Alishan today!!! It's also L's birthday today!!!!
Breakfast was a Royal feast again. Mrs Lin was like "sorry the colour for the veges looks a bit ugly because I was worried it'd be too cold and I had to reheat it!". It's ok! It's delicious.
After breakfast, I pooped again, and then we went down to the bus stop. M popped into 7-11 for an umbrella, and we took the 10:04am bus (it was a bit late) up the mountain. By the time the bus got to us, it was standing space. This bus driver didn't have the front windows open, it was raining intermittently lightly, so maybe that's why. The bus was also extremely warm, and the Airspot read 6976ppm, I saw it go up to 7000ppm though. Yikes!!!! M got a bit carsick and sat down. The driver took some corners pretty fast so the swing was pretty big.
We finally made it, and I hurried everyone up to go through the entrance (pay $150 entry fee with bus voucher discount), and to go to the train station to get tickets before they go on lunch!! We were cutting it so close, at 11:24am we lined up with 3 other groups in front of us, and the staff was just going "here hurry up the train is leaving!" and stuffed us the tickets and gave change fast. The tickets were to Shenmu and not Zhaoping lol. We ran for the line, it was still moving, phew. But board the train fast. It was the cypress train! The special one with the windows that can go all the way down!!! YAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!
The train was full but I managed to open some windows partway and then someone left their seat, so I bags it and opened up the windows near there. Phew. I got a bit nervous with just my KF94 on ears so I quickly took out my ear saver and re-tied my hair so it would sit on it. Phewwww. Better now. Enjoyed the rest of the ride. The train did smell faintly of cypress.
Once out we tried to get photos and managed to get some when most of the crowd dissappated.
Then we could finally do the toilet. After that we had a look through the little area to the left of the station with the shops. I got some Taiwan cut-out shaped postcards, and they also had a special stamp here! Win!! The stamp was sooo cool! The shop gentleman was so busy though lol.
Then we started to walk towards the sakura grove. FINALLY!!! The Sakura are in bloom here!! YAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!
We took a while getting photos and stuff and then made our sweet way past the Alishan House/Hotel/Resort (not the Grand Hotel). The Police Station we saw from the train was here, with two magnificent sakura trees blooming. The old entrance of the House was cute and they had a wonderful blooming tree.
We continued and made our way towards Shousan Temple for foods. Eventually we got there, and it was almost 1:30pm.
I ended up getting a guabao, and a millet donut. The millet donuts from this stall was sold out, so I bought the ball version of it from the next stall over.
This stall had a lady who was a great talker, and convinced me to try one ball with wasabi. They planted this wasabi themselves and the recipe won an award. I tried it, it was pretty good! They mixed it with some salt and pepper. The balls were a bit cold but still good.
Then I bought a cup of oolong tea from next door.
And then got a few photos with the trees at the Temple area.
Toilet, and I also checked with the temple had a stamp - yes! Woot!
We went along towards the Old Tree Walk and Museum. We ended up missing the Three Generation Tree (didn't quite get there, ran out of time). There was a tiny suspension bridge which was 90m from a walkway intersection so we had a look at it and it was a tiny little one. I didn't go on it thought haha but L did walk it.
Then we went towards Cishen Temple, and passed a viewing deck with a nice view of the rolling clouds over mountain peaks.
Past the temple we reached the Museum area and I finally could have a good look at the Museum. That said, it was about 3:30pm now so we didn't have that much time. I did take a lot of photos though for later.
About 3:50pm I started heading towards Shenmu station. On the way past we saw the big Shenmu tree. Because the tree was too ugly it was not felled by the Japanese. A lot of the older, ancient trees were too ugly so they survived. Then back to Shenmu Station.
Just as we arrived to the ticket office, they closed it. The staff came out to do the key exchange!!! Ahhh!! I managed to get it on video!!!!
Once they were back I bought tickets and then we headed into the train, but not before a quick toilet break for M.
We ended up getting on the last carriage and the train took 7 minutes back to Zhaoping.
We only had 20 mins before we needed to head down to the Transfer Station for our bus that we already booked tickets for. I went into the first floor of the station and saw they had a tiny exhibit on salamander. I took photos as I didn't have time to read it. Then a quick walk down the shops area, not really having much time to buy anything. I did stop in front of the post office, but their postal services end at 4:30pm. Rip. It was 4:29pm. Then I walked towards the info centre thinking maybe they have stamps? But checked how long it takes us to walk to the Transfer station - 10 minutes. Uh oh. I aborted that decision and texted the others to let them know we gotta GOOOOOOO.
We half ran down to he transfer station and arrived at 4:35pm. The bus driver was an Ah-bei and said "Why you arrive so late? Everyone is waiting for you (rerved tickets)." I apologised and quickly went to get seated on the bus but someone was sitting in our reserved seat - uuhhh no matter the other side is still free and we are still in the front row.
The bus driver did leave the door side window open. Fantastic. The bus filled up to standing space at the door steps. This driver is so Taiwanese, he's wearing the classic beige jacket with a gingham print lapel, Drives with mostly one hand turning on the wheel, and leans over on one side, and was chatting in Taiwanese to another passenger sitting on the steps. He did open his driver side window slightly. The breeze coming through really helped and felt really nice.
After Shizichun, he turned the bus stop announcement off. I played Pokemon Go and made a remote trade with Mipo-san.
After my incense ran out, I checked the map and we were close to Shizuo. Once I saw the familiar street, I undid the seat belt and stood up to hit the bus stopping bell. We got off and the driver was like "tap your card" to L and M as they walked off, so I followed up and said "we bought tickets". And made sure to thank the driver for his hard work.
This driver took the turns much more gently and M did not get as sick.
Once off, we saw the black dog mum in the corner of the bus stop. Later M saw them shivering and wanted to give them a blanket. We could buy one from the conbini but then it would be littering as the dog leaves the blanket...
We decided to get dinner at Ping'an Quick Fry. The English speaking dude was there with a t-shirt that said "帥哥" on the front in red. He said he went to NZ not long ago after asking us where we are from, He said he went to Hobbiton and Auckland.
We got Mapo tofu again, kungpao chicken, mountain pig, and sizzle plate oyster.
The oyster was really tender and juicy, I had two, but not too much in case I get allergic. The Mapo tofu, mmmmm yummy. The pork was nice and tender and on the lighter flavouring side, which was nice. And then the kungpao chicken had a bit of a pineapple sweetness to it (without pineapple??), and was great. Yummy.
Then we went to the conbini and I picked up another yellow watermelon for dessert. There was a lot more people in the store today....
We did stop by Hi-Life but they didn't have what I wanted!
Back home. It's about 6:20pm now. When we got back the front door was open and a bunch of Europeans were having dinner served on the side room to the reception. Mr Lin was there and I asked him if it was convenient for him for us to ask a question, or shall I wait until tomorrow? He said to wait until the last 2 trays are served,
We hung out around for a bit and looked at the cats.
Then when he was free we asked about the tea leaves.
M and L ended up getting 3 diff boxes, and I got the black tea with the honey taste (2x 150g packs) for $800.
The honey black tea has been bitten and eaten by a larvae, and their spit left on the leave creates the honey flavour when undergoing the fermentation process. The tea leaves are left thin and loose, and the leaves are thinner so it's easier to crush. The packets inside are half-vacuumed as to not crush it. Not kneading it into a ball shape means that you can seep it for 10-15 mins and the tea won't become bitter, whereas the ball shape means the bitterness comes out more after seeping for a long time.
The high mountain oolong pack (150g) is $400 I think, and the black tea (ball shape 150g) is also $400.
The other high mountain oolong tea has been roasted twice, so the fragrance and aroma is stronger, along with a stronger sweet aftertaste. That one is $600 (I think it was). They sold out of Jinshuan tea, which was L's favourite from the tea ceremony. M's was the black tea with the honey taste. Mine was, of course, high mountain oolong haha.
Because L and M bought 3 packs? Mrs Lin gifted a set of the tea pourer and cup to us. She also wanted to gift me one but I said my dad loves tea so we have everything at home! So then it because L and M both got one each.
I asked Mr Lin what was happening with the dinner, and he said that they booked a dinner experience. Ohhh thank you, I understand. It felt a bit awkward asking but then later I thought about it and it made sense. Initially when I booked last year, they also had a dinner service. But because the Taipei Tea Expo was on, it wasn't available.
Once back in my room, I relaxed for a bit (it was 7pm), showered, wrote postcards, I blog, and now I will sleep. It is almost 10pm.
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