Cheers to my new "M"license

Friday
didn't do much. I didn't even go to lab. I just walked to NCREE to meet up with LJue and Spiras and then we went to dinner with An-Chien and his friends to celebrate SPiras' birthday.

pictures of two out of the million dishes we ordered
good food=)

Saturday
I was supposed to go to lunch with my lab group, but Dr. Lin could not make it back from Japan, so the lunch got moved to Sunday. I went to Danshui instead to go shopping. I didn't get home until 2330 =) It takes 44NT for the MRT each way and 40 mins for one-way.

sunset at Danshui

they even had a section where you could go soak your feet. Swimming is prohibited, but I saw someone do it.

Sunday
I can ride a motorcycle now! What do you mean you don't believe me, here's proof!
Since several members of the lab are leaving, one is going to Greece, the other to Japan?, we had a farewell lunch for them. We had Japanese food for lunch and even reserved one of those rooms where you have to take off your shoes and stuff (I don't remember what it is called, unfortunately, neither do I remember the restaurant name). But that's ok, cause we had ALOT of sashimi. super super good. and for what we ate, $12 USD per person is a really really good price.

"Wu liao" smiley face A-Yeh made with food nobody ate
A-Yeh was trying to model with the sashimi? (ahah)
actually, they were trying to get me to do it instead. LoL (picture taken with Ting-Rong's Canon EOS 5D. such pretty quality!)
Group Picture! (again, taken with Ting-Rong's camera)
Actually, this is actually what happened...
lol. A-Yeh did ask if I wanted to try to drive his motorcycle, but I told him I didn't want to die yet. haha. it was so fun. my first time being on a motorcycle ever and I hope I get another chance before I leave TW. When he first gave me the address of the restuarant, I was thinking, no way would I ever find it (I have been lost almost EVERYWHERE I aim to go in TW). It's a good thing he offered that I could rent/hire him, otherwise I would have never made it there.

After lunch, A-Yeh dropped me off at Eslite Bookstore (Dunnan Branch). It was pretty cool. The bottom floor sold CDs, DVDs, movies, adn other things of the sort. I found (almost) the entire F4 collection there! I was going to buy the CDs that I wanted there, but I figured, I might as well wait a bit longer and maybe I can find a better price in TW. The other floors of the building sold food, clothing, and books, which I quickly browzed through.

front entrance of Eslite
I saw a Chinese marching band (with Western instruments though) while walking to SOGO

i miss MHS Marching band... =(
Since Sogo Department store (Dunhua Branch) was near by, I figured I would also drop by so I wouldn't have to return. I didn't actually buy anything because the clothes/items were quite costly compared to the prices at street markets. I did ride the elevator all the up (and all the way back down) thought, just to see how TW shopping malls are. They are extremely pretty and clean, unlike US one. Somehow, I think that Sogo is like a giant Macys.

front of Dunhua Branch
Since I was so close to Zhongxiao Dunhua MRT station, I figured I would go there so I could explore the east Metro mall. I found some pretty cheap shoes and jeans, but the jeans didn't quite fit well (it was way way way too long for my short legs) and there was a defect in the padding inside the shoe I wanted. I asked the lady if I could get it for cheaper, but she said only 10NT cheaper, so I was like "forget it."

cute ducks inside the metromall
When I finished walking the metro mall, I was at Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT station, which is next to SOGO Deparement Store (Zhongxiao Branch). This branch was even prettier than the previous. And again, because things were too expensive, I just rode the elevators all the way up, and all the way back down.

front of Zhongxiao Branch (the prettiest entrance)
It was getting kind of late and because I was planning to walk home, I decided I should start walking. Low and behold, I cross the intersection, and guess what I see? Another SOGO Department Store (Fuxing Branch). ahaha. of course I decide to go in again. Afterall, AC is free. After taking the elevators up like 12-14 floors in the other two branches, I figured I would not go all the way up. Afterall, it is just a mall with things too expensive for me to buy and shiny tile floors. But the AC felt so nice, so I decide to go up all the way =) (what a waste of time, I know)

front of the Fuxing Branch
elevators inside the mall
In between the 6th and 7th floor, I see these pretty lights of the roof and I had to take a picture=)
When I got up to the 11th floor (11th-13th floor were all fancy restaurants, a few shops), there was this super cute display. Since I could not take a good picture that included most of the scene, I went up to the 13th floor so that I could shoot downwards. I had to take like 50 shots before the lighting would turn up right in the pictures. =( But I felt that it would be a waste of all my time take the elevators up so many floors if I didn't capture a picture of the display, so I had to.

pretty?
picture of the 11th and 12th floor taken from the 13th floor
For the last few years, I have been increasingly interested in photography, especially wedding photography. haha. that would be a nice side job, but I think being a doctor is hard enough work. Though I am not complaining about my camera, I would really like one that is a bit more professional that will take better quality pictures. the type that I would have complained about being too bulky a few years back. Too bad I don't have a job, otherwise, I would totally treat myself to one for a combined x'mas and bday gift. xP

but anyways, I have spent ~$500 NT (give or take) each day for the last 3 days. Not that that is alot, but I am trying to use only my food money and nothing else. Which I do have alot saved up, so I think it is ok.

我很喜欢吃生鱼片
>.<