Woke up early-ish but also was weird sleeping around dawn hours. For breakfast I just ordered a egg and corn sandwich $35 and a large milk tea $25 from the breakfast store next door to the minsu. They were so busy and the lady who served me is like a machine.
I heated up the 蘿蔔糕 from yesterday and finished that first. Then I was pretty full... I couldn't finish the sandwich... I finished up my drink, and had to poop twice (once before going down to breakfast, and one after). I wrote one postcard, and then started to pack up the room. I realised this later when I'm on the train, but I left my unopened Gungungurt in the fridge... I helped them strip the blankets and went to check out. I just handed them the key at reception and that's it. I sat at the table of the communal area and finished writing my other 2 postcards (since it was only 11am).
Then I packed that up and thanked the staff, and headed to the train station. It was drizzling and I contemplated calling a driver for a hot min and then decided to use the umbrella and walk. It wasn't too bad. I got to the station and then also picked up my ticket from Chishang to Kaoshiung. I contemplated and ended up buying a "Yilan Special" Taiwan Railways Bentou for $120. Then moved to the platform 2A via elevator. I sat down at the platform seat and kinda felt hungry? So tried eating my sandwich but only got halfway and felt like I had no appetite. So I wrapped it back up.
The train (number 422) was 4 mins late, and arrived shortly after I wrapped my sandwich. I headed to the 3rd carriage area and boarded the train. I put down my luggage and then headed to the opposite end, and realised I was at the wrong end of the seats... I wonder how the swap the seats over??? If it's going in the other direction, surely they wouldn't have people sitting backwards. Or do they have trains that only run in a specific clockwise/anti-clockwise direction? I found my seat number 6, and sat down. Pulled the tray table down and put my bentou on it. I didn't feel hungry about 1:30pm ish and the bentou had cooled down by that time.
Once I felt hungry enough, I started eating with an earloop mask. Two passengers using wheelchairs got on just before I started lunch. The bentou had lots of rice. For some reason I was hungry but didn't have much appetite. I liked the little kumquat (must be Yilan specialty). The fried ball is like taro mochi with a sweet custard sauce inside? I only finished half of it before giving up. I turned on my CO2 monitor and it floated around below 800ppm for the remaining 30 mins of the trip.
Chishang stop came and I gathered my stuff and got off. I didn't end up using my SIP mask at all. As soon as you got off, it was humid but you can smell the sweet grass scent in the air. It's so nice. I got into the elevator with 3 other people and one lady commented on my big luggage. I said I was 環島ing. Alone? How long? 2 weeks! Wow! They always amaze at me going alone. We arrived and they stared at the artwork and stopped to take photos. I headed on since I had a look last year. A couple walked on further and commented that they only take 4 days for 環島. I said they must have a packed itinerary. They said 到處看看. I said 出來走走路散散心也好. I stopped at the info desk and got my stamps for my book. A stray? dog was at the station. (I see this dog later around town).
As soon as I got out of the station it started raining. How rude lol. I made it to the minsu and a lady was at the counter. She was pretty quiet and signed me in. I think she might be a SEA worker. I got to my room and it's a neat little room. Very clean here. Bathroom tiles are cool. I dropped my luggage off and headed out to get postage stamps and postcards. I made it to the post office. The clerk said it was only $5 for a postcard? When I asked for $10 stamps. I said it's international! He asked me if the $12 stamps were too big. I said I'll make them fit. Thank you.
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| View from my balcony! |
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| Really cute hanger rack |
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| view from my balcony |
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| No 4th floor here |
I stuck the stamps on and just fitted the $12. And then realised they don't have an international mailing box - and went back in to ask. Ended up handing it to another staff from the one I just bought stamps from. I thanked them and headed back out. I went to the bookshop and they still had what I believe is the same postcards of the scenic photos? Just 3 of them. They had cat postcards though. Also they had stamps? Of their cats? I put that into my book. I ended up buying the cat photo postcards. Their white cat ended up showing themselves on the floor. I was distracted when exiting and touched the cat's tail (SORRY!!!!) with my the tip of my foot and the cat meowed. I'm sorry love!! 😭😭😭 I was too embarassed to go back in...
I started to head towards the farmer's association and realised I had forgotten my Wise card. So had to head back. And ended up walking in the wrong direction. Man do I have no sense of direction.
I got my card and headed to the Farmer's Assoc. It wasn't far. I didn't end up buying too much. I spent some time looking at all the products though. I asked for it to be sent when I checked out, they said it will cost $100. I said last time I bought over a certain amount and they had free shipping? Was it a promo at that time? The lady said it might be. And commented that there will be a delay in shipping. I said will it get there within 2 weeks? I need it by 25th Nov. She said should be. Wow way to make me worried. I still bought it anyway. I spent about $89 NZD since I swiped Wise. I also bought more postcards since they had an illust of Brown Bouvelard....
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| I couldn't figure out what these were. Turns out they're youkan! |
By the time I came out it was started to get dark. On my way home I ran into the night market - it's really close! I walked through and some stalls were still setting up. A mozzy landed on me so I decided to walk back home to put some repellant on. I was starting to get hungry. When I walked into the minsu it was a different lady there, and she asked if I wanted to have a tax receipt? I totally forgot about it, good thing she remebered. I gave her the details and she wrote one up with tax postage stamps. How interesting. I managed to apply for the tourism subsidy which is $1000 for each stay at a minsu, and the lady who checked me in applied it. Woo~
She gave me a can of raw rice as a gift. And showed me the bicycles for rental. Aww how nice. I think she is the proprietress. She was quite friendly. I felt more welcomed than the other lady who checked me in - but naturally if she is here just to work and her mandarin isn't great, then yeah it's understandable. I asked her if the courier/shipping things will take as long as what the shop lady said, she said it might be an extra few days but it shouldn't be that bad, and 11/11 this year apparently isn't as bad as last year? I definitely felt better after that.
Repellant on, and off to the night market. I walked around a few times, more stalls has popped up. Even a Mitsubushi motors displaying 4 cars? I forgot to get a photo. How unique. I ended up getting grilled squid $150. Good thing someone else ordered as well as the lady packed it and added RAW ONION!!!!! I asked her not to put any into mine. Phew. Bullet dodged. She put just a little bit of chilli. The flavouring has a bit of 5 spice. The chilli is pretty spicy. They don't have shop seats so I just stood at the side and ate. Mmm. Then walked around and decided to get some friend mushrooms? I swear she said $60 for 1 pack the first time, but it ended up being $100 for 1 combo pack flavour? It was a lot.... I ate two and felt full. And but the time I tried the third enoki type, I was done. SAD. I wanted my kumara balls so I got that. They have option to add powdered flavour so I asked for some ume flavour. I think it was $60 for one. Man prices have really gone up?? I also decided to get a pack of sliced watermelon for $50 at the fruits stall (which was also selling snails!), and then walked back to the minsu. It's so close. I finished my kumara balls, very yummy. The ume powder is nice. Separate stomach for dessert I guess, haha. I had some tea as well. I was quite thirsty.
After dinner it was about 6:30pm and I decided to go take a ride. I forgot a photo of the nightmarket sign so went around to take one. Then walked the bike through the market and went the wrong way on the road bordering the rice fields. Woops. I saw two stray? dogs. I went the right way and saw another 2 stray dogs further down. I found the right road and rode to Dapo pond. There are no streetlights once you reach the pond. Just the moon light. There were 2 pairs of people here near the parking lot. I walked down to a bricked area near the water but it was all silty/muddy, from flooding I guess.
I rode around and took photos, and then went up the left hand side street. On the bridge there were 2 more people chatting. I rode all the way to the pagoda, then turned back. It's kinda thrilling riding in the dark. I rode down the road on the other side and could see big holes were trees used to be. Must be typhoon damage. I got to the intersection for the Waterwheel and took some photos and turned back. The road near the intersection had some branches over it so it was bumpy there. When I got to the parking lot the people near the water was getting ready to leave in their car. The pair in the middle of the parking lot (one had a guitar) was still there. I waved at them (he didn't wave back) as I passed to exit.
On the path to the rice fields there were streetlights in this part so I could touch some rice!! Who knows what the rain will be like tomorrow so I gotta touch some now. I got back to the minsu and my shoes were a little muddy. Sorry... I made sure to wipe it on the mat and then it wasn't enough to I went to the grass just outside and wiped it there. It was just about 8pm.
I finished writing my postcards and then took a shower.
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| Had some watermelon before my shower |
Gotta move photos off onto a new SD card as running out of space, and then from internal to the phone external SD card. I turned on the TV and found the Pili channel. For some reason I couldn't find it in Yilan... maybe only in Taitung and Tainan? I put it on while I blogged.
It's 11pm now, and I must sleep.
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