evening with me, dear friends :) It is very much appreciated :D

KL Mizuno Wave Run

Just spent the weekend in Malaysia. On Saturday morning, I took a 5-hour FirstCoach ride with BoSe to Bangsar in Kuala Lumpur where we were then picked up by Kien Seng and driven (with lots of thrilling swerving in-between lanes!) to a newly opened cafe in Klang for lunch with Yu Mei.

After lunch, Yu Mei, Lok Bin, BoSe and I watched the movie Phenomenon, starring Sandra Bullock, at "the best cinema in the country". This was followed by shopping for omochi and mooncakes (in particular the snow-skin durian-paste mooncake), dinner at a Japanese restaurant (with William joining us there), and dessert comprising tangyuan and muahchi under a tree by a carpark. :D

BoSe and I got back to the residence at around 10 pm, where we promptly washed up and went to sleep.

On Sunday morning, at around 5.45 am, Lok Bin came over in his car to pick us up (and also Yu Mei and William along the way later on) and brought us all to the starting point for the KL Mizuno Wave Run. Conversation in the car was extremely hilarious all the way, but I shan't go into the details here. :D

At the start point, I bumped into Andy Gan, Fennel (who was going to run with her SLR camera), Ronnie, IMD and Yee Hua, as well as BoSe's other Klang friends.

The race started rather promptly at 7.30 am. And after that, it was 10 km of exhilarating and breath-takingly shiok hill running. It took a while for my engine to warm up, but about 2 km into the race, I was proceeding at a fairly good pace. I decided to maintain my pace on the upslope and open up my strides on the downslopes. That was a rather good strategy and allowed me to conquer the hills without developing too much fatigue.

But at the 5 km mark, there was a steep (maybe 30-degree) slope that went for quite a distance. By the time I reached the summit, I had the wind totally taken out of me. The next 1 km was critical for me to recover my breath. When we exited onto the highway, I got my "second wind" and actually gathered enough speed to overtake quite a number of people. :)

Into the final 2 km of the race, I could feel my chest tightening up (I had been coughing quite a bit for quite a while recently), so I decided to slow down my pace. But I managed to finish the race with a timing of 59:23, which met my sub-1 hour target. :D Not a bad timing for such a hilly route, I'd say :) I came in #364 (if I don't recall wrongly) in the Men's Category, of which there were nearly 1000 participants.

After the race, there was the usual milo-drinking, photo-taking and shower. And then we headed to KLCC for lunch. I had a really filling meal comprising Cantonese friend noodles and teh tarik. :) We then window-shopped in KLCC itself (spending some time in the Kinokuniya), before returning to BoSe's house, took a quick nap, and then went out again to catch the 4.30 pm AeroLine bus back to Singapore. During the ride back, my attention was divided between reading my travel guide on Taiwan, watching the in-coach movie of Poseidon (the modern remake version), and admiring the electrifying sight of a lightning storm outside the coach in the distance towards the horizon.

I finally got home at 10.45 pm. :) Home sweet home :) And tomorrow's another new working day :)

Every Season - Nichole Nordeman

- ~ <> ~ -

every evening sky an invitation
to trace the patterned stars
and early in july a celebration
for freedom that is ours
and i notice you in children's games
in those who watch them from the shade
every drop of sun is full of fun and wonder
you are summer

and even when the trees have just surrendered
to the harvest time
forfeiting their leaves in late september
and sending us inside
still i notice you when change begins
and i embrace for colder winds
i will offer thanks for what has been and what's to come
you are autumn

and everything in time and under heaven
finally falls asleep
wrapped in blankets white all creation
shivers underneath
and still i notice you when branches crack
and in my breath on frosted glass
even now in death you open doors for life to enter
you are winter

and everything that's new has bravely surfaced
teaching us to breathe
and what was frozen through is newly purposed
turning all things green
so it is with you and how you make me new

with every season's change
and so it will be as you are recreating me
summer autumn winter spring

- ~ <> ~ -

Bear Grylls

Been watching many episodes of "Man vs Wild" over the past few weeks, a survival series documentary starring British adventurer Bear Grylls. Incredible stuff, and absolutely riveting. Gryll's able to do things that I would never dare to do or even risk trying. For one, I wouldn't be sloshing around in the knee-deep mud-black waters of the alligator-infested Everglades, because my feet would just rot in the water. And I wouldn't be walking around on hot rock around a volcano with the rubber soles of my shoes catching fire either.

On further thought, I think there's a deep yearning inside of me to be an adventurer too. Maybe not in the sense of throwing myself into the thick Amazonian forest or onto the freezing slopes of the Swiss Alps to test my ability to survive, but I think I would really like to do things that are really physically challenging that break me out of my comfort zone, things that would get my adrenaline pumping and my endorphin level high. Things like overseas races and possibly some competitive sports like rock-wall climbing and canoeing. Things that I never did when I was much younger. I now just wish that I could swim and that I would not be so injury-prone and that I would not so easily succumb to the mildest ailments and infections.

香港小吃

Spent most of today at home, clearing out my room. Lots of old newspapers, old flyers, expired shopping vouchers and expired power gels went into the rubbish bin. :P And many of my Hard-Earned Running Certificates got nicely filed away in my Folder of Pride and Honour, alongside my Plastic Bucket of Gleaming Race Medals. :D

In the evening, I took Mum and Dad out for dinner at the Hong Kong Cafe. I haven't brought them out for a meal in ages, so it felt good to do so. Mum had the spicy seafood rice, Dad had the "instant noodles" with ham and egg, and I had the spicy beef crispy noodles. I suggested going to the Esplanade Park for a seaside walk after dinner, but my parents were tired and wanted to go home. And so, we took the MRT back to our little apartment, narrowly missing the Sunday crowds.

Mum said that she wanted to take me out for breakfast at Redhill tomorrow morning. That sounds good. :) Perhaps tomorrow, after breakfast, I can squeeze in some time to the gym plus clear some work at the office (even though I'm technically on leave), and maybe in the evening, I could even join the Westside swimmers for a dip at Clementi Pool. That would make it a splendid Monday :)

糖水

Went to Vivocity this afternoon, and while I was there, I got a haircut (and was told that I was well on the way to a magnificent balding), purchased some IT equipment and made an order for a new pair of spectacles to replace my current pair which had been damaged in a beach-volleyball game about a year ago (and it was also discovered today that my current pair of glasses had a focal length which didn't quite match the natural focal length of my eyes, which explained why I tended to see double whenever I looked at small print, e.g. newspapers, for too long).

Then I went over to Maharaja's in Meritus Mandarin Hotel to tailor-make a charcoal-black pin-stripe suit and a white-and-blue striped business-shirt. All these in preparation for my overseas trip in about two-week's time (and concurrently, I am keeping my fingers crossed that all obstacles in the way of my trip will be removed). The entire set of custom-made clothing will be ready for my fitting on the coming Thursday, and I'm looking forward to it. Great and friendly service at the Maharaja's, by the way. :)

In the evening, I headed to the Hong Kong Cafe at Novena for a simple celebratory dinner for T@z who would be turning 30 within the next few days. It was quite a turnout, and we engrossed ourselves in miscellaneous conversation topics, such as Charlotte's holiday to Hangzhou, how Beijing would launch the opening of the 2008 Olympic Games, reckless driving, leave from work, and what it means to be young and to be old. :D

Following dinner, the whole group of us, ten persons in total, swung over to Thompson's Tong Shui Cafe for dessert. I had a Hot Coke with Ginger and a French Toast with Banana and Maple Syrup. Yummy ;) Many thanks to teelee and roentgen for the TLV and the RV :)