/* ---------- STL Libraries ---------- */

// IO library
#include <cstdio>
#include <iomanip>
#include <ios>
#include <iostream>

// algorithm library
#include <algorithm>
#include <cmath>
#include <numeric>

// container library
#include <deque>
#include <list>
#include <map>
#include <queue>
#include <set>
#include <string>
#include <vector>


/* ---------- Namespace ---------- */

using namespace std;


/* ---------- Type Abbreviation ---------- */

template <typename T>
using V = vector<T>;
template <typename T, typename U>
using P = pair<T, U>;

using ll = long long;
using PL = P<ll, ll>;
using PS = P<string, ll>;

using VI = V<int>;
using VVI = V<VI>;
using VL = V<ll>;
using VVL = V<VL>;
using VS = V<string>;
using VB = V<bool>;
using VVB = V<VB>;
using VPL = V<PL>;
using VPS = V<PS>;

#define fst first
#define snd second


/* ---------- conversion ---------- */

#define INT(c) static_cast<int>(c)
#define CHAR(n) static_cast<char>(n)
#define LL(n) static_cast<ll>(n)
#define DOUBLE(n) static_cast<double>(n)


/* ---------- container ---------- */

#define EACH(i, c) for (auto i = (c).begin(); i != (c).end(); i++)
#define ALL(c) (c).begin(), (c).end()
#define SORT(c) sort(ALL(c))
#define GSORT(c) sort(ALL(c), greater<decltype((c).front())>())
#define SZ(x) (LL((x).size()))


/* ---------- repetition ---------- */

#define FOR(i, a, b) for (ll i = (a); i <= (b); i++)
#define REP(i, n) FOR(i, 0, n - 1)
#define NREP(i, n) FOR(i, 1, n)

#define RFOR(i, a, b) for (ll i = (a); i >= (b); i--)
#define RREP(i, n) RFOR(i, n, 0)
#define RNREP(i, n) RFOR(i, n, 1)

// Usual REP runs from 0 to n-1 (R: n to 0)
// Natural REP runs from 1 to n (R: n to 1)


/* ---------- Constants ---------- */

// const ll MOD = 1e9 + 7;
// const int INF = 1 << 25;
// const ll INF = 1LL << 50;
// const double PI = 3.14159265358979;
// const ll dx[4] = {0, -1, 1, 0};
// const ll dy[4] = {-1, 0, 0, 1};
// const ll dx[8] = {-1, 0, 1, -1, 1, -1, 0, 1};
// const ll dy[8] = {-1, -1, -1, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1};


/* ---------- Short Functions ---------- */

template <typename T>
T square(T a) {
    return a * a;
}


/* ---------- Debug ---------- */
#define GET_VAR_NAME(variable) #variable

#define test(x) cout << GET_VAR_NAME(x) << " = " << x << endl;
#define testP(p) cout << GET_VAR_NAME(p) << " = (" << (p).fst << ", " << (p).snd << ")" << endl;


/* ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Settting Part ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ */

/* ---------- Variances ---------- */


/* ---------- Functions ---------- */


/* ---------- Main Function ---------- */

int main() {
    cin.tie(0);
    ios::sync_with_stdio(false);

    int N;
    cin >> N;

    VI change(N + 1, 0);
    int preA;
    cin >> preA;

    REP(i, N - 1) {
        int A;
        cin >> A;
        if (A > preA) {
            change[i] = 1;
        } else if (A < preA) {
            change[i] = -1;
        } else {
            change[i] = 0;
        }
        preA = A;
    }

    int iter = 0;
    int ans = 1;

    while (true) {
        int state = change[iter];
        iter++;
        while (iter <= N - 2) {
            if (abs(change[iter] - state) > 1) {
                ans++;
                iter++;
                break;
            } else {
                if (state == 0) {
                    state = change[iter];
                }
                iter++;
            }
        }
        if (iter >= N - 2) {
            cout << ans << endl;
            return 0;
        }
    }
    cout << "error" << endl;
    return 0;
}

Measured memory_bytes: 640