Shifen waterfall is just one of many that can be found around Taiwan. We only made it to this waterfall on this trip, but I’m sure we’ll be back to visit the other parts of Taiwan. It takes a bit of work to figure out which trains to take, because there was a transfer on our trip, and it was a 2 hour ride in a packed train (we left Taipei around 11AM), so we were famished by the time we arrived. The first thing we did was get a bite to eat from the vendors that line the railroad tracks at Shifen. Here’s a pancake with chives and I think there was egg:



Pork in steamed bun (must must must have this), from a stall right next to the station:



Please keep in mind that this location is a tourist trap. Notice the dots in the image above, those dots are not a dirty spot on your monitor., These are paper lanterns that were released into the sky by Shifen visitors, who write their hopes and dreams on the paper lantern. The lanterns fly up over the river, then land in the river when the fire making them rise up is extinguished. I didn’t like this concept, too environmentally damaging. There were a few scavengers on the river shore, picking up the dead hopes and dreams lanterns. One even landed right on the train station platform, still in flames, but it didn’t cause much damage because an attendant came by to fix it.

Beautiful waterfall, good food, busy atmosphere, I will not be back to this spot in Taiwan.

Here are more photos of the train routes:

I tried to bus to work today even though it was wet and miserable outside. I got as far as 9 blocks away, on foot, and the 99 bus never showed up, so I walked back home and drove to work.

I’ll give it one more try next week, but I am not impressed with Translink. The busses are either early or delayed, and this is making it impossible to plan ahead and be on time. People are hours late to work, bringing productivity down to and the city just stalls. How are we going to grow if people can’t get to their jobs? This is so inefficient; it’s a waste of my life to stand around waiting for a bus that never shows up and makes me late for appointments and meetings. Translink, please put our tax dollars to good use and get your shit together.

Good thing today was a soup day at work and at home:

 

Translink really sucks, and I’m not just talking about how busses are never on time.

I walked onto the #27 bus at Rupert Station around 4:30pm, and flashed my new August monthly 2 zone bus pass. Since there were still quite a few people behind me waiting to get on, I walked quickly to the back of the bus and plopped down on a seat to read Game of Thrones #3 (which is really good btw).

Right when I open up my book (bookmark = July bus pass for convenience), the bus driver makes this announcement:

“TO THE LADY WHO JUST TRIED TO GET ON THE BUS WITH A JULY BUS PASS, IT WAS REALLY OBVIOUS.”

I spent an honest, hard-earned $110 on this piece of useless plastic/paper.  I do not need to be accused of being a thief.  I suppose a lot of people try to sneak onto busses with old bus passes or even with Upasses that aren’t theirs, but there’s no need to assume everybody will do it. Anyways, why make such a big deal about it, Mr. Bus Driver? Translink is making exorbitant amounts of money, and you’re not profiting from any of it, so might as well work together to beat the system.

Maybe the driver wasn’t talking about me, but about another lady. Maybe I’m just too sensitive. Maybe Translink should’ve made August bus passes more distinct from July bus passes. Maybe the bus driver should’ve stopped me right after I walked by him so that I could’ve properly shown him my bus pass instead of making assumptions and announcing lies over the bus intercom.  I JUST WANT TO DEFEND MY HONOR.

It could’ve been worse, like the case in Hong Kong years ago:

http://youtu.be/EsYRQkmVifg

If the bus wasn’t so packed, I would’ve walked right back up to the front and shoved it in his face.  There’s always tomorrow; I take the same bus and see the same bus driver everyday.  Tomorrow, I’m going to hold it right in front of his face, and point to the AUG 2012 at the top of the pass. And smile politely.