Back home...

Touchdown-ed in Singapore last night 740pm.
Thank you Godma Cheng for coming to the airport to pick me up. It's nice to know someone is waiting for you when you come home. :)

Am missing Taiwan...
To cure my Taiwan-sickness I even watched Taiwanese news on TVBS. (And saw one of my fellow interns on TV!!!)

Had a wonderful time in Hong Kong. Thanks to my friends who took care of my entire trip.
I didn't even have to plan anything... Thank you Ah Mao and family + Tin Tin + Gum Zai + Ah Cake + Yuru for your hospitality... I hope to see you again!

Last day

Can't believe that one month just flew past like that. The flurry of activity in the newsroom goes on as per normal like any other night I feel as if I will be coming back here on Monday... but that's not the case... To be honest think I'm starting to miss this place already...

Went to the computer fair... third day in a row. Must be some kind of fate.
Though it was tiring lugging back all the freebies (everyone must be thinking I'm so kiasu)
to the studio for filming, it was enjoyable spending time with Wu Jun and Qin Min.
Anw the cameraman got to flim lots of pretty (heavily made-up & scantily clad) show girls.
Though they were saying how tired they were, I bet they were salivating ( at least in their minds)...

"我們等你哦"
The public came armed with their own "professional" equipment
This uncle transported his own ladder using a motorbike.


败犬女王

败犬女王累了

福利真好可以访问美女！

Second last day

Though it's countdown to the second last day, fatigue has overtaken whatever nostalgia I'm supposed to feel. Squeezing in meetings every night, waking up early in the morning (even earlier than when I was having my official internship), running around on assignments has started to take its toll on me.

Today was one hectic day having to cover the computer fair. Though two groups were sent, it was chaos with unclear and ever-changing instructions from the fickle and uncoordinated "up-above". (You hear a lot on the job...)

The staple of all computer fairs - hot babes wearing close to nothing were present at almost every booth. Men of all ages and types (but mostly otakus) clicked away furiously as the showgirls posed seductively. Armed with professional DSLRs it was hard to differentiate them from the media. Admist the chaos, psuedo media cameramen snuck on stage to get a better view of the showgirls. Smart move. Was supposed to do a news clip entirely on these showgirls, but in the end the one above changed her mind... had to change the news angle - the battle of the laptops.

Though today was pretty tiring, to me it's the company that matters. Got assigned (or should I say I asked to go along) with my fav pair (office couple). tbc

Met Meixin for a late dinner at THE Ding Tai Fung. A must-visit place for tourists, the place was packed despite it being a weekday night. Luckily I decided to get a queue number before I headed home for a while. However, I was wrong to think that a half an hour wait could get us in. By the time Meixin arrived we were still 10 numbers away from getting in.

Finally when we were seated, we were treated to a sumptuous meal. Feast your eyes. (to upload photos....)

- xiao long bao with two different fillings: traditional pork and crab meat (xie ke huang).
- double boiled chicken soup
- spinach

They say that the Ding Tai Fung dishes are better here than back in Singapore...
Hmmmm.. to be honest I can't tell the difference. So I kept psycho-ing myself.
"What juicy filling this Taiwanese Xiao Long Bao has... much better than the one in Singapore"
Try it for yourself...

Last Tuesday

This morning followed Zi Ling & her bf out for the screening of a Taoyuan documentary at the Xin Yi Eslite bookstore. There were at least 20 media people present, but no they were not there for the screening... they for a doorstop interview with one of the guests - Quanta's CEO Barry Lim.


When the man in question finally appeared, the media swarmed him. The scene was chaotic as cameramen jostled around to get the best angle, reporters fighting to keep their mikes at the prime spot in front of the interviewee.


We're from a financial station our questions were pretty generic - how's business for the next half of the year and details about their collaboration with MIT. But the question everyone was dying to know was about his rumoured mistress. However, this guy is known for blowing his top should you step on his toes. So...


Have done half of my SOT. Left with the sound bite. Waiting for the cameraman to come back....hope to get it done soon

Countdown

Four days left...
Last night I lay in bed thinking next week I won't be here.
Two days into my trip I already started feeling nostalgic.
But at this moment I'm trying not to think about my impending departure
I just want to savour every moment that's left.

touristy trip

In the afternoon got assigned to follow Ming Le for a news on an local entrepreneur.

Took a 30 mins ride to the outskirts of Taipei called San Xia - a retro tourist spot.

The story was about a obasan who sniffed out a the potential business opportunity in ㄍㄚ ㄐㄧ bags (roughly pronounced as ga ji)


Formerly associated with aunties, (according to) Madam Zeng says these are the new IT bags.

Designs of all kinds and sizes hang on the wall of her quaint little shop, forming a colourful sight that would attract the eyeballs of customers. Specially decorated with antiques and fitted with retro wooden furniture and items like an old rusty bike, stepping into the shop you feel as if you're transported back in time.


Starting from scratch, she sold her wares riding on a bicycle on the streets of Ying Ge. Seeing how the sales for the cheap (NT50=S$2.50 each) and uniquely Taiwan bags were good, she decided to invest in creating her own brand. From the design, manufacturing (in Taiwan she insists to show how it's truly a Made in Taiwan product) to selling, her family helps out in every aspect.

Besides the classic red, green and blue netted bags, to attract the younger crowd they made bags with modern designs like leopard prints and skulls. (These designs do look like they can be found on the shelves of shops in trendy Ximending)

We got interviews from customers young and old. The old woman said how nostalgic it was to see the bag she carried in her younger days, two young teenagers said how they would not hesitate to buy the once thought to be unfashionable bag and that it was cool coz it was really "tai". (Note: they said all these while the lady boss was standing next to them..... )

Anyway the lady boss was one spontaneous interviewee. Asked to shout to promote her wares, ride a rickety old bicycle down the brick road... nothing was too embarrassing for her. Really admire her tenacity. All the ups and downs she has went through to get to this point in her life. Before her successful venture into these uniquely Taiwanese bags, she mostly dabbled in selling souvenirs. Albeit many not-so-successful tries, she finally struck gold :) It helps that her bubbly personality would make her a media darling. And did I mention that it's a family business. It's so heartwarming to see her son and daughter pitching in to help their mum.

Covering lifestyle news was a great respite from the usual dry financial news that I usually have to cover. I wonder what's install for the next few days.

P.S: Oh no... I "modelled" the bag for our competitor TV station and got caught by my supervisor. Imagine your full Chinese name shouted across the cubicles...