Changhua

On this week's day off, we went to Changhua to do some exploring. But we needed to ride into the next town to first catch a bus to head to Changhua. And lo and behold, midway into the ride to Yuanlin, I discovered a flat. At first reaction, I started complaining in my mind how of all the days to pop a tire it had to be on my day off. But I soon realise, as it always is, that God was behind all of this.

After riding a few more minutes with the flat and Michelle praying, I looked across the street and there it was, a bicycle repair shop as if it dropped out of heaven. So glorious. Scampering across, we quickly approached the owner.

So long story short, what turned out to be an interruption turned out to be a God-given opportunity. Upon talking to us, the shopkeeper knew we were foreigners but asked us a strange question about whether we were living with American missionaries. Though we aren't, I sense that God is opening up an opportunity with this friendly and talkative shopkeeper. I hope to visit him again soon.

With the bike tire fixed, we were good to go and got on to Yuanlin and then to Changhua. Changhua, according to tourism sites is the breadbasket of Taiwan, one of the first settled places on the island. Life is simpler here. Lots of agriculture and simple foods. Very different than bustling Taipei or even Taichung.

猫鼠面 or Cat Mouse Noodles. No idea how they got the name, but it's great! 

Changhua and some other cities in the county now have Ubikes, stations where you can rent out by every 30 mins.

Nice to ride instead of walking in the sun

A railyard museum

So that was pretty much the day. An interruption in the morning, a nice stroll in the railyard and then a relaxing read in the coffee shop. A great way to enjoy the day off!