I will miss you

10 more days until I part with Taiwan.

The one thing I regretted was not nourishing enough relationships here in Taiwan. making friends, talking to more people. I have met awesome people but not spend enough time with them. It definitely was my own fault for not devoting myself to it a bit more.

However, I feel like I redeemed myself today. I was able to celebrate a fellow 4th year architecture student (not in my class) in their studio. Cake, wine, tequila, and good company. I made plans to hang out with everyone before I leave. Met more people and had a great time.

I want to take back with me great memories of not just school or touring but relationship with everyone here. Teachers, classmates, other students, friends of friends, and random people. Even if it's a few seconds or a few days of broken english and lack of my mandarin skills I will go back having loved every bit of those moments.

Self reflection, culture shock, inspiration, observation, confusion, being home sick, new knowledge, hospitality. These are only the few things I can think of that I have experienced and enjoyed through this trip.

In the early stages of this trip, I told myself I want to become a bigger better person though my experiences here. Gain something, knowledge, memories, anything. Taiwan has gave me everything and so much more.

wow Singapore.

What I have to say about Singapore : clean, crazy, under construction, crazy, yummy, hot.

That's just a mall. Why? Because they CAN. Inside and out it was curvy and shiny.  The first meal I had in Singapore was here at this mall. Curry chicken, okra, curry flavored cauliflower. SO GOOD.

The SMRT (MRT/SRT) takes you everywhere in Singapore. The stations were all new, clean and modern. What isn't.

Marina Sans was one of the main reasons we were in Singapore, so that was our first big destination. It surpassed our expectations, big time. The weather forecast gave us a week of thunderstorm and rain. I think someone up there heard our prayers. SUN all week.

Marina Sans Singapore is not only a hotel but largest shopping mall ever, art galleries, casino, sky park (the surfboard/ship looking object on top of the three towers), museum and more.

This transformer sphere is the museum under construction. Half the city was under construction, it seemed. The Helix Bridge connected the Marina Sans to the rest of the city.

The Ritz Carlton Hotel 

One of the go-to tourists spot was the Esplanade Theater/mall The dome is covered with triangular louvers and the sky park gave us a great view of the Sans.

The night scene in Singapore reminds me of Las Vegas. Lights, funky looking buildings, couds of people, luxurious cars, tourists, you get my point. They had mini stands of many popular stores like McDonalds, 7/11, Haagen-Dazs, and Dairy Queen.

This was only DAY ONE.

Love you mom.

Mom came to visit me in Taiwan for a weekend. We got to visit MoCA Taipei, Longshan Temple, eat yummy food and spend some mother daughter time. Thank you for everything mom.

Finding India Exhibition at MoCA Taipei

She stands tall at the underground MRT station. What are you, Who are you, I don't know but I like you.

Longshan Temple (Dragon Temple) was full of people praying and performing rituals. The smoke from incense filled the air and it felt like a different world in there. Even in rain people were placing gifts and candles where they belonged.

THE SOUTH_part II

City of  Kaohsiung, Taiwan

We had to start the day off with some milk tea and ice tea's. After we walked along the river on either side, we visited the second tallest building in Taiwan (we went to the top at night but the clouds didn't help the view so we just drank at the bar). This city also has their large exciting malls. This one had a carnival and large ferris wheel on the roof top.

There were there animal rides were you can put in a coin and you can ride it around everywhere as you please. These guys were on their joy ride going in a circle around the photo-shoot over and over again.

Too bad my foot was busted I couldn't experience the "Floaty Floaty Ball" but got some awesome pictures!

Of course we end the night with night market. No, I didn't try eating the brain (I think of a monkey?) but it looked very delicious as you can see.

Before we left the South tip of Taiwan we dropped by Lotus Lake and got to walk into the mouths of a tiger and a dragon. The water of the lake was half dried up and people were fishing for the poor fishes who were stuck in the mud.