Day 89 (Fri) *Across the Pacific on CI 007 LA to Taipei*

Boarded the plane at 12.35am LA time and plane departed at 1.30am sharp...and if everything on schedule due to arrive at 5.30am Taipei time 5th August...this timeline thingy really confuse me sometimes...we left on 4th August Friday 1.30am from LA and end up reaching Taipei on 5th August Saturday 5.30am...like that issn't it lugi one day?? but den again...we gain one day when we arrive as well...and how come LA nearer to Singapore the time difference is 15 hours and New York further is 12 hours...puzzling issue really but with no further wish to find out why...is like asking got chicken or egg first i suppose...haha

Juz before boarding the plane...everyone looking a little shagged aft a long day

The Lions of Lucerne...my travel companion on this long haul flight

GOODBYE USA!! as i looked out of my window seat as the Boeing 747 taxied slowly but steadily out onto the runway...really kind of BitterSweet if u wan me to describe how i feel about this country overall...Bitter in the sense of the tragically long and boring working hours in morey's for a period of time, the lowest pay u can find in town and really feel like being exploited at some times...the prolonged period of inadequacy of healthy nutritious food, the weather-beaten conditions i have to endure --- the skin peeling & lips tearing for the initial few late spring weeks and the ultra-burnt and tanned skin that i "gained" over the next 2 summer months...and the feeling of homesick at times - missing the 3Fs badly: Family, Friends and Food...and of coz not to mention the big time accident and its tedious aftermath...

Sweet in the sense of the beautiful South Jersey beachline which i worked so closely everyday for 2 months or so...little things like the smiles and "thank yous" from little kids after you push them down the sky ponds or after riding the sea dragon...and of coz the entire travelling phase has been awesome to say the least with the best travelling companions that one can get...and finally to add one notch above the 3 Fs i have came up for the bitter part...i have came up with 4Fs for the sweet part...hahaha...No. 1 Freedom...never have i left so far and so long away from home...kind of a totally whole new experience...feelin really carefree and a sense of liberation not felt for a long time...juz do whatever u wanna do and nobody gives a hood...haha...No. 2 Friends...new ones of coz...gotta know many new friens from this work and travel thingy...frm SMU, NTU and even NUS...some pple like i will never get to cross path with until i came here...like JK whom i didn't know too well b4 this and Naf...haha from same Fac also never see before...friendships like these whom i hope can last for a great deal of time...No. 3 Fun...needless to say i really had lotsa of fun for the past 2 months or so...the company has been great both at wildwood and travel...really enjoyed myself and will strongly recommend to my friens to go on this work and travel program next summer...No. 4 Fufillment...personal fufillment to be exact...like picking up new skills like cooking or even lifesaving skills like CPR...how to take care of yourself and even others at times...and certain things seem to be taking things for granted back home and only realise how tough is it here...hopefully have come out of this with a much wiser and mature mindset...haha...and of coz watching a musical at Broadway or seeing sunset at Grand Canyon would seem almost like a distant dream this time last year...so in the sense dreams fufilled also...alas the Sweet out triumphs the Bitter and overall i conclude i have not regretted coming for this work and travel thingy...though it remains to be seen how much $ i have deficit...but there are certainly things like experience and friendships that can never be quantified with $...an experience more than i wanted to say the least...indeed it can be said to be a summer of a lifetime...

back to the flight...as expected the journey was long and tedious...with no inflight entertainment...no adequate room to stretch those leg muscles...no spectacular view except pitch darkness from my window seat...and not much or rather no exceptionally attractive kong zhong xiao jie...aiyah sighz...my Lions of Lucerne is prob more entertaining...tried reading a few chapters and decided betta to catch some sleep first...to adjust my bio clock for that matter...woke up feelin damn hungry coz didn't really have a good dinner juz now...asked for cup noodles but was told in half hour's time dinner will be served...dinner was some pork chop rice...not very appetizing but still quite filling with the yorgurt...the mixed fruits and the pathetically small glass of red wine...thought it will be a good idea to have some wine so can fall asleep but end up only make me more awake...listened to my mp3 read the Asian Wall Street Journal den finally manage to sleep...but really a struggle...woke up time to time hoping the time will quickly fly...seriously a struggle on such long haul flights...can't wait to reach Taipei soon enough to eat my mala steamboat...flipped around in my seat trying to get my best sleeping position...head on the window...head on the meal tray...head on the small pillow that everyone is issued...but still cannot sleep...don't know is too excited about Taipei or what man...tried to sleep but still cannot...

after what seems like eternity to me...breakfast was served and the captain spoke about reaching Taipei in one half hours time...wow fantastic news really...breakfast was also much better den dinner with French Toast with sausage as the main course...Yummy...Taipei reaching + nice breakfast...light at the end of the tunnel...haha...and mine next meal would be mala huo kuo + shilin chicken chop+ ah zhong mian xian+chao ta fried cuttlefish+tian bu la+feng yuan ping+ji dan pu ding...Taiwan...Wo Lai Ye!!!