Luodong Sports Park

Traveling From Xindian (新店) to Pinglin (坪林) has become my weekly ritual since Alert 3 Level was enforced in Mid-May. I hop on Bus 923 every weekend to hike in the mountains. Bus 923 runs every hour, it takes 40 minutes from Xindian to Pinglin via Shenkeng. There are four tunnels, Jingmei (573M), Muzha (1875M), Wutu (248M), Pongshan (3,806M). Today I took the cross-county bus from Pinglin to Loudong to experience Hsuehshan (雪山) Tunnel (12,955M), the longest Tunnel in Taiwan. 

I spent 16 points taking Bus 923 from Xindian to Pinglin with my elderly e-ticket (480 points/month), arrived in Pinglin at 10:10 with my neighbor friend. We got on cozy Capital Bus 9028 with three rows seat at 10:40. No sooner had Bus 9028 departed, than we were in the Hsuehshan Tunnel. I turned on two cabin reading lights as if I were on the first-class cross-country airplane. I only scribbled a few words on my portable diary, then we reached the Eastern Taiwan.

When exiting the Hsuehshan Tunnel, the Yilan Plain stretched as far as I could see. The green rice paddies reached up to the horizon in a race to meet the azure Pacific Ocean. The Guishan Island (Turtle Island) to our left in the Pacific Ocean guided us all the way to Luodong (羅東) Bus Terminal.

Luodong Train Station is right across from the bus terminal. We passed the Luodong Station to get to Gongzheng Road, the main road in Luodang. Our destination of Luodong Sports Park is 2.2 kilometers west of train station. Before we reached the park, we enjoyed a delicious fusion cuisine at Ah-sui Italian Restaurant for lunch for two hours. 

After lunch, we took a stroll at the 47 hectares park with a range of facilities for sport including basketball and a swimming pool. The park is divided into four sections, forest area, sport area, waterscapes, and other landscapes. We took 3PM Bus 9028 back to Xindian before 4PM. It was another fruitful field trip full of sweat and laughters.

Let's go and fika

It’s the first day the ban on indoor dining was lifted in New Taipei City, I was curious how fast restaurants could get ready within a day or two to meet the stringent requirements for indoor dining and how people react toward the new dining etiquette. At noon, it rained cats and dogs, I stayed home for lunch with my husband. When the rain finally stopped at 2:30, I brought along a heavy Korean grammar textbook to IKEA Xindian to enjoy fika for NT$99.

Fika is "a coffee and cake break" in Swedish. The word derives from the 19th-century slang word for coffee: kaffi. Invert the word kaffi, and you get fika. Swedes consider it essential to make time for fika every day, to make time for friends and colleagues to share a cup of coffee and a little something to eat and to socialise. It refreshes the brain and strengthens relationships. 

IKEA, the mega Swedish furniture chain-store presented no doubt a model showcase for Taiwanese restaurants to follow the indoor dining rules stipulated by New Taipei City Authority. All tables were set up with acrylic partitions and were marked diagonally to comply with social distancing.

I had two chicken wings, one strawberry cheesecake, one cup of all-you-can-drink swedish coffee for fika today. I tried to invite a few friends to join me, but they would rather stay home to have on-line chatting. So I had fika by myself. To my surprise, there weren’t as many patrons as before, people were obviously much concerned about the mutation speed of notorious coronavirus.

At IKEA, I heard the announcement very now and then, it’s mandatory people wear masks at all times except eating and drinking. I don't mind wearing mask while reading or writing as I got used to the hygiene practice when I was on the cruise to offshore islands three times last year.

While having fika, I practiced a couple of Korean folk songs to get myself ready for lunch at my Korean Teacher’s place tomorrow. I also review a few Korean children songs we learned last year. In the end, I didn’t study much of Korean grammar in the heavy textbook. But I made up my mind to study 5 pages a day, in order to finish the 500 pages textbook by the end of 2021.

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! 

Erlongshan

Covid-19 has brought unprecedented changes to the world, how we live and interact with others, how we move around and travel. In stead of meeting face to face, people around the world feel more comfortable learning and meeting on-line, social gathering via Google Meet. 

Covid-19 also changed me, it transformed me into an athelete and a musican. During the past two and half months of Alert 3 Period, I got into a habit to hike the countryside routes in New Taipei City by free New Taipei Bus. I enjoyed carrying the recorder in my backpack, so that I could practice whenever there was nobody around.

I left home at 10:20, bought three steamed buns (two pork and one vegetable) at Jianguo Market, got on New Free Bus Quchi Line at Qizhang MRT Station at 10:50. I got off the bus at the terminal station where Xiaguishan (下龜山) Bridge is located. As I didn’t have a definite destination for today, I just wandered around in the area, and ended up to walk on five dead end trails. 

Finally I was lucky to run into a motorcyclist on his way down the hill, and got the directions to the Erlongshan (二龍山) and Zhitanshan (直潭山). I gathered all my strength to walk as fast as possible to reach the Extrance of Erlongshan at 12:50. I didn’t climb the mountain, as I needed to get to the bus stop before 13:55.

While hiking along the unknown trail, it felt good to sweat a lot and feel gentle breeze from time to time. Finally I got a chance to practice my recorder while waiting for the bus at the bus stop near Guanxin (廣興) Bridge back to Qizhang MRT Station. It was another refreshing day of lonly hiking for 8 kilometers. 

Peace Island

Peace Island used to be called Sheliao (社寮) Island. There are two bridges connecting Peace Island and Keelung, Peace Bridge (the first concrete sea bridge in Taiwan, built in 1937) and Sheliao Bridge. Inbetween Peace Island and Keelung is Bachimen (八尺門) Strait. 

I decided to venture to Keelung for the second time this week, with an aim to enjoy a decent meal at a fancy restaurant. All cafes in Taipei are yet to be open to the public to dine in due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.

I left home at 8:30, bought a Taiwanese egg pancake at Xuda (旭達), a famous breakfast shop at the street corner near the bus step, got on Bus 951 at 8:50. Bus 951 runs every 10 minutes, it is mainly for commuters working in Xindian, Nankang, Xizhi. I used to hate commuting by bus, now I have a different mood sharing the bus with office employees, I’m now a free senior to go anywhere I want.

At 9:55, I got on the local train to Keelung from Xizhi, I took the North Exit of Keelung Train Station for the first time. When I saw the sign to Huzishan (虎仔山) where the Keelung Landmark Observatory (基隆地標) is located, I didn’t hesitate to see the lankmark in person, as I took Cruise "Explore Dream" to offshore islands three times last year, everytime I saw the white Keelung Landmark on the hill when the cruise departed from Keelung Harbor.

At the entrance of Alley 113 of Zhangshan Road, I saw the sign of Keelung Hollywood, I climbed countless breath taking hilly steps till I reached the abandoned Taiping elementary school (太平國小). Under a huge maple tree at the parking lot in front of the school, I searched for my recorder, but couldn't find it, so I practiced singing aloud in stead.

At 12 noon, I got on Bus 101 to Peace Island, got off at Alabao Bay where Sheliao bridge is located. Originally I planned to have a decent lunch at Peace Island Park, but on the second thought, I stopped by a familiar seafood restaurant at Alabao Bay where I enjoyed luxious Chinese mitten crabs with my Korea-born Chinese friends last Autumn.

After lunch, I walked across the Peace Bridge and took Bus 101 back to Keelung Train Station, got off the local train at Xizhi Station, and took Bus 951 back to Xindian! I had only 20 points left in my senior bus and metro card for July.

Waimushan Seaside Boulevard

Hooray! Covid-19 Alert Level dropped from 3 to 2 in Taiwan today! Nevertheless all cafes are still not allowed for the public to enjoy meals indoors in New Taipei City, so I ventured to Keelung to enjoy my first meal at a fancy resturant on the coastline. Gosh, it felt good to live like a decent human being again since Alert Level 3 was enforced in May 15, 2021.

It’s a hot and sunny Tuesday. I got on Bus 951 at MRT Dapingling (大坪林) Station at 10:00, got off Bus 951 at Xizhi Xizhi (汐止) Train Station. I took the 10:55 local train 1158 from Xizhi to Keelung. While on train, I put on the suntan cream I bought at Coni yesterday afternoon. I don’t mind getting tanned, but I hope I can avoid a few dark spots on my cheeks and arms.

At the South Gate of Xizhi Train Station, I tried to look for Bus 308 or 310 to Waimushan (外木山), but I couldn’t find their arriving time on the LED board. I asked local senior citizens for information, they suggested I took Bus 302 and got off at Zhongshan High School (中山高中), then walked to Waimu in less than 10 minutes. 

I was grateful for the valuable travelling information from the local residents. One lady told me to get on the bus from the front to tap my senior card. Because in Keelung, passengers tap the bus card only once, not like in Taipei, passengers need to tap bus card twice on and off the bus. Another senior couple reminded me of getting off at the following bus stop and making a left turn before they got off Bus 302. I felt the friendliness of Taiwanese people again. It's been a couple of months, people are required to keep the social distance, and are discourgaed to chat in public. 

At 12 noon, I arrived at Waimushan Seaside Boulevard (湖海路)，I saw for the first time the Sea Mango trees with many fruits at the Hsieh-ho Power Plant Community Center (協和社區). I tried to collect a couple of ripen sea mangos hanging from the trees with the help of my umbrella. The green fruits look just like ordinary mangos, the red ones look like passion fruits. In Hawaii, sea mangos are called "suicide apple", because they are deadly poisonous. Fortunately, I didn’t try a bite of the poisonous apple like Princess Snow White did when her step-mother handed her a half-bitten one.

The most exciting spot of Waimushan Seaside Boulevard, in my opinion, is the Haixing Sea Swimming Pool in the Taiwan Strait. While seeing many people enjoy swimming and scuba diving, I had an urge to purchase diving gears to turn myself into a mermaid. 

Route North 31

It’s Monday, the last day of minor Covid-19 Level 3 Alert in Taiwan, how could I not venture out to document the historic moment! Today I explored the Route North 31 (N31) connecting Xizhi and Pingxi（平溪）for the first time.

It’s a hot and sunny Monday. I got on Bus 951 at MRT Dapingling Station at 10:05, got off Bus 951 at Xioufeng（秀峰）High School at 10:55, walked through the Magpie Alley（喜鵲巷） to the Xizhi（汐止）Train Station.  

At 11:10, I got on Free New Taipei Bus F920 running between Xizhi and Pingxi back and forth every two hours. I got off F920 at Jiangziliao Vista Point at 11:20 at 9K of N31. While strolling around the resting area, I saw two kittens lying beneath a stone chair. North 31 is a friendly and pleasant country road with many resting areas along the road.

I didn't know clearly how long N31 was. Originally I thought N31 was only 12 kilometers long. As I was already at 9K of N31, I didn't hesitate to attempt the Jiangzitou（姜子頭）Mountain (507M) at 9.5K, when I saw a trail sign hanging from the tree. It was a short and easy trail of 350 meters. When I arrived at the top of the mountain at 11:50, I saw the mapping control point. I took out the recorder, played a few children songs accompanied by Muller's Barbet（五色鳥）singing sweetly in the trees. 

At 12:30, at 11.5K of N31, I saw another trail sign to Five Four Vertical Hiking Trail（五四緃走）, but I dared not to take the challenge by myself.

At 12:40, I arrived at Monolith Ridge（磐石嶺）at 12K, the highest point of N31, also the boardline between Xizhi and Pingxi. At the highest Pavilion overlooking the surrounding lofty mountain grandeur and feel the gentle breeze, I enjoyed my lunch break. 

After lunch, as I walked further along N31, I saw the Monolith Ridge Trail Direction Broad, I decided to try the trail without much hesitation, as the short cut trail in the forest might save me some time in stead of walking on the main road in the sun. It took me one hour to complete the one kilometer mountain trail. It was a chalenging trail, I needed to climb up and down the mountains with the help of wire rope, and I took off my shoes twice to walk across the streams.

Back to N31 at 15.3K, it started raining. How lucky I was, the climate was in favor of me, not having to climb the mountains holding the umbrella. On my way to Pingwi at 16.5K of N31, I saw Bus F920. The sooner I raised my hand, the bus stopped and took me all the way to Lingjiao（嶺腳）Train Station, and I rode the same bus back to Xizhi at 3:40. 

It was a day of achievement to explore the Route North 31. I love free New Taipei City Buses that take me to all the remote country sides in New Taipei City.

Xiaoken III Road

Sunny Sunday morning, I decided to push myself to attempt an unknown mountain trail in Hsin-dian with the Yamaha recorder in my backpack, as I’ve been taking enough rest at home for past three consecutive days due to In-Fa typhoon.

I got on Songjiang Xinsheng（松江新生） Metro Bus at Dapingling（大坪林）Station at 10:00, arrived at Xindian（新店）Station at 10:10, got on the free New Taipei Tutang（塗潭） Bus at Xindian Station at 10:20, got off at Xiaoken III Road（小坑三路）at 10:50. I was a little anxious about the new route I was about to explore till the bus driver told me that an old man hiked the same route almost every week. 

It was an easy walk, mostly downhill, I didn't get lost. The road signs are well displayed. I had my lunch at Changfu（長福）Temple at 1:30, got on free New Taipei Guangxin（廣興） Bus at Guangxin Bay Park at 2:15 and arrived at Qichang（七張）Metro Station at 2:45. It was refreshing to hike in the mountains after the typhoon, the mountain streams full of water were spectacular.

In addition to exercise the body, I enjoyed making acquaintance with local residents while hiking on the unknown trail. At Xiaoken I Raod, I was invited to have a cup of sweet potato leaves tea by a gentleman of my age. His family has been living there for more than a century. They used to grow tea and tangerines and made a fortune.  

My college classmate rode her electric bike to my parents’ place with her husband at 6:30. We kept on talking until 9:00. It’s nice to have a college classmate living in the neighborhood.

Play the Soprano Recorder

Of course, the highlight of Today is none other than the Opening Ceremony of 2021 Tokyo Olympics. I bet most people look forward to watching the world's biggest sports event long overdue.

As for me, guess what's new with me? I’m learning a new trick now, to blow a recorder!

I bought a recycled Yamaha plastic recorder at Fu-he Flee Market for 10 NT dollars two years ago. It’s been sitting on my desk since then. Why out of the blue did I start playing with the recorder?

Firstly, a recorder is light to carry. I put it in my backpack whenever I hike in the mountains. While taking a rest in the mountains, I can blow the recorder when there is nobody! Isn’t a recorder designed and made by and for the mountain people in the first place?

Secondly, during the 2+ months period of Covid-19 Alert 3 Level from May 15th, my college classmate and I produced a weekly broadcasting program for Taipei Medical University 623 LINE group. Every Thursday afternoon, we made a short clip of 3 minutes talking and singing program to cheer up our classmates. A recorder is an easy to learn musical instrument, therefore I’m learning the recorder diligently. 

The recorder is a woodwind musical instrument that was popular as early as the 14th century. It produces a soft, flute-like sound. Compared to other instruments, the recorder is relatively easy to play, making it a great first instrument for kids or novice musicians. Recorders are a good stepping stone to harder blowing instruments that are held vertically, such as oboe or clarinet.

I still have hard time blowing gently into the recorder to produce a consistent sound. Blowing softly with a steady stream of air is one of the most difficult but important techniques as you begin to play recorder.  

https://www.wikihow.com/Play-the-Recorder

Playing the recorder is a good fingers movement exercise. As it is easy to learn for young children, it is also friendly for senior citizens to excercise fingers and brain to keep away the progressive A'alzheimer's. Hopefully, once I am better at blowing the recorder, I can teach seniors to play the recorder at a day care center.

B note 0 1 - - - - - -
A note 0 12 - - - - -
G note 0 123 - - - -
C' note 0 - 2 - - - - -
D' note - - 2 - - - - -
E note 0 123 45 - -
D note 0 123 456 -
F note 0 123 4 – 67
F# note 0 123 - 56 -
C note 0 123 4567

Typhoon In-Fa

As Typhoon In-Fa (202106) is approaching Taiwan, I didn't go outdoors, in stead I stayed home and watched the Broadway Musical of Jekyll & Hyde featuring David Hasselhoff. I first knew the musical throught the song “Once Upon a Dream” last week, I attempted to sing aloud a couple of times till I got familiar with the tune. Luckily, I picked up the DVD from Taipei City Library this morning, and watched it at home on a rainy afternoon day. At the end of the show, David made a statement to advise people to be prepared for the moment, and not to give up till the dream comes true. I could sing better "Once Upon a Dream" after seeing Emma's performance in the musical. 

https://www.allmusicals.com/j/jekyllhyde.htm

When this all began... I knew there'd be a price...

Once upon a dream,
I was lost in love's embrace.
There I found a perfect place,
Once upon a dream.
Once there was a time
Like no other time before.
Hope was still an open door
Once upon a dream.
And I was unafraid,
The dream was so exciting.
But now I see it fade
And I am here alone!
Once upon a dream
You were heaven sent to me.
Was it never meant to be?
Are you just a dream?
Could we begin again
Once upon a dream

貫徹始終

給自己拍拍手，自己的起心動念，自己的堅持，終於在今天劃下了句點—新冠三級六十篇。是的，從小唱到大的中華民國國歌，最後兩句就是「一心一德，貫徹始終」，凡事一旦下定決定，就全力以赴，完成計畫。最近宅在家，追演劇的人對Netflix創辦人Marc Randolph的名言一定不陌生吧，「成功在於付諸行動」。

三民主義，吾黨所宗；以建民國，以進大同。 咨爾多士，為民前鋒；夙夜匪懈，主義是從。 矢勤矢勇，必信必忠；一心一德，貫徹始終。

今天7月12日入伏，8月21日出伏，三伏天總計40天，韓國人流行「以熱制熱」的說法，喝參雞湯、熱水泡腳，三伏天多吃溫補的食物，減少在空調房內的時間，利用三伏四十天的時間，把體內的寒氣逼出體外。三伏天是冬病夏治的好時機，所謂《冬病》就是好發於冬天的疾病，或在冬季加重的病變；而《夏治》就是利用夏季氣溫高，身體陽氣充沛的時機，進行身體的調治，預防冬季舊疾復發，或減輕疾病的症狀。夏天，尤其是是一年當中陽氣最旺盛的時候，也是調養人體陽氣的最佳時機。

今天上午10:30搭新巴士廣興線，七張捷運站只有我一人上車，新店總店有四名乘客上車，一名在紫竹林寺下車，三名在廣興國小下車，我一路專車坐到元廣路4K處，請司機讓我下車，開始今天的健行訓練。元廣路土雞城林立，配合三級警戒的微解封，各家餐廳都已準備就諸，餐桌餐椅都已擺好，就等賓客上門了。

元廣路5K處有三四棵巨大的蓮霧樹，檢起地上三顆，嚐嚐看，味道還可以。在元廣路5.5K處的十字路口（202巷）右轉往孟鴻土雞城，見叉路右轉，路的盡頭有條乾涸的溪流，坐在橋上，看見有個小水塘有不少魚，魚不吃蓮霧，但對麵包屑有興趣，爭相搶食，真不知那些魚是否從元廣溪逆流而上的？12:00到元廣路201巷的腦寮坪瑞興宮「廣坑福地三周水，興澤佑人百歲心」休息、午餐，欣賞山嵐風景。

12:20在元廣路6K處見一位老翁在自家前庭修理摩托車，上前搭訕，聽老翁講人生故事。老翁民國26年生，家中獨子，老松國小畢業，初中沒考上，跟人當學徒，從事過各種行業，雖然大字不識幾個，但對數字很有概念，40多年前搬到元廣路定居，當時週邊還很荒涼，僅一條小山路，幾戶人家，不似今日路寛車多，每天還有六班的免費社區巴士。

老翁聽女兒的話，沒有打疫苗，老翁有子有孫，假日兒孫一同，跟老翁聊圔家團圓，其樂融融。跟老翁聊天一個多小時到1:30，繼續趕到育空，搭2:00新巴士廣興線回七張捷運站。再度經過老翁家，瞄到老翁在前庭的身影，但我未曾回頭打招呼。也許對老翁而言，今日下午自動送上門能言善道的老嫗，何日能再相見呢？「山中相送罷，日暮掩柴扉，春草明年綠，王孫歸不歸？」王維的詩在耳邊響起。

新冠三級警戒期間，養成天天在山間田野健行的習慣，對未來的日子會有多少的影響，很難說，以人類好逸惡勞的本性來看，能夠跟三五好友聚餐，又何必一個人頂著大太陽，背著乾糧，折磨自己呢？但我還是非常肯定自己二個月來的堅持與努力，在炎炎夏日鍛鍊一付好身體，今年冬天這條母老虎還是會上山，與大自然心神合一吧。