Restart my Life: Gotta Love Jogging!

The summer season is almost here, I can feel it, I can smell it. For couple of days, the weather is really fine.

Just finished reading chapter 3 of the "Awaken the Giant Within" by Anthony Robbins and I started to feel that something has to be changed... since the weather has changed from winter. I feel like I need to change something for myself too.

I'm thinking to do jogging maybe at least 2 times per week adding to my weekly basketball schedule every Saturday afternoon. But the problem is that I don't have a nice pair of running shoes. I do have a Basketball shoes but It's not for running. Besides, I already tried to use them but my feet felt pain. I do really need a pair of shoe but not expensive though.

Today is payday, as usual I have this excel sheet that plots my expenses throughout the year. I usually do the budgeting so that I can see how the money flows. As I finished, I can say that I can really buy a shoe today and I felt excited about it!

Couple of days ago when I was in Carrefour, a department store here in Taiwan, I look at the Nike stadium for nice pair of running shoe with a reasonable price. My first target was Nike Air Max 180 with the price of 1,980NT, it's nice and affordable because I have the budget of 2,000NT.

So after office, I went directly to that department store but I felt bad because they don't have my size. I look around, thinking what will be my next target - alas!!! The next boutique has something that captures my eyes, the white and blue, neat as ice really attracted me to go near to it. I grab the shoe and I was shocked because I felt like I did not hold anything. I tried to flex the heels and it is very flexible. I did not waste any minute to ask the sales girl for my size. Fast forward in 5 minutes, I walk away in the New Balance boutique bringing the MR681 model and I am very satisfied!

So tomorrow will be another day and it will be another chapter of my life - I will start jogging! I'll never stop doing it and I know my life will never be the same again!

Riding a MRT in Taipei

The weather is very nice today here in Taipei after few days of raining. As usual, I'm going to Church today but It's kind of special because it's Easter Sunday!

So, I'm going to St. Christopher's church to hear a mass. Going there I'm going to take a MRT. My apartment is right next to Dapinglin station. I can even see the tall Dapinglin building into my window. The church is located in Minquan St. that's about 30NT fare from my place.

I go out and turned on my ipod. I usually take the Entrance or Exit 4 on this station, a quite long stairs. At the bottom, I turn right and prepare my 30NT to the kiosk to get a ticket. The ticket or token is very special because it had a RFID on it that it can only put near the sensor on entrance. I keep the token in my pocket because it will be needed and returned to the kiosk once I arrived on my destination.



I walk few steps then ride down on the escalator to wait for my train.



I just missed the train so I wait for the next one - I wait for about 5 minutes so I had time to take some pictures.





Finaly the train has come.









Now that i'm inside and the train is started to run, I'll take a nap because it will take 20-25 minutes to my destination. When the train has finally arrived, I get up and ride escalator again.



I search the token in my pocket because I have to return or insert on the exit tool so that I can get out of the station. If I had lost the token, I have to pay 30NT again.

Whew! I finally arrived. I have to walk fast and beat the time I only have 5 minutes until the mass starts.

Till next time, see you around...

Sports Vacation

This goes out to the people who only have the time in office-home, like me. This might open our mind a little bit.

After the a stressful work in the office or anywhere you work. You have to think why we don't have a relaxing moment in the beach or in a quite place to relax mind and soul.

But why, every time someone talking about vacation is not always associated with sports?! It's because we have always think that doing sports is wasting energy and burning calories.

You have a point but try to think again that our body is not actually healthy in doing our daily works and routine in office. Our muscles need some vacation on daily boring and routinely activities. Doing sports is also a vacation for our body and mind because it's not everyday we do sports.

Sports in Taipei

Taipei city is a great city. Dominant sport here is Baseball probably because of their favorite hometown hero who is currently playing in MLB, New York Yankee - Chien Ming Wang. But rapidly increasing sport is basketball.

Every park here is having a basketball hoops. Yao Ming is also very popular here - probably because he is a Chinese national, Kobe Bryant and rest of the stars in NBA. I never thought that Taipei is also a great basketball fan specially the youth. As I walk on the streets I can see some teenagers wearing some NBA jerseys - Lakers, Rockets and Celtics are only some NBA teams that I saw.

In the playground hoops, I've tried to play in the summer. Their type of play is mostly on jump shot. They are not fond of playing rugged hoops or some kind of Ben Wallace stuff. But you cannot low your defense since they are quick and has some crossover that makes your ankles break... Taipei hoops baby!