7-11

This entry is dedicated to all those people in Taiwan or been to Taiwan or are going to Taiwan.

There are so many 7-11 stores in Taiwan that you can actually see one 7-11 store from another. Then you wonder whether you are looking into a mirror which is outside the store. You take a closer look and discover otherwise.

Many people think this is a hyperbole or an exaggerated description. However, this is plain flat fact, seriously. Some people actually walked out of a 7-11 store in Taiwan and realise they forgot to buy something. They don't turn back at all. All they have to do is keep on walking and, sure enough, another store is ready for service within a minute.

Most people in USA can't picture such scenario at all. To make it more conceivable for Americans, just imagine New York city with all it's Starbucks, Macdonald's, KFC, Carl's Junior, Jack in a box, Denny's, Bart stops, traffic lights are all transformed into 7-11 stores, that's Taiwan.

Oh yes. People in Taiwan can't live properly without 7-11. There are people named after 7-11, probably. Such as Karen-eleven. Or Seven-Sibestian.

Maybe, God has loaded his shotgun with 7-11 and fired it at Taiwan.

A few times.

And a few times more.

Anyway, before I sound too ridiculous, which should not be the case as the above are generally true, the main idea of this article is to warn people staying/visiting Taiwan. If you were ever meeting your friend in Taiwan, never choose a 7-11 as the meeting place. The reason is obvious. You do that and you will NEVER see your friend. What's going to happen to you is that...

"I'm turning my head
up and down
I'm turning turning turning turning turning around
and all that I can see
is a 7-11

dap dap dap dap

all that I can see
all the I can see
and all that I can see
is a SEVEN-ELEVEN"

You stand a better chance if you chose to meet under a piece of cloud.

Disneyland

Everyone's blogging spree seems to have ended after 13th August.

Anyway, just returned from Disneyland. Something eye-opening happened and I think everyone should learn about it. It is not the new Disneyland California park that's so amusing; not the 50th anniversary parade that's so stunning; not the new rides that are worth gasping. It is the tour guide that's worth mentioning.

Ok... below are the details.

My tour of 55 people entered the "happiest place on earth" at 8am. Then the tour guide was arrested by Disneyland security. What an exciting way to start the day. Not trying to be sarcastic but don't you agree this is an experience money can't buy? Alright, before I sound too evil, I shall clarify here that the tour guide deserved it.

Before we entered Disneyland that morning, the tour guide gave out the tickets to us and I sensed something fishy. I flipped the ticket over and there read "Nontransferable, must be used by same person on all days. This ticket allows the holder to be admissioned into same park for 3 days. EXTRA DAYS EXPIRE 14 DAYS FROM INITIAL USE..." I was feeling weird since the tour was going to spend one day in the park only. Why were we holding on to re-entry tickets?

Sure enough, we entered the park and the officers came over and quarantined all of us. Basic questions like "were we in the park before" and "how many days are we going to spend here" were asked. I was like,"errr... last time I was here was 8 years ago...We are only spending one day here." Eventually, all our words were recorded and used to charge against the tour guide in court. Apparently, the tour guide used the same tickets for different tour groups. What a stupid man, didn't he know such crude trick couldn't cheat computerised system, and people who actually bothered to read the tickets?

The tour guide was brought away, leaving the park supervisors with 55 of us. Some people tried to find out what's going to happen to the tour guide but the authorities refused to say. Anyway, they were terribly sorry for the hours of delay and offered us fast-passes so we could salvage the rest of our day. The day turned out excellent with that irritating tour guide missing.

Next time, when any of you are in a tour, watch out for such things.

trip trip trip

I'm like the only one in this world still holidaying. Going Disneyland tml.

The photos in my flash drive has accumulated at a cancer-like rate to over one thousand in population. Just retuened from Vegas and I'm going LA again. The end of this holiday spree seems nowhere in sight =)

Gambled in Las Vegas illegally. Tell you all how I got pass the casino security. However, don't spread it around. Shhhhhh....

I was having fun at the slot machine when the security approached me and requested for a photographic evidence to prove that I'm 21 years old. Trying to stay clam, I showed him my Taiwan driver license.

At this point of the story, we shall recall the modern history of China. Sun Yat-Sen overthrown the Man Qing dynasty on 10th October 1911. Thus, 1911 is considered to be Republic of China year 1. If my birthday were 2nd of June 1987, my Taiwan photographic prove will show that my D.O.B. is 02/06/76.

So I showed the casino security my Taiwan driver license which state that I was born on '76. Then I cunningly claimed that I'm 30 years old. Apparently, Westerners have difficultly judging Asian's age.

Now that security is of no more threat to me, I enjoyed my time at hold 'em, black jack and poker. However, I was punished for my evil deeds -- I lost 200 dollars in total.

Gamble is not an essential evil. I prefer roller coaster rides to gambling. Off to Disneyland!

The Americans

Decided to blog something before weeds start growing in here. There are hundred of photos in my digi-cam and inertia is repelling me from upoading them in my blog. Maybe I shan't be lazy, it's a cardinal sin.

Over the weeks, I've picked up the American accent. Feeling quite happy about it. All I can say is that American accent may not necessary be the right accent, but it is definitely the most popular.

Americans are really a bunch of cute and innocent beings. Let me illustrate this point with a very specific example which happened a few days ago.

I was having dinner in a buffet restaurant named "fresh choice" when I encountered this little boy, around 8 years old, having lots of difficulty trying to divide a piece of pizza by my side. I offered my help and asked him how many pieces did he want to divide his pizza into. He gave me a blur look so I attempted to simplify my question a little.

I said,"do you want your pizza in 6 pieces or 8 pieces?"

He tilted his head while he deliberated over this mathematically-saturated question and replied,"I want it in 6 pieces. 8 pieces is a bit too many, I'm afraid I can't finish it."

Then, I tried to explain to him that 6 pieces of 1/6 is the same amount as 8 pieces of 1/8. However, he didn't get it. So I took two pizzas, cutting one into 6 pieces and the other into 8 pieces. The boy sticked out his right index finger and start counting the two discrete distributions and concluded that 8 is still larger than 6.

Being a patient mentor, I took out a 1/6 piece and a 1/8 piece and stacked them up accordingly. There, with those mystical illusions finally unveiled, I've proven that the reciprocal of 6 is bigger than 8 regardless of the fact that 8 is bigger than 6.

While the boy awed over this mathematical wonder, I dipped my chopstick in catchup and wrote down this amazing mathematical theory on a tissue paper: 1/8 x 8 = 1/6 x 6 = 1

The boy was extremely impressed and exclaimed that he would show this to his neighbor when he got home. What followed was that he folded the tissue paper up nice and properly. Before I could make any further comments, he squashed the tissue paper into his pocket.

I motioned towards his pocket and said,"I won't do that if I were you."

He gave his pocket a peep and had a shock of his life.