September 29, 2022

Life After Moving: Driving Lessons and Son's Kindergarten

It's been a month since we moved to Toufen, Miaoli, and I'm starting to really like it here. It's much more convenient compared to our previous place. We have an RT-Mart nearby, a food material shop, plenty of other shops, a shopping mall, and even a big sports park called Zhunan/Toufen Park. The only drawback is the weather. It's less sunny, more cloudy, and a bit cooler. The strong cold winds sometimes make me want to wear long pants and a jacket in the evening. Other than that, it's still warm, with temperatures around 30 degrees Celsius in the afternoon.

Our son, Adrian, started kindergarten at the beginning of the month. I was worried that he would have a hard time adjusting since he was always with me before. However, I was pleasantly surprised to see that he had no problems staying there, even though everyone speaks Chinese and he mostly speaks English and Polish. But after about four days, he started crying and saying that he had been there enough and missed mommy, wanting to stay home with me. This went on for about a week, and he wasn't happy to go out at all. When we arrived at the kindergarten, he would start crying and cling to me tightly. I had to wait a few minutes until he calmed down. The teachers in his class, all three of them, tried their best to help him let go. One of the teachers even brought him to play on the slide and told me to run away. As I walked a few meters away, all I could hear was his loud cry and him calling for mommy. This lasted for a while but gradually got better with time. Later on, he just needed a little more time with me but could let me go without crying. In the past few days, he has been doing well and waves goodbye to me. He has made friends and has no problem playing with anyone, so the language barrier is not an issue.

With more free time on my hands, I have been studying Chinese for the past few weeks. I can now write and read some simple sentences. Reading is easier for me than writing because I don't always remember the correct words. But even Taiwanese people can't remember how to write every word if they don't use it often. I already understand a lot of what people say to me, even though I don't always know how to write the words. However, speaking is still my biggest challenge.

Recently, I started taking driving lessons. Since there is no instructor who speaks English, I can only go on weekends when my husband is available to translate some things for me. I've already had two four-hour lessons on Saturdays, and it can be quite tiring. By the end, my brain feels exhausted, and it's harder to concentrate. Nonetheless, things are going well. The instructor said I drive better than many people (probably referring to women). From what I've observed, that seems to be true. I've seen many people who struggle with parking or making S-turns, which I can do without much difficulty. The instructor tells me when to turn, and now it feels like I'm a machine following a set of instructions. However, driving in a different place with a different car could be a challenge. Last time, we even drove on the road for a bit. Unfortunately, this weekend, my instructor had some urgent matters to attend to, so I couldn't practice driving. It looks like I'll have to go on a weekday at night, which worries me because I'm not sure if I'll be able to see everything clearly, such as when to turn. I have my driving test scheduled for early November, so I'll update you on how it goes, especially since I can barely speak Chinese and there's no one who speaks English during the test. I know that the written test can be done in English, but the driving test cannot. The book to learn all the rules is also only available in Chinese. I can only watch old exam questions in English to get an idea of what to expect.

Lately, we wanted to update our cake shop address to Toufen, but our account got suspended on Google. I have no idea how to fix it, so I might lose all the reviews if I can't retrieve it soon. Google asked for a profile re-verification, but it's not possible to do so because it doesn't work.

September 22, 2022

Hualien & Taitung Travel: Jian Shrine & Zhiben Waterfall


2022/08/23-25

My husband got the new job, and we had only one month to move to North. We decided to store our belongings at parents-in-law's place as it was closer, and then we drove from Miaoli to Yunlin to move the most important items first. We had a few days left before my husband started his new job, so he wanted to take a trip to the east of Taiwan. However, I was not feeling well and didn't have the mood and energy to travel. A few days later, I found out that I had contracted COVID-19...

During our trip to Hualien, we made a short stop at Dongshan River Ecological Park in Yilan. After exploring a while, we drove to Hualien, where we stayed for two days. We met up with my husband's friend and went out together a few times. The highlight of the trip was visiting Liushidanshan to see the blooming daylilies. His friend took us for an ATV ride on the beach in Hualien, which was fun, although I didn't enjoy getting covered in sand and dust. 
On the morning of the third day, we visited Jian Shrine and then continued driving South. We stayed one night in Taitung to rest before heading back home. By the morning, I was feeling more tired and didn't have the energy to continue. We only made a short stop at Zhiben Waterfall in Taitung before driving back. 
As we drove, my fatigue worsened. My husband thought I was dehydrated because the weather was hot during those days, and he suspected I had heatstroke. We made a stop in Yunlin at my parents-in-law's place to pick up some things and then drove to Miaoli. I sat on the sofa feeling half-dead and eagerly waited to go home. 
The next morning, I woke up with body pain. I still managed to do the laundry (which was extremely difficult as I could barely move). I didn't have apetite and couldn't stand up, so I decided to take a COVID-19 test, which came back positive. 
It finally explained why I didn't enjoy the trip to the east of Taiwan, which had always been my favorite thing to do. I honestly can't remember many things from the trip; I only know that everything bothered me those days, and the food didn't taste as good as it used to.

~ ~ ~

Hualien Ji-An Shrine (吉安慶修院)

Ji-An Shrine, formerly known as the Shingon Sect Yoshino School, is the most well-preserved Japanese-style monastery in Taiwan. During the Japanese occupation period, an immigrant village was established here, becoming a religious center for the immigrants to find solace in their homesickness. Through renovation and reconstruction, the wooden buildings exude a strong Edo style. The courtyard retains precious cultural relics such as Fudo Mingwang, 88 Stone Buddhas, Baidu Stone, and more. There is also an exhibition and sales area, as well as dining and yukata (traditional Japanese robe) experiences available.
There is a 2-meter-tall stone tablet inscribed with the "Guangming mantra a million times" and a request from Shikoku, Japan, consisting of eighty-eight statues. The mission center was built in 1917 during the Japanese rule of Taiwan. In 1945, when Taiwan was handed over to the Nationalist government, the Japanese inhabitants returned to their hometowns. The buildings and furnishings in the courtyard retain their historical significance.
After World War II, the shrine was transformed to enshrine the master Shakyamuni Buddha and Guanyin Bodhisattva. In 1997, the government designated it as a county-level three-level historic site.

-> Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 08:30~17:00
-> Entrance fee: 30NT

















Zhiben Waterfall (知本林道瀑布)

Initially, we drove to Zhiben Hot Spring, but since there was no public park to enjoy the hot springs, we decided to make a quick stop at a nearby waterfall. The road leading there is narrow, so we needed to be cautious of cars coming from the opposite direction and wait at wider sections. The waterfall is easily accessible, right next to the road. Parking was not difficult either. The water was quite cold and powerful due to the rain from the previous day.





Ville Greensward (綠茵小筑)

We stayed at a lovely place in Taidong, a few kilometers away from the city. Guests can borrow picnic pads to enjoy the surrounding grass and trees or borrow bikes for a leisurely ride in the area. It's a beautiful place to stay. For breakfast, there are three choices: baozi (steamed buns), mantou (plain steamed buns), or sticky rice, all accompanied by side dishes.






Address:

1. Hualien Ji-An Shrine: 973花蓮縣吉安鄉中興路345-1號
2. Taitung - Zhiben Forest Road Waterfall: 954台東縣卑南鄉知本林道瀑布
3. Ville Greensward 綠茵小筑: 950台東縣台東市永安街180巷38弄16號950

September 15, 2022

Harvesting daylilies in Hualien - Daylily season in Liushidanshan


2022/08/23-25

My husband got the new job, and we had only one month to move to North. We decided to store our belongings at parents-in-law's place as it was closer, and then we drove from Miaoli to Yunlin to move the most important items first. We had a few days left before my husband started his new job, so he wanted to take a trip to the east of Taiwan. However, I was not feeling well and didn't have the mood and energy to travel. A few days later, I found out that I had contracted COVID-19...

During our trip to Hualien, we made a short stop at Dongshan River Ecological Park in Yilan. After exploring a while, we drove to Hualien, where we stayed for two days. We met up with my husband's friend and went out together a few times. The highlight of the trip was visiting Liushidanshan to see the blooming daylilies. His friend took us for an ATV ride on the beach in Hualien, which was fun, although I didn't enjoy getting covered in sand and dust. 
On the morning of the third day, we visited Jian Shrine and then continued driving South. We stayed one night in Taitung to rest before heading back home. By the morning, I was feeling more tired and didn't have the energy to continue. We only made a short stop at Zhiben Waterfall in Taitung before driving back. 
As we drove, my fatigue worsened. My husband thought I was dehydrated because the weather was hot during those days, and he suspected I had heatstroke. We made a stop in Yunlin at my parents-in-law's place to pick up some things and then drove to Miaoli. I sat on the sofa feeling half-dead and eagerly waited to go home. 
The next morning, I woke up with body pain. I still managed to do the laundry (which was extremely difficult as I could barely move). I didn't have apetite and couldn't stand up, so I decided to take a COVID-19 test, which came back positive. 
It finally explained why I didn't enjoy the trip to the east of Taiwan, which had always been my favorite thing to do. I honestly can't remember many things from the trip; I only know that everything bothered me those days, and the food didn't taste as good as it used to.

~ ~ ~

Daylilies at Liushidanshan (六十石山 金針花)

On the 3rd day of our trip, we visited Liushidanshan, famous for its golden Daylily flowers (金針花). Although this year the blooming wasn't as abundant, with many places having few flowers, it still had a certain beauty.
Even in the hot season of August and September, Liushidanshan offers a quiet and mysterious landscape that is attractive, especially during sunset and sunrise. In the evening, you can enjoy a starry night sky and the night view of the east valley. In winter, the rapeseed flowers create a golden carpet in the rift valley. After witnessing the breathtaking sunset from the mountaintop, it's a great experience to relax in the Antong Hot Springs (安通溫泉) below Liushidan Mountain, making it a wonderful destination in eastern Taiwan.

Best time to see flowers: August to September
Ideal time for "cloud gap light" (Jesus light): 15:00-17:00

Sixty Stone Mountain, Chike Mountain, and Taimali Mountain are the three major areas in the East Rift Valley known for their golden daylily plantations. They are popular places to appreciate the vast sea of golden needle flowers every year from August to September. Sixty Stone Mountain (Liushidanshan) is situated on the coastal mountain range, approximately 800 meters above sea level on the east side of Zhutian Village, Fuli Township. After driving along a winding mountain road, you'll be greeted by an expansive field of golden needle flowers, with scattered farmhouses and pavilions.

Why is it called Sixty Stone Mountain? According to the locals, during the Japanese occupation period, the average yield of millet in each paddy field was only about 40 to 50 stones. However, the paddy fields in this area were able to produce 60 stones, hence the name Sixty Stone Mountain. Another theory suggests that during the Japanese occupation period, this mountainous area was once covered in a lush camphor forest, which was cut down for camphor production. It was discovered that there were 60 huge stones scattered on the bare hillside, leading to the place being named Sixty Stones Mountain.

To provide tourists with up-to-date information on flower conditions, the Management Office of the East Rift Valley National Scenic Area has installed a high-resolution camera called "Sixty Stone Mountains - 4K Real-Time Image," offering 4K ultra-high image quality with a 270-degree viewing angle.





















Address:

983花蓮縣富里鄉六十石山

September 9, 2022

Driving ATV on the beach of Hualien


2022/08/23-25

My husband got the new job, and we had only one month to move to North. We decided to store our belongings at parents-in-law's place as it was closer, and then we drove from Miaoli to Yunlin to move the most important items first. We had a few days left before my husband started his new job, so he wanted to take a trip to the east of Taiwan. However, I was not feeling well and didn't have the mood and energy to travel. A few days later, I found out that I had contracted COVID-19...

During our trip to Hualien, we made a short stop at Dongshan River Ecological Park in Yilan. After exploring a while, we drove to Hualien, where we stayed for two days. We met up with my husband's friend and went out together a few times. The highlight of the trip was visiting Liushidanshan to see the blooming daylilies. His friend took us for an ATV ride on the beach in Hualien, which was fun, although I didn't enjoy getting covered in sand and dust. 
On the morning of the third day, we visited Jian Shrine and then continued driving South. We stayed one night in Taitung to rest before heading back home. By the morning, I was feeling more tired and didn't have the energy to continue. We only made a short stop at Zhiben Waterfall in Taitung before driving back. 
As we drove, my fatigue worsened. My husband thought I was dehydrated because the weather was hot during those days, and he suspected I had heatstroke. We made a stop in Yunlin at my parents-in-law's place to pick up some things and then drove to Miaoli. I sat on the sofa feeling half-dead and eagerly waited to go home. 
The next morning, I woke up with body pain. I still managed to do the laundry (which was extremely difficult as I could barely move). I didn't have apetite and couldn't stand up, so I decided to take a COVID-19 test, which came back positive. 
It finally explained why I didn't enjoy the trip to the east of Taiwan, which had always been my favorite thing to do. I honestly can't remember many things from the trip; I only know that everything bothered me those days, and the food didn't taste as good as it used to.

~ ~ ~

On our second day of travel, we met up with my husband's friend. He took us to the river, but I wasn't really interested in playing there. Looking back, a few days later I fell ill and tested positive for Covid-19. Maybe I was already feeling a little sick at that time, as I felt tired and didn't have much energy. I didn't want to go mainly because of all the dust, and in the end, it was indeed very dusty. My bag turned from black to grey from all the dust. Despite that, it ended up being fun.
In Hualien, we stayed at Liga Hotel. Google suggested it was a 4-star hotel, but it looked very old, with broken walls and a small space. There was also an odd smell in the bathroom. The food was decent, with a small breakfast buffet.

During our trip, we had the opportunity to experience ATV riding. From the initial training and guidance to exploring various beaches, jungles, and stream terrains, we eventually arrived at a secret spot for a photoshoot. The staff assisted in taking pictures with the mirrored sky effect and provided files and documentary videos along the way. The entire event lasted about 1.5 hours, and each ATV could accommodate two people. If you're interested in this picture style and want to try it yourself, you can search for "51區沙灘車".
Prices may vary depending on the ATV company you choose. It's advisable to book in advance, as we heard that 51區 was fully booked for the entire year and it was difficult to secure a spot.

-> Price:
1 ATV (single or shared ride): 1,200NT
Children under 100 cm are allowed to share a car with 2 adults.
From the first to the fourth day of Chinese New Year, each ATV is 1,500NT.
Coach car experience (up to 4 people per vehicle): NT$600/person.
Jeep experience (for infants under 2 years old and seniors only): NT$600/person.
-> Timing:
Summer time (May to October): 09:00 / 10:00 / 11:00 / 13:00 / 14:00 / 15:00 / 16:00.
Winter season (November to April): 08:30 / 09:30 / 10:30 / 11:30 / 13:30 / 14:30 / 15:30













Address:

971花蓮縣新城鄉花蓮51區天空之鏡沙灘車