Solar Tree Time: Taiwan Day 5 (Taichung 1)

I woke up before 7am today and had breakfast. The oats here (Quaker brand) curls up funny but they soften up quick. I had some cranberries with it and some of the TW style croissant and a green tea scone.

At 9am 雅意 ayi came to get her souvenirs and I had a quick chat. Then back upstairs - onto the rooftop and 二叔 was already there and had put some of the laundry out to hang. I looked at his many chilli pot plants and some had green chilli's growing. Very cute. The basil smelt so good. He also had some papaya trees growing, hasn't fruited yet though.

Back down I go, and spent the whole morning just catching up on blogging until 12pm lunchtime.

二叔 had gone to get his flu vax at a community pop up clinic for over 55s, where they can get jabbed fully free. It's super busy and he was like 100 numbers out from his turn, so he went to 水㓓 to get 涼麵 while waiting.

The 涼麵 he got was really big and had so many sauce packets?! Apparently this is the same shop we ate at growing up, since dad introduced uncle about this shop. But that shop was a home shop and the house it was in was a juanchun house, which has been demolished... And it was served with carrots and bean sprouts and had sugar water.

This one only had cucumber... And the shop served hot soup noodles too. 二叔 said they also sell other hot soup noodles. Huuuuuh.

The flavour was good though!! The noodles were a big portion. I got to like 3/4 through and started feeling full.

Also canned sardines as a side dish.

After lunch (I managed to finish!) I made some tea and then uncle feel asleep in his chair. I headed out to Shinkon Mitsukoshi since I needed to get the official case from Sony store for my 10 VII.

It's even more muggy out today. I walked down and made it in, it was quite busy. I went up to 2F via escalator and decided to take the elevator... But the wait was ages and it was still hot inside. So I decided to use the escalators since it's less of an enclosed space, and the elevator is gonna take ages so I'll be trapped... Sony store is on 9F.

I got there and they had demo dummy sets of 10 VII and 1 VII on display. The 10 VII is essentially the same size as the 1 VII, but the 1 VII is taller. Oof.

A staff directed me to the cases... But they're all boxed with no samples outside. Only the one case on the display 10 VII. I decided to get white.

Funny story now, as I was purchasing at the till, the staff asked if I had a phone/didn't get a case with the phone purchase? It was loud in the store so I didn't hear properly, but as he asked this I found my 10 VII and placed it on the counter. He then went 'ah'. I quickly explained that I don't live in Taiwan so I had to buy from an importer but they didn't sell the cases.

He asked if I needed bag? No, I will use it now, and he opened it for me. I slapped it in and thanked him and took the box too.

Next I decided to check out uniqlo quickly. I walked around and a lot of their stuff has viscose or polyester now? I didn't like it. But they had the waffle top in pink! I also ended up getting another pair of cotton pants.

Once decided I purchased my goods (both were $590 ea so $1180 total), I went down via escalator and outside. I decided to hire You bike and found my way to the park outside 四叔's shop. Parked and went to see if he's there... Yup! Can see his bike. I went in and hiii and asked for my tote bag back lol. Went upstairs, had a look, and found it. Then 阿康 and 四嬸 walked in. Hi big bro!!

二叔 messaged me to say he'll pick me up so didn't wait long until he arrived to take me to grandma's house. Whilst waiting I got fed these big green grapes that were tangy sweet. Nice.

Traffic was OK today and we got there pretty fast!

We arrived and 五叔 was in the dining area. The cats went and hid lol.

I dropped my stuff and went to pray at the altar. Told grandma and grandpa I was home.

二叔 came shortly and put on some incense, and we greeted the ancestors again.

Then we just sat and chatted for a bit. 五叔 gave me a cup of 綠豆沙 drink and it was quite nice.

The cats were curious and came out and hid and repeatedly did that. They looked at the cheese I sent in first and 五嬸 wanted to try some and asked 小智 if it was OK. He said yes lol.

二叔 stayed for a bit and then went home, I stayed behind and I'll take the bus back. For dinner, it's hot pot so I went with 五嬸 to the new traditional market that opened up to service the social housing. But seems like a lot of food stalls has closed down because business wasn't good. It's odd though because the housing around this area means that there should be people to buy. It's true the market stalls were pretty much half empty. That's kind sad.

五嬸 grabbed some freezer goods and some shaved frozen meat for hot pot. Then headed to the meat stall to get some pork. I realised why pork is considered red meat in TW according to Dark H???! It's way redder. The pork in NZ is pinker. 五嬸 asked for the meat to be chopped into thin slices for hotpot,and will come back later.

We then went to the vegetable stall and I saw some really pretty kumara imported from Japan and some huge ass carrots. They also like pack herbs like in a air bag which was pretty interesting.

We also picked up some soybean juice (soy milk) with black sesame flavour. Then went back to pick up the meat. And headed back. 五嬸 commented on how no carbs after 3pm as it affects blood sugar. And have to watch her diet now as its pre-diabetes warning.

五嬸 unloaded and started to look at the new wet dry vacc she bought in 11/11 sales.

The whole family, 五嬸, 五叔, 小智 and I spent the next like 20 mins examining and figuring out how the pieces go together looool. Once about 5pm 五嬸 went to prepare dinner.

The cats came to be curious for this event lol and once dinner was done, we had le hot pot.