I got up a wee bit early so I could take a nui photo of Dan Fei and Juan Juan in the tea leaves before breakfast.
I managed to find a spot under shade near the steps with the archway covered in vines, and got my photo before breakfast.
Breakfast is a feast again. This time they had the wavy edge flat noodles instead of congee, and a tea flavoured jelly. Delicious, fit for royals. As we were eating Mr Lin dad walked past and waved at us. He coughed a dry cough and then it hit that Lin lad takes on his dad's resemblance with his light coughing... Family genes, huh. He's got his mum's face shape though.
I bought back my tray to the kitchen and Mr Lin came to collect the rest.
Then back I go to poop. I'm so full... After that I packed up the rest of my stuffs and stripped the beds/combined the rubbish for them.
Once we were done, we asked for a lift down to the bus stop. Mr Lin loaded our luggage while I placed the keys onto the front desk. Mrs Lin had a chat with me and apologised for the rooms being small and in an old building, but I said no it was fantastic and the rooms have character being an old building.
She said that having part of the house being accommodation means that it gets maintained and the house slows down the depreciation. She mentioned that if they knocked it down and rebuilt, the rooms would be newer and nicer, like a lot of the other newer minus around here, and some people prefer that. But I said that those people can chose to go there, and those that like old housing can come here. I think they have a great place!
She told us to come again if we can, and I thanked her for it and got seated into the car. It's the same silver van.
As we passed the little red shrine I asked Mr Lin if he knew who lived in it. He said he wasn't sure and thinks it's likely 土地公 and/or 地基主. He said it's been there a long time, and when he was a kid in school his classmates would pray at it and he started doing it too. Then his dad told him off saying that he can't 亂拜. So he's not 100% sure.
We thanked him as he dropped us off at the bus station.
There were another group of Europeans at the bus station and the next bus wasn't until 30 mins later at 11:30am. And it was the HSR one. As we sat and waited, more and more Europeans got dropped off and there was like a little crowd. Uhhh. We have competition...
I went across the road to Hi-Life to check if my Yoyo card had enough on it. It did. As I came out I spotted a taxi driver taking a break and his car with the "empty car" light on. I went back and there was the male dog we saw wandering around earlier in the same corner we saw the black dog last night. Oh hello.
More people arrived. M had a look on the combined taxi app and saw the estimate was about $1000 ish for a trip down to the station.
A quick debate later I judged to go ask the taxi driver if he was willing to take us down. "I would do it", said M, and off I went.
Hello Mr. This taxi driver was from the other Taxi Fed something 大隊 and had a "高鐵站專車" label on his car. I asked if he free to take passengers and we had 3 suitcases and 3 people. He said yep, the fare would be about $1500 and I said that's fine, we're willing. He said he'll bring the car around to the Clothing shop since he can't park at the bus stop. Sure!
I went back to get L and M and moved our luggage over. This taxi driver ended up being sooo nice and explained a lot of stuff. He asked if we were tight on time, nope, and then offered to drive slower. I said that M gets carsick easier and he said OK he will turn gentler. So nice! M commented at some point that this was much nicer as she can see stuff and be more comfortable. The driver had his windows down partway and we had fantastic fresh breeze until just after Chuko. We saw someone overtake us on the right side (scooter/bicycle lane) and M was like "uuhhhh isn't that illegal" and I asked the driver. He said yes... As long as they don't bring danger to us we leave the rule enforcing to police. Yeah, fair. Also commented that around this time of the day, there's more chance of people wanting to go down the mountain so that some taxi drivers wait around a little to see if they can get a customer to go down. I commented that we were lucky either way!
When we almost reached Chuko the driver also asked us if anyone needed to pee. At some point of the journey he asked where we were from and I said NZ. He asked if people were like allergic to wearing masks as his sister said 千萬不要 when he offered to send some to her. His sis said only sick people wear masks. He
When we reached the city boundary he pulled up the windows for A/C but left a small crack at the back for air, as it got very hot.
His driving was very safe and he stuck to the rules and speed rules with the little machine telling you the speed limit and speed cameras. I wish I got his name or taken a business card from him. Regret lol.
Toilet break, L babysat our luggage. And then we went to get train tickers for them. They booked the Puyuma Express at 1:30pm. It was about 12:30pm now.
I said byeee I might see you later if the buses are full. I went my way to the back Transfer Station and asked the info desk. Ho-Hsin and KuoGuang go to Taichung Chaoma. Thank you. I found a Kuokuang ticketing machine just next to the info desk and managed to buy a ticket and pay with Yoyoyocard. There was one at 12:50pm. That's in about 10 mins... Okay!
I bought an onigiri and a banana from the Hi-Life at the gates and sat down. But then the bus came so I couldn't even eat my lunch lol woops. The bus was fairly empty. About 3-4 other people? I feel asleep partway and woke up just before Chaoma. I thanked the bus driver as I got off and asked for the luggage hold to be opened. He told me to watch my head so I don't knock it.
二叔 was ready to pick me up. Helloooo. I ate my onigiri (Chiayi chicken flavour). It was tasty but greasy!! He stopped by 四叔's shop to pick up my rice and box of prawn crackers.
I was still eating and asked if he wanted me to lift my 9kgs of rice... Nope... 四嬸 came over to talk to me and asked what' s the red line on my nose - that's a mask line. She took a step back lol. Don't think I didn't notice.
二叔 loaded my stuff and we went back home. He tried to convince me again to loosen up with the airborne infectious disease precautions. Welp after the graves sweeping on Sun the whole family is going to Taobanwu to eat. Uhhhhhh. >_< I guess I'm just going to eat with my mask on...
Once home he dropped my off and disappeared somewhere. I unpacked some stuffs and hung out the washing in the washing machine, started sweeping the floor cause I could see hair and dust in places. He came back just as I was doing the last 2 rooms. He said he'd already done it before I came. Oh well let me do it for you.
I had called Pan ayi earlier to arrange to give her her stuffs and she went to Fengjia's main entrance with the 7-11 and Hi-Life. She arrived and called me, I went down. Turns out the main entrance I was thinking of and here's is different - there are both 7-11 and Hi-Life at the back and front entrances. Woops. Well let me walk over. She had cycled here.
When I arrived she was chatting to an old coworker's of hers who immediately tried to Christianise me. Yeah whatever, I stayed polite. Pan ayi game me a teapot to take back for dad cause she saw the one he had had a chipped stout. Sweat, dad had lots. But thanks! Then I went to the post office.
I ended up eating the left over fried rice in the fridge at his suggestion, and then had a cup of tea.
He went off to pick up Meiling ayi as she comes back from Taipei today.
I mopped the floor whilst he was out and then went down to 7-11 to pick up my doujin that I had ordered and arrived. And also got some yoghurt.
I then returned and took a shower. He came back as I was showering and had bought a bentou for me.... Aww thanks but no thanks. I don't feel like eating and I have brushed teeth.
My PJ's still smell like Drizzle Tea... The faint smell of cypress plus the disinfectant clean smell. It's wonderful. Can I buy this in a bottle? Lol.
I put my washing on and blogged while the washing goes. I'm a little hungry now but don't really wanna eat. I will sleep soon.
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