Taiwan Day 8 (Taichung 4)

 I got up around 9am and ate some food but not too much as I'm visiting 三舅媽 today.

I arrived around 10:30am and both 三舅媽 and 三舅 were there. Hello hello! 三舅媽 went for a hug and then I had to hug 三舅 too, couldn't let him miss out. It's a little less busy than usual. Honey is still alive and well! Despite her 16 years of age.

There was a new auntie there today helping fry eggs, doing dishes, and cleaning up tables. 

God I couldn't remember the names of the big sis and the Mr that works here! Rip.

As usual, stood/sat and chatted as usual, and looked at Honey.

At one point 三舅媽 told me to come down the back and she gave me a bracelet made of precious stones, and one for my bro with a horse to match his zodiac. She said that since I had a small wrist the bracelet should fit okay. She wasn't sure if Alan would wear the bracelet, I suggested he might put it on his bag. It's for good business fortune. Mine was for safety and peace.

I got treated to yummy noodles and side dishes. The 炸菜 was no longer chopped by 三舅 so it was a bit thinner and different. But the gluten, the tofugan, the noodles, the soup... Ahhhh this is the taste!

During my stay the Mr that works here delivered the electricity bill which was about $26000 for both units (next door). 

Shocker! I found out that it costs more in summer because the fridges need to work harder to maintain the temperature. 

Usually it's the other way round in NZ, winter bills cost more due to heating. 

They also structure the rates as the first xxx costs $5/watt, and then the next tier when you use over that amount costs $6/w, and so on, to promote saving energy. 

Around 12:40pm they started shutting down the stall and I asked if I could help with anything, and 三舅 just said help with stacking the chairs and putting them away. 

Then it was time to leave as they were finishing up. 

I headed towards my old neighbourhood. As I got to the intersection with the Police Station, I was shocked. They removed the 天橋! It was such a landmark and I enjoyed the view from up there... This hurts man. 

The Hang Ten on the corner was still there. 

I went to 大展文具行 and bought some pens, found that they had stamp books again! Gluestick, and another pouch bag. Also found an ita pouch that was quite pricey, but I did it cause I wanted to support. The total was $737.

Stamp book $220, ita pouch $370*, zipper pouch $69*, gluestick was $40 I think. 4 Simbalion markers, 2 Unipen waterproof markers, 1 Simbalion water proof marker (upon recommendation of the boss). I wasn't sure how much the pens cost... 

The * items weren't on 30% off. 

They turned the lights on when I was browsing the pouch area. There are a lot less toys outside than when I was small... 

Next, is towards my old street. 

I arrived at the 福德宮 that used to have the big old banyan tree. They had built up more of the altar area. It's hardly recognisable now. There were people there so I didn't stop in. They also removed the seats on the side...

The towards my old house. Seems like the bedding place is still there. The old water tower too. 

But the back part of my street... They starting to build a big tower building 大樓. I'm losing more and more of the old character... This sad...

My street hasn't changed too much. My old house still looks mostly the same. Same, but different. 

The fencing on the side of the house is what we used to have on our front yard fence and gate. 

The old Mike A conbini storefront... You can still see bits of it. 

And then, the gammy store. Happy to see they're still in business. TToTT

The boss was sorting out the eggs and went back to his till when I came into the drinks fridge. I got a Supau. The drinks were laid lying down. 

Then had a look at the snacks/sweets shelf. A lot less than before. The vita C wasn't there... The soy sauce and condiments row looked to be well stocked though. 

I paid up $45 for a Supau and Vita C of a diff brand. 

And then asked if I could take photos of the scale... Cause it was the same one as when I was a kid! I'm pretty sure!

I thanked the boss and left. I walked along back to the markets and looked at the parking lots which used to be juanchun housing...

And also at the little nook with the weird bunker structure. 

And at this poor banyan tree which was probably a juanchun original! 

Then back along to Qing Pink Park.

The little 社區 is still there. I didn't go in. I'd feel weird... I was also tired. 

Then had a sit down and rest at Qing Ping Park before heading back through the markets to pick up a Youbike at Dapeng Primary. 

I rode through 中央公園 towards where 姥姥's juanchun house was. I parked the bike and soaked in the energy of the place, and spent some time looking at the debris and the banyan tree we used to climb. Sadly, it was too scrubby and too debris for me to go inside confidently, and there were 2 birds I didn't want to disturb. I wanted to see if I could find the swirly rock, but it looks pretty buried. 

I looked at the various rocks and building debris, and managed to find one that was from a bathtub! I wonder if it's from our house's bathtub...

Maybe I should have taken the bathtub rock home... 

I then walked down to look at the row of houses on the road side that wasn't demolished. Some of them were pretty deprecated and some collapsed. It's a little sad. 

I walked in on the village side and tried to get photos but there's a lot of shrub and debris, so it was hard. I could see some of the houses entries though! A shadow of the juanchun... They are pretty run down. 

All the little alleys used to look like this with the drain cover. 

Main road entrance. There used to be a 2F building here that had a sign for dance school. 

The entrance from the main road. Used to pretty much lead straight into our house. 

After looking around here, I headed back to get my bike. As I left, some gardening workers were unloading and I nodded/smiled at one, and he smiled back!

I noted a interesting sign with the issuer being the third division Air Force.

I moved a block down and noticed on the area that uses to have the little gutter bridge that dipped down into a cul-de-sac type loop place, (that was so fun to ride down on a bike on), there was an old banyan tree. I vaguely remember it may have been from the yard of one of the houses there. I tried to take photos through the fence. 

I rode home slowly feeling melancholic. This place exists only in my childhood memories now. I rant hope when I die I can revisit it as it is of the time period... 

With all the residents of the village there and my relatives. 

I got home an dropped off my stuff. I needed to check out shoes so got ready to go out again to 全家福鞋 under Carrefour.

All the shoes there were kinda soft soled that I could twist???? And the Mizunos were all wide. The NB ones were kinda soft too. Only the Asics were better and the trail shoes were solid. 

I tried one of them on and it felt quite different but I wasn't convinced. It was also on full price. I didn't see any colours I liked immediately. 

So I just got the socks I bought on promo in 2023, and saw a Rayquaza! How could I say no? 

The lady who did the sale on the till said that next year when I'm back, the while building will be no more as the landowner sold it and they're going to build apartments here instead. I asked if they would be jobless...? And she confirmed that they'll be transferred to a different branch. Phew.

Sad though. 

I thanked her and headed towards 四叔's shop. 

I arrived and 四叔 said to go upstairs and check with 誌勵叔叔  on what's going on with my laptop. 誌勵叔叔 explained that they couldn't find my model number as I bought it overseas, and had to confirm if another model's can fit. There was a bit of circus with the Acer service centre guy but they confirmed the part in the end. He then chatted with me for a bit and 五叔 headed home. 誌勵叔叔's so arrived not long after and I think it was his second son? Still in school. I couldn't remember.  He showed me the area on street view behind the Chiayi railway was features in a taxi drama set in the 2000s. And showed me a livecam area in Nantou area that's quite popular for the misty mountain view. 

I wrapped up and said don't let me keep you from going home. And went downstairs to chat with 四叔 for a bit and had some tea. I ended up staying until 6pm and went home.

On my way home I stopped by the 新利賀 pharmacy and got a mini spray bottle $40 for alcohol, and only after paying I realised they sold ready to go small ones... Rip. 

Then on the way home I got a small clip it container from 久久大賣場 for $55.

And then FM Station bakery for a lemon cake, honey cake, and a candied nut mini tart. 

I got home and had my dinner which was the Pizza Hut pizza 二叔 got 3 of for $199 due to 11/11 sales.

I just had half of each pizza and heated it up in the oven.

I finished off my green bean drink while waiting for the pizza. I'm so tired by this stage. I finished my meal and tidied up, and then started to catch up on blogging. And sorting out how to book my Alishan bus tickets. It took me about an hour of reading Nick's guide and then headed down to Family Mary at 8:30pm.

On the way on the street I met 二叔 coming back from his meet with 二姨媽媽. 

I struggled at Fami mart for a bit and one of the tickets I printed timed out... And had to do it again on Yr Famiport machine. I got there in the end though. 

Then just shower and sleep.