Taichung Day 2

 Woke up properly and 二叔 was already up about an hour ago and had gotten breakfast. He got me 蘿蔔糕 from a Happiness Good Morning brand breakfast shop. They chop theirs up and fry each piece individially so it's all crispy. I think it realy suits being a 小吃 instead of a breakfast meal. They also had egg pancake with a hash brown inside, but the pepper was a bit too strong on the hash brown and it tasted a bit weird. It was fried really crispy all over too. The drink was soy milk with bran pieces.

I was really full....

After digesting a bit I went down to the post shop and send off a parcel for Kayla. They said I can use their EZ Post system to do it, so I just fill out all the details in English on the EZ Post site, and then take the QR code to the machine and ask it to print the sticker. It only cost $249 for a 300g parcel! God Taiwan postal is so cheap. It should arrive in about 2 weeks. Then I bought stamps for postcards ($10 for NZ, $12 for Mexico). 

I stopped by 7-11 on the way home and printed out another postcard via ibon. Then back upstairs and spent about an hour writing my postcards. Go
d I am so tired. 二叔 went out on his bike and said he'll get lunch on the way home. I went to take the laundry upstairs to air. The wind is nice and cool and it's very comfy. He called me whilst I was writing postcards cause he thought I went to the bank services at the post office and spoke to 四叔 since he was at this shop. Um no lol, I go to the post shop for postal lol, I don't have an account. By the time I finished my postcards he came back.

Some fungi is growing in one of 二叔's pots...

Lunch was from the healthy bentou shop, but I was still so full from breakfast I only had half of the bentou. Left the other half in the fridge. 

I was quite full so I had some tea and added photos onto the blog for the previous days. After that I went to get the laudnry and folded them up. Then asked 二叔 what time we leaving, as we're going to 奶奶's house in the evening for dinner and ice cream. I got an hour. Sweet.

So let's go visit the Juanchun where 姥姥s house was at. Ubike time! So nice to hear the jingle when you rent a bike. I parked the bike at the park and started looking. There was only 2 含羞草 I could find. I went to the big tree and seems like some sort of large bird has taken roost in there now, so I didn't want to walk in further in case they become aggresive. I had a look around at the ground, I could see the line of the brick wall and some of the original concrete?? At what I think is where 姥姥's house was. And definitely debris from where 吳愛蓮(?)'s house was, since it was right next to the little courtyard space of the big old banyan tree. The banyan tree has put down a lot of new roots. There's still a lot of debris. The little road leading in is still there and the old power pole and street lamp is still there? Had a really good look around, and then looked at the outer row of houses. A lot of them are abandoned now, but a few still has people. There's one small alleyway left and the opposite side is now a garden (people were in it) where it used to be a house. I could see a faint afterimage of what it used to be - I remember this alley - it should be the one in the middle of the row of houses from the big road leading straight into 姥姥's house and the other bigger one. It was really sad at the same time as I was happy seeing the old Juanchun houses.

It's 4:15pm now and I needed to head back. I got back on the bike and cycled back. On the way I could see some debris amongst the grass and bush of the empty lots and parking lots. I wonder where the boundaries of the Juanchuns were, and which ones used to have juanchun houses standing? A few gusts of wind every now and then would pick up my hat.

Parked the bike and got back upstairs at 4:35pm, but 二叔 wasn't home yet. I just sorted myself out and got ready to go. Don't forget 小智's cheese n choc. 二叔 got back and we drove to 奶奶's house. I had my juice from the Eva Air flight on the way. The paper straw is an extendable one. ?!?!? I was mind blown.  

He let me off first whilst he went to park the car. I had a look at the two juanchun houses I missed yesterday. One has been boarded up. :( The other one at the corner has bricks behind the window (???) so I guess they don't use this side of the house. There's still a really old sign for a general wares store? And the back of the house is the 小水溝.

I got given the keys to 奶奶's house so I went up first. Said hi to 小智 as 五叔 wasn't back yet. Went to 拜拜 at the ancestor's altar and 奶奶's altar. Told 奶奶 that I'm home to have a meal today. Didn't feel grandma at the seat when coming in today. Mai'ya came over to greet me (!!!) and Hu'nio was in the basket next to the bathroom. Gave 小智 his goodies.

Just sat and chilled, 二叔 arrived not long after and then Mai'ya pulled me hand and wanted pats. Okay!!! At some point I felt like 奶奶 was in her chair for a bit. 五叔 came back after 6:10pm with dinner, which was beef noodles. Feeding (snack) time for the cats. Phew~ it's quite rich and a little greasy. Nice flavour though. Noodles are so soft. I was wearing white.... he lent me a jacket to use as an apron. It saved me because I definitely got splashed on myself. 😭 Mai'ya did a poop while we were eating and 五叔 commented on how one of them always does that when they're eating.

Sat and rested for a bit, and 二叔 switched on the news. Hu'nio came up and sniffed me for a bit. Ohhhh. Mai'ya ran away somewhere. And ended up throwing up the snacks on the ground near chair where I put my bag on, next to grandma's room. Why are you like this....

Off we go, time for ice cream. Said bye to 奶奶. Went to the car and got driven to the area - passed by a neon lit sign that said 台中電子街 ohhhh. We found a car park and then walked over to the 日出冰淇淋 which is at what used to be an old bank. 

Just a really cool building which they did the exterior up to be themed

The building is really cool. It was moderately busy.... just have to pray I stay covid safe. Gosh they have SO MANY flavours. Some of the weird and wacky and wonderful too. I settled on a Oolong tea flavour and a Taiwan vanilla lemon flavour. As everyone spent over $500 they gave a voucher for free pineapple cake, so I went over to the shop area and the shop attendant just gave me like 3 tasting cups and a single cake. I was like, wuh- what's happening?!? and then got pushed back to the topping area to pick my toppings. I got a 大瓦片 almond biscuit and a 土鳳梨 cake. And noticed that the shop area had the walls, roof, and floor panelled in $1 coins. Wow!! How much money is here lol.

The oolong flavour tasted like tea. But the vanilla lemon flavour, ohhh, this one was so fragrant and nice, distinct lemon flavour with a hint of floral fragrance. Definitely a fav. Had a taste of 小智's Uganda 70% choc and chilli. Can definitely taste the spice. And then 五叔 has a flavour which I tasted but I can't remember what it was. The chilli choc had more of an impression, lol. 

Tried to eat fast as I could and not breathe in too deeply... thankfully no coughs just 1 person who dry coughed twice. I really hope I come out OK. They also gave a sample of choc ice crea which was the chilli choc. Eating it fully was weird - it kinda tasted like alcohol and cocoa, with a spice to it. Very very weird. I wouldn't order it lol. They had a creamy cake of earl grey tiramisu flavour and something else which I gave to 二叔 to eat so he could have something without upsetting his stomach further.

Once done I masked back up and we left not long after. I had a look around, the decor inside is really cool, and DA FUQ they had a whole row of like 6-8 stamps!!! I even looked at my stamp book today but didn't bring it in favour of the smaller bag!!! ARRGHH!!! I'll have to come back for the stamps...

Windows are really cool, old worn metal frames with some hinges for opening.

Back of the big safe door. The reflection makes it hard to see...

The big safe door.

Many flavours!

Went back to the car and dropped 五叔 and 小智 off. Back home, took a shower, and blogged. Tired now. There's another typhoon coming on the way... orz. Gonna go to the family grave early tomorrow.