Anonymous asked: So youre planning on going to Korea for a trip or for school? Lol

Well I actually already went during the past summer for study abroad; however, I treated it like a trip because I was there already, of course i’m going to make the best out of it!

Taiwan Week 1 (the only week lol)

Dear Journal,

I just want to give a heads up but this one will probably be hella long because I’m gonna cram this whole trip into one post

[8/12] - Arrived at the airport (11:09pm). Took the bus to the wrong hostel (~12:50am) Took a taxi to unsuccessful find the hostel (~2:00am). Not a very good first night but I’m very glad that everyone is so nice here. The taxi driver turned off the meter halfway and he encouraged me to speak more mandarin even though mine’s really bad. Ended up staying at a hotel and ranted online for the longest time. Thanks for putting up with me you guys, it’s just so different being alone in a new country T_T 

[8/13] - Time to wake up (9:50am). Breakfast provided by the hotel (~10:10am) Attempt #2 to find the hostel and what do you know, success! :D It’s nice to be around people who speak English and are willing to hang out, I wonder how many friends i’ll make during my 3 nights here (they didn’t even charge me for the night i missed!) :] Anyways, eventually my friends Raymond and Kevin show up so I finally have time to explore! First we look for a quick bite to eat at a pot sticker store and then we head to the hot springs district. At first it was hard for me to adjust to the hot water but then I got the hang out it. To finish the night, we went to the shinlin night market and ate like hell. Yay for cheap food!!

[8/14] - Now that i’m settled in and have friends to hang out with, I decided to go to Raymond this time! It’d be so much easier if I had a phone but it’s alright, I can just rely on meeting places and times. The thing I like about traveling with friends is that you can try new food (based on long lines and taxi driver recommendations)! Afterwards, we decide to go to the National Palace Museum, it was pretty boring but it had it’s good points as well. Dinner time! After numerous transfers on the subway, we finally reach our destination to eat hoi lam chicken! It was pretty good so i didn’t really mind the ride there. Lastly, to end a good day, it must end with a sketchy ass scene! Omg… so we ended up going to the Hua Xi night market. Sketchiest place so far… hookers walking around, sex toy stores with little kids in them, “massage rooms” everywhere, and more… oh man, thank god i made it home safely!

[8/15] -  Wake up and meet up with my friend Pauline. I’m such a kid… time to go to the zoo! Met up with one of Pauline’s friends afterwards and went to this super yummy fried food place (you pick what you want fried (tap ex style)), my standards for popcorn chicken is too high now… Pretty short day, but it’s still not over. Lastly, I decide to check out a club in Taiwan with some friends - super different from Korea but still pretty good (for a hip hop club that is) :]

[8/16] - New hostel = new friends. I really love staying in hostels, everyone’s always so friendly and welcoming :] Sorry to the change the mood but DAMMIT ARIES Y U NO TELL ME YOU’RE IN TAIWAN?! Ended up going to Taipei 101 with my best friend, but after that, he ditched me to go eat with his family. haha jk, it wasn’t a big deal to find food myself and it turned out to be such a feast. I still can’t get over the fact how food is so cheap. nom nom nom :3

[8/17] - Yay a day where I actually have plans and I get to see my friends from my frat! :D Met up with my friends and went to get lunch at this one legendary beef noodle soup place located in a random alleyway. I love the fact that I know some locals that’re willing to bring me to eat at these tiny locations <3 Afterwards, we take the MRT to Tamshui and basically spend the afternoon walking around and enjoying the views :]
P.S. thanks for spotting me Marian! It sucks not being able to use my credit card around here T_T 

[8/18] - Oh man, woke up at 1:20pm today. No biggy though, I didn’t have plans until 2pm anyways! After meeting with Pauline and Michelle again, we finally get our table at the oh so popular “dazzling cafe”. What a classy dessert place, it was good but definitely not my thing. Today was basically eat eat eat and to finish it off, we go to DaDaoCheng wharf to enjoy the fireworks festival. Lastly, McDonald dinner haha

[8/19] - Probably one of the most chill days so far. Waking up at 12 and sitting in bed thinking of something to do for the day. In the end, I ask my landlady for recommendations and off to Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall I go! Just wandering around by myself was pretty chill and I got some pretty nice shots :] Finally it’s time for dinner and I meet up with my CTU friends and get some all-you-can-eat shabu shabu! Honestly, I am so glad that I joined CTU, I met some great people whom I can still count on today. I mean, life’s full of choices, it just depends what you do with it and I’ve gotta say that i’m definitely going to commit more to CTU so one day I can help someone experience a greater college experience. 

[8/20] - My time in Taiwan is slowly coming to an end. Last full day in Taiwan and I get to spend it with CTU people :D First of all, I chilled by myself in the morning, went to XiMenDing to wander the shops and window-shop. Met up with them around 5 for spicy hotpot dinner! And to finish off the day, I finally got to check off ‘visit the Ferris wheel’ off my list. Oh and I met some really cool people at my hostel :D 

[8/21] - Last day in Taiwan!! First of all, I packed earlier so I wouldn’t have to repeat Korea haha. Then I met up with my friend Grace to eat at Din Tai Feng and walk around one last time. Wasn’t a special day but it was very relaxing to wind down after the past 9 days. I’m glad that I was able to get to know the landlady a bit better. I actually ate dinner by myself but I don’t think it could’ve worked out any better, shabu shabu with excellent customer service. And finally, off to the airport I go and before I know it, i’m already heading home…