Back in KL and missing uni already!!!

Finally back in KL after my long 3 week vacation. Stop over in Taipei was mostly uneventful, though it was a lil' uncomfortable being a in a country where English is not widely spoken. Noticed that Taipei is sorta like a Chinese version of Japan. They've got a mass underground network of tubes and far more space than Singapore to expand their city. People are as busy as they are in any city in the world, crowding MRT stations. Just stand in one spot and see the wave of humanity pass you by again and again.

Got on the morning train at the Taipei Main Station. A real centre of activity.

People crowding the station on the way to work and where ever.

The place gets so crowded that they need people to control the human traffic. Perhaps our LRTs should have people like these too (especially during rush hour).

Reached the memorial hall without too much trouble.

Saw the Cheng Kai-Shek Memorial Hall on the last day. Bloody huge place. Lots of space but relatively few people. The sun was bleeding hot too. Fortunately, didn't sweat too much.

The memorial hall is in the middle of a large park. This is just the entrance to the terrace between two temple like buildings (which could be recreational halls)

Ah, the commoner with the bicycle. A typical sight in China (during its Communist days), though there are more cars now.

Just me standing infront of the main archway leading to the memorial hall.

This is one of the temple like buildings I was talking about. Think it is acutally a civic hall since lots of people were gathering around doing weird exercises.

A group of aunties dancing to the tune of the Macarena. Only place in the world you can find people line dancing to techno beats in public (Aunties at that!).

The memorial hall from another angle.

One thing about this place, it was huge. All that space alocated for people to look at some statue of Cheng Kai-Shek. That guy must have a big ego, cause even Dr. Sun Yet Sun's memorial hall wasn't as big as this.

Here's the man himself, smiling (creepily) at visitors 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Two guards are always stationed there to stand like statues (like the big man himself). They don't move an inch no matter how long they stand.

Of course, the boss himself is sitting around waiting for tourist to snap his picture. Here he is! Actually its just a wax figure.


The roof top of one the civic centres. Very colourful.

Got back to our hostel (YMCA) to pack up for the last time b4 heading for the airport.

The motorcycle is the favoured mode of transportation in Taiwan.

Taipei's airport is some what like KLIA.

The departure hall is huge and mostly dull.

My ride to Singapore and finally back to M'sia.

Went back to uni yesterday to see Kat and get some uni stuff done. Met alot of people there, though I forgot to bring any pressies from the trip for them. Felt a lil' bad for not bringing the stuff. Seems everybody is into uni again. The assignments and everything else are in full swing while I'm watching it from the sidelines.

Met up with Jim, James and Meryl today for steamboat. We stuffed ourselves full as usual (hey, for RM20, you gotta make it worth it). Though, I felt a lil' uncomfortable towards the end. Still manage to make it without too much problem. Went back to uni at night. The guys were having a ball seeing the ol' joint again after so long. Meryl was especially transfixed with the changes around the campus. New benches, new cafeteria, new everything. I think that one day soon, I'll be like that too. Seeing my old uni change into some place that I hardly recognise.

You know its that time again when the gang calls youout for makan and it turns out to be steamboat. Yum.

Surprise, surprise. We just cannot get enough of this place.

"All hail the mighty metal-bird-thingies of Sunway!!" Jim says

Meryl climbing up the steps to Monash for the first time in 3 years.

We couldn't help but have a mock discussion in the upper foyer. Brings back memories.

If you ever had the strongest urge to lie in the middle of the carpark in the middle of the night, chances are you will end up like this.

Of course, your friends will kindly remind you that lying in the middle of the road is dangerous. (Possibly less dangerous than getting trampled by your buddies).
This has been a Monash safety message.

Looking back at uni. Everything looks so distant and somehow you feel so small. Wait, maybe its because I am small.

James is clearly suffering from Uni withdrawl sympthoms. Watch as he attempts to exit the carpark without a car.

Jim, James and Meryl taking a pic with one of the security guards. Sorry guys, my hand was shakey.

After all is said and done, its time to head back. So goes our lil' adventure in uni on a Saturday night.