The NT$ 8 Dollars Lesson

In Taiwan, senior citizens above age 65 are offered e-ticket of 480 points every month to ride the bus, metro, even taxi. I used up 480 points every month since I got my senior card last October. It is a good health policy, in my opinion, to encourage senior citizens to stay active by going outdoors to enjoy life with the free transportation incentives.

I got on Bus 930 at 8:30, but I couldn’t hear three Beeping sounds when I tapped my e-ticket. The bus driver told me to pay cash as my senior card was expired. Reluctanly I dropped NT$8 dollars in the cash box next to the driver. As soon as I got off the bus, I extended my senior card for the first time at a 7-11 near the bus stop. I should have extended my senior card before the end of March. This is the NT$ 8 Dollars Lesson I learned this morning.

It was 9:10 when I got on Bus 920 to Linko, and arrived at Hsing Wu (醒吾) University at 10:03. The free New Bus F236 left at 10:00. The next F236 won’t come until 12:00. Then I saw F235 departing from Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at 10:30, I decided to take F235, because both F235 and F236 stop at Rui-ping (瑞平) Elementary school on the westcoast. F235 takes Route North 79 (5.8K) to the westcoast, while F236 takes Route North 77 (3.4K). 

At 11:15, I arrived at Rui-ping Elementary School, I went to the school gate and took a look. I wonder how many students there are at Rui-ping as the school is so remote and is in the middle of nowhere. Since I planned to take F236 at 13:00, I had about 1.5 hours to wander around in the neighborhood.

I tried to follow F236 bus stops, and I ended up walking on a route of nowhere. I kept on walking for more than 30 minutes in the scorching sun, but failed to find any signs of bus stops. Finally I saw a countryside restaurant. It was closed due to Covid-19 pandemic. I decided to take a rest and had my lunch at the entrance to the restaurant, looking the surrounding hills and small tracks coming and going from time to time. 

At 12 noon, under the shade of a tree, I had the chicken burger I bought in Banqiao and fried chicken I bought in Linko with the Taiwanese lettuce I brought along in my lunch box. It felt good to enjoy a good lunch with the the gentle breeze from the Ruisukeng (瑞樹坑) River.      

After lunch, on my way back to the westcoast, I saw a small banana blossom hanging from the tree by the road, I took it easily with my bare hands. Then to my surprise, I saw a dozen oxen eating grasses by the river. I consider it auspicious to see the happy oxen family as 2021 is the Year of Ox. I would have practiced my soprano recorder in front of the oxen family, if I were not in a hurry to get back to the school in time. 

At 13:05, I got on Bus F236. The Bus took North Coast Route 15 from 16.5K to 20.5K to make a U-turn, and I got the chance to see the Taipower Thermal Power Linko plant. The scenery along the coastline was spectacular. I got on Bus 920 at Linko at 13:52, Bus 930 at Banqiao at 15:00. It started raining when I arrived in Xindian at 15:15.

Be it far, Taipower Linko Plant and the surrounding moumtain routes definitely worth a second visit in the future. I am glad that I have more secret scenic spots of Northern Taiwan in my pocket. I shall bring along my soprano recorder to play for the livestock at the animal farms near Rui-ping Elemenatary School. And I am happy I can use my senior card till March 2022 because of the NT$ 8 dollars Lesson!