Day 19 - who disagree that the best thing in life are free?

I’m a cheapo and I love free stuffs. First, free upgrade to a better room in my hostel, free admission to Alisan now my bus ride to Zhong Tai Chan Si is free too. Tell me, who disagree that the best thing in life are free? The 15 min bus ride to the temple is delightful; the temple is massive, majestic and impressive. The landmark of Puli I can say from far looks like a mosque but if you go nearer. You’ll see the lotus and cintamani (precious gems) as a symbol of the temple. I highly recommend anyone coming to Taiwan to visit this temple. Divine!

With an inimitable aura of calmness, a penetrating mind, and the ability to clearly elucidate the profound wisdom of the Buddha through the museum exhibition, I adore the intellectual aspect of the temple. The staffs are welcoming and helpful; I stay from the morning till late afternoon for the guided tour. Miss Wu is fantastic, she is knowledgeable and articulate calmly.

A nun whom I converse earlier knows that I’m a Thai-mixed and might be able to help her with a few Thai books that need to be categorizes for the library approaches me after the tour. We sat and chatted, even though I can’t read Thai but I figure out what type of book is that. It’s Buddhist art book, a book that demonstrated the different mudras (hand gestures) of Buddha. I told her to scan and email me so I can ask my Thai friend to help. It’s funny how this Taiwan trip, I’ve been translating dharma into other language. The Zen master I met in PingXi, entrust me to do the same for an article he has written. I guess I am born to be a Buddhist. This is not a coincident, it’s fate! Besides, Dharma is free!

Day 18 - I heart Puli

I woke up early in the morning 3am for Tatajia Sunrise. A bunch of aunties I met on the van are great fun to hang out with; my Mi Nan Yu so far have been impressing the locals. It’s really freezing cold. Sun rise is okay as I’ve seen better from Mount Bromo, this time however, there is a special filter lens that we can reflect the ray of lights and actually see the sun rising in full proportion within seconds.

I then took the earliest bus to Chia Yi train station. Not knowing where to go is still a scary situation, not sure where to sleep tonight is a nightmare, however, after much consideration, I set off to Puli. A town that’s near to Sun Moon Lake, a temple Zhong Tai Chan Si that I want to visit and a hot spring for me to soak!

After getting lost for 10 – 20 minutes on the streets and a few enquires with a few hotels, I manage to find a good and affordable accommodation, not compromising with Wifi internet or price. I really love my hotel as it’s near to a vegetarian restaurant, bookstore and bakery! I need bread for my breakfast daily. There are many streets, zig-zagging one another. Every streets, there are lots of shop and every shops look the same. I still have trouble remembering the direction but at least I find the perfect spot!

Day 17 - Where is my Sun?

After a good night sleeps in the Catholic hostel (surprisingly), I decided to miss the sunrise and extend my beauty sleep further. I postpone my sunrise the next day instead, so I visited Shen Mu, first taking a nostalgic, retro train ride into the woods, the wooden cabin is sandal wood scented. The trees are at least a few hundreds to a few thousand years old, I feel like I’m surrounding by nature, in the middle of the woods, even though I live in the lands of wood (Woodlands) but nothing beats the real thing. The air is fresh and the climate is cooling. A good way to escape the heat. I ask around for the transport to see Sunrise in Tatajia tomorrow and was told by the hotel that you can actually get it from 7-11. They then refer me to a van driver; that’s where my date with the sun is established.

Day 16 - Money is such a chore!

I had breakfast with Paul & Serena before taking the MRT to the airport to get my money changed. For the past few days, I’ve been looking around in Jewelry shop (not accepting Singapore currency), Bank (closed on weekends), Hotel and everywhere for money changer, till my last resort is to go to the airport. Thankfully, there is a direct MRT ride to the airport. Unfortunately, changing money is such a chore and it comes with a NT100 administration fees!

I met Crystal and her family from Hong Kong in the MRT, knowing that they’ve been guessing my identity while I was talking to Paul, Crystal politely strike a conversation with me, When she knows I’m Singaporean, she said coincidentally, his brother is visiting Singapore so I chatted with her family and her brother about what to visit Singapore and how to cross the border from Singapore to Malaysia, since he is also visiting Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur.

I took a train to Chia Yi, from the helpful visitor information,the staff checks on the bus timing to Alishan, they told me about the Catholic hostel offers good and cheap accommodation. Thus, staying in a church might be the only option.

I arrive at the main entrance, got myself a free admission into Alishan, not knowing why. I bet my mum is watching on my less than $1.5k budget.

When I stepped in Catholic hostel, it’s not as religious as I thought. They have cable TV, 2 single beds, and hot flask as Alishan is cold, hostel staff is helpful. They provide hot water but hot shower has to wait for 5 minutes for the tap to run.

At least, I find myself a church to stay!

Day 15 - I'm not lost just not knowing where to sleep yet

A few Buddhist friend of mine recommend me strongly to visit one of the important and tranquil Buddhist temple, Fuo Guan San, I took a bus that drops right in front of the temple. Reading from my lonely planet, that the nun or ShiGu provide guided tour, my English speaking guide, Linda guided me through the temple together with another visitor, Robert from Holland, a journalist. As Robert has to catch a flight back to Holland, she has to cut the tour short into an hour. After the tour, I visited the bookstore, it is cozy and peaceful, just the right place to indulge in Dharma knowledge. I can’t help and bought a few more dharma books, Buddha, please make sure the dharma is infused into my mind.

On my way back to Kao Xiong, I met Paul and Serena, Australian. During our bus journey, I come to know Serena is a vegetarian and Paul is a Buddhist. Also, they live in Taipei, one is a English teacher, another is a student studying Chinese in Taiwan. They visited Kao Xiong for a short weekend getaway and especially only to Fuo Guan San, since they have no lodging so I recommend my hostel, they love it plus the price is reasonable for them.

We were so hungry and exhausted after the temple visit that as soon as we dropped our bag, we went for our dinner nearby. As my usual self, I gave them a short tour around the neighborhood from what I’ve discovered from TC yesterday.

I checked a few places on ChiaYi and Alishan for cheap accommodation but to no available. Thus, not knowing where to sleep tomorrow, I decided to go ahead regardless no accommodation in mind. I'm not lost just not knowing where to sleep yet!

Day 14 - It's raining day!

It’s raining heavily in Kao Xiong, Hotel Hamasen is okay, Cool roof top, and used to be a dental clinic. TC is knowledgeable and hard-working. I join him for dinner, and he gave me a short tour around the neighborhood. The pineapple cake that his mum made for the guest is delicious. I even took a few on my trip to Fou Guang San the next day. Mattress is super seahorse hard and uncomfortable. I guess that’s the training for my monk-wannabe monkhood next month. Since it’s raining, I decided to stay in, chill and blog on my past few days’ experiences. I discover I spend less than S$600 for 2 weeks. It’s quite an achievement. I expected more. However, now I’m running out of money. I need to find some miracle in order to convert my Singapore dollar notes into Taiwan NT.

Day 13 - Reluctance

After the disappointing visit to the prehistoric sight, I cycle all my way up to “water running up” 水往上流, It’s interesting to see how the water defy gravity. I have my breakfast while watching the mainland tourist, chipping like birds. Then, I cycle to the ocean, breathing in the fresh air and marvel the nature.

Last night, singing along in Sugar Factory is amazing; I decided to see what happen in the morning. There are artist working on their crafts, thriving in a creative neighborhood, there are also concert every Saturday, which I was asked to perform ;)

Reluctantly, I bid farewell to the lovely host and the family staying in the hostel and move ahead to KaoXiong.