Friday, August 22, 2008

Taiwan and Japan - August 2008

Barely a month after our wedding, I had to go back to work traveling....

First stop Kaohsiung followed by Taipei before continuing my journey to Nara, Japan.




I was craving dishes from this lil place in Laohsiung which serves everything cow - head to tail. Too bad, I was ill the moment I arrived Taiwan until I left Japan (so, many restos' name elduded me). Imagine fever, gastroenteritis and colitis for a week! My fault..... I saw the doctor in Kaohsiung but I didn't start on the medication until I got home since I had to drink every night.



I do not mix medication with alcohol..... for fear of not ever waking up in some hotel somewhere. Of course, I got a nice dose from my Dr Barry when I got home for not putting my health first.


One of my lunches : pasta (very delicious though!) Food onboard JAL : Taipei to Kansai Airport
MAS : Kansai to KL (of course the usual chicken and beef satay were served first)
Main course..... and thereafter lil sushi were served just before landing.

I liked Tutto Bello in Taipei where I had :

a. Pumpkin and Truffle Cappuccino with Crispy Pumpkin Gnocchi (oh, what a comfort to my tummy!)

b. Challans Duck Fillet with Fine Herbs, Plum Juice and Aged Balsamic Vinegar (ok, a tad heavy for the tummy)

c. Warmed chocolate cake with almond ice-cream (I changed from tiramisu ice-cream)

Other nice places were the Club Floor of Splendor Hotel, Kaohsiung where we had teppanyaki and shabu-shabu at HSR station in Taipei.

No picture tho.....

Saturday, August 09, 2008

08.08.08

Along with the opening ceremony of Olympic Games in Beijing, news abuzz that many got married on this date : either the number combo looks great, or 8 being a lucky number esp. to Chinese or it's just to have an anniversary date which is easy (or easier) to remember.

I am not superstitious but I do not pooh-pooh at the belief of some people AND I really have to share a part of an awesome news.

Barry and I got back from work on 08.08.08. Both dead tired. And myself, stressed as my nephew is leaving for UK to pursue his lifelong dream (am not kidding) to be a doctor yet there is a lot of costs to be looked into.....And I know that he is still actively seeking financial assistance. I wished I could help totally but thdre is a long way more to go..... I just hope that God sees his determination and efforts (great kid - just graduated pre-u and made it to the Dean's list cum laude!) and things will be easier on him with a good scholarship.

Anyway, as usual, we will check the mailbox on the way up to our condo. As the envelope was nicer than usual, I ripped it open the soonest as we reached home.

And.... it was a letter and a form. Letter states that I've got a free something real nice and superkool worth almost RM2000. No commitments, no purchase, no signing on anything, no scam...all I needed to do was to call to them to confirm choice of item (out of 2 options) and collection location with the form duly filled. All because I was loyal to the service of that company for past 10 years (giving them quite good business too)!!

Surreal.... a rare surprise of a "loyalty programme".

I. am. just. thankful.