My Little Student Leader aka Prefect

30 March 2015 (Mon):

Rachel has been appointed as Student Leader aka Prefect.

When she told me about it last week as I was looking through her school activity notification form, I was half believing. Rachel as a student leader?!?! LOL.

The Prefects Investiture's rehearsal was held last Fri where she was present the Class Leader Badge???

This Certificate of Appointment was presented to Rachel for being appointed as a Prefect.

According to Rachel, she mentioned that her HOD told all P2s appointed student leaders will get the Class Leader badge first.

This is the Student Leader's pledge.

Grade 1 RAD Ballet Exam

30 Mar 2015 (Mon):

Rachel's Grade 1 RAD Ballet Exam falls on this coming 20 April 2015. The character shoes and character skirt and the sleeveless leotard are part of requirements. Oh my, the character shoes and skirt do  not come cheap.

Chingay 2015 - We Heart SG

28 Feb 2015 (Sat):

L n R were perfoming in the Wushu Contigent for this Chingay 2015 parade. Hence, we purchased the tickets through their Da Shi Xiong, Steve.

Practices begun back in early Nov 2014 and as the sessions became in depth, both the kids and the parents felt the strain as every Sat was spent doing practices and rehearsals. All the kids would only arrive back to the respective CCs after 11pm.

Luckily we have the wushu seniors, parent volunteers, da shi xiong (Steve) n da shi jie (Monica)to keep the practices sane and the kids well looked after. They would keep us parents updated thru watspps on the kids' practices, the whats to note and whats not to do, their progress and the time the kids left the practice grounds and the approx time they would arrive back.

Naturally, there would be reports on kids losing this and that item and both shi xiong n shi jie would try to find replacements. And then, there would be cases whereby the students reported sick and hence unable to turn up for the practices. Steve and Monica were very understanding and did not push. If the kids insisted on coming for the practices, Steve n Monica would update the parents on the status of the sick child.

CNY 8th day - Taiwan Vacation ~ Taipei to Singapore

26 Feb 2015 (Thurs):

This was the day we will be leaving Taiwan for Singapore which means, the last day of our vacation.

With no agenda for the day, I suggested going to CSK Memorial Hall as I wanted to catch the Guard Changing Ceremony. I took videos too.

This is just a little snippet of the ceremony. The whole ceremony is about 15 mins long.

We had Tim Sum back at Ximen and shopped around for another luggage. We bought too many stuff and our luggage was over-weight..

Ah Mao Risotto. This is really the dog at the entrance of the cafe.

Without realizing our flight was delayed for 2 hours, we checked in and was told of the delay. What to do but laze around and did more shopping. Luckily, Taoyuan airport was big with many things to see and we had some meals at the eateries around as well.

6 days in Taiwan is definitely NOT enough. I will be back, hopefully soon.

CNY 7th day - Taiwan Vacation ~ Taipei

25 Feb 2015 (Wed):

Today was a little "grey" day. I do not meant the weather. Our moods were a little affected by a wastage of time.

Train departs Taipei Main Station for Ruifang at 1005hrs which means we were hanging around at the station for 35 mins.

The ride to Ruifang station takes about an hour, arriving at approx 1105hrs or less.

There were many people and we got to queue to buy the tickets for the unlimited rides on the Pingxi Rail. Nonetheless, the queues moved fast but by the time we were done, the train on the Pingxi Line was too crowded for us to squeeze in. The next train would only come 1 hour later.

So we had some munchies first and headed straight for the last station on the Pingxi Rail when the train came. See how much time was wasted already.

First stop: Jing Tong Station.

Next, Pingxi Station.

Last, Shifen Station.

We spend a good 1 hour - 1.5hours at least at each station, though there were very little pics to show.

Mainly walking around the town area and exploring the vast countryside.

Shifen Waterfall, which we had to take a cab to the entrance as walking from the rail station was very far. And it closes at 1630hrs.

We released sky lanterns after writing our wishes for 2015. 

Back at Shifen station, we  set of fire crackers and fire works, much to the kids delight.

Back at Ximen, we had our late night dinner and saw Ah Zong Mian Xian. Not too bad. 

CNY 6th day - Taiwan Vacation ~ Taipei

24 Feb 2015 (Tues):

Aiyoyoyo...its raining..wah sianz lor! Hubby suggested going to the National Palace Museum first. On our way out to the MRT station, we passed by this Tien Hou Gong and decided to have a look and pray for good weather as well.

Take the MRT to Shilin Station, exit 1 and transfer to bus #304 just outside the station. In fact, there are a number of buses going to National Palace Museum.

No photos are allowed inside. Rachel was whimpering as her legs were tired from all the walking. Nothing fancies her inside the museum.

Towards Danshui, take the red line down to Bei Tou Station and interchange towards Xin Bei Tou and this brings you to the Xin Bei Tou Hot Spring Museum and Thermal Valley.

Every blog i saw and read has this " TO XINBEITOU " icon taken and so did I. Once you alight from the train, its on the platform. Coming down from the escalator, you will also see this 6 little man sculpture.

There is only 1 exit. Walk towards the main road, you see will directions for Zhong Shan Road. Crossed the traffic junction and walked towards Zhong Shan Road. The Ketagalan Culture Centre is on your left and further in, the hot spring museum is on your right..

Walked all the way in, you should bypass the Millenmium Public Hot Spring Bath and a little further up on your left, is the way towards the Thermal Valley.

I was half expecting strong sulphuric smell from the waters but it was a pleasant environment.

We made our way down to Danshui where we ate, shopped, ate and shopped all the way till late night.

We caught the sunset and it was really a magnificent view.

Lover's Bridge as the name implies is located at Fisherman's Wharf. You need to take a ferry for this.

When we went to purchase the ferry tickets, we were told they have only 1 way ticket and we can take Red #26 bus service back to Danshui station.

So being Lover's Bridge, the 2 monkeys decided to take a couple of shots of us and of cos, not forgetting a family portrait as well. :)

And this LOVE icon as well, cool.

We took the #26 bus back to Danshui Station, dumped our shopping stuff at the public lockers at  NTD10 per hour, and off for more shopping again.

My last destination for the day was supposed to be Shilin Nighht Market but we were all so tired, I decided to forego it.

CNY 5th day - Taiwan Vacation ~ Taichung to Taipei

23 Feb 2015 (Mon):

This day, we made our back to Taipei City via U Bus again. Our destination for the day: Leofoo Village.

I took this video in " Abrabian Night " perfomance. We were not even aware of this perfomance. We were directed into the theatre after we emerged out from our lazer maze game.

It was a whole day spent here at Leofoo Village. We took a cab from our hotel in the morning and we decided that taking cab would be our last option back to Taipei City. A fellow Taiwanese seemed to read our minds and told us there is a queue outside of the theme park for the bus going back to Taipei City.

We enquired and was told the bus goes back to Jingan Station which was easy access to Ximen Station where our hotel was.

Back at Ximen Station, we purchased the EasyCard which works the same way as our Easylink or Nets Flashpay Card. For the next two days, we will be travelling via their MRT quite alot, hence this card would come in handy.

Dinner and shopping at Ximen. We stayed at ECFA, Kunming branch and this was located on the 10th floor of an apartment building. The 2nd to 9th floor was all residential units.