Adventure One-Eighth-Time: Taiwan

欢迎光临！- Ancient Taiwanese Proverb

Not really. It just means welcome.

欢迎光临 to Noel's Blog!!! Missed me Missed me Missed me??? I am blogging LIVE from Taichung! Isn't that exciting? Isn't that fabulous???!!!! (Overuse of punctuation indicates lameness)

I promised to do a post here in Taiwan, and this is my Taiwan trip - so far.

Note: I haven't posted these photos anywhere besides some of my own photos on Instagram, so I can say this is EXCLUSIVE.

We started our trip on the 6th of March, it was a late morning flight. Unfortunately for us, the toilets were right behind our seats. And we had to endure consecutive bursts of putrid gasses from the other passengers. (What do people do in airplane toilets for goodness sake). I suppose the best part of the flight was the clouds and the blue sky. It was bliss knowing that I would be leaving hot, hazy Malaysia behind.

This is how hazy Malaysia looks from up above

And also, my parents ordered the kid's meal for me. I think they're trying to tell me something.

Well at least there is Ribena and chocolate.

Then when we landed, I was looking forward to setting foot on sunny but chilly Taiwan, but instead, a wet and cold Taiwan greeted me.

It was shocking. I was used to visiting Taiwan during Summer, where it wasn't that different from Malaysian weather, when shorts were an acceptable attire. What I did not expect was the wind. There was a cold spell up north and it traveled all the way to Taiwan, and was battering Taipei with gusto. So it was all wind and rain in Taipei. And the temperature was around 12°C - 18°C. Yes, you could see your breath when you breathed out.

So naturally we sought out the most reasonable thing ever: FOOD. There is this little 胡椒饼 (Hu Jiao Bing) stall near the hotel we're staying at. I swear, the buns sold there are from heaven. Spicy heaven. Imagine biting into one of these little babies with cold wind sweeping all around you. The juice from the meat spurts out and scalds your tongue but you don't mind at all because wherever the juice lands, flavours explode on your tastebuds. (Not joking ok, it really is good)

Note: Will update with proper name and address ok

Happy Mum with a not-so-happy Hu Jiao Bing

Hey sexy.

After that quick stop at the Hu Jiao Bing stall, we moved on to 西門 町 Xi Men Ting. Xi Men Ting is basically a classy Petaling Street. However, there is an extremely famous Mee Sua stall called  阿宗面线 (Ah Chung Floury) located at a corner of Xi Men Ting.

Basically this bowl of Mee Sua is more famous than me no joke

 GAZE UPON IT'S FABULOUSNESS. Honestly, I am not a big fan of this Mee Sua, but then it had it's own charm (meaning it had no tables or chairs you had to stand like an idiot to eat this).

Then after eating some street food here and there, we decided to go shopping at the Metro Mall as the rain got harder outside. It's underground, but it's all very bright and inviting (there is even a section of the underground mall where you can practice dancing - mirrors provided).

I spotted a tiny shop - it took about a third of a normal lot - with lots of artsy bags and puzzles hanging about. Intrigued, I brought my parents and co. into the shop. Turns out the artist design and hand-painted all of the items ranging from postcards to bags of different sizes. When we were contemplating what to buy from him because his designs were so whimsical, he kept taking out his own pencil box, wallet, bag to show how useful it was in real life. I found it really cool how actually  he uses his own designs. So in the end, I bought a face mask from him because of the haze back in Malaysia. He even inked my own name to the mask so it was one and only c:

Ya'll can check his facebook page out here: ORESAMA 創意倉庫

Inking my name onto the mask. Isn't his tiny shop just so artsy?

The next day started with some down-to-earth Taiwanese breakfast. It's a thing for them to purchase their food from breakfast shops.

水煎包 (Shui Jian Bao)

葱抓饼 (Chong Zhua Bing)

And of course, I had to instagram this photo because I am F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S.

Then we went sight seeing at the Northern Coast of Taiwan. BIG MISTAKE BECAUSE OF FREAKING WIND FROM UP NORTH. We were basically battered with freezing winds and rain throughout the day.

Dressed like this, I was still not warm.

 It was supposed to be gorgeous if it wasn't winter. But it's winter. So it's not gorgeous. Just sad and desolated.

But then we found a 粽子 (Ba-Zhang) shop which sold these warm and nice Ba-Zhangs. And we were okay for a bit.

But then we went to another  seaside. This time it was to see seaweed. But it wasn't the season (we were a month too early) so there were only a few tough seaweeds/moss still growing strong. And the most frustrating thing was that the lens of the camera kept fogging up here. I'm not very sure why. It pissed me off greatly because all the photos taken here made it seem like the camera was smoking weed - it was all smokey and the colour was off.

LOOK AT DAT WAVES AND DAT WIND OK NOT JOKING

I salute your toughness green organisms

Beach junk

 Then we stopped by a cave. It was nice there. The winds weren't as strong and the sand was different.

Mum and dad being irresponsible teenagers

I like photographing my feet eventho I don't have skinny legs ok

Look, I found this on the floor. I call it sea-flower just because.

Some artsy shots of rocks because it looks nice.

Some artsy shots of my feet because I think it looks super cool.

I don't know where this fish came from but it was just casually lying dead on the beach far far far from the shoreline.

One single foot because all the sand got into my shoe and it seemed like a good idea at the time

After the beach, we went to this temple. And I tried seeking my fortune. Basically you have to hold up all the sticks and let them go. The single stick sticking out from the lot holds a number. And using that number as reference, you have to open the drawer with that number and inside, is a paper that holds your fortune. Usually these are poems or songs from ancient times. I don't believe in fortune-telling but it was pretty fun to give it a shot.

And the thing is, this is the paper with my fortune: 

It's basic translation (Read from up to down, starting from left): Wielding a single sword to a meeting, kills six generals. Meets up with brother(s) in the ancient city.

As some of you may know, my brother is currently studying in the city of Tainan, Taiwan. It is a city with historical value. And now, after my SPM, I am all alone. Wielding only a puny weapon, I have to face some big challenges in my life (the six generals). Did you get goosebumps?

We  visited 邓丽君 (Teressa Teng's) grave. She is this amazing singer during the 60‘s. Thanks to my parents, I have been listening to her songs since young (I even performed on of it during primary school), so she was not a stranger to me. She passed away quite suddenly one day, and since then, she has been resting on top of a mountain that overlooks the sea. Her songs are being played all day at her grave. It gives the place a surreal, timeless feeling.

Fans still leave flowers and messages for her.

The whole graveyard was covered in mist. It gave me chills.

Then, we went downhill to a market for lunch. I honestly couldn't tell the time because everything was just so gloomy and gray. It has been raining non-stop since we arrived in Taiwan and it tired  us all out. 

Wet Market. Literally.

 The lunch was warm and that was all that mattered. Because we were about to face the boss. YehLiu Geo Park.

The winds blew our umbrellas inside out. Our faces were pelted with tiny daggers of rain. Salty seawater sprayed at us, taunting us. We braved the trail. We braved it all.

All for..................................... A piece of rock that looks like someone's banged up head and not even a head from another angle a graceful queen's head.

I BRAVED YEHLIU GEO PARK

 Then we went to another night market where it still rained. Bleh. But the food was good.

I guess they're okay with the wetness

I had tang yuan. It had sesame inside. It was warm. It made me feel nice okay.

鳗鱼羹 (Eel stew). Surprisingly nice. And warm.

Do you see the trend of the food in which I ordered. They are all of liquid things. And all warm. Because you can't chew well after being slaughtered by wind. And I wasn't joking about the wind. There were moments where I felt like I was going to be carried away. And I am not light.

Okay, I honestly think that even though it was not pleasant to be beaten up by rain and wind, it was actually a refreshing experience. Next time when I'm trapped with the Ice King I'll know what to do.

I guess I'll stop here because I should be asleep.

I hope it was entertaining. I didn't really say much either. I'm such a bad blogger because I don't really remember the name and the location of the places. But I suppose this is the most serious Adventure Time post you'll ever get from me. So ta.

I'll be going to a farm on top of a moutain in a few hours for my 6th day adventure so I need to like sleep so I'll look good in photos. That is the inconvenient truth.

Okay bye.

ADVENTURE TIME Angel

Adventure Time Suckas

Hey humans! How did you like my newest book review? Absolutely fangirling over that book, sorry.

Anyway, I'm here to announce that I will be on an Adventure starting from tomorrow. I'll be going to Taiwan.

"But you already went there like, two times."

Yes Biatch, Taiwan is my 3rd home (2nd home is Thailand). It deserves to be visited countless times.

So, I'm not sure if I'll be able to blog during my time at Taiwan, as I might not bring the laptop, and I don't know if I should sacrifice precious time there to entertain you losers (no joke i love u all pls don't go away)

This time, it will be different. In 2012, I went during the end of Summer, so it was seriously hot there, just like Malaysian weather, but this time, I'm going at the start of spring. And according to that TVBS uncle, it's around 12 degrees celcius there. Hella cold. I'm excited to be experiencing cold weather but I'm also afraid that I'll freeze to death and take crap photographs. Because I want to take nice photographs. But I'm afraid I'll take crap ones. I don't know what it has to do with the weather there, but I'm just saying I'm afraid.

So, I guess this is just some sort of reminder, to please read my blog, eventhough I won't update it recently. Eheh.

ohgoshimsolamesomebodyplssaveme

So, in celebration of Taiwan, here are some photos from my last trip! :)

Yeah. Ended the stream of photos with a finger lickin' good one.

So, I hope this satisfies your hunger for Noel.

I'll try my best to blog, but till we meet again! :)

Taiwan-bound Noel

BOOK REVIEW: Blue Noise

Title: Blue Noise
Author: Debra Oswald
Publisher: Random House Australia
Genre: Contemporary
Pages: 271
Release Date: 2009
Book Source: A bookstore near my house which isn't there anymore
Goodreads

Behind the Book:
Ash is drooling over a guitar - the one he can't afford - when he meets Charlie Novak. One jam session later and Charlie convinces Ash to play in his band. But it'll never work. Bands never do. 

Erin is wandering down a corridor at school - overthinking things as usual - when she runs into Charlie. Literally. The guy is a fruitloop, with his weird hair and hyperactive rantings. When Charlie invites her to be the band's keyboard player, Erin can't get a word in to say no. She's a classical pianist. It'll never work. 

But maybe this time things will be different. Maybe blues music is just what Ash and Erin needed. 

In Front of the Book:
I don't think the two models represent Ash and Erin well, as they don't look like that in my head, but it brings out the whole theme of the book: Music and Young Love. Which is pretty cool. And who can resist a boy holding a guitar? And I really like the font of the title. It just fits okay?

Review:
I'm just going to tell you right off that I love this novel to bits. I felt like Ash in the guitar store when I saw this book. I could see it, use it, but it wouldn't be mine because it was expensive (this book was RM49.90 wtf). But somehow, I owned this book and it was the best thing ever.

This book is about music. But it isn't just  about music. It's also about friendship, young love and breaking free (starting to sound a bit like HSM oops). And I like how Debra Oswald wrote the story, navigating between Ash and Erin, so I could get inside both of their heads.

The plot was fine. I couldn't find anything wrong with it. I loved how the band progressed, how they started from a practice session to something big. I just rooted for the band all the way.

I realize now that some people might find this book a bit dull, as Debra is quite detailed in describing the little things of each of the characters, but I think that's what makes the book unique. Through the little details like Charlie's family and his interactions with them, Erin's clumsy thoughts, and also Ash's fascination with guitars, it made me fall in love with the characters. When the plot twists came (although it was considerably predictable), I cried and I felt angry. I was that  into the book.

Now let's talk about the characters.

Erin Landers didn't come across as annoying to me. Sure, she was shy and she couldn't express what she was thinking, but I loved her still the same. I especially understood when she thought: "..., piano felt like a habit , something she kept doing because she didn't know how to stop." Because as a fellow piano player myself, I had this dilemma too. I connected  with Erin. And she was such a dork sometimes, but it stuck with me because I am a dork too. Besides, she wrote a song and I'm really jealous.

Ash Corrigan. *deep breath* Where do I start? He's the sensitive type. He cares about his mother, he cares about Charlie, he cares about the band. And it really doesn't hurt that he is also madly good at guitar, and is always challenging himself to learn more riffs and licks. Which I really admire. Obviously I ship Ash and Erin hard. But i also ship Ash and Noel hard because I love Ash.

I think the romance played out nicely, just the way I liked it. Not too quick, and with lots of cuteness. If only I was Erin T.T

This book filled 14-year-old Noel with lots and lots of musical dreams, it pushed Noel to practice Blues riffs (although she still sucks at it), it made Noel want to form a band (she actually did, it's called Black Roses and we died off, as expected). So, yes. I have mad love for this book. 

Rating:

Five feathers because mad love

Quotes:

"Ash believed there was a lot of luck involved in which family you were born into. It was like buying a ticket for a lucky dip. Some kids got winning tickets and some got dud ones."

-I really like this line because it's just so whimsical.

" 'Spaghettification' is a proper scientific term. It's the process that happens when an object falls into a black hole. The forces in the black hole split and stretch the object until it becomes a series of long strings of atoms, like the thinnest imaginable pasta. "

-Well. I smiled at this. So it gotta mean something. 

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I hope I didn't sound too fangirly here. I just love this novel a lot. I still love it even though I've read it 5 times (not lying). I hope all the music lovers out there will give this book a try, and maybe let it inspire you too.

Here's some blues for you:

Till the next book! 

Feathery Friend

Hey humans!

Sorry I didn't get to update about my Thailand trip, or about Christmas, or about Chinese New Year. Yeeeah. Mostly because the festive ones are all the same? We feast and feast and feast... So all the photos are of the same nature. Just food. I don't think you would be interested in that. Sorry.

Anyway, I'm here to update about something more exciting than food!

On the 23rd of February, I met a very special friend.

Here he is (or she, I forgot to ask, but let's just assume he's male and extremely attracted to Noel hmm?)

I actually met him while working. And when I posted a photo of him and I on instagram, and immediately comments flooded in:

Ashvin: It's real ah

 Dinie: Holy shit

 Awstyn: Please tell me you use this cute fellow to apply for Hogwarts!

Shu: WADDAFAK DO YOU WORK AS

Joyanne: The things those talons could tear apart... :)

Ashleigh: Harry potter owls :33

Charmaine: Wowwww why your job so cool? What are you working as?

I was quite overwhelmed.I suppose I should answer these questions.

Yes, that is a real owl. No, I didn't apply for Hogwarts with it because I've never read the series. And yes, Joyanne, the things those talons could tear apart. Yes. And lastly, the question, the particulars of my job, I work part-time for a PR company. And as we were on a road show at Seberang Perai, we bumped into this beauty quite my chance.

Since that is cleared. Now LOOK AT THE PHOTOS OF ME AND MY BEST FRIEND

And then he perched on my arm asdflkdsjaflsdkjfa

But when we tried photos, he kept being a dork and looking around in fascination.

 

The cutest thing that happened between us was when he was perched on my hand. I was petting him and I asked him: "What's up?" And he did the 'Wassup' head thing back to me!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HE UNDERSTANDS ME

:)

Infinite happiness when I finally met my friend in person.

Okay, I suppose it doesn't sound special when I type it out, but it just felt like feathery bubbles rising up to my head and popping to infinity.

Here are some owl gifs so you can see why I love owls so much

LOVE OWLS LOVE OWLS LOVE OWLS

Okay bye.

Owly Angel

BOOK REVIEW: The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

Title: The Fault in Our Stars
Author: John Green
Publisher: Penguin Books
Genre: Contemporary, YA
Pages: 313
Release Date: January 10th 2012
Book Source: Joyanne Ling
Goodreads

Behind the Book:
Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten. 

In Front of the Book:
I don't find it special. I'm numb from seeing it all over tumblr + instagram. I don't thing it portrays what happens in the story in a smart way either. Maybe the clouds are for the deceased in the story (which is quite a lot, trust me) but I don't find it cute or quirky. Bleh. 
 
Review: 
To be honest, I was actually reluctant to pick up The Fault in Our Stars (or tfios as the whole internet refers it as) because I've heard many things about this book and since the movie is coming up this year, I didn't want the movie to wreck my imagination, thus me picking up this book. Besides, my inner hipster was skeptical at all the hype over this book. I didn't want another Twilight.

As I started the book, I was extremely confused to the point of frustration because I kept reading Hazel's voice as John Green - accent, puff and all (I blame vlogbrothers). And it was just so awkward. But then that lasted for about 10 pages and my brain switched back to Hazel Grace and everything was cool.

I suppose I like Hazel Graze. Her narration made the book light and sarcastic, even though she had a bleak future. Her view of the world is unique and and she has a lot of depth (and death) for an average sixteen year old portrayed in YA novels. I also liked reading about how her parents dealt with her sickness and their relationship dynamics in their family.

I didn't really like Augustus that much. *GASPSHOCKHORROR* He was sweet and cute and seriously funny (just like Hazel) but I didn't think the love story in the book was believable. It honestly seemed a bit far-fetched for me. But of course, I don't have cancer. Or a boyfriend.

Saying that, I felt sad towards the end, when the plot twist was revealed. But it wasn't bawl-my-eyes-out kinda sad. It was just a blue melancholic feeling that had my mind in turmoil because I saw it coming thanks to tumblr and the rest of the internet. I suppose by being funny, I got quite attached to the characters of the book and it was sad to detach in the end.

I put down the book with feels because John Green just had to end it on that note, didn't he.

Honestly, I enjoyed myself reading this book. But it wasn't as phenomenal as expected. I would like to say I enjoyed the death and cancer part more than the romance part but that would make me sound like a sadist (but it is the truth). I just found the romance cute and fluffy, which was okay. And I think that the book is very quotable, but it kinds of puts me off reading some of the overused quotes: My thoughts are stars I can't fathom into constellations. (I actually tweeted this before, and I didn't even know it was from the book!) and of course the cigarette metaphor.

This book makes you think. And that's so much better than just the romance. So it's worth picking up. Can't wait to get my hands on his other books.


Rating:

I give it four feathers

Quotes: 

"... because there is no glory in illness. There is no meaning to it. There is no honor in dying of. "

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 Anyway, I would like to tell everyone that since I'm finished with this book, I'm giving it away. Yeah. Just giving it away for no reason. So if you would like to have this book, please do leave me a comment and we'll work things out.

*UPDATE THE BOOK HAS ALREADY BEEN CLAIMED BY SOMEONE*

Here's the trailer + poster for the TFiOS movie. Can't wait to watch it! :)

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How did you like my first review? I'll try to do more in the near future, maybe even doing regular reviews. Tell me how I can improve myself or even debate with me if you want. Maybe you should suggest me new books to review, I will try my best to get these books into my hands (but preferably not new books, as new books are expensive). 

Till the next book!