Taitung

Life is full of surprises as Forrest Gump said in the famous movie, and in my case it directly relates to him and his profound words as he compared the life to box of chocolate and in my case it is about food. Here in Taiwan where the language is the one I do not understand or speak “thankfully” and every time I stare on the stick man doing yoga drawing in the restaurants I usually choose the one with most complicated posture and point finger on it or do horizontal line in small box next to drawing, which means I would like to have one ‘horizontal line = number 1’ and then sit down in anticipation of another surprise from the chocolate box i.e chef surprise. What a way to try new things and challenge myself, like this morning having breakfast on bus station what consisted from beef, peanut butter, eggs, lettuce sandwich washed down by black tea as tea here is the main drink. This is on my way to Hualien since the Taitung kept me only for two days, waiting for parcel at 7 eleven after arriving from Green island with a bit strange tiredness, probably caused by pills for sea sickens since the famous choppy waters rock the ferry like child toy in bath tub. So since I need to wait for parcel I dropped my bags and went to explore Taitung a bit. Bus service is not bad but I still rather walk to town as I have no intention to wait for hour on side of the road. If anyone report in the news strange tall blond guy on the side of the road it was me and not some suicidal man. Eventually got into town and walked the street a bit but the heave tiredness and sleepiness caused by pills for sea sickens did cut my visit short as I have found the night market easily located as you can see the Sheraton hotel in skyline and the market is literally on its doorstep. Purchased some nice fresh fruit, dragon fruit and melon is the only one I can identify and the rest was tasty too 😊 as the control room could not manage the visual functioning ‘eyelids shut down on their own’ I decided to hop on bus but I did not realized that tourist bus is operating only till 17:00 and the local bus take different route so after sitting on the side of the road  for good forty minutes I decided to get a cab. 260 dollars later I was in my room and after the necessary shower collapsed to bed and slept way before my head hit the pillow around 20:30 and slept till 09:40 next morning. SO if you want to have great sleep pills for sea sickness are your friends 😊

              Rise and shine as it is new day, I told myself as none else was in the room to tell me that and me and me we are going great together, sometimes looks like I’m mad but that happens only when I forget to take my pills :-D Anyhow, got my fruit breakfast and walked to 7 eleven for some more food and also wait for the bus as the stop is literally opposite the shop. There was triathlon in Taitung so lots of MAMIL’s are on the road and police directing traffic. Some on the MAMIL stopped in 7 eleven for refreshment and what bikes they had …..all carbon fiber and the latest models I would say as per my limited knowledge as cycling enthusiast. One of them wanted to pump front wheel a bit using the pressure canister but probably forgot to turned off as the loud bang nearly got me shitting my pants as I was meter away from him, he must be def for a few minutes as he just smiled. Well he tried to fix wheel of his expensive bike but after few minutes he packed the bike and himself to a van what was following him. There you go triathlon in a support car. Eventually bus had arrived and I was able to stop it and on my way fresh as daisy ‘after such long sleep’ to explore Taitung. Get off at bus station and first thing first, get info on returning bus journey and time of last bus, then toilet break, water fill and ready to go. I have arrived to Railway art village what is nice place from refurbished old railway depot and have some charm. As I started walk towards the park I saw nice little path winding its way on old rail tracks in between houses and trees so I changed from park direction and followed the rails. Few meters in this walk I realized that I will continue this for a while and decided to get some fuel as the control room send some first warning of insufficient fuel deposits down below, ignoring my request run on the fuel reserves stored around the waist area. First door with people eating at tables and I was in, some people stop eating and looked at me like an E.T dropped down from the sky as I walked in, slightly bowing my head so I will not suffer concussion from door frame. Lady spoke Chinese I spoke English, everyone  looking at us as what will happen when the famous Google came to rescue with me saying I would like to eat lunch and the chef having his lunch break cigarette replied ‘fried rice’ I nodded yes and lunch was ordered.  Light and yummy for 60 dollars, was a good call so I could go and continue the path I found for as long as I found it interesting. It nice to find some refreshing and quiet part in busy towns where you can go for a walk or just sit in and relax as most of the elderly did, since I think I was the youngest person on that  trail. Passed some funny places like old fridge now used as library, surrounded by benches in case you want to refresh yourself with some reading in shades under the trees and if this is not enough just few meters further was a Taitung theater so culture all the way. The walk itself is very pleasant in shades of trees and birds chirping along while the elderly walk and stretch ‘tai chi’ in the nature and the noise of cars is in distance as the houses and trees are muffling sounds of city very well in the oasis of peace. Walk is nice and it brought me to TAITUNG SUGAR – Creative park what is old sugar factory repurposed to some nice new and artisan things. Shops selling handmade souvenirs from leather, wood, textile, café of course with some food and most of the area was taken by car boot sale with cars parked neatly with their boots open as if each of them was a supermarket on its own. Great little place with lots of families walking around with kids since it is Saturday. Got a real refresh now of some handmade fruit ice lollipop but have no idea  what sort of fruit it was ‘surprise again’ and then walked back to town but this time took detour around the town at the river bank since the railway walk was already completed and I like to walk at river banks, fresh from the water and wind running through the semi dry river bed as the river was in low, little stream in the middle of hugely wide river bed so when it is full it is some amount of water gushing down. Nice finish of the walking day in sunset as I was approaching town and meeting more and more people coming outside, since the sun is down and no one here likes to be tanned so all starts happening after sunset, sports, walks and food market, upon which I get after returning to town for a little snack on local sausage and some sea food omelet. Few photos at railway Art village where lanterns were hanging from the branches of the trees what must be some festival as there was stage where ladies came and went while the presenter shouted something into microphone. Great day I have to say I was happy to see this part of Taitung and after the food and purchase of some more fruit I went to catch a second last bus since it takes longer than tourist bus to get back to hotel. Eventually all good arrived after some sight seen trip on local bus around the villages and after shower just booked some more accommodations for next few days, before I hit the pillow.