Taiwan 2019

[Read till the end for the main point.. I know some people just drop out halfway reading...]

Over the last week, I went to Taiwan.. It was actually an unplanned one, an impromptu one, because I had to redeem almost entirely my Enrich miles points which were coincidently expiring by June..

So I frantically searched for a destination and narrowed it down to 3: Singapore, Bangkok and Taipei.. Naturally, Taipei is my obvious choice but I still got a poll ran in Instagram (I'm actually more active using IG than any other social media platforms), and the results were unanimous..

So after "cajoling" my Taiwanese friends and friends in Taipei to free up their time for me, I booked my tickets and accommodation..

Then came the shitty part - my department head was coming to KL the same time I was away, so I had to tell him that I would not be in the country.. I mean I don't actually have to say where I was going other times since I am 24/7 contactable anyway and I work remotely..

Anyway.. forget about shitty work stuffs and let's focus on this wonderful trip..

I flew on MH366 departing Kuala Lumpur at 0905hrs on 15 May.. It was a A330-200 aircraft as Malaysia Airlines have upgraded this route from a 737-800 to a 330-200 and yet the aircraft is practically full..

My pet peeve was of course a non-window window seat! I mean, I checked Seatguru for the seats just to avoid this, and usually I prefer to sit in the middle cabin nearer to the wing (as experience would have taught me, if anything were to happen to the engines, I would be able to see it first)

Imagine my horror when the seat I chose 19A is a non-window window seat!

Don't get me started about the Indian guy seated 19C who leaned over to watch my screen and left his own screen on with the flight path!

Sad case...

MH366 KULTPE breakfast: omelette and chicken sausage with soggy hashbrown

Upon reaching Taipei, I collected my Taoyuan Airport Express MRT tokens because I had pre-bought them on Klook beforehand, it's cheaper to pre-buy, and not to worry about having all NT$1,000 notes on me..

What priority seat?
I sit. Because I am a paying passenger as well, and there is no one else needing it anyway.

Once in Taipei, I made my way to the hotel straightaway.. This time I booked the all male, clothing optional hotel in nearby Songshan - GS Gay Hotel.. Known as the first and only exclusively men-only hotel in Taiwan, I have to give it a try..

I am very glad I did, and I regret not staying longer and throughout the entire trip.. because this place earns 5 stars from me.. just go with an open mind and be nice to people and you'll enjoy yourself..

Initially I booked for only 2 nights, but I extended 1 more night and pay there and then at the counter, because I grew to like this place..

Reception counter and the entrance

One of the showers
Open showers with no divider

Common sinks on the first floor

Corridor
All the rooms are see-through with a lockable door

I picked a shared twin room, and have 3 different room mates throughout my stay.. 

The shower at 2nd floor - the same floor which my room was.
Open showers with no divider

WC on the 3rd floor

Showers on the top floor

More lockers on the top floor, a steam room, a TV room and outdoor terrace

Outdoor jacuzzi.
Please wear something when you are out here - except at night when it's optional.

Lounge at top floor

Part of the locker room at first floor.. it's where you keep your shoes and important documents.
All lockers and doors assigned to you can only be opened exclusively by your wristband.

Being a clothing-optional hotel, it is perfectly ok to just walk around naked, to the toilet or shower, or to other floors to get drink etc or if you are shy, then a towel like most other people.. I don't give a damn, so yeah no clothes needed anywhere in the property, except the ground floor reception of course as it is facing the street.. 

This my room..
The orange wristband is for the room door while the blue wristband is for the lockers.

Most of the guys sleep naked or at least with underwear..
For me, I am used to sleeping naked, so yup I slept naked here as well.

Only on the 3rd night my room mate got a little touchy and started playing with me but he's not my type so I was not in the mood to play with him..

Oh ya, I also met someone who stayed in the next room... In fact from my bed I can see across to his bed.. He arrived a day later, and we clicked right away.. Let's just say, the feeling is mutual and after we left Taiwan, we continued keeping in touch and plan on more things together..

Perhaps I am ready to date again... albeit it being long-distance, I am willing to give it a shot..


PS: All these pictures were shot using my Galaxy A9 phone, and I set the screen to full screen mode, hence the portrait pics looks really long... Hahahhaa...

Taiwan trip 2019

So I just returned from Taiwan..  this trip is much unlike the previous ones but it's because of what I did (or did not do)..

Stay tuned?

Shanghai Chronicles: Weekend in Shanghai (part 1)

This post is all about how I spend my weekend over Saturday and Sunday in Shanghai.. more like a little under 36 hours or so from Friday night after work till Sunday noon as my flight was in the afternoon..

I woke up like this on Saturday morning before checking out of the hotel

Before I begin, let me also mention that this Shanghai trip I have only less than CNY100 in cash with me (balance from Beijing trip), but I loaded CNY1000 into my WeChat to pay for everything that's not paid for by the company.. 

I took a ride on the subway..
Because I only needed single journey rides, I was not allowed to buy a day pass.
So I cannot try out other lines..

And I needed coins and ONLY coins to purchase a single journey ticket.. 

I changed hotel for the weekend, and moved to stay in Crowne Plaza, which is beside Lucca.. I thought since I was going to drink and club in Lucca, I might as well book a hotel that's within walking distance so that I don't have to hail a Didi.. transportation in Shanghai is not cheap..

Exterior of the hotel

Lift lobby

Lobby

Lobby

Toilet & bathtub!

Room

Room.. there's also a massage chair!

After checking into Crowne Plaza, I was too sleepy and took a nap.. when I woke up it was already evening and I told myself I need to go out to The Bund!

Temperature was 10C which was considered warm for the winter..

My first stop was of course to The Bund.. no trip to Shanghai is complete without seeing The Bund, located at the end of the Nanjing Pedestrian Street..

Nanjing Pedestrian Street

Nanjing Pedestrian Street

The street is so long that you have "trams" for hire that goes up and down the street

In the distance, the Pearl Tower in Pudong
Taken from the end of Nanjing Pedestrian Street overlooking towards The Bund
(picture was slightly edited for clarity and to showcase the contrast)

The Bund

Pudong

The Bund

The Bund

It was actually drizzling slightly 

The Bund at night

All the buildings along The Bund is lit up

Very beautiful indeed

At 8pm the lights were up, blinking and shining like stars

One last shot before I go off..

Walking around and enjoying some Christmasy lights along Nanjing Pedestrian Street

I was hungry.. it was about 9pm but I went to check out the then world's largest Starbucks before overtaken by the newest one in Tokyo
(the world's largest Starbucks is now in Tokyo)

A selfie at the main entrance

Upon entering, you're greeted by staff and this giant wall 

The packing area

From the staircase leading up to 1st floor

The merchandise area

After checking out the world's largest Starbucks, I was already very hungry by now and went to look for a place to eat.. and I found this awesome ramen restaurant..

I walked in and found a table by myself.. there's plenty of wait staff around but their job is to serve the food.. Ordering was done in WeChat.. Payment was done in WeChat.. in short, this restaurant does not accept cash or card.. Only WeChat and Alipay..

The menu was in Mandarin words without pictures.. and being not able to read mandarin fluently, I guessed the the name.. I can read simple words like chicken, pork or beef.. so I chose a duck ramen.. and I can read only Coke from the drinks menu... so I chose Coke..

(in actual fact, I don't really like Coke)

Ta-daa.. my food came shortly.. and I didn't regret it one bit.. Enjoyed the meal thoroughly..

I walked into H&M and bought a thick winter jacket, only because it's on sale and it costs only CNY300 LIKE MOTHERFUCKINGCHEAP!! WHERE CAN YOU GET A THICK WINTER JACKET FOR RM180? FUCK MY LIFE! I bought it without hesitation, I probably gonna wear it in Norway this December, if the family trip is confirmed..

After that, I got back to my hotel, got freshen up and walked over to Lucca.. Entry was CNY100 with one drink of your choice.. I of course, chose some rum or whisky I cannot even remember the name..

Award by Timeout displayed at the bar

From where I was seated at the bar, overlooking the bar counters.. the dance floor is on the far right, and the cloak room is actually upstairs to store your winter jackets for CNY5 PER TIME

On the far left is more seating areas..

Despite it raining, it was packed.. I was there alone by myself.. I was being friendly and all but no, I didn't bring anyone back to my hotel..

Don't ask me why..

I don't know..