My trip to taiwan...

I find that, in times of depression, it makes me feel a lot better to take a step back, reflect on the good times and remember those feelings.

And the easiest way to do this is looking through my photos. I've only just managed to find these photos i took when i returned to taiwan unexpectedly this year.

First stop was to visit Grandma, who was then in her temporary shelter at 慈恩園.

The night of my birthday. It was also the 頭七 for Grandma. This is us burning gold paper for her after the first 助念 for her

I can only imagine what all these is doing to mum.......

Grandma's proper ceremony 30 Jan 2007

All of us dressed in black gowns for the final ceremony before the cremation...

Cremation. Whoever thought of the idea of burning bodies? It hurts to think of someone's body being reduced to ashes. Never to be seen again. It just feels so cruel...

I guess the fire, the smoke, the ceremony, its all necessary for us to cut the tie to the dead?

You know what hurt the most during all these...

Its the sight of my mother, kneeling on the floor, behind my aunty and uncle, sobbing on her own, for her mother, in front of her mother. I can feel her loss, sadness, anger for all that has happened to grandma... and yet we are all powerless to make it go away.

She was so alone.

Me and mum took advise of elders and visited different temples to wish Grandma a safe journey and a peaceful eternity...

There were a few good times, like me revisiting my childhood favourite garden - 中正紀念堂 and the pond in the middle of it. I looked around frantically for the fish food vending machine but sadly they've decided to remove them! They've decided that the fishes become too fat and unhealthy and are not letting us feed the fish anymore. Sucks.

My bro took us to 美麗華's ferris wheel in 內湖 - the biggest ferris wheel in Taiwan. It's the first ferris wheel i've ever been on! After that we went and devoured 2L of cold german beer. That was also the night me and my cousin went to the baseball training field. There are coin-slot machines of balls bowled at you at different speeds! It was so fun. I started off with the 80km/hr ones, and then i managed to have a fair go at some of the 110km/hr ones. Man they're fast! My whole arm and wrist was so sore for a few weeks afterwards!! But for someone who have never played baseball in my life, being able to hit those 110km/hr balls are quite impressive right? =P

Me and my cousin made 3 trips to the Taipei 101 area but eventually on our 3rd go finally ascended to the top. Nice views of Taipei.

I was told that city night views were better so i went at dusk, trying to catch a bit of both worlds. Frankly however, Taipei at night is boring. Dark and can't see much. This evening shot is probably better - you can see the lights, but still bringht enough to see some background.

That night ended with my cousin giving me a ride back to 師大夜市. The night market i used to go and eat all the time. Had my 鱈魚排 at the roadside store which has been there when i was a child. Then went to the local ice shop and had the above strawberry ice...it was soooooo nicE!!!! I would eat that any day, and wats more, you can ask for more ice too!! Cool eh. Only NT$160 as well (that's like NZ$7 i suppose)...but still, way worth it!

It was nice, to have my family all around again.

Even if it was a time of grief, thank you grandma, for bringing us all together, all in one place, even if it was only for a short time.

For as you well know. Who knows when we will gather as such, again.