since i've been gone

i've been so relieved that there are no more problems at NMMBA to deal with... and no outrageous suggestions given by the mentor that would continue to make me sad and depressed with the knowledge that i didn't accomplish as much as i'd like this summer.

so, the night before leaving NMMBA, we decided to have a final dinner party at the apartment, to celebrate all the good times we had despite the bad that happened. i'm really going to miss hanging out with them, especially because of the circumstances, we were forced to cope together, but also grew together as great friends. and needless to say, we also celebrated with some beer. robert, as usual, has no tolerance, so unfortunately, he was made to sleep outside at 3 am after we all tried taking care of him. haha, he was still trying to play the mahjong game that ended 2 hrs before that fiasco. oh man, ohhhhh man.

because of that, michael and i left at 6:00am for the HSR station in Kaohsiung without robert (also because he wasn't packed and we couldn't wake him up). we both got to Taipei at 11am, michael leaving with the TTFRI person, Dr. Chau Chin Lin, and me with my uncle, who picked me up at the station. then i proceeded to sleep the next few days away to recover from the lack of sleep and also hung out with my cousins and caught up with my relatives and such.

[view of Taipei 101 from my uncle's place on the 6th floor]

we all finally recovened back together on monday afternoon to leave with the TTFRI people going to their field station in Nantou, the only county in Taiwan that does not have a border touching the water. we stopped for a bit at some restaurant and a bakery place and proceeded to head up the mountain. then chilled for the night, chatted a bit, watched a horrible movie called dead or alive, and then went to sleep.

the next morning was a 200 meter(?) vertical hike up a mountain to get up to the mountain observatory. then, when we got to our destination, we climbed up the 18 meter tall observation station that had no rails or side protections... haha. the view was absolutely amazing and gorgeous, though the hike up was much harder than most that i've done.

[view from the top of the observation tower]

[looking down from the top]

[creepy spider that dropped down in front of my face on the hike down 0_0]

we all left at around noon to send Dr. Lin to the bus station before the remaining people and us left for another mountain... which was even MORE spectacular and awesome than the last one. we ended up in the high mountain regions in the Taroko National Park. it was literally like being in a different country... the terrain was different, the temperature was about 16 degrees celsius at the peak of the day, the trees were mostly coniferous instead of deciduous, and the air was the crispest i've ever breathed... astounding. the night before, armed with only 3 tshirts, shoes, and capris, i walked outside and just took in the amazing view of the stars.... and saw the entire milky way galaxy. it made me feel small, but not insignificant because i knew that it was a special thing to be able to appreciate and take in the wonders of the sky.

[one of the amazing views]

after that, we left.. and got to Taichung at around 4-5pm. took a little break before heading out to find food. oh yeah.. our place of residence, also amazing. the shower is awesome, we each have a room to ourselves... yay!

so for the past 2 days, we've been here, and have walked the 35 minutes to NCHC (which isn't all that bad, but i have no tolerance for heat and exercise). we'll be having our final presentation on monday morning in the 3D theater room at NCHC, so that'll be fun and interesting... then afterward, it's truly break. the only problem now... is that i've seen to have gone to most of the places i should visit in Taiwan, haha.

i'm going to be back in the states on SEPTEMBER 13, for those of you who never remember these things (*ahem*kelli*ahem*). then it'll be time to move in, and time for the beginning of school and taiko.