Back to Taipei

I'm back in Taipei and the changes over the years are apparent. China Airlines has upgraded its service with touch-screen monitors for each seat, even for coach. I try to watch Pirates of the Carribean 3 but Xtin continues to distract me with the ff:
a. Camera view from the plane-top, bottom, sides
b. Seat to seat calls from the controls
c. Making calls from your seat-international or local (i tell her its via credit card)
d. songs by lionel richie on the music menu ,along with nora jones, et al
e. mahjong game -but you have to wait for 3 others you join you in the online game

First stop today was the Shin Tian temple, a famous temple where we offer food and pray to our God for blessings. Then a quick stop at the nearby 7-eleven store for drinks, and off to Chang Kai Shek memorial hall, which will now be renamed Democracy Hall. Instead of taking vanity poses, we try our paparrazi and Bryanboy shots.





This time, we go to to Taipei 101 (currently the tallest building in the world, but soon to be overtaken by Shanghai and Dubai) to take in the view(NT$ 350).
The flight from the 5th floor to the viewdeck (101th floor) took just 37 seconds, while the exit took 45 seconds. The encompassing view, accompanied by an English audio aide helped us identify nearby buildings, bridges, mountains and grand hotels. This is the first time I take in this sight, and it is a marvel to see an island so progressive. But earlier this morning, I texted DEP and Atty. Evelyn that I thank God justice is served for Erap's case. A little progress there, but we are so way behind our asian counterparts in terms of economy and progress, making us feel slow and a little bit ashamed for our country. But we smile anyway, while we take pictures, eating and laughing, thinking of shopping during the brief stay in a foreign land.


I carefully review my list of shopping list, because my budget is tight, but Guang Hua electronics, the night market
and Ikea are must-stops. Jun is buying 2 LCD monitor screens when just over a year ago he doesn't know how to use the computer, someone else is buying a 120 gig external hard drive; mam whallie is upgrading her digicam, xtin buying a hard disk drive and memory for her old laptop, Kit is buying a bluetooth wireless keyboard for Lee. I'm going to look for ipod accessories, and maybe, just maybe, another external hard drive. But what I really want tonight is to have a look at the latest bookstore in Taipei, replacing Page One. It is a 24-hour book shop incorporated with a coffee shop and basically a lifestyle shop called Eslite (es light, not heavy, sounds kinda like that, hehe).

I meet Sam again tonight, and we made beso, and updated our lives, him being the new proud father of a 2-month old boy named Sebastian, whom he rocks to sleep from 6 PM til 2 AM, according to him, then his wife Jessica takes over from 2 AM til 6 AM, afterwhich he wakes up at 6 AM to bathe him. Cute huh. He said he's 40, and after a 12-year wait for this baby, it is certainly worth it. He looked real happy, better than when he was in the Philippines. We promised to see each other again tomorrow " to find a quiet place to talk." He is my real mentor, my Confusion (not Confucius- haha).

The nicest thing about my stay in Taipei today is a good warm bubble bath at United Hotel, with a book in one hand and well, nothing else.