Taiwan

kekeke.... yea!!! Finally i'm there!!!

It just happend that I contact the Taiwan Band Association, and they invite me for the Asia-Pacific Band Association Board of Directors meeting. Got the approval from the boss, have the staff help me for the flight ticket, and there I am.

It was really a joke... 3 hours before the flight, he called and he said...'I forgot to do my VISA, so I can't go with you'.... Is that bad? Not at all!!!! I'm going there alone, and as a freeman! hooray!

Arrived 7pm, got picked up by someone... and went straight for the dinner. Supposed to meet up with Li-chin for dinner, ended up Prof Yeh asked us to go together for this dinner, where all those 'famou's wind guy from Taiwan are all there... so, name card time!!! Finished up like 50 name care in that dinner alone, and of course, received a lot as well. hmmm... first meal at Taiwan... PR, drinking, laughing... and nothing else. hahaha

Checked in at hotel around 12midnight, then my friend brought me out for supper at the nearby market. wow!!!! tons of food, nice one. Had a lot, and talked... finally back hotel again at 2am. kekeke

Woke up 8 the other morning... but only managed to drag myself down to lobby to meet up the team at 10am. Met the association people from Australia, Korea, Japan, Singapore (hey brando!), and some taiwan association people. We all went up to this tourist bus, and travel to the airport to pick up someone, and drive straight to Tai nan. Reached there at 5pm, went straight for the first meeting, and met others from Hong Kong, Macau, Guangzhou and Beijing.

Keke, that's the fun time... went the chinese people realised that the 'thai' can speak mandarin and cantonese. It kind of freak them out little bit. At first was pretending I don't know, and of course you will hear a lot of gossip. Won't tell you about that, but that's really some sad gossip.

Then the following two days was just some concert venue checking, and also some shopping. Taiwan looks... japan style for me. The way they design the road, the way people dress up...

Oh, the hotel we staying at Tai nan was great. On the hill, with hot spring... Tried the hot spring, certainly not my taste, at least, not in a hot summer. haha. Here is the view from the hotel.

The 3rd day, we start travel up to Tai chung, met up the National Orchestra people, name card again, souvenir... and bla bla bla.... Then finally Taipei.

Is a moden city... crowded, food, nice and warm people (and strong politic/business mind)... And I really like this small sign they put in the rest room. Check this out!

(although you are confidence for it, but please one more step closer. Aim nicely is better than simply doing it.)

And being at a Chinese community, eating is a BIG matter. All the time, we eat, eat and eat.... Never ending food, tibits, drinking... kinda sick of it after the first two days. Still when we were at Taipei, we met up the KHS general manager, one of the biggest company in Taiwan that sponsor most of the music activities... And again, eating, socializing, drinking... Here is the picture: chou wen-wen (one of the active conductor in taiwan scene), CM, cant remember his name, but he runs the big band in town, the korean tour translator-a joker, vice president of Korea Band Association (joker as well), Brando, President of Taiwan Band Association, and the two secretary from the Korea.

After the 'heavy duty' dinner, went check in at hotel, and out for market again. So so so crowded, but nice to hang around haha. Taipei is really a happening city.

Went back to hotel that night at 3... and out again for breakfast at 6am. Li-chin came, and we went for some typical taiwanese breakfast... Tired? Yes... but it is nice to hang out with Li-chin, she's the piano professor from Taiwan Normal University, and she's crazy for her work. hahaha

Here is another sign in the toilet that I liked so much. hahaha

(wear the condom, good for the activity. AIDS wont come near you)

Of course, the 101 building... is just like went you go KL, you must see the twin towers... haha

Then I-An came. We skip the association activity for the afternoon, and went to this Saxophone summer camp, where I met Otis Murphy. Of course, meeting Otis is great, but is even great to have some time with I-An. Nice talking with you!!! And thanks for understand the situation!!!

Finally joined back the group at this... don't know what temple, and got send to airport to fly back to Bangkok.

Again, flight delayed!!! I hate that!!! But got a chance to talk on the phone with Li-chin little bit more. Hope you already done with your dictionary things now. hahaha

I do like Taiwan... but there's also things that I really dont like... i'm sorry for the politics thing that I got involved, eventhough I only be there for 5 days. I do like the people there... but is a bit too complicated. hahaha

Hope next time I can be there, as a real 'free man'. No business, and no politics.... hahaha