Taichung Day 2

 Woke up properly and 二叔 was already up about an hour ago and had gotten breakfast. He got me 蘿蔔糕 from a Happiness Good Morning brand breakfast shop. They chop theirs up and fry each piece individially so it's all crispy. I think it realy suits being a 小吃 instead of a breakfast meal. They also had egg pancake with a hash brown inside, but the pepper was a bit too strong on the hash brown and it tasted a bit weird. It was fried really crispy all over too. The drink was soy milk with bran pieces.

I was really full....

After digesting a bit I went down to the post shop and send off a parcel for Kayla. They said I can use their EZ Post system to do it, so I just fill out all the details in English on the EZ Post site, and then take the QR code to the machine and ask it to print the sticker. It only cost $249 for a 300g parcel! God Taiwan postal is so cheap. It should arrive in about 2 weeks. Then I bought stamps for postcards ($10 for NZ, $12 for Mexico). 

I stopped by 7-11 on the way home and printed out another postcard via ibon. Then back upstairs and spent about an hour writing my postcards. Go
d I am so tired. 二叔 went out on his bike and said he'll get lunch on the way home. I went to take the laundry upstairs to air. The wind is nice and cool and it's very comfy. He called me whilst I was writing postcards cause he thought I went to the bank services at the post office and spoke to 四叔 since he was at this shop. Um no lol, I go to the post shop for postal lol, I don't have an account. By the time I finished my postcards he came back.

Some fungi is growing in one of 二叔's pots...

Lunch was from the healthy bentou shop, but I was still so full from breakfast I only had half of the bentou. Left the other half in the fridge. 

I was quite full so I had some tea and added photos onto the blog for the previous days. After that I went to get the laudnry and folded them up. Then asked 二叔 what time we leaving, as we're going to 奶奶's house in the evening for dinner and ice cream. I got an hour. Sweet.

So let's go visit the Juanchun where 姥姥s house was at. Ubike time! So nice to hear the jingle when you rent a bike. I parked the bike at the park and started looking. There was only 2 含羞草 I could find. I went to the big tree and seems like some sort of large bird has taken roost in there now, so I didn't want to walk in further in case they become aggresive. I had a look around at the ground, I could see the line of the brick wall and some of the original concrete?? At what I think is where 姥姥's house was. And definitely debris from where 吳愛蓮(?)'s house was, since it was right next to the little courtyard space of the big old banyan tree. The banyan tree has put down a lot of new roots. There's still a lot of debris. The little road leading in is still there and the old power pole and street lamp is still there? Had a really good look around, and then looked at the outer row of houses. A lot of them are abandoned now, but a few still has people. There's one small alleyway left and the opposite side is now a garden (people were in it) where it used to be a house. I could see a faint afterimage of what it used to be - I remember this alley - it should be the one in the middle of the row of houses from the big road leading straight into 姥姥's house and the other bigger one. It was really sad at the same time as I was happy seeing the old Juanchun houses.

It's 4:15pm now and I needed to head back. I got back on the bike and cycled back. On the way I could see some debris amongst the grass and bush of the empty lots and parking lots. I wonder where the boundaries of the Juanchuns were, and which ones used to have juanchun houses standing? A few gusts of wind every now and then would pick up my hat.

Parked the bike and got back upstairs at 4:35pm, but 二叔 wasn't home yet. I just sorted myself out and got ready to go. Don't forget 小智's cheese n choc. 二叔 got back and we drove to 奶奶's house. I had my juice from the Eva Air flight on the way. The paper straw is an extendable one. ?!?!? I was mind blown.  

He let me off first whilst he went to park the car. I had a look at the two juanchun houses I missed yesterday. One has been boarded up. :( The other one at the corner has bricks behind the window (???) so I guess they don't use this side of the house. There's still a really old sign for a general wares store? And the back of the house is the 小水溝.

I got given the keys to 奶奶's house so I went up first. Said hi to 小智 as 五叔 wasn't back yet. Went to 拜拜 at the ancestor's altar and 奶奶's altar. Told 奶奶 that I'm home to have a meal today. Didn't feel grandma at the seat when coming in today. Mai'ya came over to greet me (!!!) and Hu'nio was in the basket next to the bathroom. Gave 小智 his goodies.

Just sat and chilled, 二叔 arrived not long after and then Mai'ya pulled me hand and wanted pats. Okay!!! At some point I felt like 奶奶 was in her chair for a bit. 五叔 came back after 6:10pm with dinner, which was beef noodles. Feeding (snack) time for the cats. Phew~ it's quite rich and a little greasy. Nice flavour though. Noodles are so soft. I was wearing white.... he lent me a jacket to use as an apron. It saved me because I definitely got splashed on myself. 😭 Mai'ya did a poop while we were eating and 五叔 commented on how one of them always does that when they're eating.

Sat and rested for a bit, and 二叔 switched on the news. Hu'nio came up and sniffed me for a bit. Ohhhh. Mai'ya ran away somewhere. And ended up throwing up the snacks on the ground near chair where I put my bag on, next to grandma's room. Why are you like this....

Off we go, time for ice cream. Said bye to 奶奶. Went to the car and got driven to the area - passed by a neon lit sign that said 台中電子街 ohhhh. We found a car park and then walked over to the 日出冰淇淋 which is at what used to be an old bank. 

Just a really cool building which they did the exterior up to be themed

The building is really cool. It was moderately busy.... just have to pray I stay covid safe. Gosh they have SO MANY flavours. Some of the weird and wacky and wonderful too. I settled on a Oolong tea flavour and a Taiwan vanilla lemon flavour. As everyone spent over $500 they gave a voucher for free pineapple cake, so I went over to the shop area and the shop attendant just gave me like 3 tasting cups and a single cake. I was like, wuh- what's happening?!? and then got pushed back to the topping area to pick my toppings. I got a 大瓦片 almond biscuit and a 土鳳梨 cake. And noticed that the shop area had the walls, roof, and floor panelled in $1 coins. Wow!! How much money is here lol.

The oolong flavour tasted like tea. But the vanilla lemon flavour, ohhh, this one was so fragrant and nice, distinct lemon flavour with a hint of floral fragrance. Definitely a fav. Had a taste of 小智's Uganda 70% choc and chilli. Can definitely taste the spice. And then 五叔 has a flavour which I tasted but I can't remember what it was. The chilli choc had more of an impression, lol. 

Tried to eat fast as I could and not breathe in too deeply... thankfully no coughs just 1 person who dry coughed twice. I really hope I come out OK. They also gave a sample of choc ice crea which was the chilli choc. Eating it fully was weird - it kinda tasted like alcohol and cocoa, with a spice to it. Very very weird. I wouldn't order it lol. They had a creamy cake of earl grey tiramisu flavour and something else which I gave to 二叔 to eat so he could have something without upsetting his stomach further.

Once done I masked back up and we left not long after. I had a look around, the decor inside is really cool, and DA FUQ they had a whole row of like 6-8 stamps!!! I even looked at my stamp book today but didn't bring it in favour of the smaller bag!!! ARRGHH!!! I'll have to come back for the stamps...

Windows are really cool, old worn metal frames with some hinges for opening.

Back of the big safe door. The reflection makes it hard to see...

The big safe door.

Many flavours!

Went back to the car and dropped 五叔 and 小智 off. Back home, took a shower, and blogged. Tired now. There's another typhoon coming on the way... orz. Gonna go to the family grave early tomorrow. 

Taichung Day 1

 Woke up later today, and ended up going down for breakfast. Ohhh man it's so much busier and the buffet was on. I went down around 9am so I guess most people at awake... still a quieter area near the elevator side. They had 炒米粉!!! but not much left so I scooped most of it. Scrambled eggs, fruit, for the first plate. Soy milk to wash it down. Second bowl was congee with mostly vege toppings. Ok we finish up quick and go back up, the otehr table is too close for my liking. Just packed and chilled mostly, and ate my egg pudding tart from Yu Pudding. It had like a lemon curd type of top layer and the bottom is like the creme brulee tart layer. I am so full I felt a bit sick. 

I stripped the beds and bagged up my rubbish and dumped the towels on the floor. I hope this helps the cleaners. Then ready to leave at about 10:50am. As soon as I got all my suitcases out I closed the door BUT FORGET THE KEY ON THE WALL POUCH!!! UH.... I'll check out anyway and reception said it was fine, as long as you didn't leave anything inside? I believe not....!

Asked them to call me a taxi, and this time it was an unmarked navy car. Uhhhh OK shouldn't be bad if they do business with the hotel. No registration and no ID inside... driver was nice though. Made some small talk and did ask me to pay him before getting to the Bus station, $150. That's OK. But brooo you are swiping while driving, walky talky while driving, and also finding me change while driving.... eyes on the road please.... Got to the station safe enough.

Next bus is at 11:30am, and bought a ticket $165. Got told to wait at no.5 door. Asked if I needed to add money for an extra piece of luggage, lady said it'll depend on the driver and how many people are on the bus. If you do, the driver will ask you to come back and buy it. Alright. I went to no.5 and found $5 on the seat... blended in with the metal (same colour). Looool. Nice bonus. Only like 3 other people on this bus. I got on and once we were on the motorway the announcement came on, and they asked passengers to seat belt, avoid walking, and wear a mask to rpevent the spread of viruses (!!!). Nice. I feel asleep not long after. 

Once we got off the motorway I woke up, and 二叔 was already there waiting for me at Chaoma. Thanks for coming to get me, uncle! Juggled some stuff from his boot to fit my suitcases and then off we go. Initially we were planning to go back to grandma's house right away after dropping our suitcases off, but ended up changing plans to go at night. So I just sorted out my luggage, and we just chilled for the rest of the time. I wasn't hungry at all. Dad said to open the lid on his teapot so it wouldn't go mouldy, but he missed a leaf that was plastered onto the wall of the teapot, which had gone mouldy... LOL. I washed it out and then just ran the pot with some hot water to help disinfect. 二叔 found some high mountain tea from somewhere and we had that. He had some bowl noodles for late lunch. I had half a dragonfruit he had left over.

When it was time to leave (I forgot 小智's cheese and choc whoops) we headed for dinner. But before that I wanted to see the alley way I saw last time with the Juanchun housing!! We went for a walk down there - wow!! 二叔 said that 9 and 10 were the houses you would see once you came out from the back door of 爺爺奶奶's house. No. 9 surname was "ye" 葉? and he also remembered another house's surname but I can't recall what it was. We walked down to the end of the alley, and he commented a lot of the 2nd storeys were added later. The end of the alley, where there's housing debris now, had a small drain canal, and a public toilet was at the space and it was a long drop. At the end of the alley, there's a wall where you can see 2 sections of it. The upper half is concrete brick and a palislide (sp?) barbed wire fence. 二叔 said that the wall was only half tall as it is now, and when they were kids they would flip the wall to get to the other side, which is a Military Telecommunications centre. As kids they would often turn left, and then left again into an alley a little further up, and play in one of the alleys there. From the 小水溝 position, if you look in that direction you can still see the second storey of that house of the alley they played in. It still has the traditional roof tiles. 二叔 said there was a small bridge near the 小水溝 too. If you keep walking down the alley (turning left at the wall) you'll end up on Jingwu Road. If you turn right at the wall, there are a few more Juanchun houses. 

Beginning of the alley

No. 9 and 10 were the houses you could see from 爺爺奶奶's back door

On the left is the 小水溝 and where the public toilet was. On the right are the ruins of a house

You can see the 小水溝 just further up from here

Just before the end of the alley where you hit the wall.

Staring into the front yard... it feels just like the houses at Laolao's juanchun. <3 

The wall in between no. 9 and 10.

Turning right at the wall. You can see the wall on the left. The original lower half, and the upper half which was added later on.

We turned back and then you can see like 2-3 more houses across the road on the small alleyway side. 二叔 said one of his primary school classmates still lives there - he ran into him at Fengchia once some time ago. 

On the way to dinner, we passed the streets where there used to be a larger 菜市場 that 奶奶 went to quite often. I remember this - she took me there in high school and I tried on some jeans at a shop there, where their changing room was just a ring of curtain at the side of the shop. 

We went for 臭豆腐 near grandma's house. Their tofu is smaller, but it's super crispy and moist on the inside. Business was booming. Pickles nice too. Their chilli sauce had like a flour? component or taste to it, and it was mild so very nice. Then I still had room for dessert after 6 blocks of tofu... so we walked down the street, and settled on the 豆花 shop with a better review on google (there were two with 1 shop in between). Turns out the one we picked (4.6 stars on google) has their own 仙草 farm and their 仙草 desserts are all natural. Wow!! How wonderful! I get to taste real 仙草! We got two bowls to share, a 豆花 with taro chunks, and 仙草 with combo topping. The 仙草 taste is really mellow and subtle... but the bitter taste still kicks in at the end. So very nice. All the mochi stuff were chewy with great bite, but not overly hard. 豆花 was very silky, and taro chunks were very soft/not tough, with a nice chew to it. Awesome. Definitely recommend. The store inside, not much people when we came, like 2 others?, had the walls with lots of photos of their farm, and their menu items saying that the boss recommends it. One photo had a bowl of plain 仙草 and then the photo of the combo mochi items and beans over it. Ki nda cute. I guess it's because it's hard to photo the toppings without it sinking to the bottom. I was sooo full by the end of the two bowls. 二叔 had a smaller portion than me... I tried hard!

Miso soup today

Then we walked back to Grandma's house. On the way back, One street, LianWu Road, 練武路, is an old street (quite narrow) and 二叔 said a lot of his primary school classmates lived on this street. You could see a lot of 2nd storeys were expanded on later, as they had the metal sheeting. 

There is also a group of old Juanchun houses (that 小智 said they go in to vote at voting time) on the street outside of 奶奶's house, that 二叔 said is for military veterans that had no dependants (alone). The houses used to be linked together from one side of the street to the other - and they demolished the portion to build the road. The demolished portion used to be a type of warehouse or storage, apparently. He commented that no lights were on, so it's likely that no one is living in the house. Oh... that's kinda sad.

The old alleyways around the area....

Probably no one lives at this house now. The roof tiles are what I remember at Laolao's village.

These alleyways just have that irreplaceable flavour!

Up we go to 奶奶's house. 五叔 was already back from their family trip to 清水. They're finally able to go out together, as usually someone would have to stay home to keep an eye on 奶奶. Both cats were out. Hu'nio was in the cat tree basket. Mai'ya was under the seats in the living room. She came out to greet me. Didn't run away immediately! Said hi to auntie and uncle and then went to announce my arrival at the ancestor's altar and grandma's altar. 五叔 lit 3 incense for the ancestor's altar, for me to 拜拜 and offer. And then 1 incense for 奶奶. You announce your name and then tell them you're back for a visit. And also ask them to protect over me and wish my parents good health and peace? Apparently that's what you ask for so I did. Then I went back to the dining area, and looked at 奶奶's seat but I didn't feel like she was really there as strongly. I didn't feel her prescence when I walked in either... maybe she is just sitting at the altar? Or maybe she's not home right now and she's gone to Nirvana and will visit back on 1st and 15th? 

We just sat for a wee while and 五叔 made some small chat. 小智 was taking a nap. 五嬸 was in their room but came out for a bit to say hi and stuff. 小智 woke up not long after and went to get dinner. They got KFC and tried to offer me some but I'm so full!! The skin looks way crispier than NZ KFC though. I did have 1 chip, but it had a bitter aftertaste so I guess they need to change the frying oil... Mai'ya came out later and let me pat her bum. She moved from cardboard scratcher, to the small seats and onto 奶奶's seat. 二叔 got called to go move his car. He took a while. Later 五叔 got contact from him to go meet him downstairs to go home. He was chatting to the motorcycle repair shop owner. Apparently I'm to go back tomrrow and they'll take me to eat ice cream at 日光 near the train station. Very famous shop?? I hope it has outdoor/open air seats or the shop is very quiet when we go...

Hu'nio on her favourite spot

Hu'nio is a picking eater. Snack time

Mai'ya on the scratching board (she let me pat her bum)

Time for sleep, I still have postcards to write but I just hung the laundry up, and I am tired. Post shop tomorrow, and hopefully my pants are dry by then.