I was considering a more flashy, introspective, or cool title. but I guess simplicity counts. I don't want looking back to archives to find something like "the meaning of Chinese" or "a summary in tea leaves and jade dragons" or something along those lines. Back to the point. I just returned from a 7 day Taiwan holiday package with my family. I won't go into the details, but basically this was a good break from routine life. I've never been to a free and easy overseas trip so I wouldn't know. but tour seems pretty cool when people around ain't that bad or easy to hang out with, and plus everything is catered so you can just lay back and relax.
So yes, I've been to a lot more places for holidays than your average guy in Singapore. Some of my friends' virgin flight was to Claymore for exercise. That is pretty sad, but again, there is nothing absolutely nothing wrong with that. Every year, I have to drag a gigantic bag and go along to a random unvisited before destination. It's almost a tradition now, it's a ritual, and i don't think my family can live a year without going for a holiday at the end of the year. maybe things will change when the older brothers grow older or maybe we get sick of it someday. there are places which I have yet to visit. yes. the more nearby ones like Malaysia and Vietnam, I haven't been there before. And there are lots of exotic countries which I have yet to set foot upon. It's almost like it's becoming a collection. Since I'm not really an avid fan of the "live the moment" kind of paradigm, I find the best way of appreciating overseas endeavors is to keep them like a collection. it's like a "to-do" list and with each trip your list grows. And yes, it's pretty cool when you name a place and I go "ah yes I have been there". It's hard to find somewhere there is "standard repertoire" for holidays which I haven't been to. Korea, Japan, Taiwan, China,Thailand, Taiwan almost all the popular places in Europe, and almost the entire Australia (state by state, yes). I've been there all. I guess I'll have a good idea of where's good to go for my honeymoon next time! AND, traveling ain't really my cup of tea anyway.
I have to say that the people in the trip does affect how it goes. It is amusing how my family can sit down and "gossip" about other people's habits or shortcomings at the end of the day. Of course, we would crack a joke or two about the uncle who spent 3000 SGD on a jade dragon which seems nothing more like a overweight paperweight to me. I mean, it can't even move it's claws or anything like lego or toy dragons which you can easily buy at Toy'saurus for a 20 bucks.
Pressure tactics are really rampant. They put you in a room, start talking about how good their product is. Or maybe indirectly try to promote their product (but it is still freaking obvious). then they get uniformed staff to come in and try to personally "pressure" people into buying. this unethical method of doing business is ridiculous. Think of it, if the product is that good, do they have to resort to such means? nay. I would say, that I've seen so many of these that sometimes it scares me to see people fall for their trap. health products or feng shui equipments always promise prosperity. but I can sell you a piece of stone on the ground and come out with a 100 page thesis on how it can make you smarter. Do you think I'll become rich. Maybe? but this is so wrong.
Places of interest that were actually interesting were definitely lacking. Mainly because there were too many trips to temples and it's variations. I have to say Chinese architecture does not appeal to me. It's true that temples and churches etc are all religious landmarks but in my humble opinion (and to no one's offense). churches are more artistically constructed. and people wow at a pipe organ and beautiful windows compared to a gigantic Buddha. There were a lot of traditional visits which, well, does not really appeal to me either. It's like places you go and you know you'll be just trying to amuse yourself or try to psych yourself into the "this is tradition" kind of mood to be able to endure through the entire place/show.
I'm kinda sleepy. it's 5 in the morning. time to go to bed! Continue tomorrow.
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