program ss;
var n,i,j,k,l,m,a1,a2,a3:longint;
begin
 readln(n); if n=1 then begin write(1); halt; end;
 read(a1,a2);
 if n=2
 then begin if a1=a2 then write(1) else write(2); halt; end;
 for i:=3 to n do
  begin
  read(a3);
  if ((a3>a2)and(a2<a1))or((a3<a2)and(a2>a1))
  then inc(k);
  if a2=a3 then continue;
  a1:=a2; a2:=a3;
  end;
 write(k+2);
end.

/**************************************************************
	Problem: 2328
	User: admin
	Language: Pascal
	Result: Wrong Answer
****************************************************************/