dvoider's Xanga

Friday, April 07, 2006

Fri, 07 Apr 2006 03:46:12 GMT

April 5, 2006
Went bowling in the morning with Miki and Un Jin. I noticed I left my battery for my camera at home when I was about to take a picture with Ronald McDonald. It was such a pity, since I scored my highest in bowling history ever: 95! (Actually, the existence of the second pin to the right in row 2 could not register by the counter, so I always scored an extra point on the first turn of each round, no matter how many gutter balls I rolled.)

April 5th also happened to be my grandma's (¥¤¥¤) 87th birthday. What made this occasion interesting was that we went somewhere else, away from a specific restaurant we always go to when not eating at home--or at least I don't recall an occasion in Taiwan where we ate elsewhere while eating outside. (I'm emphasizing in the repetitive nature and not in the quality of food by the way. Going to a certain place frequently can dilute the overall appeal despite quality sometimes.)

Pics of my Grandma's Birthday:
Viewing: http://www.csie.ntu.edu.tw/~b90108/xanga/grandma86
Downloading: http://www.csie.ntu.edu.tw/~b90108/xanga/grandma86/images

Friday, April 07, 2006

Fri, 07 Apr 2006 03:11:17 GMT

April 4, 2006
Went to Wu Lai with Aya, Hiro, Patrick, and Taka. There was a mix of moderate haze, scorching heat, and high humidity, which did not provide the best of lighting conditions for taking pictures. Wu Lai is somewhat tourist-oriented, but be prepared to do a lot of walking (if you know where to go specifically). Particular features that stood out were the waterfalls, mountains, and hot springs that were prominent in many parts along the journey.

For dinner we went to Watami at Chong Xiao Dun Hua. The food and atmosphere in Watami are similar to Dozo, though the composition of how they placed seating arrangements is more restaurant-oriented. Mina tricked me saying they didn't order sashimi--only to let me later choose the first pickings. I love sashimi!

Wu Lai Pics:
Viewing: http://www.csie.ntu.edu.tw/~b90108/xanga/wulai/
Downloading: http://www.csie.ntu.edu.tw/~b90108/xanga/wulai/images
Note: Think I wasn't paying to the quality control settings during image conversion..

Thursday, April 06, 2006

Thu, 06 Apr 2006 15:42:10 GMT

April 3, 2006
Overall, Jiu Fen (¤E¥÷) was a fun change in scenery, away from the usual romps in Taipei. Went with Terry, Natasha, and Jeff. The area can be described as a somewhat rural, mountainous suburbia with a Chinatown feel (the one in San Francisco). The foods I've tried generally have a distinct saltiness all at inexplicably affordable prices. The tea shops are relaxing, culturally blending Jiu Fen with distinct aromas (well, the coal burning method for brewing tea stood out in particular). Tea shops vary widely in price plans and atmosphere, so it is advisable to ask before you stay.

Jiu Fen Pics:
Viewing: http://www.csie.ntu.edu.tw/~b90108/xanga/jiufen/
Downloading: http://www.csie.ntu.edu.tw/~b90108/xanga/jiufen/images
Note: Some pics not shown.

Thursday, April 06, 2006

Thu, 06 Apr 2006 03:44:13 GMT

April 1st, 2006
A friend treated us to dinner that night, which I didn't fully realize until going to the actual dinner. (¦pªG§A¦³¨Ó, °O±on±q§Ú³o¸Ì®³·Ó¤ù³á!) The restaurant was unique in that your meal was completely determined by the people working there. The Italian food served comes nowhere close to being authentic, but if you don't mind Taiwanese Italian food, there's nothing much to complain about.

Wednesday, April 05, 2006

Wed, 05 Apr 2006 20:21:07 GMT

Just weeks before, my hard drive suffered a complete wipe, with casualties strewn in all formats and sizes. Of particular concern were the graduate school applications, pictures, and other miscellaneous files. Having had a vacation for the past five days along with the timely arrival of one of my cousins, Jeff, I have had an opportunity to take ridiculous amounts of pictures within a short time. Jeffrey with his Photoshop wisdom, has reintroduced editting in a much less cumbersome form. I'll be updating photos on Xanga over the next few days in hope of quelling the spirits of my photographic past.

Sunday, March 19, 2006

Sun, 19 Mar 2006 17:11:22 GMT

Pictures from NTU 3/15/2006

Sometimes, the simple act of standing back and taking notice is necessary to perceive beauty hidden from naked eyes. Sometimes, apparent beauty cannot be caught in the cage of quick shutters.

Sometimes, silence is valued far greater than in the ticket price of a great concert. Sometimes simplicity of life can only be found after travelling great distances.

Sometimes, the only way to regain trust is to lose contempt. Sometimes forcing yourself to forgive someone within takes much more effort than saying a person is forgiven. Just sometimes...

Everything starts from the heart.

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In the past few months, I have found more discernment in my life; I have learned and grown. (At least, I hope I have learned and grown.) I found things once important to depreciate in value. And all this time, I feel lost even though I know where I am going. My life is nice and full of what I thought I needed, but somehow lacking. And my goals have not strayed, though my motives have altered somewhat.

------------------------

My Chinese has improved these past few months as has my Japanese. I have learned of various cultural differences among America, Taiwan, and Japan--particularly because of the nationalities in which my classmates come from. I have been told that my directness is a fault in making friends with Japanese people in Japan. I am now applying to law schools. In two weeks, I hope to finish the process. I also need to resume what I left off from before.

My dad questions my intent for every Jane and Sally my mouth mutters, asking of my intent. He seems somewhat desperate for me to move in a certain direction. My previous encounters with him have resulted in white lies, saying what he wants to hear. I was sick of the nagging and interrogating, and thus a cycle of lies began. I hope my next encounter with him will deviate from this habit. Guess sitting down and talking to him is a must. Life is already complicated enough to add even more complications.

It's not that I don't want to find a girlfriend. On the contrary, I've been tempted time and time again: constantly, continuously. I want one, but at the same time, I don't... Not yet. I try not to think about it, but it's hard. I fought with it. I fight with it. I will continue to fight with it. I usually lose the battles in my mind; fortunately, my lack of flirting skills prevents me from going any further than that (at least I think I lack it).

Before going after someone, I must first change myself. There's so much that needs changing; so many flaws. I can probably write ten pages of it and the surface would barely be scratched. I mean, seriously, if I had another body, I'd try to get as far away from myself as possible. When I think of how someone might view me, I think, "Gosh, and someone's going to marry me someday?!" I probably won't feel sorry for her during the marriage, but she is going to have one doozy of a time if I don't change. I need to change. (If I fall for someone, remind me that I need to change more if you're truly my friend please.)

Anyways, don't know what else to write. If the tone of my writing sounds like I'm in depression or anything, I'm not. I guess it's a subjective determination that I wish to be genuine. I'm not looking for pity; I'm just trying to be as honest as possible. Simple, brutal honesty. At the same time, there are still things I will not reveal. I want to continue to change some aspects of my life--for the better preferably.

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Tue, 17 Jan 2006 18:39:17 GMT

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Fraud, Scams, and Robberies

First of all, I love Taiwan: the food, the people, the tranportation, the social life. There's nowhere else I know of where you can get good Japanese curry ($105 NT), boba ($25 NT), and fried rice ($65 NT) all in one place for a total of less than $6, only to meet up with a large group of friends within 20 minutes or so.

Hate to say it, but theft is an unpleasantry here in Taiwan. You might hear stories once in awhile: on the news, with friends, etc. Foreigners and Taiwanese alike have to be cautious of such unlawful acts, mainly for protection. As a foreigner, I would like Taiwan to improve as a society: the first step is to bring awareness to certain fraudulent practices. Apathy is not an option.

My friends and I have encountered our fair share of trickery; and as much as I hate to admit, they will occur frequently in daily life. I'm not saying that all Taiwanese/Chinese people are bad; a few rotten fruits can spoil a good harvest. As with people around the world, most are just trying to make a day's living--some less ethically than others.

Last week (January 10'ish), I had a gut feeling that I was witnessing a robbery in progress. On the way back home late at night, I saw a guy wearing a big scooter helmet (the type that covers your entire head) enter an apartment complex. When he turned around briefly and noticed me, then proceeded to open the door. Most theft-prone apartments have cameras and the only reasons I could think of for covering your head are to conceal identification, maintain head heat, and quickly retrieve something. Of course I could be wrong.

I'll be updating periodically. The following is a list of woes:

Robberies

Scooter Looters

Basically, a group of two will ride a scooter or motorcycle to rob purses or backpacks. Their main targets are women and teenagers who have their belongings out of reach. Typically reported on the news, a friend was actually unfortunate enough to be victimized. She reported that the culprits lacked facemasks while speeding past her to snatch her belongings, held in a bicycle basket. This happened on a semi-cloudy afternoon with a group of people who failed to witness the event. I'm assuming the lack of facemasks in this particular case is to blend in with other scooter-riding civilians.

Watch out for:

~Scooters with license plates removed

What to do:

~Scream! This will increase the likelihood of witnesses.

Jack the Ripper

Basically a knife wielding version of a pickpocket. While this person doesn't hold hostages at knifepoint, the knife is used to cut open backpacks and purses in order to retrieve the contents inside (particularly wallets, cellphones, cameras, etc.). Although this type of robbery made headlines a few years back, you will not often hear of it anymore.

Watch out for:

~Be wary just before or during holidays, on buses, in particularly crowded places

What to do:

~Don't carry too many valuables with you if possible

~Carry backpacks in a way that either you or your friends can keep a close eye

Bicycle Bandits

Buying a new bicycle and putting it in a relatively unoccupied area is tantamount to painting a bright red "Steal Me" sign. Unlike Japan, it is highly advisable for you to lock your bike, while putting it with a group of ten bikes or more if you can't can't find space in private property. Keep in mind that even locks can be useless if your bike is highly tantalizing.

Phone Alone

Never leave your phone alone, especially if it's in relatively new condition. This is a very common theft that rarely gets reported to police, which they don't seem to do much about. Common sense: if you have big pockets, check periodically if your phone is still there, especially if sitting down.

I Know What You Watched Last Summer

Never leave your bag or purse in an unoccupied seat in a movie theater--especially if going alone. A friend actually lost her purse this way.

Phone Scams

Damsels in Distress

A person who will claim to be an acquaintance in order to persuade you to lend him/her money. This person may have that acquaintance's information through various means. This person may have some sort of emergency and due to such, will be inaccessible for confrontation. The end result being that they would have to borrow money via electronic transfer. I was a victim of this fraud several months back.

Watch out for:

~Emotional instability to mask voice

~Generality within reasons, particularly vagueness

~Inaccessibility, particularly during off-contact times

~Unwillingness to describe whereabouts

~Unwillingness to give out account number before transaction is made

What to do:

~Ask that person specific questions and look for specific answer

~Find other means of contact via e-mail, phone number, address; verify if possible

Pseudo Kidnappers

By receiving a call, you will hear a the voice of distraught child or adult. If you have children or family members, this caller may know their names and claim to be someone near and dear. He/she will say that he/she is kidnapped and being held hostage.

What to do:

~Ask that person for specifics: where, who, what, why, etc.

~A number of things can be tried including proactively claiming to call the police

Free Gift, Just Pay Up

I personally think that telemarketing is one of the most abysmal jobs in Taiwan. Not only does a telemarketer have to deal with the aggravated, anonymous masses day in and day out, but also authenticate their legality against scams such as the following. You've finished taking a survey or you were just notified that you won a gift. Now come the taxes. In order to receive such an extravagant gift, you'll only have to pay, say, 10% of the full value. Good deal, eh? Just deposit money into that bank account provided and this gift will come within a few weeks time. The elderly or technologically delinquent are particularly susceptible to this ploy.

What not to do:

Never give out your bank account or credit card account number and/or password. A user can only transfer money to another user. By giving away your account information, you are essentially opening doors

Bank Fees

Receiving a call, you find out that you have unpaid dues from your bank account. Now the taxes must be paid. The throw off is that this message may be automated, giving instructions on how to pay this fee.

Watch out for:

~Non-Taiwanese accents, particularly accents from mainland China

What to do:

~Check with an actual bank representative if you believe in the validity of the message

Frauds

Needles in a Haystack

Want to get rid of your pimples or improve the complexion of your skin? The guys who greet you will claim that a great practitioner of dermatology can do such feats. You will walk into a seemingly legitimate business place and they will show you the before and after pictures of various clients. If you agree to try out their practice, they will basically stick needles in your face and charge you anywhere between $100 NT-$200 NT per needle plopped in. (This can be especially dangerous for people with diabetes and/or other health conditions; they will not check.)

Ear Today, Gone Tomorrow

There's a magical way of getting rid of earwax, and that is to melt hot wax derived from a candle into your ear and pull out this wax when it hardens. Of course the product of pulling out this wax is simply the wax from the candle.

California Wallet Fitness

Watch out for contracts in general. This is a rule of thumb that should be followed regardless of locality. Check for conditions upon cancelling contracts. Health clubs and phone companies have a knack for complicating such terms of service.

Thursday, December 29, 2005

Thu, 29 Dec 2005 18:23:52 GMT

http://spaces.msn.com/members/AndyTLiu/

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

Tue, 13 Dec 2005 18:29:31 GMT

Dear Santa,
Give me something simple this year: wisdom. That's all I really want. That's all I really need.

There are some decisions in my past that I still regret. If there was a mistake made everyday, I don't mind making 99% of them. What bothers me are the errors that affected people I call friends. This event occured several months back.

Doing what is seemingly right can result in so many wrong consequences. The initial fault was my own of course. I realized my perception of human nature was overly optimistic. As a result, I was oblivious to external circumstances. I was sorry.

I'm not sure if this friend ever truly forgave me, and if he/she doesn't, I will understand. I may be overreacting or miscalculating, but my mind just won't let go. If he/she ever reads this, I am still sorry.

I desire wisdom as my Christmas gift this year, to avoid making the same misjudgment. And should I ever encounter the same dilemma once more, wisdom please.

Thank you Santa.

Sincerely,
Andy

Thursday, September 15, 2005

Thu, 15 Sep 2005 06:42:40 GMT

I'll be going back to California until October 29th. Hi!