-Apple Tart and Amazinggg Steak
Aside from the amazing food, I recently came across some disturbing pictures of my youth in my Grandmother's house.... LOOK at me. Boy, have I changed! Some of my friends are convinced I got work done on my face. But baby, I am allll naturalllllll.
Seriously, if you gave me an iPad at their age, I would have smashed it. These kids are brilliant! they know how to choose apps and actually PLAY them the right way. -____- Kids are just getting smarter hahah
Well, this is about all I've done in the first half of November. I'm planning on having a Thanksgiving dinner celebration somehow in the end of the month AFTER November 27 though, since that is the next round of the competition, which is for top 14!!
-My Grandma's Homemade Chaphagetti (Northern Chinese Style)
- Beef Noodle Soup (Amaaazing in Taipei)
- Dessert buffet (f*cking amazing....ly fat) Worth it.
Aside from the amazing food, I recently came across some disturbing pictures of my youth in my Grandmother's house.... LOOK at me. Boy, have I changed! Some of my friends are convinced I got work done on my face. But baby, I am allll naturalllllll.
As many of you know by know, this is my best friend in Taiwan, Simone Shaker. We did Million Star Avenue Singing Competition (Season 5) together, and have been fighting for our dreams ever since. She's a hard working girl and has done modeling competitions, acting in drama series, and hosting shows since we've met. However, sadly, she's recently moved back to China so I won't be seeing her anymore which is terribly depressing. I'm glad we hung out a lot before she left and we pigged out at Shida Night Market before she left for her last fix of amazing Taiwan food. This is her eating Oyster Pancakes and Deep friend Chicken
This is us....removing our black heads. The stuff I use REALLY gets the lil fuckers out. Effective magic
So I was going to go meet one of my friends for dinner and came across this handicapped man selling self-made windmills. It was a windy day, appropriately, and seeing him sitting there with all these spinning objects was a really cool site so I took a picture to capture the moment. I probably should have bought one... Next time...
Met up with Nicole, a friend I recently met, but she and I clicked really fast. Knowing my love for dumplings, we went to eat at a dumpling restaurant near exit 2 Sun-Yat Sen Memorial MRT station. IT was amazingly good, will be getting my dumpling fix there again!
Afterwards, we hit up Mango Cha Cha for some Mango Ice. Perfect dessert after a perfect dinner. Nicole and I can talk for hours. I'm glad to have friends I can connect with here in Taiwan.
The next day, my cousin Larry asked me to go out with him and his family and friends to lunch at a steak house. Larry's from California and I haven't seen him in a year. The moment he saw me, he said "Holy CRAP, you are TOO skinny. Eat something" and said I looked completely different in just one year. Haha. Well, the lunch was amazing @ A Cut Steakhouse in the Ambassador Hotel. The main chef is Larry's friend, and the steaks were foodgasmic. The prices aren't too bad, so I recommend it to steak lovers in Taipei.
Well, Larry brought his two adorable kids, Taylor and Tiffany and his friends brought their children. Aside from the normal running around and laughter of children, I came across a sight that reminds me how different children are nowadays from when I was a kid:
Behold. The new 2 year-old toy norm: the iPad
Seriously, if you gave me an iPad at their age, I would have smashed it. These kids are brilliant! they know how to choose apps and actually PLAY them the right way. -____- Kids are just getting smarter hahah
Picture with Larry and wife Eva. Great to see you guys! I'm wearing glasses because I've been wearing contacts to the point that my eyes are getting red and tired. I hate the way I look though, cuz my lens are thick and make my eyes looks small. But funny thing is, people recognize me on the street cuz of the show more when I have my glasses on. Weird..
The next day, I had dinner with Stefan and friends. Stefan has come to every round of Super Idol to support me and has brought his friends to come as well. He's really helped me a lot giving me advice on my singing and helping me get more support from his friends and such. I'm happy to have met him (we met cuz I didn't know how to read the bus station plaque and asked him to help me translate cuz he was the only stranger nearby) Funny how a simple question can lead to such a great friendship!
Here is one of the weird things you wouldn't see in the States at dinner:
a straw to help drink bone marrow.....
yeah....
interesting right?
After a game of bowling (and realizing I've lost my touch-Once in my life I once got 160 and that's after I was given french fries as energy, but this time I barely broke 100 -__-) we went to chill at McDonald's. Caught this cute sight of a guy with his "girlfriend" (as we called it). The dog was SO cute and obedient and just sat there like this the whole time, and would politely eat the food her owner handed to her. They really looked like a couple at dinner. ahahha
So this past Saturday was the rounds for Top 17 and 16. I was a bit nervous because I had to learn choreography and lyrics to two songs I never sang before in less than 2 weeks (choreography, I only had 3-4 days). I just didn't know how things were gonna go, but I just knew I was gonna give my all, no matter what. Amazing thing is, I got the two highest scores I've gotten all season. I literally jumped on stage and did a happy dance (I hope they edit THAT out) But although it's good to get high scores, it only means I have to do EVEN better next time...
No pressure....NNooooo pressure
So before every round, we have to record a short pre-performance blurb. Usually for me they never show what I recorded cuz apparently they're either TOO boring or maybe my Mandarin isn't clear enough -____-. ONe day. I know they'll use it...
Had to take a pic of myself on TV....
Just a bizarre feeling seeing yourself on TV and singing your heart out.
Keep Fighting!!
One day, I got a random message from John Paul, a fellow Hokie from Virginia Tech saying he was in Taipei studying abroad. He didn't realize I was in Taipei, so when I got his message, I was really surprised! We decided to meet for lunch at Forkers for hamburgers (we need our American fix, obvi). John Paul's a realllly good swing dancer and it was cool to meet up with someone from the states in Taipei, of all places. Oh, also, he speaks Mandarin like a pro.. like...better than me -___- A real go-getter. Just got up one day and decided to live in China for awhile. Not many people have the guts to do that, so I was really inspired by this guy
Last night, I attended my friend Jennifer Chou (柔柔）Mini-music jam at Vinyl near Shida Night Market. Jennifer is another good friend of mine in Taipei that I recently met, but then she is ALSO leaving me to return to California to continue her studies. She's very musically talented (and did Million Star Avenue Season 3-top 12) and I learn a lot from her as well. Keep it up, Jen!
The menu was very creative. On a vinyl record. Cool, eh?
Jennifer, singing her heart out. Great sets and great band. Very proud of her
A lot of previous Million Star contestants came out to support Jenn's good-bye mini-concert, including Season 4's 梁一貞 and 林鴻鳴。 It's cool that 林鴻鳴 (guy on the left) recognized me from Super Idol and told me to "Add Oil!" It's also kinda bizarre that I used to watch these guys on TV back in the states, and now I get to meet them in person
With other past contestants from the show.
And pic with Kelly Poon 潘嘉麗, a Singaporean Singer based in Taiwan, who started her career from a Singapore singing contest called Project Superstar. She's a good friend of Jennifer's and has a few hits herself, so it was nice to meet her.
Well, this is about all I've done in the first half of November. I'm planning on having a Thanksgiving dinner celebration somehow in the end of the month AFTER November 27 though, since that is the next round of the competition, which is for top 14!!
Holy crap, it is getting TIGHT and TOUGH! (that's what she said)
Hope to bring you good news next time. Gotta get these next two songs strong and ready...Wish me Luck!!
