For the past 2 weeks, I've been incessantly raving about Hong ad nauseum. Although I don't think I owe my poor friends an apology for going on and on about him (hahaha good things must share ma u know?), I do owe myself this long overdue post. Have been sitting on it for days, so I guess I better get started before the memories fade away accidentally....
After a 5+hr uneventful flight, finally arrived in Taipei. The airport looked so familiar yet I felt so alone (well I was alone what...haha). At the immigration, the officer looked at my passport and then at me. He asked, 你来过台湾吗？I said 有啊，今年一月刚来过。He said, 你怎么那么喜欢来台湾啊？很好玩吗？Huh??? What kind of stupid question is that? Cannot meh? I like what. I tried to contain my snarl and replied 哦，我来会朋友啦。。。 Which is true anyway. Tsk tsk. They should report him to Jolin Tsai (is she the Taiwan Tourism Ambassador now?)
At the 飞狗counter, I wasn't quite sure what ticket to buy (cos always not I buy de ma), so I was anxiously waiting for them to tell me that the bus was here. Was afraid I would miss the bus cos Candy and 小丘was waiting for me near the hotel already. Bus finally arrived after half an hour wait (felt like 2 hrs!). When I alighted at the bus stop near the hotel I was stumped cos it was in the middle of the road, and I had no idea which direction to go. Never felt so lost in Taipei before. Called Candy to get directions and took a short walk to the hotel. Weather was great!!! Nice and cool! Lovely....
When I stepped into the hotel, I was taken aback. Sorry la, but I was too used to the likes of Wonstar Hotel and Rainbow Hotel, but what was before me looked more like Marina Mandarin lor! I exclaimed to Candy 不是吧！我们需要住那么豪华的酒店吗？！Hahaha. 小丘，YoYo and her little daughter 欣贝（Bella）were waiting for me for dinner. Poor things must have been famished! Hehe.
Yo Yo's husband drove us to Rao He night market for dinner. We had this bee hoon soup meal with vege, meat and doufu. Simple yet delicious fare. After dinner, we decided to buy a few 胡椒饼back to try. The previous trips I never got to try cos the queue was always too long. But hor, we didn't eat it immediately when it was hot cos we were very full, so by the time we ate it in the hotel, it was hard as rock and the filling was just too meaty! Yucks! I hate pork meat and in such a big chunk, it was just off-putting. Don't think I'll try it again.
欣贝kept saying she wanted to 睡觉but became happy when we said we'll bring her go eat chua bing. Basically it's just like our SG ice kachang, but you get to pick your own ingredients to fill into the bowl before handing it over to the lady to put the ice on. Quite cool!
Oh ya, and this is cutie 欣贝, who wanted to go home already so wasn't in the mood to pose with us hahaha. She listens to Hong's songs also leh, and also calls him Uncle like the rest of the fans! Haha!
Before I arrived in Taipei, Candy and 小丘had gone to recce the 台北国际会议中心where Hong would be holding his 2-night concert. After our meal, they wanted to go back there and have a look if Hong was having his rehearsal so I just followed lor. True enuff, Hong was already there with the crew and I-have-no-idea-who-else looking serious and in deep discussion. His back was facing us so we didn't want to disturb him by calling out to in. After all, we had sneaked in. Haha. We settled ourselves in some seats further back and thought we'd stay for awhile, but this man came to us and ask 你们是康仔的。。。。？？Iyo, again a funny question. Can I say we are his girlfriends? Sisters? Why Taiwanese ask such weird questions de? Anyway he told us we couldn't stay there as Hong was having rehearsals and asked us to leave. 小丘was fuming but I thought never mind la, anyway I was tired liao and I didn't wanna disturb Hong also.
Headed back to the hotel and chit chatted with Candy before finally turning in. But I tell you, the pillows at the hotel suck! So flat! But it was too late and I was too tired to call housekeeping for more pillows so I had to bear with it.....
After all, we only live once.
Sis posing for a pic while waiting for our food.
Lighting was dim so my pic......haha
The seafood platter - we paid $22 dollars leh!!!
Mushroom and bacon pasta
After nua-ing for quite awhile at Barfly, we finally moved our butts to Lunar. Oh yah, actually before dinner we went to get our tickets first. I was in a fluster cos I had 2 separate arrangements for the tickets and the table. Alvin, who is also the drummer playing for Hong that nite helped book a table for me and my friends, while Adeline managed to help me get on the guest list hehehe... Anyways, met up with Yam, Chris, Celestine and her cousin and we proceeded into the bar for some drinks before the show started. Xiuwen joined us much later. At about 10.30, one of the resident bands started to play. As we heard that Hong was going to be performing around 10+, we all gathered at the side of the stage to standby in case Hong comes out soon.
Song after song the band sang, more and more people gathered. But still no sign of Hong. After the interval, the band played a second set. Our patience were wearing thin, and my legs were breaking cos I was wearing my highest of heels!!! Argh! At 12am, Hong wasn't even out! I wanted to scream cos we were so tired and it was not so nice for the young girls to go home so late. Was sms-ing with Candy and we were both wondering what the hell happened to Hong? Having chicken rice? Taking a long nap?? Hahaha.
FINALLY, at abt 1240am, Hong finally appeared. I tell you, I never felt so sian when I saw Hong. My face was black to the max and my legs were ready to collapse. We had waited for 2+hrs lor! But as soon as Hong opened his mouth to sing, we all melted. Redemption. The long wait was well worth it. It's so great to hear him sing live after such a long time and what made it better was he sang with a live band and we were able to see him upclose. I was (desperately) trying to catch his attention as he walked around the stage to sing. This short butt-shaking uncle had conveniently planted his opaque self in front of me so I had to stand super straight to look over his head. Thank god for my high heels. *smooches shoes*. With one hand armed with the camera (with the pouch dangling and occasionally swiping past the uncle's head hahaha), I tried to wave at Hong. Almost gave up cos the pub was dark and the place was packed. But I did not have to try too long before Hong saw me. Yay! When he saw me, his face lit up with recognition and he waved hard at me hahaha. And he did his trademark pointing and smiling at me. Wahahaha. Luckily he saw me if not I would be quite sad cos I knew I won't have the chance to speak to him later le. Anyway, when he saw me, all my friends wanted to beat me cos they say Hong always only recognise me! Haha of cos la, cos only I keep appearing in front of him since many years ago ma. Maybe me and Singapore are synonymous to him! Hahaha!
Hong's showcase lasted about 45 minutes and it was fantastic cos he did a variety of songs - Cantonese, Mandarin and an English song "Just Once". So nice!!! The crowd adored him and I could see he was very high also. This showcase was definitely worth the 2 hour wait cos it felt like a concert, complete with streamers and confetti at the end of the show. Even got encore!! hahaha. I was impressed and slightly amazed.
Hope he would come back here and have a concert soon...hopefully after his "Shanghai Blues" musical in SG next February and his HKG concert in April. Keep our fingers crossed!
Raw cabbage with some spicy miso sauce - it's the appetiser served at every table. So big!!
Yakitori quail eggs with teriyaki sauce 
Yakitori chicken and chicken balls
Yakitori scallops wrapped in bacon
Ebi tempura
Sashimi - forgot what fish is this le, but it's one of the fish of the day...
