De one with Honeymood Getaway

Love-ly

Thursday 12:03 pm, Changi Airport T1, Singapore

My cab arrived to meet up with Honey. In the end, had to wait for a friend named Alderic, who would be joining us on our trip to Taipei. Since it was still early after check in, we decided to spend the time having lunch at this fried chicken store. Geez sorry.. can't really remember the exact name of the store. Honey feedback that the chicken taste better than KFC's. Well.. I thought what was interesting was the biscuit bread. It's really like a pastry bread. Both of us thought the fish was not very nice as everything fell apart when you bite into it.

Before we know it, we were involved in a neck-rush, trying to inform Mindef about our overseas trip. Hell.. it was unexpected. With that, all our initial plans to shop for a puzzle book and order a cup of coffee in the departure holding area were blown. As we were only left with 5 minutes before the flight took off. Sigh.

Thursday 06:40 pm, Taipei Airport, Taiwan

Our Jetstar plane touched down at our destination after 4 hours of boredom. We did "combat" our boredom, by arguing over our arrival time at Taipei.

Well, everything happened pretty fast after alighting from the plane. Before we know it, we were already on "Fly-Dog" coach which took us to our drop off near where our hotel was located. The coach bus was pretty cool. They provide a mini TV screen for every passengers and guess what? The speakers were attached to the neck-rest, extending to be positioned near your ears. Unfortunately, mine was too loud despite me turning it to the lowest volume. Diaoz..

The trip was enjoyable until the coach approached the city. That's when the three of us, cluelessly, in search of familiar roads stated on our maps, desperately locating the right stop to alight.

Eventually, we managed to get to our lodging after some cutting through the streets and an unexpected help from a friendly local. My first impression? It wasn't a hotel. It was a motel. A love motel (to be exact, as stated by Ric and Honey). It's outer appearance looked like those one can spot in Geyland. Ha!

For near hundred per night, our accommodation was splendid! All thanks to my brilliant Honey. Both of us loved the spacious bathroom. It stretches half the size of a typical HDB flat room.. black marbled tiled, consisting of a semi fish-bowl alike washing basin, a glass paneled shower room and a luxurious Jacuzzi (Erm.. We were abit envious of the bigger, oriental Jacuzzi tub in Ric's room). Omg. Our jaw dropped on our first step-in Room 1011!

Via train, we headed down to our first place in Taipei - ShiLin, after much unpacking, showering and admiration of our room. There, Honey got so excited.. for a moment, I thought I was neglected and left behind. ShiLin or commonly known as ShiLin Ye-shi is a very popular place with the tourist and their locals. The layout had alot of resemblance to our Bugis Street (or should I say the other way round). In fact, I would opinion it to be some place similar between shop-houses of shopping centre and our Pasar-malem.

Of course, we tried alot of food. Ric said, don't think the food's fattening and it would deposit in our body. True.. we ate alot of street-food, ranging from some of the more famous MUST-TRY food like their Fried chicken chop, tomatoes with plum-inserted, strawberries with milk syrup... to some amazing discovery like Chou Dou Fu (ie Smelly Tofu) in soup...to some food which are more tradition like egg-waffles, seafood-fin soup and glutinuous rice. That's alot right? Omg.

Honey was looking for exclusive and pretty jeans. Thus, we spent a long time, walking through the maze of complicating streets shops. In the end, we managed to spot one which we liked and purchased a couple jeans. Sadly, I fell trap to a cheat, who sold me a jeans with waistline that require negligible effort to have the entire jeans pulled down my waist.

It was until 1 pm plus which sent us taking a cab where we had a chat with this friendly driver, who talked with a typical Taiwanese local accent. Amusing, I suffered a bit of culture shock. I'm actually in a place where people converse Hokkien as one of their main language and it didn't sound vulgar. Unlike those in Singaporean-spoken Hokkien which sound more vulgar. Oops!

Friday 08:30 am, Everspring hotel, Taipei

After barely 5 hours of inadequate sleep, Honey and I dragged ourselves to have our complimentary breakfast at this Dante's Cafe. It was good. Honey was thrilled with the smoked chicken and ham sandwich.

Happily filled, we headed to Taiwan's most current attraction - Taipei 101. This magnificent building was deemed the pride of the Taiwanese. In which contained approximately 5 storeys of branded shops and near hundred storeys of offices. Since the shopping area only open for business at 11 am, Honey and I took a trip up to the 101th storey where we witness the spectacular view of Taipei in full 4 directions. We even paid for our picture to be taken, our first picture together eh! So proud of it. It comes with a 4R photo, nice back-drop and this certificate which CERTIFIES your visit to Taipei 101. Hehe. To have it more meaningful, both of us own a copy and had it bared our wonderful signatures on it!! Wahaha

Time really passed by fast. It was past noon when we descended via the high speed lift down 101 storeys and scrumbled for an eating place since everywhere were so packed with people. Geez. End up, we had an affordably cheap Japanese curry rice. After lunch, we went shopping again.. I enjoyed it alot. It was heavenly!

Friday 19:00 hrs, leaving Zhi Shan station, Taipei

Came evening, we came out with Ric, to Ximen Ding to have dinner before continuing our mission. Of course, shopping spree resumed after having completing 3/4 of our mission at XimenDing before we call it a day.

Saturday 09:46 am, turning cold in Taipei

Honey and I headed down to a temple at Yuan Shan. In it held stunning statues. First thing we did here was to queue to pray under this enormous floating lantern. Before proceeding to pay our worship to the other gods housed within.

In hope of visiting another street shopping area, we decided to head for Zhong Xiao Dun Hua area where more shopping was possible. Honey was eager to hunt for more jeans, so we embarked on our roam through all the shopping complexes we could set foot into.

Came late afternoon, we met up with Ric and his local friend, Jet. It didn't take us very long before we went on a pursue for satisfying jackets and sweaters to keep us warm in the turning-cold weather. My intuition in the morning was right. Honey didn't allow me to bring my jacket out. I predicted we will need it later.

After two visits to different shops, Honey found a pleasant blue Adidas sweater, which happened to be the last piece of the smallest size. End up, Honey wanted me to wear. I refused. We didn't wear the available sweater at all.

All thanks to Jeff, we managed to complete our mission in Taipei. That was when I bought a perfect White Nike sweater before we found this restaurant to have steamboat for dinner. At first, I was frustrated since the newly bought sweater was kinda small on me. Wanted to have it changed but unfortunately, they only had S and L sizes. They could import from other cities. Sadly, it would require a few days. By then we'd had left Taipei. Left with no choice, I made do with the current S, which kinda fit me afterall. Honey commented that I was being too much a perfectionist.

What occurred later was really unexpected. Our honeymoon took a down-swing. During conversation over dinner, certain responses were wrongly communicated, strife arise between Honey and me. I admit I was throwing tantrum. Honey even mentioned "I really feel like slapping you". Ouch!

Of course, what goes up, must come down. Our tempers were no exception. We calmed the issue and reconcile back in the hotel. Pity thing we forgone our last night shopping that night. *sorry Hon*

Sunday 09:45 am, Changchun Road, Taipei

Was it the cold atmosphere or the fact that it was the last day before I head back to Singapore (as I have lecture the next day), both of us were very quiet. I was thinking, perhaps the solemn between us, was because we were overwhelmed by our pride that we didn't want to communicate us can't bearing to part or might be because, the excitement of being overseas has faded with increased familiarisation with the limiting places of interest in Taipei.

We had our last complimentary breakfast at the same place. Only differences for our agenda were having shopped at Zhong Xiao Fuxing, ate dim sum for lunch and a long trip to the airport.

Sunday 06:53 pm, departure for Singapore, Taipei Airport

Not forgetting our last dinner together in Taipei at Burger King. Both of us were stunned. As if we were in Australia, no packet chili sauce were to be found despite them serving Spicy Chicken Burger in their menu. Funny.

The moment when I was leaving for the immigration area was extremely unforgettable. I fought so hard to contain my tears profusely-gathering in my eyes and the immense reluctance to leave.. Sigh.. As if the situation wasn't worse enough, a noisy commotion between two groups of Hongkongers at the queue broke out. Reason being one party was trying to cut queue.

Gosh.. at that moment I felt very unprotected that my effortless composure was crumpling. You know.. being all alone in the mess where a situation was going on and you have no accompany by your side.

The tension and lonely pressure were just too overwhelming. My mind could only concerned how much I really love Honey... that I would miss my sweetheart terribly. All I could remember was my brain kept screaming how much I didn't want to leave and struggling to hold back my out-flowing tears.

No wonder I never let my parents or friends send me off at the airport ever since army overseas trip. Perhaps, I was using the excuse for independence so I didn't have to deal with the painstaking torture of having to cope with parting with someone I really really love so dearly. Gosh.. it hurts so much to separate with my loved ones...

:: Honey, having came back to Singapore, you are always on my mind.. I miss you so much.. certainly, the tears speaks endless depth of my ever growing love for you. I didn't have the time at Taipei Airport, expressing how touch and appreciative I am, by what you have been doing for me.. accompanying me on my long journey to the airport and even send me off till the gates of the immigration area.

Hope you'll enjoy your trip in HK. I'll be waiting for your safe and soon return. Thank you for your assurance in your sms. I love ya more than words can say... Well.. right now.. I just miss you so much...