#include <bits/stdc++.h>//VCRUNTIME140.dll
using namespace std;
int main(){
	int n,sum=0;
	cin>>n;
	int a[n];
	for(int o=0;o<n;o++)cin>>a[o];
	for(int o=0;o<n;){
		int p=1;
		for(;p<n;p++){
			if(a[o+p]<=a[o+p-1])break;
		}
		o+=p;
		sum++;
	}
	for(int o=0;o<n;){
		int p=1;
		for(;p<n;p++){
			if(a[o+p]>=a[o+p-1])break;
		}
		o+=p;
		sum++;
	}
	cout<<sum/2;
	return 0;
}

/**************************************************************
	Problem: 1173
	User: zhouhongyi
	Language: C++
	Result: Accepted
	Time:15 ms
	Memory:2072 kb
****************************************************************/