SA 201

After the unforgettable trip to Cape Town, Kruger Park and Chun's wedding, it was not a hard decision to revisit South Africa once again the moment I have some leave to spare.

This time,we visited the main Johannesburg City and Sun City. My favourite parts being the unique experience of going 250 metres down the claustrophic shaft of the former gold mine in Gold Reef City, venturing into the limestone caves of Cradle of Mankind*, the game drive at Pilanesburg where we saw a family of leopards right in front of us. Oh yeah, you get to touch a li0n cub for 70 rand at Predator World.

Oh, did I mention the weird incident of coming back to the hotel room to find the fridge door open and the 2 red apples missing! (originally there were 2 red & 1 green apple). Subsequently, we realised a M&M and Snickers were taken from the fridge.

The reception claimed the (cheap) thieves to be baboons but I swear our windows are locked and we are on the 5th floor! Ghost, Baboons or hungry cleaning lady? You decide.

And the manmade wave at Valley of Waves really reminds me of a mini tsunami ... and from that, I think I can safely say I cannot survive if 2012 comes.

*The Cradle of Humankind is a World Heritage Site first named by UNESCO in 1999, ; it contains a complex of limestone caves, including the Sterkfontein Caves, where the 2.3-million year-old fossil Australopithecus africanus (nicknamed "Mrs. Ples") was found in 1947 by Dr Robert Broom and John Robinson, as well as the Wonder Cave.

Taipei 201

After demise of Lai Cha, was so busy with the whirl of changes that follow that I have no time to update. That includes the trip to Taipei with Da, Wan, Chun, Sean that was fabulous.

There were many unforgettable things about Taipei but the Most has to be the helpful taxi Uncle who went the extra mile to point out to us where to get Cheap and Good noodles for breakfast! He actually came out from his taxi , pointed us to the menu, and just to play safe - brought us into the shop and showed us what sauce to add to the noodles!

Next was yet another Taxi Uncle who has in his front seat his pet doggy, to keep him company throughout the day.

In Taipei, other than the street food, what really leaves an impression must be the extraordinary warm and hospitable people.