2nd To 6th September

2^nd and 3^rd September

Departed Toronto 9:50am (on time)
Check in was quick but when it was time to weigh luggage, I was over limit by 2 pounds.  A little re-arranging of items and the nice lady at the check in desk allowed my baggage to clear with .2 pounds still overweight.

Good flight – 15 hours to HK

Waited in HK for approximately 4 hours but delay flight to Kaohisung (1/2 hour)

We were asked 2 times to change departing gates

Arrive Kaohsiung 7:05pm local

Angus and Jasmine (international office) there to meet me and drive me to apt.

Paul was at the apartment waiting

Jasmine presented me with a gift box of moon cake that the school I gave a presentation in Taipei, sent to me.  Somehow they knew I was returning and mailed it to the school for her to pass onto me. 

Michelle and Mario added a few new items to the apartment

Unpacked and went to bed around 11pm but not tired.  Dozed off and on all night finally woke up at 4:30.  Had noodles and coffee then walked around outside seeing what’s new

4^th September

Woke up 4:30am and had noodles and coffee

Couldn’t sleep.  I know I’ll be extremely tired tonight or tomorrow

Took walk around down to Love River and around the area

Exhibition centre is now complete so I’m anxious to go inside as it’s open to public now, since there are eateries inside.  Movenpick being one of them

Library is erected and now work is being done on the inside and the landscape is unfolding.  Looks great!

A new city train will be in operation within the next year and the track is being laid now, which runs around the waterfront/exhibition/new cruise ship terminal.  The waterfront area is expanding and full throttle ahead with improvements

Nicholas and Jocelyn coming here to the apartment around 9 then we will ride scooters and go for breakfast. 

I went down to garage to see my new scooter (175cc) and somewhat larger than the 150cc I had last time.  Dusted it off and the cobwebs so all set to go once I get the license today

Went for breakfast with Nicholas and Jocelyn then drove her to work

Since the scooter is slightly larger than the one I previously had, it’s more challenging in parking the scooter in the tiny space that is allocated to scooters in the underground garage.  It’s also quite a bit heavier than the 150cc I use to have so manipulating/lifting it about to move it is a pain

Tried to start scooter but no luck (for time being). 

Nicholas and I pushed the scooter to a nearby repair shop to see why it wasn’t starting but the owner was not there and wouldn’t be back until later.  We then pushed it back to the apartment then Nicholas and Jocelyn went back to his house and brought the car back.  In the meantime I tried again to start the scooter and it started.

I think because 2 months of sitting in garage allowed gas line to drain and took longer than normal to start but it purrs like a kitten.

After dropping Jocelyn off at work we proceeded to licencing bureau to get Taiwan licence.  No luck in obtaining the licence because I do not have my ARC card as of yet and they need the registered # on my card to process the file so need to go back in week or two once I have the card.  I will still drive the scooter.

Nicholas and I spent remainder of the day doing the following:

1.     brought my personal items I left at his place 2 years ago back to apartment

2.     went to school to pick up contents from one of the boxes I sent and took my tool kit to the school

3.     rode scooter to pick up some jade where Jocelyn’s mother works and took it to an appraiser

4.     went to our usual spot for shaved ice then to starbucks

5.     went to Costco to get a few items and brought them to apartment

6.     it started to rain so stayed put for a short time until the rain stopped then went for dinner (see pics)

7.     stopped off at small night market to get some cold drinks (milk tea and winter melon juice)

This brought the day to an almost close as I need to retype all of the facts

I think the lack of sleep is now hitting me.  My eyes are closing now…can’t type more, still need to shower.  Tomorrow will be another great day I know it.

5^th September

Woke up again at 4:30 but was determined not to physically get out of bed until 6 as I can’t continue waking up and beginning my day at 4:30 (hate falling asleep by 8 or 8:30).

Posted some first day pics on Facebook and received message from Kellan (student from Hsiao-I who worked internship year at Hyatt Hotel in Toronto) and we’ll connect for dinner

Looking outside and looks like a nice sunny and warm day again.

Nicholas and I went for lunch to the Vietnamese place not far from here.  Ate way too much but wow the food is good.

Also went and got a pair of reebok running shoes.  I thought I left my original pair here but apparently I threw them out and I didn’t bring any with me.  I will now begin running to try and keep the weight down from all the shaved ice I’ll be consuming during the next year…hahaha

Nicholas came over later in afternoon and showed me the letter he received from the Canadian Government for being granted permission to work in Canada.  He will leave Kaohsiung sometime next month as he has a job offer from the four points Sheraton in Kelowna, B.C. so of course he’s extremely excited about that but I’ll miss him and all the extras he does for me by taking me to new and exciting places all the time.

Received also a call from Mark’s brother-in-law.  It was arranged for him to come and pick up a Samsung tablet that Mark’s wife purchased during their time here in Kaohsiung (she’s Taiwanese) and when they returned to Toronto it apparently stopped working.  I brought it back here with me and her brother will take it back to where it was purchased.

Was in bed again by 9pm as I felt like someone gave me sleeping pills.  I don’t recall falling asleep so early compared to the first time I came here.  Does jet lag last this long?

Didn’t observe but first scooter accident (somewhat serious) just at the corner of where my apartment is.  The ambulance had the siren on and just leaving the scene.  There were two scooters (on the road) with quite a few groceries (produce) lying everywhere.  Yes, accidents happen all the time so one needs to be aware more than the average.

6^th September

I can’t believe it but woke up again around 4:30…what’s with this waking up early routine…I hate it.

Met up with Lee and we went to a local breakfast eatery.  Will go a bit later to his sister’s café for latte then might ride scooter over to Cijin Island.

When came out from apartment, there were older couple looked like fell off their scooter.  Lady seemed to have her leg pinned under the bike while the man was trying to lift the bike.  I approached them to help but he got the bike up and she slowly stood up.  Was just the bike and the two of them, not sure how or why they were lying on the ground.

Had a great breakfast/lunch at Café Bird (my friend Lees’ sisters café). 

Lee and I rode the scooter on the ferry to go to Cijin Island.  Spent a few hours there walking and of course eating.  This is a holiday weekend (moon festival) and I would have thought the place to be crazy busy but quite the contrary.  Ferries going to and fro were only half full and the main street of Cijin was navigable…hahaha meaning it wasn’t shoulder-to-shoulder people like as usual.

Seems every time I’m eating something, it reminds me of how much I enjoyed and missed it.  The grilled squid has to be one of the highlights on Cijin Island.

Of course embarking from the ferry meant shaved ice time.  The ferry terminal area is the shaved ice capital of Kaohsiung.  Numerous places to frequent but naturally we have our favourite.  I even recognized the girl behind the counter. (I think she could be the owner)

Rode back to Cafe Bird and had another latte.

I think now my sleep disorder is slowly improving and getting back to a normal way.  I don’t recall having this issue when I was here two years ago but with that said, I am two years older so perhaps that is the cause of the prolonged disorder…hahahaha 

Falling asleep at 8:30/9:00pm and waking up at 4:00am isn’t what I call a favourable

sleep pattern.