Taiwan, Taipei...Day 6 - Taipei - Tokyo.

So it was time to leave, Shirley the loveliest cousin in the world volunteered to take me to the airport...awww...thanks jei jei! She was afraid of traffic so got to anthonys super early. As it turns out there was no traffic...better safe than sorry!

Saying goodbye to anthony was surreal, it was like...there was no need for goodbye. Us bruvs being apart from each other, its like when we get back together nothing has changed. Crazy...I cant believe it was a year since I last saw him...

After arriving at the airport and getting a bit lost i checked in and the cute girl behined the counter mentioned "hey its your birthday...Happy birthday! oh...and you are younger than me..." at this point there was a dissappointed look on her face and I was like..."my darling...being with an older woman has not been trouble for me in the past..." (in my mind) HAHAHA!! *ahem*

Anyways she put me into the VIP lounge for Eva which was cool...i had lots of cake and coke in there...hahaha...I was stuffed after eating some really nice food, even for an airport before with Shirley.

So after saying my good byes to Shirley and to people on the phone (always have to do it!) I wandered inside and got ready to go back "home."

Taiwan was an emotional rollercoaster...seeing my friends, family...feeling love, support, trust and warmth...some thing I have not felt around me constantly for a very long time. So a big thank you to my family for all the love and attention, especially Shirley...thanks Jei Jei, thank you to Li-ping and all her family for the help, to my new friends and old friends thanks for the welcome and love...to Jason take care mate and keep at it, the end is in sight! Finally to my BRUV who made it all happen...where would I be without you mate! The love was all there....good luck for the future and this year...

Good bye Taipei...until the next time we meet again, keep rolling as fast as you do and please...oh please...dont close JAMAICA!

Taiwan, Taipei...Day 5

So after a week of constant partying and getting home at 4-5am...which I guess is even crazy for Anthony saturday, new years eve was a day of rest. For anthony not me though...I met an old friend early in the morning and even met her cat a cute adorable lil thing...she is known simply as "Stephanie" to those in the know...*wink* *wink* hahaha...and anthonys dream even came true that day, he met her! hahaha....

In the afternoon we (the french group plus me and Henry aka iHOVE) went to Breeze center to check out the bookstore and prepare for a wine and cheese night. Me and anthony tried out half the cheese section due to the young lady being so nice...awww...hahaha. So loaded with cheese and other nibbles (all sounds so dodgy) we headed to 7-11 to get alcohol. The party or "gathering" was gonna be held and Guijoms place so we headed there and the guys told Val to hurry up and get to his place so she could cook! hahaha...basically we were told to bugger off!

After chilling at the Big Gs place (my new name for him cause his pad is off the charts its nuts and well bling) people started to arrive and I met two lovely ladies in Tracey and...oh crap forgot her name. hahahaha...I had a very nice chat with Tracey about toys cause she is a toy designer / artist...bestill my heart! hahaha. Guijom played guitar for us...truly a chilled out classic moment...and out of no where mini birthday brownies with a candle was produced...awww...thanks guys...not sure where the brownies came from...Val I think!!?? Love you hun!

So after bantering for a while about where to go next and Anthony saying to me..."you are the leader...we will follow you" we headed to find a bar where we could actually fit in....it is New years after all and bard are maxed out with people.

After being rejected from one we headed to Cargo the new home of a travellig group of bar tenders...prob the best in Taipei led by Mr Stone...such a cool bloke. We chilled there for quite a while and finally everyone made their way home....

When will we ever meet again? When the time is right I guess.

Thank you frenchies for the lovely evening...for the love, the bday brownies and the random banter. It was def up there with the best birthdays of my life.

David and the ever so beautiful Shirley in KTV.

We stood round outside and talked for a long time...it was like being
back at si da again!...the German girls and Henry...aint he the lucky
one!

The final group; Henry, Guijom, Shirley, Kyla, David, Sunny, Anthony
and Val in MOD.


Kyla and David...thanks for staying love!

Bruvs for life! hahaha...David and Henry...

Anthony smoking too much...stop bruv!!!


The lovely val enjoying some inane conversation...

The end of the night...hmmm...

Taiwan, Taipei...Day 4

Anthony decided to take the day off today so that he could hang with me...geee whata guy! cheers bruv! Sleeping in was seriously nice and we were both a bit slow moving...Dong Chu and a seriously kick ass japanese style curry was on the cards in the afternoon for lunch. Ant was not kiddin this place was seriously really good. Its run by this Japanese guy who has made the place like you are by the beach. They serve really good fruit smoothies too. After taking pictures of the huge pet piggy outside the restraunt (check out the pic) we headed to toy shops for some oogling. Hot dog toyz, Paradise and Monster were all hit up...ahhh just like the old days! Gawping at the Reas Kaws Twins in Hot Dog was just too much for me so we headed out to play some pool above Luxy. Henry called and came down looking very much awake for a guy who had been up so early! I will never forget how quick this guy could move on the streets of HK! After watching me play Henry gets in this really dodgy position to pot his balls...so random! Henry bitched about the G's for quite a while (lonnnnggg story)and then once again henry leaves us to head home for food so I kick Ants ass...hahaha!

The time came to leave and head to "my" KTV party at Dunhua Cashbox...to tell the truth anthony and I were both sung out from last night but it had to be done! We arrived early but Annie and Linda were already there. It was sooo good to see them again! LINDDDDDDDDDDDAAAAAAAA...we head upstairs to get our room and Aurelie arrives too. Heading up to the room first I order ALL the Jay Chou songs and start doing my usual 1 minute of each song. Before long others have arrived...I cant remember everyones names...so it was me, Ant, Annie, Linda, Aurelie, Two bloke friends of Annies, one of whom was called Ken I think (whata voice!), Henry, Guilam, Val, Kyla (yay! she arrived a bit later), Shirley (who left after a while to meet friends), Lisa and her two friends one of whom had just had laser mole surgery ( I dont understand it either!) and finally three random people who were friends of Lindas I think. whew!

So upon exiting Cash box it seems like we are heading to Room 18...Linda, Annie and other German girl head in a taxi first while we stand around bantering. Kyla says she has to head back home as she has work in the morning...I didnt want her to go so we headed to MOD for a drink and decide from there. Entering I noticed it was packed but there was enough space for us...it was fate! It was great just chilling there with everyone...The bar staff bought me drinks...Kahlua milk...awww...ahahaha...Shirely and her friend Sunni arrived a bit later on. So after a round we headed home. At this point I would like to apologise with all my heart to Linda and Annie for not going to Room 18...I hope we can all see each other again soon!

Arriving home I gawp at the Xiou Long Bou place and we head in for food. hmmm...I even ordered an extra Long...I wont beable to eat this easily back in JP! hmmm...Mi Jiang...Sou Bing You Tiao!

Taiwan, Taipei...Day 3

I woke up feeling very exhausted but very happy...this morning was not to be so rushed as it was the day for family...first up was lunch with the Lai family and the kids. They have all grown so much its scary. Jacky is taller than me now! Crazy stuff...all the other kids are as naughty as ever but so sweet.

Feeling rather full and saying my goodbyes I headed to Uncle Lawrences office to chill out before dinner with the family. I fell asleep on two chairs for a while which was nice...after averaging around 4-5 hours of sleep per night I was gratefull for the rest!

So later on we headed to a great buffet type Thai restraunt at Zhong Zun Ji Nian Guan. Some seriously kick ass spicy food and Xi mi Lu to cool the stomach....hmmm...I think I had like 4 bowls of the stuff. Uncle Lawrence, Auntie Amy and Ehtsi were there, along with Andrew, Henry, Shirley and Sally sou sou and of course the ever growing princess VIVI. Henry gaga who advised me that he has been exercising non stop for ages now has lost soooo much weight! Good for him man...def good to be healthy! I believe I ate wayyyy too much rice and Xi mi Lu due to my fierce competition with Andrew Ga Ga...hahahha!

After random messages between Kyla and Anthony I met Kyla in Dong Chu and I thought we could head to the cool european style cafe I went with Mai-chan and Anthony last time I was in Taiwan. Before getting there I spotted a cool looking cafe...damn it cant remember the name now but it was well cool. Very french indeed I thought with an amazing array of coffees and teas. So after bantering a while and giving Kyla her pressies Anthony waddled in and advised me that he nad I quote "hated this place"...hahaha...the guy is too high class nowadays! Not far behined anthony was of course Henry which completed the group for the night. After many a random conversation I decided, and note it was I not anyone else (haha!) decided that KTV needed to be on the menu for the evening! Henry was bitching from the start that he was tired and needed early rest so that he could get up at 5am to go play golf with his dad. We rapidly headed to Cashbox on Nan Jing Asia World and found there to be a HUGE ass crowd of serious Taiwanese YOYO outside. Charming!

After an hours wait and with Henry gone much to my dismay we got a room and finally my KTV adventures had begun. Anthony did this great Kenji song... "so powerfull yet sensitive..." I advised Kyla who nodded her head in admiration! hahahha...ahh bruv! Later on Ants work mate the lovely Olga from Russia who has perfect Chinese (yes there are real Olgas in the world) joined us. After a rousing rendition of Summer Lovin with Olga and with Anthony fast asleep on the couch we headed home.

Another almost perfect day...will this dream ever end!?

Taiwan, Taipei...Day 2

So after another early rise I was amped for the day ahead. After a quick greasy MAccy Ds I arranged to meet Li Ping in the morning so I headed over to their house. So nice to see "family" again. I met this really cool Japanese teacher whilst I was there...top bloke. So after a lovely lunch I headed over to Dong Chu to meet Jason. He was gonna take a while so I hit up Bape and UC taipei...so funny seeing those places...

We (jason and I) decided pool was gonna be the place to go so we went to the one above luxy...still crazy, still manky, still got the young hustler poster...still ours! Jason kicked my ass, no surprises. Next we headed to Sofa for a quick drink, still crap service, still got super cool decor..suddenly dinner time came. Sih dah was on the menu again so we headed there and went to Spaghetti, home of the bestest meanest pasta in Taipei! At this point I was guilt tripping Jason for not being able to make it to KTV on Friday...ahahhaa...its all good bruv! no worries! So after a final goodbye I was kinda lost...yeah it was valentines...yeah Ant was no where to be seen...so I headed to Dong chu and got a call from Henry. We met up and went to a random bar near sofa...cant remember the name but its pretty cool. Val and Guijan came a bit later on and it was well cool just hanging out. I at this point was falling asleep rapidly...everyone else cept Val went to Room18 to meet Lisa so I headed home...betrayed by my bruv! hahaha...its all good, it was valentines after all...so I got back and crashed hard on the bed...lights out young man!

Taiwan, Taipei...Day 1.

So waking up bright and early...I banged on Ants door and finally the lazy ass got up....awww pity the guy, he usually wakes up just before work...but I got him up around 8.15am.

First up was the local breakfast burger bar...hmmmm...upon entering the place I really realised I was in Taiwan due to the attitudes of the people. So kinda rough but friendly...I have missed it so much...after a lovely beef burger with egg and Mi Jiang ant headed to work whilst I headed to SJ Road for a coffee. The bus journey was interesting but well scary. Taiwanese bus drivers are purely insane its not even funny...and what added to the experience was the random lady who tapped my watch asking for the time...I was like...uhhh hands off lady! The days plans were so uncertain but I loved it this way...after some reminiscing in Ikari coffee and a rapid trip to the toilet (Taipei was not gonna let my stomach go easily) I decided to head to Uncle Lawrences office and see Shirley jei jei and Andrew Ga Ga. Everyone seemed well and Shirley and I headed out to lunch in Neo 19 at this great Italian place called Romanos. They had the greatest fresh bread in the whole world...hmmm...

So afterwards we headed next door which of course was Inhouse...no time to muck around! HAHAHA...the usual beautiful, sexy, extremely thin models still work there but there was no sign of Wei Weil...sad...sad...hahaha. It was lovely just relaxing and talking to shirley for the whole afternoon, not really talking about anything...but just drinking coffee and watching and feeling the world go by...so nice...

Finally Shirley had to head back to work so I got on the MRT hoping, well praying that my YOYO card was gonna work and hey it did! No probs bruv! I decided to a familiar place as I heard an old friend was working there and sure enough there she was. She has changed so much...I guess I realised how fast time passes and what it can do to people. We arranged to meet up again soon and I was a happy man. After a quick talk and a final wave of bai bai to her manager who was a cool guy I looked around me for the next place to hit up...Xi men it was!

Xi-men is still the same place, busy, overcrowded with youngsters and hipsters but the vibe and excitement are still there. I hit the old shops as well as the new ones...memorys...

I received a call from Jason and also Anthony, Anthony was heading to Gan Bay with some friends as they were celebrating Vals first full year in Taiwan. I decided to meet Jason first so I headed to Sih Dah for some food...day 1 and already there! hahaha...riding down there in the MRT was so strange...walking through Taipei Main Station at the crossroads where the lines meet, knowing the short cuts so that you can avoid the crowds...so crazy...

So getting of at Taipower building MRT I spy jason and have to take a cool piccie of him strutting down the platform...instead i hugley flashed a girl with my camera. Catching up with him I hugged him..good to see another bruv...upon exiting the station I saw none other than Ken of Ken and Linda fame! hahaha...Taipei really is too small. I managed to get a piccie of them and headed out to find some great food to nibble on. I wanted to head to the amazing Thai place but it was no longer there...NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO...so instead Jamaica it was to be. The place has not changed, still has a smoking section, still has the same prices, but their sofas have changed a bit. Tucking into that cheap Jamaica food and completely wrong iced tea (so wrong yet so right on my stomach) I knew I was home.

Time was passing quickly so we hailed a cab and went off to Dong Chu as Jason wanted to play darts...of course the darts place was opposite MOD so I had to go in and say hi. Unfortunately AH-Ren was not there but sam was so we stayed for a drink...Baileys milk of course! hahaha...

The darts bar opposite was well cool, excellent music and the drinks were good as well. I def appreciated the seats, well funky man. So after a couple of games of electronic darts I called Ant and arranged to meet him so that we could go to J`s together. Meeting his friends was cool, the usual shyness in the beggining during intros...felt so young again...hahaha...

J`s is such a nice place to relax...Jennifer herself was there and remembered me and my piano escapades there last time. hahaha...we settled outside and the mood was relaxed and nice...I wanted to know about Ant and what he had been up to and its strange talking about my life to others...it was hard to explain what I had been up to for the past three years...so much...so much its scary. People who were there included Me, Jason, Ant, Aurle, Lisa, Val Guijon, Eric, his girl whose name I have forgotten. Val made a random speech and that of course kicked off the Q and A around the table...By the end I felt that I had found some great people in Ants friends, I was a bit pissed but managed to get to the taxi. Ant who is like the Don himself nowadays mobile never stopped and suddenly we were heading to another unplanned location...Ant told me to go home but I was with my bruv on this mission...long story and I am afraid of the retaliation if I say any more! dangerous ground bruv...dangerous ground! I will say this though...I wrote this poem outside the building dedicated to my bruv and Shou Nan...(note it was like 2am or something and I was drunk but sobering up rapidly)...

"A beautiful moment,
A harrowing for the truth,
A feeling of contentness surrounded by white mountains,
I find thee resting so peacefully,
So peacefully like a home I've never known,
That washes over me.

Oh breathe it every time I am with you,
Like a feeling of nostalgia.
No, I'll never wake,
Not while I am by your side,
Because you are so beautiful to me.

More beautiful than words,
More beautiful than anything in this cruel world.
Complete me please,
Lets face the wide world with happiness together."

So after some time Ant comes out and we grab another taxi and head home...almost falling asleep with a smile on my face I know what this day has meant to me...something which I will never beable to find the words to express again.

This day was one of the longest and greatest of my life...spent with my bruvs, family, friends of old and new friends. I will cherish it for the rest of my life...thank you everyone...thank you!!!!

Taiwan...Tokyo - Taipei

I travel to Narita with mixed feelings, I guess its a strange feeling of going home, who knows what I was going to expect...and I guess it didnt help that I had other things lingering on my mind...(cheers Dickie your talk helped alot)

Nartia airport is so kick ass...its the small things that make all the difference in an airport, automatic massage machines, Mcdonalds near the gates, a proper changing room in the bathrooms...yeah man! hahaha...so after a quick Maccy Ds I get on the plane and much to my horror my mobile case and mobile have gone. Quick exit outta the plane with a nice ground staff woman I find it on the floor where I was lounging before. CRAZY.

The journey there was pretty uneventfull but my feelings when we landed were not all happy...tears came to my eyes as we landed in Taipei, tears of joy, sorrow, love, lonliness...so many mixed emotions.

So after getting through customs..etc I headed out and was amped to see Anthony...the guy HASNT changed, still got the beard, still smoove but now ultra Taiwanish...ok I lied he has changed. HAHAHA. It felt so good but a little nerve racking to be talking in Chinese, I had not practised in soooo long...

I needed a cig after the flight so a quick burn later we headed to the car. At this point I would just like to say that ...a BMW was waiting for us...bruvs only travel in style right!?

It was great to see Anthony, I felt I had so much to say and it all came firing out...about 15 minutes into the care ride who calls but LINNNNNNDAAAAAAAAA...hahaha...awww missed! Anthony said "she never called me!" HAHAHAHA...Taiwan driving was insane as ever as was the toll gate where if you go through the wrong one you get fined big time. Making it safely through we headed to Ants cousins place to give back the car. The weather was so warm but nice...hmmmmm...Taipei...

What came next was one of the most terrifying car journeys back to Ants place...his cousin is nuts when it comes to driving. After expressing my many thanks to his cousin we headed into ants flat but before I did so I noticed the nearly 24 hour Shou Long BOu place downstairs...soon my pretty soon!

A quick trip was needed to 7-11 (yeah!) so headed to the local and stocked up on smirnoff (what else) and I got the bape mag...all the way to taiwan to buy it...hahaha.

The rest of the evening was spent bantering about stuff...it was good to be back with my bruv in familiar territory...

Journey home...

So the time has come...Taiwan, another one of my "homes." Theres so much for me to do when I go back...honestly I am just exhausted...so many things in life have tired me and my heart and mind.

Seeing the real world, coming out of what seemed like a dream...stark harsh reality is sometimes hard to face but that is all part of my growing I guess.

Linda, Anthony, Annie, Henry, Kyla and Jason as well as my family are all there so the trip should be a fruitfull one. We are all so lucky, I think we dont always realise it. This life we are leading, seeing it for every day, it truly is an amazing thing.

Letting go of things and people is hard...to be truly honest with yourself and what is around you is reality. Some things cannot be undone, but it is what we make of today that counts. If we look to the past or the future too much we will forget to live for today and then we are doomed. But how do we live for today? What is it that we want? Happiness right? Yeah...we want happiness...I was happy, very happy and you were too but I guess that wasnt enough, we still need to live life together or apart its your choice now.

The day outside is beautiful, its time to come out of the shadows and into the sunshine again and live for No1.

See you all soon my brothers and sisters, for those not in Taiwan (why not!?) have a great Chinese New Year and when the time is right, that time will come I am sure of it, I will see you all again soon.

To my good friends in Japan and around the world...Dickie, Julz, Nao-san, Jua, Kayo, J-Flo, Matt, Eli-san, my Chinese Da Ga, The prez himself (MBC represent!) and many others, and in England...Sarah, Edd, Roland, Kryssy, Ems...thanks for all your support, I owe you all.

Finally...to the most important people...my family...I love you all, thank you for your support, love and understanding. Without you I am nothing and I wouldnt be the person I am today without you. I love you so much...

...Happy Chinese New Year!