Taiwan Trip Highlights: Days 1 & 2

Day 1

We arrived in Taiwan, and at my grandmother's house in time for a late lunch. After some rest, we went to the Confuciuis Temple (孔庙 kong3 miao4).

Why would we go there, you ask. Well, my parents are history buffs. So it to the temple we went, though we had already been there the last time we went to taiwan (and the time before, and the time before that... you get the idea.) . I know the temple is a place full of history, but at the risk of sounding shallow, I don't really find that sort of stuff fascinating. But it was fun! Because while my parents were traisping around listening to the guide, my brother and I were taking photographs.


This picture gives you an idea of how much attention we were paying. The guide was speaking to my parents, my brother was taking a photo of the temple, and I was taking a photo of my brother taking a photo. Fascinating stuff, really.
My parents were pleased though. We didnt whine and moan and constantly ask 'What time is it'.

We went back for dinner, and then I watched Espn. If you know me, you'll know that is a highlight. Because I am a sports nut (basketball, badminton, swimming, heck, any sport!), and I don't have ESPN at home. Hence, whenever I go overseas, the first thing I check at the hotel is whether they have the sports channels.

Day 2

My cousin took leave from work to bring around on Day 2, and it really made a difference having a local bring us around. We went to Chi Kan Lou and the area surrounding it. I shall not elaborate on the temples/architecture, as you already know my opinion.

What was important was the food!


I forgot what these round white balls are called, but some of these are cruncy while others are chewy, and there are white sugar as well as dark sugared varieties.


We went for lunch next. What my brother is cutting here is a 棺材板 'guan chai ban' (which roughly translates to 'coffin board'?) Its thick toast where they fry the toast, then cut off the top and dig out the middle. The hollow toast is then the 'coffin' and the top the coffin cover. They then fill the toast with something that tastes like campbell's coup. The soup oozes out when you begin cutting the toast, and it tastes lovely.


After that, it was time for some beancurd. We went a shop that was quite renowned, and the variety available was quite mind boggling. There was white beancurd and black bean curd. You could have your beancurd hot or cold, with red beans, with sweet sauce, with salty sauce, with with pearls (as I did, and you can see in the picture), or with everything if you dare.

We felt bloated after that much food, so my cousin brought us bird watching. The boys went to try to catch crabs, and they caught one, a tiny one, after much yelling and shrieking. I yelled too-- when they tried to bring the crab near me.


We watched the birds in a small wooden hut, and we had to keep quiet so as to not scare birds (if any) away.

I'll end with the pictures of birds I managed to get. It was quite difficult capturing them though, as the big flocks were at a distance from us, so all I managed to get were individual birds, through extensive zooming.

Federer-Tipsarevic Liveblogging, Australian Open 2008

Finally got sports package, and it'll be my first time ever getting to watch the Fed. I'm horribly excited, so I'll try detailing what happens.

Refresh for updates!

Starsports switches over to Federer-Tipsarevic match midway as Blake match drags on. I'm staring at the TV and urging Blake to finish the job, quickly.

Then my computer dies. Wonderful.

Finally get to start.
First set 6-6. Tiebreak. Tipsarevic just 'clobbered the ball'. 3 points all
Tipsarovic serving. 4-3, Tipsarevic
Fed serve and volley 4 all.
Running forehand from Tipsarevic. Wins tiebreak
6-7. 48 mins, first set to Tipsarevic! Fed missed several easy volleys.
Its more competitive than what I was expecting.

Second Set
Fantastic serving by Tipsarevic. Goes up 0-1
Fed's serving better in the second set. Playing patient baseline game, but he's the one making the errors, not Tipsarevic. 40-30 Fed. And then draws level, 1-1.
Nice crosscourt backhand return by Fed. 15-30
Deuce. Adv Federer. Tipsarevic challenges after point is over. Fed thinks its too late to challenge, commenters agree. Challenge holds, point to Tipsarevic who proceeds to win the game.
Crowd seems to be behind Federer. Cheers when he goes up 15-0.
17 unforced errors by Federer so far. Tipsareovic 11.
2-3 Tipsarovic. It was 40-20 to Fed , butTipsarovic saves two break points, and then wins the point.
Fed looks grimmer. Think he has 3 aces from serve, wins the point. 3-3
Tipsarovic serving. Makes 3 unforced errors in a row. Fed up 40-0. But now its Fed's time for unforced errors. 40-30, Fed. Big serve by Tip, deuce. Tipsarovic fights back! Tipsarevic wins the point. Fed's trailing 6-7, 4-5
Very quick serves by Fed. second set 5-5
Federer challenges, but ball is way in. He has 1 challenge remaining. Fed seems to continue his trend of making strange challenges. But we know the +/- error of hawkeye. Is it possible that Fed can actually see more accurately than the computer?
Error by Federer, dumps a return into the net. Tipsarevic 6-5!
Extended rally, fantastic forehand return right down the line by Federer.
Federer wins point. 6-6. We're going to a tiebreaker
Crowd seems to be willing Federer to get back into it.
Flick backhand crosscourt by Federer. Tipsarevic scrambles, seems to get tangled at the net. 4-1
Serve by Federer 5-1. Resigned look on Tipsarevic's face
Federer wins the tiebreak. Second set goes to Fed, 7-6. We're going to at least 4 sets

3rd Set
1-0. Federer
Ace by Tipsarevic. 15-0.
Tipsarevic goes to the net, returns the shot but slips and flals on his butt. Fed easily sends the ball to the other side of the court. 15-15
At 1-0 Fed now. Deuce.
Interesting stat: 16 break point opportunities by Fed today, so far he has succeeded in taking only one.
Deuce no.3 now
Federer up 2-0 in 3rd set
2nd breakpoint opportunity by Tipsarevic. Broke Fed back on serve. Fed 2-1 Tip

Federer 2-2 Tipsarevoc.
Huge serves by Tip to 40-0

Federer 3-2 Tipsarevic
Ace no. 20 by Federer

Federer 3-3 Tipsarevic
Failed drop shot by Tipsarevic, Fed goes up 15-0. Tipis serving but Fed returns excellently. Drop shot by Tipsarevic at net which Federer rushes to and amazingly returns. But Tip is waiting at the net, and he easily taps the ball over. 30-30. Tip coming to the net more now, fantastic forehand and backhand drop volleys, ges up 30-40.

Federer 4-3 Tipsarevic
Reverse Two handed backhand by Tip, right down the line! Fed ace, he now has 21, to Tipsarevic's 8. Another ace by Fed 40-15. The classic cross-court Fed backhand, and the point goes to Federer.

Federer 4-4 Tipsarevic
Fed sends return obviously wide, but stll challenges. 'Out', hawkeye says. Tip serves ace to go to 0-40, and then game.

Federer 5-4 Tipsarevic
15-0 Fed--Extended rally, Tipsarevic really wants this, he races from one end of the baseline to the other to return. Fed takes advantage of his momentum rushing back to put the ball the other way. Fed seems to be getting into stride. He serves to extreme corner of the court, and Tip returns, but can only stand and look as Fed smashes the ball to the other extreme corner.

Federer 5-5Tipsarevic
Remarkable volley at the net as Tip climbs up from 15-40 to deuce. Tip sends ball to extreme right corner, nice position. The Angled backhand return from Fed finds the net, again this afternoon/evening. Fed lost 2 set points in this game.

Federer 5-6Tipsarevic
Tip sends a return wide and yells in frustration. Commentator says that its the first time that he's miscued on a big point. Fed's serve seems to be the only thing that working remotely ok at this point. He just sent a forehand wide, which he normally throws down the line, and he expected it to be in. Wow, magnificent passing shot by Tip. ADV Tipsarevi. He's succeeded in all his break point opporunities. 100%. Cross court winner, and Point to Tip.

Federer 5-7 Tipsarevic
30-0:Whopping ace by Tipsarevic--200km/h. Stunned. Its now set point to Tipsarevic. 2nd set point: Fed dumps a backhand into the net (again), and point to tip.

Tipsarevic leads 2-1! And it had thought before hand that it would be complete Fed dominance. The Serb is much better than I had expected. His serve is good, and he can return shots. That, combined with one of Fed's ho-hum days, is it enough for an upset?

Fourth Set
Federer 1-0 Tipsarevic
0-15 Tip. Federer just sends a forehand long Oh dear. Fed is serving well though. Serves 2 aces to get to 40-15 (I think). 25 aces for Federer so far.

Federer 1-1 Tipsarevic
0-40 Tipsarevic. Fed sends a backhand return wide. That is becoming a familiar motif this evening... 30-40: Federer successful with a slice volley. Fed sends a return wide, Adv Tip. Fed dumps a service return into the net. Game Tipsarevic.

Federer 2-1 Tipsarevic
30-15. Tipsarevic very flat return, drives the forehand return down the line-- Fed puts the ball in incredible positions, but Tipsarevic somehow manages to run this one down for a winner. Federer serves big for the game.

Federer 3-1 Tipsarevic
Tipsarevic sends an obvious drop shot, and Federer capitalizes-- backhand down the line; 15-15. Fed unleashes his crosscourt backhand, Tipsarevic goes for broke, and his forehand misses the line by a meter; 30-15. Double fault, Tipsarevic. Its the first time thats happened in the match for the serb. Is he nervous? 40-15, Fed leading. Break point for Fed, whereupon he dumps a backhand into the net; 40-30. Fed looks calm though. Extended rally, and Tip does admirably returning the ball. But the Fed's position is perfect, and he drops the ball down.

Federer 4-1Tipsarevic
Business as usual for the Fed. Rallies are short, and in his favour

Federer 5-1 Tipsarevic
Lovely inside out backhand by Federer, but it curls a bit too much and is out; 0-15. Its 3 hours into the match. I seem to remember Fed saying part of his preparation/strategy for slams is avoiding unnecessary or 'stupid 5 setters' in the early rounds. Smart play by Fed. He uses a sharply angled passing shot, and Tipsarevic can only watch as the ball flies past; 30 all. Another amazing play; a rushing Federer reads Tip's poorly disguised drop shot, and sends the return to the other end of the court; 40-30 Fed.
Federer sends a drop shot, Tip rushes and retrieves it; Fed sends the ball to the opposite corner. Somehow Tip gets it, Fed drops it, Tip who's seemingly off balance, rushes back and volleys the ball down. Fantastic rally!
7th break point; Fed whips his backhand cross court.

Federer 6-1 Tipsarevic
Miss some action while publishing, but look up to see Fed dump a backhand into the net; 30-30. Fed is still in control through, and wins the game in short order.

We're going to a 5th set!

Fifth Set
Tipsarevic medical time out. Seems that he slightly tweaked an ankle. Trainer is taping it now. Crowd is noisy, and commentator suggests that they have reason to be cheerful given that they paid for an afternoon session yet its 8 at night and they're still watching in the stadium. Thats some pretty heavy wrapping around Tipsarevic's ankle, so it might be a pretty serious sprain.

Federer 0-1 Tipsarevic
Tipsarevic serve and then forehand winner 0-40. He then dumps a forehand into the net right after that though. Federer sends a forehand long, game to Tipsarevic.

Federer 1-1 Tipsarevic
30-0. Tipsarevic sends a return high, and Fed does not hesitate in smashing it. Commentator says Tip seems to be able to read Federer's serve while Fderer has no idea where Tip's serve is going. 30-30 as Fedrere sends a backhand long. 40-30 Tipsarevic dumps a forehand into a net and yells in frustration. Federer changes his serve; that works, and he wins the game.

Federer 1-2 Tipsarevic
0-15; Ace numer 12 by Tip. Three easy points for Tip, goes up 0-40. Federer fails to return Tipsarevic's serve. Game to Tip

Federer 2-2 Tipsarevic
Fed is serving well again.

Federer 2-3Tipsarevic
0-15 both players come to the net, Fed volleys well.
Tip digs himself out of a possible 40-0 again. Tip sends a forehand and Fed, amazingly fleet of foot manages to retrieve, but Tip is waiting at the net and calmly volleys the ball into the opposite corner.
40-30. Fed comes uph with amazing half volley winner.
40-40 deuce.
Amazing forehand by Fed for advantage. But Tip comes right back with a cracking Ace-- 203km/h! 'Incredible effort', the commentator says
Another Tip serve, which Fed returns wide. Adv Tip. I'm on the edge of my seat.
Play is stopped by umpire in the middle of point. Apparently a ball had fallen out of a bag. Fed is not happy about it.
Tip serves, Fed returns wide. Point to Tip

Federer 3-3 Tipsarevic
Fed serves, and its game to him so very quickly.

Federer 3-4 Tipsarevic
Tipsarevic is grunting very loudly now. Awesome groundstroke, Fed seems stuck to the ground. The crowd, which seemed more on Fed's side at the beginning, is now cheering for both.
40-15. Tip forehand to his right corner, Federer sends return to the net.
Big serve from Tipseravic. Game to him! Crowd is going wilder by the moment

Federer 4-4 Tipsarevic
I'm nervous for them too... 15 all.
Clever play by Federer. He looks out of the corner of his eye to make sure where Tip is before sending the ball to the right corner.
Strong forehand by Tip that a rushing Fed fails to return.
Fed is in a potentially sticky situation at 30-30. He looks calm though.
Serve by Fed 203 km/h. Ace no. 32 Thats about the maximum speed of Fed's serves.
Tip sends return to net. Point to Fed

Federer 4-5 Tipsarevic
0-15 Tip forehand winner. Is it me, or does Federer look a tad nervous?
15-40. Serve and Volley by Tip. Great execution, not even a slightest hint of hesitation as he comes to the net.
Tipsarevic forehand, which Fed doesn't manage to get into the net.

Federer 5-5 Tipsarevic
Crowd giving both players a standing ovation.
Federer ace to go 30-0. Fed now has 33 aces so far. The Serb sems to fight back, going to 30-15, but Fed passes him.

Federer 5-6 Tipsarevic
I have to say, Tipsarevic's groundstrokes are holding up to the pressure! He moved Fed around, till Federer couldn't reach the ball.
Awww! Tip sends a flat crosscourt forehand into the net. Audience sighs in unison.
The tension is growing...
Tip sends a forehand wide... as soon as i said hisstrokes are holding up
Another big serve and forehand. This young man can match cools with the Fed. I'm impressed. Tip another fabulous serve to win the point.

And theres no breakpoint in the fifth set. Tension

Federer 6-6 Tipsarevic
Two consecutive aces by Federer
Tip sent an easy drop shot over, the crowd gasped in anticipation, and then Federer slices the ball into, the net. Collective gasp again.
Return by Tipsarevic long. Camera shows Mirza letting out a sigh of relief.

Federer 6-7 Tipsarevic
Tipsarevic's steady serving continues in this set. Marvellous serve by Tip that Fed reaches but can't return; 0-15.
Quite a log rally. Fed sends the ball to the extreme corner, Tip returns it wonderfully to the opposite corner. Fed retrives, Tip error. 15-30
Fabulous flat forehand down for a winner by Tipsarevic. This is tremendously exciting.

Federer 7-7 Tipsarevic
Fed leads 15-0. Seemingly perfect forehand from Tip to draw level 15-15.
Crosscourt backhand by Fed 30-15. 196 Ace by Fed. Serve by Fed that Tip doesn't manage to get cross the net.

Wwill Tipsarevic choke? Or will he win?

Federer 7-8 Tipsarevic
Federer sends ball into net while just trying to keep it in play.
0-30.Tip crosscourt forehand. Very flat. Comentator says that 'shouldn't be possible.' Thrilling.
Tip forehand long. 15-30.
Tough shot by Tipsarevic to try change direction. Ball goes wide. 30-30.
Serve by Tip thats just marvellous, serve to the extreme right corner standing on the left, which leaves Fed perfectly, out of position. 30-40. Whose nerves will crumble next?
Fed forehand into the net! Tip wins point!

Federer 8-8 Tipsarevic
Federer's serve basically working.

Federer 9-8 Tipsarevic
This is crazy. Drop volley by Tip that Fed somehow manages to get. Tip gets to it though, and slidddeeeees it down the line.
Fed unable to crack the groundstrokes of Tip. Fed sends ball into the net. 0-30, Tip
Another brilliant groundstroke by Tipsarevic that Fed can't read. That guy seems unflappable. Perhaps Fed had thoguht Tipsarevic would fold under pressure like Djokovic did?
Fed seems to be getting read on Tipsarevic's serve. breaks him to go 30-40. Tipsarevic does rely a lot on his serve.
DEUCE!
Tipsarevic sends what seems to be a given forehand long.Adv Federer. Crowd is going wild.
Big forehand from the Serb which Fed can't return. Deuce again.
Federer is clutch. High back end volleys. He is visibly agitated after that shot. Break point no.21.
Tipsarevic sends a shot into the net. Mirza is smiling and clapping.

Federer 10-8 Tipsarevic
Fed serving for the match.
Ace no. 31. Just inside the line.
Crosscourt backhand, right into the corner. 30-15
Match point, Federer. He sends the ball into the net.
Fed serve, Serb sends the ball into the net.
Roger Wins!

Final
6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-1) 5-7 6-1 10-8

Respect to Tipsarevic though. He fought Roger all the way. Crowd is giving him a standing ovation. I'm looking forward to more of him.
This match reminds me of another 5 setter, Andy Roddick against Philipp Kohlschreiber. The rhythm of that match was different though. Their game was more reliant on serve-- I mean, Kohlschreiber had 103 winners! And rallies were shorter than the Federer /Tipsarevic match.

OK, thats it, folks. I need food.
I'm drained just from watching the match. Whew.

Introducing: my new dahling

The 12 inch IBM X61!
You may look at it and think 'What's so special about it?'


well.....
tadah! Pink! Pretty pretty.





My white macbook was getting very slow and laggy after three years, so I finally got a new laptop. I couldn't stand the boring black cover though- I mean its like there are a million other black laptops. Hence I got it wrapped. Pretty.

It wasn't all smooth sailing at first though. I switched from Mac to PC because there might be some programs I might need in the future that only run on PC-- access, for instance. I wasn't exactly very happy about that, for I liked using the mac. And when I first switched, I thought Windows Vista was the stupidest operation system ever known to mankind.

It was so frustrating! At first I couldn't even find a way to get 'my computer' onto the desktop and had to ask my brother for help. After all, it was automatically there on my mac. And then what about the endless and annoying popups asking me to verify my password for every thing I download? ARGH! And why are the windows so weird? I was used to having multiple windows that don't automatically occupy the whole screen, sort of like this:

see how the multiple windows overlap each other? Then I could switch between multiple windows without going to the taskbar, just by clicking the edge of the other window. And I could automatically have two different word documents side by side, with another hidden behind,which I could easily switch between.

I have another peeve (sorry, this is turning into a rant). Windows automatically hides file extensions. I wanted to change the file extension from .divx to .vlc, and imagine my irritation when the extension just refused to show up. A bit of googling, and it was rather easy changing the view settings on my computer. But. Still.

It is not all bad though. It turned out to be not so bad once I got used to it. But in the future, if I need Windows at my workplace, I'm going to get a Mac as a personal computer.

My opinion: Get a Mac if you don't have to get a windows. Really.

Away, travelling

I'm going on holiday to Taiwan! Be back after a week with posts. =)