喜欢 . 一个人

人生终将也是一场单人的旅行。 

同事A到巴塞罗那旅游，寄住朋友家。朋友每天陪她四处走，带她去吃好吃的，介绍她好玩的。“这个你一定要试试…那里你非去不可…” 朋友的过度热诚反而让A觉得压力好大，几天后决定搬进饭店。她告诉我：I needed my own space. 

我能理解。 曾经读过一篇文章，細写外向与内向的个人偏好。外向的人从外界获取能量，因而喜欢社交环境。内向的人从自身获得能量，所以累的时候喜欢独处；喜欢一个人吃饭、看戏、旅行，对单独行动有动巨大的满足感。我，是个非常珍惜个人空间的人。 

对我而言有人陪伴虽是福份，但累的时后总向往一片自由的天空。一个人坐在露天cafe，悠闲地阅读；一个人搭长途巴士，静静地欣赏窗外的一景一物；一个人站在窗前发呆，看云 － 都是我放松的方式。 

“没有人给你作伴，让你一个人吃饭，看戏，好可怜哦！” 朋友Moon就不能理解我为何喜欢独处，“我就从不敢一个人吃饭，shopping。有一次试着自己吃饭，进了餐厅坐下，感到很awkward, as if all eyes are on me. 觉得餐厅里的人都在悄悄谈论着我，说我独自一人用餐好可怜！结过我没点餐就逃了出来。“ 

我反觉得Moon有这种想法还挺 pathetic 呢！:) 

最近公司的APAC Conference被取消了。本想趁这空档一个人跑去台北充电。不料父亲前几天跌伤了，所以我就不去了。以为饭店定金和廉价机票报全都报销，没想到lose out 的只是airfare而已！航空公司还是会把taxes 归还的。 Dandy Hotel (Tianjin Branch)对我也好好哦。当我说明取消的理由后她们竟然把定金都还我耶！ 我曾告诉过你关于台湾人情味，对吧？准备再次入住丹迪旅店就是这原因啊！呼吁大家多到台湾玩，去台北时一定要住丹迪旅店（天津店）哦！

A TUMBLE, AND ANGELS TO THE RESCUE

Poor old Dad, he took a serious tumble today.

Mum and Dad had gone out to lunch.  They were making their way home when he fell.  He didn't know how it happened, he mumbled repeatedly.  Needless to say, Mum was in a state of panic.  Fortunately, three good Samaritans - Daniel, Jaime and Mark -  descended out of nowhere and lent a helping hand.

According to Mum, Dad could not get up after the fall.  Mark, who was on his way to lunch, came upon them and immediately piggy-backed Dad to the nearest clinic. Daniel and Jaime called me using their mobile phone.  They were kind enough to hang around until I arrived.  Dad was referred by the doctor to the A&E at TTSH.  My hands were shaking and couldn't even call a cab properly so Jaime had to call one for us.  

I couldn't thank Daniel and Jaime enough.  Jaime said they were on their way to have ice cream.  Normally they would park by the side of the road but today Jaime thought they ought to drive into the car park (where they witness Dad took a tumble) so maybe it was meant to be.

On my way home from the hospital tonight I was still thinking about Daniel and Jaime and about what she said. When this is all over, I thought to myself, I shall thank them properly - over ice cream.  Just as I was about to cross the street to my apartment block, two boys (who looked like they were 8 and 10) approached and asked if I would help with their school fees.  What were they selling?  Ice cream.  Is this another one of your jokes, God?

The ice cream were $12 a box.  I opened my purse and there were exactly $12 in notes lying inside. So maybe it was meant to be.

There were hundreds of patients at the A&E today.  We waited several hours with Dad to get his X-ray and CT scan done.  And then it was another few hours' of waiting to get him admitted.  After that another couple of hours to get him settled into the hospital bed and made sure he had something to eat.  We get to speak to the doctor tomorrow at around 10:30AM.  It was a long day but I don't think my life is half bad, really.  Thanks to an understanding boss, the sweetest coworkers, and of course - three perfect strangers who offered their timely assistance unconditionally.

台北遊:感动篇 GRACIOUS TAIPEI

Part of a large artwork on the wall just outside of my hotel room

总觉得台北人比新加坡人更贴心,更有人情味。 

台北公司里的同事 
Kevin 和Cathy真的很好客。Kevin来新时我没为他做什么，这次我在台北却让他和 Cathy又请吃饭，又送礼物。Paiseh 啦! 下次Kevin来新我一定要对他好一点! 

有人情味的路边摊大叔 
有一晚在饭店前的天津街走走看看。有位大叔在路边卖碳烤串, 香味扑鼻, 就这样把我给吸过去了。摊边围着好多顾客, 大叔忙得不可开交, 一个似七八岁的弟弟上前问 ”请问有 十五元的吗?” 眼看其他顾客随便选四五串都要 150-200元了，心想：怎可能有十五元的？只见大叔边接过钱币边问小弟弟 ”喜欢吃鸡肉吗？喜欢哦? 我半送你好了。” 看着小朋友天真, 感激的笑容 made me all warm and fuzzy inside. 

贴心的Dandy Hotel receptionist 
较早时下了一阵小雨。傍晚出外时，柜台的Iris 不忘提醒“有带伞吗?” Iris, 你的贴心我有感受到。

热心的传单美眉 
一晚在捷运站外遇上在派传单的美眉。聊着，她知到我不是台湾人, 立刻兴孜勃勃地推荐 ”对面有家店的松饼好好吃哦！你一定要试试看!” 又问我 ”明天想去那里玩? 你一个人没问题吗? 要照顾自己哦!” 

亲切的便利商店服务员 
星期六到饭店对面的7-11 买饭团当早餐，听到年轻服务员与小妹妹的对话。

服务员：妹妹, 你要的（牛奶）牌子没有咯！要不要打个电话给马麻问她要别的牌子吗?
小妹妹拨了手机：马麻,牛奶没有了，要别的牌子吗? 什么牌子? 。。。我不知道耶 。。。
服务员：你告诉马麻，是X牌的。
小妹妹：马麻，是X牌的。可以吗?
服务员：要跟马麻讲是低脂的哦! 全脂暂时的卖完了。
小妹妹：马麻，是低脂的。可以吗? 可以哦?

这才是邻里商店该有的服务嘛！ 

心思细腻的饭店 
每当你出国时你会带travel adaptor吗? 如果你住的是台北丹迪旅店你就不用带啦。因为旅店房间里的电源插座是这个样子的呀! 小小的心思,大大的方便。

这一切一切都是我越来越热爱台北的原因！