a strange adventure

Going to a Law & Trial camp tomorrow. Cost a lot of money, around $3000. Heard lots of good things about it but a couple people tested it as downright horrible. I’m excited and skeptical at the same time. Overall, it should be fun though :). I’m ready!

As the title may have suggested, it is my last day at Taiwan. I’m certainly going to miss this wonderful place - however, nothing beats home.

As I woke up at 12 today I walked over to my grandparent’s house where we prepared to go pay respects to my great-grandfather who had passed away. Before that though, out of nowhere, my uncle gave me some shiny new Versace dress shoes. As you know, Versace is an expensive name brand and these shoes must’ve costed hundred. Can’t thank him enough - although I’ll probably be too scared to wear this beauty for fear of ruining it. 

So we went to the temple where we prayed, or “bai bai.” While we were waiting for the sticks to burn out I got at least 10 mosquito bites and killed 3 trying to sneak attack me. We stayed there for about 2 hours.

Later we went to “Si Ling” night market where we ate some more delicious stinky tofu and “Lu Ro Fan” (don’t know how to say that in engrish). Oh, and some more huge chicken. I visited the airsoft store one last time, then we went home. We also recorded the rest of the footage for the Who’s Who commercial for IQ Abacus.

Wow! It’s day 30?? I either miscounted or I counted days that shouldn’t have counted. So I miscounted. We’re only allowed to stay in Taiwan for a maximum of 30 days, so I’m really confused right now. Maybe the day in the airport doesn’t count? Oh well.

This morning we left from Taichung back to Taipei. Sorry for the lack of pictures, but I’m having some problems with the camcorder and my mom won’t let me import the pictures from her iPhone. So it’s, as seen below, a no-picture-week, probably until I get back to America. 

Once we got back we left for a half-night market where most of the stands consisted of foods related to the stinky tofu family. Spicily delicious stuff here. I also got one of those ice cream horns (sounds weird, I know, but everyone in Taiwan that sells ice cream has these), and it makes a BA-BU sound.

I also got Minecraft 1.7. Sadly, my world was erased. But I didn’t like how my house fit together anyway. I’ll make a better one with the addition of pistons. :)

The day after tomorrow, Saturday, I’ll be leaving for America. I’m going to miss Taiwan, but I’m really happy I get to see my dog, Tuffy, again. :)

At about 10 a.m. we left for Taichung. We arrived at a “rest stop” halfway through to eat lunch - it was good, but I wasn’t hungry, so at the same time it wasn’t good. The whole 2 hour trip I slept in the back while my parents rode driver and shotgun. When we arrived at the home of Taichung, it was about 3 p.m. It took so long because my dad didn’t know how to navigate in the city. We chilled at the house and really did nothing. Oh, I got a haircut… it looks pretty nice. I don’t know why Arizona salons suck so bad compared to Taichung’s. :P

Feeling refreshed today because I can actually SEE again. We went to a camera street - almost literally. The entire street was packed with camera stores ranging from Canon, to Nikon, to even Leica. It was pretty amazing and I left the place with drool all over my shirt. Later we went to a small but tasty restaurant with tofu rice and noodles. That’s when the huge thunderstorm struck - luckily we had an umbrella with us. We stopped by the biggest Starbucks I have ever seen (4 stories!). Then we grabbed a snack at the biggest KFC I have ever seen (4 stories as well!). Then online health. Bleh.

Woke up at 3 today (!?). Ate some canned shtuff, which was actually REALLY good. Does everything taste good in Taiwan?

Later we went to my Taipei grandparents’ house and played with the 1-month old baby. She is honestly the fattest baby I have ever seen, but that just makes her even cuter. We also searched for more of my contact lens solution, which was running out at the moment. Went to 7-11 to get some snacks, ate Grandma’s curry rice, and the rest of the day consisted of playing Minecraft. I completed my complex railroad system and added a “Grand Central” station. Sounds really lame, but I’m proud :)

Eye, do not no whyyyyyyyyyy ~

… I slept only 2 hours, so I’m typing this with my eyes 99% closed. Just couldn’t sleep yesterday. 

So I had the chess tournament today. I decided to challenge myself by moving on to the open group, where everyone seemed to be adults. Furthermore they all had 1300 rating and up. In the end I won 3 games and lost 2. Came in tenth, which I think is pretty good. The tournament lasted eight hours, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

What’s up. Why is this uploaded today, June 26, when it should’ve been uploaded yesterday? I was on the bus to Taipei.

For our “going away reunion,” the Taichung family took us to Costco. Taichung’s Costco is about 2x bigger than any Arizona Costco, which is weird because of Taiwan’s relatively small size. We got a pack of pretty awesome pens that erase with the heat generated from friction. Writes extremely well too!

After Costco we went to another classy buffet with all-you-can-eat sashimi. So much sashimi these days, but I’m not complaining :). It was then when I realized it was my last day with my baby the Canon 550D. I’m going to miss the perfect pictures it took.

We got on the bus at about 11:00 p.m and arrived at Taipei at around 2 a.m.

First thing I want to say: I got Final Cut Pro X today and I’m really happy!

For lunch we went to a really classy Japanese restaurant with sashimi, fried shrimp, miso soup, etc. I can safely say this restaurant is the best in Taiwan.

Then we drove, and I slept. We drove all the way to the wedding where we ate dinner and left. It was really lame for me, to be honest, but my mom had fun because she met some of her really old friends. I’m back in Taichung now… leaving for Taipei tomorrow (or the day after). I’m gonna miss my family here, and the Canon 550D (which I used to take the hi-res pictures with). :(