Tuesday 6 October 2009

Taipei : Day 3 (6 Oct 2009)

Had a good sleep last night and woke up early this morning. The weather look better so far and I booked tour packages for Taipei City Tour and Taipei Night tour through the hotel. There are many interesting places that I can see from the brochure and from my search in websites last night. Friends from Facebook also suggested few places and some of them are in my list for today's tour. Thank you guys!
It would cost me NT$2200 for the tours and I am anticpating a great outing. Pick up time at the hotel at 1.15 p.m and expected to return by 10-11 p.m.

Places to be visited in my tours today will be:
1. City Tour
  • Presidential Office Building
  • Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall
  • Martyr's Shrine
  • National Palace Museum
  • Chinese Temple
  • Handicraft Centre
2. Night Tour
  • Lungshan Temple
  • Hwahsi Street Night Market
  • Taipei 101
The workshop ended about 11.50 p.m and ended well. Exchanged more cards with other since we'll be in touch again due to the similarity roles being played in our own countries. Definitely I need to contact them should my program to get a green light from the management. Took some photos and saying good bye since some of us will leave earlier like me and the rest will continue with other meetings.

Suprisingly met with one officer from The Ministry Of Energy, Green Technology and Water from Malaysia here. Actually she arrived on Sunday and staying in the same floor and she is acciompanying her boss for another meetings in this APEC Week in Taipei.

Monday 5 October 2009

Taipei : Day 2 (5 Oct 2009)

Wake up a little bit late today after the Subuh Prayer at about 4.45 a.m. I switched off the air cond the whole night since it was too cold.
It has been raining since last night and still continuing and so far no bad news on the typhoon yet.
The weather does not look so good for me to take a nice walk today but still hoping it would be better by the end of the day.
Prepared my breakfast with some bread and chicken curry that I brought here from home. What a nice meal from home! he he he...!



Called housekeeping to get an iron and I am impressed when the sent it in less than 5 minutes.

Now I am about to go for the workshop with some materials that I prepared from office. I really look forward for the discussion part of it since there are a lot I need to learn from other experts that can be used in the same program in Malaysia.
At present energy efficiency labeling and rating still a voluntary program in Malaysia and the proposal to make it as mandatory by using laws and regulations is still being considered.

Honestly , Malaysia is still lagging behind those countries attended this workshop but I need to gain as much information and input as possible for me to keep pushing this matter to the government. Hope to share more experiences and approaches that have been proven effective in other countries which may be suitable to be considered to be introduced to Malaysia with some improvements to meet Malaysian environment.

The sessions ended a little bit late since there were so many questions to speakers. Just as I expected, there were so much for me to learn from all the presentations. Basically on how other countries have successfully implemented their programs and later improve it.

Managed to chat and exchange information with quite a number of key people in MEPS and Energy Efficiency Labeling from various countries such as Chinese Taipei, China, Australia, USA, Japan, Korea, Russia, New Zealand and Indonesia. All of them are keen to assist should I need their input in the future on the same subject.

Joined the welcoming dinner with everyone in a nice restaurant nearby the hotel. It was suppose to be just a walking distance but the rain did not allow us. A shuttle van was arranged for us. Tonight I become a vegetarian since there are many foods that I was very doubtful to try. I think everyone had a nice dinner and the best of it we were getting to know more about each other in more informal ways. Some of them just did not understand why I did not eat chicken and drink red wine which is nothing to do with pork. Together with my new Indonesian friend, we explain to them the meaning of halal and non-halal meals for Muslim.







Reached the hotel room at about 8.45 p.m and I just need to clean myself and later to send some news to my family at home. Missing them so much as always. Hoping my wife will open the Facebook tonite and to see some photos that I took here.

Tomorrow will be just another half day session and I planned to go for a walk until night. There are few places suggested by some of new Taiwanese friends here and I just hoping there will be no or not so heavy rain tomorrow. One of the must go place as they said is Taipei 101 tower which is a main land mark here. Many ideas and suggestions on how can I spend my time tomorrow but I just hope the weather will be better at least. So far, I have heard any bad news about the expected typhoon Parma...let it be that way until I leave this place.

Taipei : Day 1

4 Oct 2009

Checked in at KLIA but I was suprised to be told at the counter that my flight was not direct from KLIA to Taipei. Need to go through Kota Kinabalu and take another flight to Taipei.

Finally, landed at Taipei Airport close to midnight. Took a limousine to the hotel again I was suprised that I was given a premium limo although paid for budget one. What a nice ride with S Class Merc to the hotel. It was a smooth traffic as well but I was temporarily scared just now when the driver suddenly turned into some kind of junk yard area and but actually to fill up the fuel. The driver did not reply when I asked why he did not fill up the fuel at normal fuel station.

This is my first ever trip to Taiwan and I am looking forward for the event and short sight seeing
around this area.

My task here is as one of the participants for the Meeting and Workshop on Reducing Barriers to Trade Through Development of A common Protocol for measuring the Seasonal Energy Efficiency of Air Conditioners. I'm representing Malaysia in the APEC of group experts to share Malaysian experiences in the workshop with my involvement in the recent establishment of energy efficiency performance criteria and rating system for Malaysian manufacturers and importers.

The venue is at The Howard Plaza Hotel at Jen-Ai Road, Taipei. Not sure where is this place exactly in the city but will find out later.

The workshop will start tomorrow (5 Oct) and will end a day later (6 Oct). I will leave on 7 Oct and hoping to spend some time to look around in the city after the end of the workshop by 12.00 p.m on 6 Oct.

Heard about the news this morning that Taiwan is preparing for typhoon Parma but there wasn't any warning issued by any government for travelers. The limo driver told me that they are expecting the typhoon around 8.00 tomorrow and I am just praying that the situation here will be under control.

Sent an e-mail to my family at home and hoping they will be happy to know that I am safe and alright over here.


The service and the rooms at this hotel has been great so far.













Materials for tomorrow's event has been prepared on the table in the room. Just need to browse through after this.







Now I just need a good rest and sleep in this nice room....good nite!