Solar Tree Time: Taiwan Day 20 (Hualien Baibaoxi)

Up early today! Come on let's go down for breakfast. I had some water and got dressed and then went to 漢堡大師 for takeaway. They were busy busy!

I got a corn egg roll, a bacon egg sandwich, and their caramel milk tea which is suuuuuuper nice. I also got photos of the frog from 巧本味.

Noodle container from last night

Then pack up the rest of my luggage and get ready. I pooped like twice... And also stripped the sheets.

Said bye to the room, think I see sausage boss' truck? and headed down to the station.

I stopped by and had a super quick few words with the boss lady from 池上風情 and said I'll be back next year if chance allows. Also waved bye to the staff auntie. Didn't see uncle!

While waiting at the station there was the black dog I'm pretty certain was there from last year.

I think these are new paintings!

They let us into the platform 10 mins before the train departs. The luggage rack was full but the space opposite had room. No one sat next to me the whole way!

When I went up for a pee I missed the 進站 of Guanfu. I wanted to see if you could see any remains of the flood this far up.

It wasn't long until we arrrive to Hualien.

When I got off the train, Puyuma was being cleaned by the staff! So fortunate, I got to see the train too.

My host from the Minsu said to take the West exit and he will pick me up from there. I found the exit and he took me to the minsu. He is so friendly. We went through the check in process and he had changed my room. To a bigger one?! This one had all rose themed decor it's actually really cute.

I dropped my luggage, set up the air purifier, and then out the door to the bus station to gun it to Baibaoxi with the 303 bus that only runs twice a day.

I picked up a banana and two onigiri from 7-11 and arrived just in time to see the bus still parked at the station with a few minutes left to go. I asked a staff there if 303 goes up Baibaoxi and the staff asked the driver to be sure. And the driver was like, yes we do and if you're going there you're either picking up stones or playing with water 去那邊不是撿石頭就是玩水啊～ lol. I sat down and someone else outside overheard and the bus driver was talking to him to tell me which path to take. Lololol guy was shy and driver kept telling him to come to talk to me. I went down and he noticed he stapled his surgical (good!). This gentlemen told me which road to take and what area. Thank you! Driver said it's 1pm now so I said OK OK 要發車了 and got back on.

Once I arrived the bus driver asked me if I knew when the return bus was, and confirmed it to be 4pm.

I headed up the road with the quarry sign and not long I came to an access to the river. I sat down at the bottom of the steps and ate my lunch first, it was 1:45pm.

Whilst eating a group came as well and was like "what's the name of the stone here" and I said "feng tian yu". Haha. They went looking first and I finished my food. I also had the milk they gave to me for free at Guanshan Farmer's Assoc market.

I didn't bring any wet shoes... Forgot my sandals in Taichung. Well OK. Popped my shoes into the tote bag and then rolled my legs up. Let's goooooo! Oooowww.... Yeah it hurts stepping on the stones barefoot. But the water was only cool not cold. And the weather was good and not too hot.

I started looking and checked with my torch. I found some tiny pieces of serpentine or jade, and some lighter green. Heaps of serpentine.

When I got nearer the waterfall, I started lifting algae grown rocks up and checking underneath.

Two girls in a swimsuit and basket was near and I asked them what it looks like if they found? And they showed me their big piece. Wow! I asked for tips and they said that the area near the access near the fisherman was easier to pick up, but they didn't want to get hooked by the fishing line. OK thank you!

I kept looking and not long I found a thin piece wedged under a larger rock?? And I asked them if this was it because I can shine a torch and it's transulent on the edge but not the middle. They said yes it's all jade, just that it's thicker. Awesome!!! Thank you.

Aww man that's so cool. I kept looking and found 2 more smaller pieces, and lots of tiny pieces. There were also lots of tadpoles and a tiny frog I saw!

Tiny frog... Can you spot?

By like 3:20pm I kinda needed to pee but they're no toilet here... Weeeeeeh. I took a rest on the dry barrier rocks near the lower waterfall, and put my shoes back on, and just proceeded to look along the drier bits. I think it's easier to spot the jade when it's wet. I found a couple tiny pieces but that's it.

Then I made my way back to the bus stop and made sure to be there before 4pm. I saw that there's an unofficial access to the river on this side of the road.

Bus came just after, and the same driver asked if I had any trophies. Yes! I found 3 pieces!

He mentioned that there's lots after a typhoon and I should come then.

I feel asleep part way and when I got off the bus, I made for the toilet. Phew.

I went to the into counter and decided to ask if they had stamps. They did! The lady said that they had some unique ones but they were stolen. Da fuq! And I asked if all transfer stations have? She said it depends, you gotta ask.

When I finished stamping I showed her my stone findings and the bus driver came and joked that people who have money and time would do stuff like this LOL. I joked back saying I saved and scrounged on meals all year to be able to do this on holiday LOL.

The lady said that, 來花蓮就是要這樣子玩，去摸索 and that the driver was joking. And wished me happy holidays. They had a Dokodemo Door which was really cute.

Then I made sure to head to the train station to get my stamps.

They had some at the info desk and then the glass station stamp at the TRA shop across from the info desk?!? Station was busy.

I headed back to the minsu and printed off some postcards at 7-11 on the way home.

I rinsed off my rocks and looked at where to eat dinner. I was hungry-ish and decided on trying 阿美小吃. The host Mr Ye said that they might not be open as often now due to owners health. They used to be open every day. Ah... That's why. Forced rest by body.

They were open and the boss lady looked pissed but I think she just has resting bitch face (and maybe pain?). I got a ramen and their noodles were real Al dente! Open door style and fairly quiet so it wasn't as bad.