Taiwan Holiday

Booked my trip in March for a short break as I will not have another break till year end.. Despite many cautioned against going Taiwan in July due to the summer heat, I was like, "ok bring it on", boy was I wrong!

It was scorching hot! 

No joke!

I flew in on Friday on Malaysia Airlines Flight 366, despite a slight delay, the flight landed on time through a turbulent flight (must be from the tail of the typhoon).. I took a chance and did not pre-assigned my seat, luckily got a good aisle seat 8C, despite row 8 does not have a window at 8A!

Yeah I was this bored I imagined there was a window

On the flight, I watched Isle of Dog, god damn it was such a boring movie I fell asleep right away.. I did not know what the movie was about, all I know is, it's like dogs vs human in a very monotonous dialogue between a dog and his master.. no doubt there's some funny and stupid scenes, but not enough to keep me awake.. Thank goodness I didn't watch it in the cinema..

Yawn

Then it came to food, not a lot a choice: nasi lemak or yongtaufoo.. I did not want to take any chances with MH spicy food so I opt for yongtaufoo instead..

Yongtaufoo breakfast

Upon reaching Taoyuan, my bag arrived before I cleared immigration, hence it was quite quick for me to move along..

I have prebought the airport MRT token through Klook (as it was slightly cheaper than it is to buy at the airport) and I have some agent discount through Klook as well.. If you don't buy the token, you can also use your Easycard to pay for the fare..

Well I could have used any sites to buy but I don't have the time to log in and search each one, so I just look into one, compare it against the fare if purchased at the airport, as long as the total comes to be cheaper, I'm good to go.. Nothing to lose..

Airport MRT route

Airport MRT token.
It can be used any day once bought, as each token is a single journey (you need to decide from where to where)

A one way journey from Taoyuan to Taipei Main Station is NT$160 and takes approximately 40 minutes, including walking from airport to platform (and vice versa).. it's a long walk..

He left a welcome note

Oh ya, I stayed in a place booked from misterbandb.com very last minute (in fact just about 2 weeks before my trip) and the host kept asking me if I am sure I wanted to stay there due to the distance away from downtown.. Since I don't mind sharing a place with the host, I chose his place. As he's currently away in Mexico, we arranged for the keys and he taught me how to go to his place, how to get the keys.. If he is around, he would have met me by the door (or at least that's how I imagined it to be hahhahahaaaa)

I said I don't mind really, as long as it's near the metro I'm all good.. True enough, his place is just next road from the metro, a slow 5 minutes leisure stroll away along a nice small park.. And it has a private hotsprings tub that's big enough for a few guys, I reckon, measuring myself in it..

The total journey from airport to his place in Xinbeitou involved 2 transfer: one at transfer in Taipei Main Station and another transfer in Beitou, and takes roughly 1 hour 40 minutes..

Well, it did rain 2 whole days on Saturday and Sunday and it just spoiled all my plans.. It was not a heavy one, just light drizzle that just irritatingly won't stop until the sunsets (there goes the beach and pool and nude sunbathing plans *shucks*).. It only stopped at night, making the night quite cool..

I was already sweating the moment I stepped out of the room and walk 20 metres to the lift..

It takes about 15 minutes to fill up the tub, I reckon it can fit 3-4 guys of my size comfortably

After settling down, I took the train to the other end of the Tamsui-Xinyi line to Xiangshan Station and hike up 15 minutes to the first lookout point, overlooking Taipei city..

The amount of people here is just painstakingly annoying..

All drenched in sweat, from the hiking actually.. see how my clothes stuck to my chest..

Coming down from Xiangshan, I walked to Taipei 101 for some free aircond to cool down, and then take the metro to Shilin to grab something to eat.. with my limited Mandarin, I think I did pretty good, ordering dinner and taking away food to bring back to eat..


Next, do you want to know which saunas I went to in this Taipei trip? I went to 2, and over next 3 days 
Stay tune!

Dilemmas

I have a lot of things I want to rant about these days..

Sometimes I am like what-the-fuck, and I stopped giving fucks.. One part of me is like "whatever shit I don't fucking care anymore" but another part of me is like "but it bothers me so much".. you know what I mean?

I'm talking about life, about work, about people in general..

I'm so tired sometimes.. Like what's the point to it all.. I felt like I'm at a crossroad dilemma, die if I go on, die if I don't.. They say passion don't pay bills, but passion makes you want to go to work each day..

The passion is still there, however I am just not feeling productive anymore.. Each day I wonder what else could I be doing since it's the same shit different day..

---

Then, I've been thinking long and hard about this ex-date from years ago whom I used to date for quite a while.. we were good but we were not boyfriends.. I walked away because he wasn't comfortable being himself and wasn't comfortable being gay, and to be seen in public with me.. It's as though he's ashamed to be seen in public with me.. He would always act like we're strangers if he happens to bump into familiar faces.. I can't take that.. I want no pretensions whether at home or outside, I want to know it's the same person I'm dating regardless where we were..

Then he bought a new house and moved in, I helped him picked some of his furnitures and fittings, go to expo after expo, but I didn't feel like I have a place in his life.. helping him set up his home opened up my eyes a little bit more, that it was obvious that there's no us in the future..

But the thought came about as I seek closures.. I want to know if the spark is still there.. I want to know if he has changed any bit or is he more comfortable with himself now..

I did a little Twitter poll.. and at press time, more "no" than "yes".. more people polled no I should just let it be bygones..

But I want to know if ever there's any possibilities of getting back together provided he's more comfortable now, after all, it was me who walked away..

....

Then on the other hand, something good in the meantime, my parents paid the balance of my home loan.. I've been going to the bank and lawyer's office to get the documents in order.. with the mortgage finally out of the mind, I can fully focus on getting my finances in order.. my car loan is ending in 2 months as I have paid months in advance.. and lastly would be the credit cards which I am planning to axe..

I have also submitted application already of a second property on the edge of Mont Kiara, but I did not get the ballotting.. not sure if there's any units left now.. My parents have promised they will help me with the downpayment if I successfully get a unit, but the property would require a bigger financial commitment which I seriously don't think my current pay can support..

Which led me to the first dilemma above..

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I've also seriously considering entering the family business but that would require me to relocate, which I am not ready.. I have the free will and option to join whenever and if I want to.. younger me wasn't interested at all, but the older me is telling me to seriously consider that option.. my parents only joined after retirement from their career! So I could do the same too twenty thirty years later.. There left my brother and I being the male descendants, my brother has indicated he's not keen and went on to take up permanent residency in a foreign country with no intention to return.. and that leaves me.. so I was made a director so that my name is up there alongside with my male cousins as the third generation heir..

Taking an active role in the company would meant an express route to financial freedom, but at the expense of family drama and politics - which I strongly hate.. maybe things will change twenty thirty years later when I have nothing else to do.. or if I am still alive..

---

So yaa sometimes I just wish to go home and lock myself at home and just scream, FUCK YA ALL!!!

Shameless photos

Was on a working vacation to Club Med Bali recently, and in the midst of all the working and gathering information, there's also personal time to enjoy the resorts.. and take some shameless photos.. decent one that is..

I mean there's also uncensored ones, but I shall keep that for another time..

So enjoy..

The gay scene in Penang from a personal perspective

So for the past 7 weeks, I was in Penang the whole time, apart from work, I also go to the gym.. 

I hate to say this, even though Penang has plenty of nice food, I lost 5kg despite I ate a lot, double servings usually or up to 3 servings for dinner.. 

I attribute my drastic weight loss to the workload in Penang office, I have said it many times, I felt very fed-up and frustrated there.. I could understand why people leave cos I feel it myself too.. hence I guessed it was really stressful and I also did not sleep well every night..  

All in all, as a tourist, Penang is pretty alright, but to work and stay there, I felt Penang is relatively quiet and boring.. everyday I was counting down to the day when I eventually come back to KL.. 

As entertainment, I decided to check out the gay scene, I will break my thoughts down in bits and pieces, and do note they are my thoughts and I stand corrected if any.. 

I came back briefly for a day for the election and flew off in the evening after casting my vote.. In fact I burnt my return flight ticket scheduled for midnight and flew back to Penang on an earlier evening flight.. 

And finally drove back on Friday after Pakatan Harapan won the elections and a 2 days public holiday was declared.. I stayed back on Thursday just in case there's things to follow up, but since there's nothing to do, I checked out earlier and left on Friday straight back to KL..

I do miss home.. 

1. Seventy7 Nagore Square, Jalan Nagor

This is a gay bar.. I did not go because I do not have friends who drink and I rather not go socialise alone.. In fact, my 7 weeks in Penang was so boring I only go out with friends on weekends and spending time with my parents at home.. Weekdays I just work and go gym and then back to the hotel.. 

So I have no comments to make about this place.. It's just that it was so near to my hotel, just a few minutes walking distance, I feel I need to mention it.. 

Coming from Burma Road, as you approach Jalan Nagor, turn right just before Penang Plaza.. Seventy7 is just on your left.. 

2. Permata Sports Complex

Situated in Paya Terubong at the edge of Air Itam, this swimming pool features open showers and is always cruisy, especially in the evenings.. In the weekend mornings, it's quiet, but nothing short of cruising activities both in the pool and showers.. Every time I was there, there was always some light action in the showers..

Entrance is RM5 and the swimming pool is a 50m Olympic-sized pool with a one lane of 25m and in another corner, the deep end for diving.. Such a weird combination for a pool.. 

You may read more about it in posts below..

3. Romeo Sauna, Butterworth

I admit I did come here a few times on the weekends.. Entrance is RM20 (or was it RM25, can't remember cos I always have big notes and didn't check the change).. It's a small community sauna which I kinda prefer rather than big commercialised one.. I kinda like the settings despite some dirty old men (then again, where were they not be at?)

Action happen mostly in the steam room and dark room.. I don't understand why there is a platform in the dark room, a mis-step for a newbie and you can kick it and hurt your shin badly! 

It has a small open shower area with just 2 shower heads, but closed off from the outside with a curtain and frosted glass.. I also noticed some drinks and snacks near the entrance but I never bothered with it.. 

From Penang Bridge

Zoom-in

Layout of Romeo Sauna
*not to scale

I admit the place wasn't easy to find at all! But once you know where is it, you can't help but notice how easily and convenient it is to get there.. I am pretty sure there's a reason why they chose to be low-profile and kept their location a hush-hush thing, so if you want to know where is it exactly, just let me know.. 

One hint, it's just 1 minute from Juru Autocity and 5 minutes away from the Penang Bridge.. 

4. 1st Avenue toilet

Now this is one toilet that is wayyyyyyyy too busy to cruise.. It's the one that's outside Oppo, same level as the bridge to Komtar and Prangin..  I don't know why it makes the list..I went in to check to see how cruisy it is, but no.. too crowded all the time.. 

I go to 1st Avenue because of Texas Chicken on the LG floor!! 

5. Ground Floor toilet North Zone beside Padini, Queensbay Mall

Again, this toilet is way too busy with plenty of people in and out.. I mean, I do notice some eyes and people who stay longer than necessary in the toilet at the sinks but I just dismissed it off.. just way too busy.. 

6. Peepholes, cinema toilet Queensbay Mall

Now this is what I call a proper cruise toilet.. peepholes in each cubicle on both sides of the wall! People know, cos it's obvious but I guess nobody cares.. 

There are others like Padang Brown, Udini Square, Redwall, Moongate etc but as I did not specifically check them out, I cannot say for sure.. 

Get your updated cruising places at Blowing Wind/Utopia etc 

THANK YOU MALAYSIANS!

We did it!

We won!

The mother of all elections, the dirtiest ever and one that is a go-all-in or go-home kind.. Malaysians kicked out Najib, Umno, MCA dogs and Barisan Nasional and put in place a new federal government..

The last 11 days have all been #509 change the government, #kitamestimenang.. rallies upon rallies.. urbanites are staunch Pakatan Harapan supporters, it's the rurals that are hard to read..

I've said it before and it's clear which side I am supporting.. It has not been an easy journey since 2008..

But thank god it's all over..

We've won..

Holding up the PKR flag at one of the political rallies

I fly the flag in my car

Done my national service duty..
Cast my vote in Bandar Utama under Damansara