I got up early and was nervous about making my train.
This minsu says no eating or drinking in the room, do it in 1F.
I woke up around 8am and could hear the other guest using the bathroom. Well now I have to wait at least 20-30 mins... When I got there they had left the fan on (good) but they left the floor all wet?! And the sink dirty. Ewwww.
I tried to breathe as little as possible and washed up. Then went back to my room and finished packing, and I need to poo... So went back to do so masked.
After that I went downstairs to eat, and found that the back door can be opened! So I went outside and just stood and ate while refilling my cup from the water dispenser. I stared at the old house next door and marvelled at how the roof tiles were stacked. The trees were taking root in the bricks and one tree started growing in the brick.
A family with a small girl kid was getting ready to leave. There's another older guy staying here too. There are what looks like air purifiers in 1F but they could also be dehumidifiers... I finished my bf and went back and started the challenge of hauling my suitcase down 3 floors. When I was doing so the other guy staying in 2F asked if I needed help and I said I'm OK, it's easier going downstairs. Thanks.
Phew. That done I went back up and left my key in the key box and got ready to go.
Off to the bus stop. The next bus arrives just after 10am. 2 (or 3?) buses came at once and I couldn't read the number that far away. Thankfully the first bus that came and stopped did go to the station when I asked the driver. So I hauled my suitcase up and realised this bus is all seats with no accessible seating space. Uhhhhh OK. Thankfully I figured out shortly that my suitcase can fit in the seats row, barely just. An older lady asked me in I think Taigi but I apologised and said I can't understand. She seemed a little pissed and gave up. Maybe because I'm sitting in the priority seat? But there's lots of empty seats on the bus and I'm happy to move if someone comes up and needs it.
The bus arrived and I let everyone go first since I had big luggage. The driver was not in his seat by the time I got off (I assume toilet) so I couldn't thank him.
I mad me my way to the stations and decided to buy a TR Bentou (vege) for $100.
And then I went to the platform and waited. I took my mask off as I was sweating as and let my mask air out and dry. ~10 mins till the train.
Train came, I got on. There was just enough space for my luggage at the racks. Lucky!
At the next stop a lady got on and sat next to me. I think she is sick. Not full on but has phelmy cough... And there's a young preschool kid being loud and full on phelmy coughing. Uweh.
I decided to snooze first, and when I woke up it was about 12:30pm ish. I thought the kid had left since I couldn't see him from my seat but turns out (halfway through my lunch) that he had keen asleep and changed seat with the other parent.
I didn't finish all my Bentou but I made a good effort I reckon. My appetite has shrunk...
And then we finally arrived at Chishang!
I got ready to go off. Ahhhh the air, faintly smells like rice. Fainter than last year but it might be the wind direction. Could also be something to do with how much rice has been harvested already.
I rolled my suitcase to the minsu, checked in, paid $4000 for 2 nights, and then sorted out my bag and went to the post office first.
I bought the stamps needed and off I go to rent a bicycle from 池上風情 next to the station. $200! The boss lady is as nice as always.
Off I go, but I stopped by back at the minsu to grab my scarf. Dang the wind is cold! And then I decided to stop back at the post office to buy their postcards.
Then I made my way to Dapo Pond. And then I was feeling a wee bit hungry and the only hot food was a truck selling big sausage small sausage for $70. The boss said he was about to pack up and then I came. And he added more charcoal into his grill.
I ended up chatting to him for like an hour. I did buy 1 sausage but he gave me an extra small one that the butcher didn't cut right. It took a while to grill. Whilst I was waiting 4 guys came in a car and acted all high and giggly. I felt like they were kinda drunk, and acted all friendly with the boss. One of them bought a sausage and one bought a big sausage small sausage. Then they finally left.
I got my sausage soon after and I chatted while I ate. The boss mentioned he eats like 5 sausages a day because sometimes business is hard to do and he doesn't want to waste leftovers. He also said that he was once grilling kumara and some kids came and said they wanted to eat grilled kumara and he sold them his lunch. So he was thinking about selling but unsure how. Also mentioned he used to work in Taichung near the Houli Horse Stables. He also gave me 2 kumara to take to eat.
And said that out of the bag of 5 kumara, 2 were off as they have been diseased when growing and are harder in the flesh and have a slight acidic smell.
I said bye and cycled down Dapo Pond and towards Brown Bouvelard. Since it was now like 4:30pm I only had about 30 mins to get some sightseeing in. It was super windy and the wind was cold!
But due to this not a lot of people were at the photo spots? Kaneshiro tree was empty! Like wtf!
I took some cryptid selfies and then I had to start heading back.
I got a wee bit lost and then managed to right myself and find my way back and was a bit late in returning my bicycle at around 5:20pm ish. Sorry! They were still there though. I chatted with the boss lady and she has memorised most of the minsu around here. Amazing. She said Xuyu is mid price tier. Along with Swallow House and a few others down this area.
She mentioned that May Rice House 五月稻, right next to station (she pointed it out), gives an amazing feast for breakfast and I can try them next time.
I also mentioned the sausage boss and the uncle (staff) said we call them chang yang? bei. Taigi for 香腸伯. And mentioned I'm from NZ etc etc and he said he'll drive me home, hahaha. Over the sea? Yes I'll take you there. He's so good at cracking jokes. He also mentioned that he lives not far from the minsu in the mountains 大破山 minsu. And boss lady also said they give a feast for breakfast but since it's on the mountain it's quiet as, and some people are not used to that.
I thanked them and left and then on my way home at the intersection that leads to Dapo Pond, as I was crossing the road, sausage boss came up in his truck and did a turn and shouted out at me. I then realised who it was and I was greeted him. He asked if I wanted to have dinner, he'll take me to eat pig trotter? I declined and said that I still have his kumara to eat. He told me to come around 9am for breakfast and he'll grill more kumara for me. OK then, see you tomorrow! I guess that's happening.
I got back and got myself some tea and watched Indigenous TV and ate through the kumara slowly. I then understood what sausage boss meant with the diseased kumara.
I did homework for Hualien and tomorrow and blogged. After my shower I got out and find a gecko in my bed LOL. I managed to chase it out to the sliding balcony door but it then wouldn't leave the door frame groove so I guess that's that. At least they won't be crawling on me in my sleep.
By the time for sleep I was hungry again... Blargh around 10:30pm.
Sleep now.
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