TAIWAN – MIRACLES NEVER CEASE

We
planned for a Taiwan trip for a while and start to check out Nick
Kembel and various You tubes ..etc but nothing would prepare us for
what we would encounter.
Medical- Dental Condition
Our
flights were on Monday 25 Mar 2024 ( midnight).
26-Mar-24 TUE |
25 MAR 2024 - 8.45 PM TO AIRPORT/2120 PM ETD 0020 AM 26
MAR 2024 |
TR 996/ SCOOT 789 TRC SG/T1--TPE/T1 |
26 MAR24 ETA 0445 AM |
Just
2 days before the flight, I develop severe toothache due to infected
nerve, such that drinking water is already difficult. On the
Sunday before, I tried to get emergency treatment from Advanced
Dental but none was available and they refer me to Tan Tock Seng on
walk-in basis on Monday morning. Knowing that this is not workable-
I tried to reach out to our AIA dental panel and Dr Gerald Tan of
Elite Dental tried to squeeze a morning slot for me at 9.15 am.
Thank God I was able to do the root canal and enjoy a painless
holidays especially the food in Taiwan.

The
trip was a cross-island of Northern Taiwan from 26 Mar to 6 Apr 2024
:
TaoYuan – Taipei Station to Chiayi by HSR follow by shutter bus to
Chaiyi train station. From Chiayi to Taichung, then Yilan and down
to Hualien and back to Ruifang and Taipei and to airport at ToaYuan.
Chiayi- Alisan
Upon
arrival at Chiayi- HSR station, we took the shutter bus to Chiayi
Train station. We stopped at the rear gate of the station and has to
cross the overhead bridge to walk to the front of the station and
checked in Yoyo hotel which is in front of Chiayi station.
We
did a city walk and check out Hinoki Village and arts museum and
have a nice dinner at
慶昇.
In
preparing for the next day trip to Alisan – we check out the way the
bus 7322 departure schedule at Chiayi train station. We chose the
first bus and bought the ticket with pre determined seats for 6 am
departure. At Alisan – we took a train inside to see cypress and
multi generational trees since cherry blossoms period is over.
Taking another shutter bus, we explore Fengqihu old town and
shizhao ( famous for their tea plantations)
Taichung-Sun Moon Lake
Next
day we depart for Taichung, and after the city walk, we had
Vietnamese food for dinner. On following day, we took tours (with
James) at meet-up point Miyahara ice cream palace to Taichung city
garden and location of first bubble tea, Gaomei wetlands, Rainbow
village….and some temples.
Yilan – Jiaoxi- Tai Ping Shan
Upon
arrival at Yilan , we store our luggages at the station and did a
city tour of Yilan. Visited Kavalan Whisky factory. We took the
train back to hotel in Jiaoxi hot springs area. We explore a
presbyterian church at Jiaoxi with local dinner along the way.
The
next morning, we followed the tour from Yilan to Tai Ping Shan (
with Steve)- we were almost late due to train timing- Japanese Yeh
Liu ( pine) and Quai shu ( cypress)- with several climbing trials)
Hualien
The
Taroko Gorge was our main purpose in Hualien
Yilan- Hualien

We
were in Hualien on 1 Apr 2024, and while doing city walk , I came
across St Paul Pastoral Center and St Paul Statue.

On 2
Apr 2024 we were on Taroko tours- - starting with Qixingtang, then
at Taroko we did Yan Zi Gou, Shakadang trail and Buluowan and
suspension bridge.
Earthquake in Hualien
On 3
Apr 2024, we depart Hualien on Train 207 towards Ruifang at 7.26am.
we were at the train station around 7 am after we check out from San
Sui Hotel around 6.50 am. The earth quake happen at 7.58 am.
The
first miracle
was that we were in Taroko one day before the 403 earthquake
earlier to enjoy Taroko- as the earthquake devastated the entire
scenic region gorges and trails. Had we delayed one day we could be
trapped in Taroko or buried under the rubbles.
Impresssions of Taroko
2 APRIL 2024




Shakadang
Trail




YanZiKou

The Carp
The Face
 



JiuShiDong
Chang
Chun  
The
second miracle was at Dongdamen.
We
were there for early dinner for first day and later on second day.

It would be the epic center of the earthquake in Hualien.
Pic
taken a day before
Uranus
bldg collapse to a tilt.
The
third miracle
is the escape from Hualien on that fateful morning- that
Express train 207 was to be the last train out of Hualien.
Our
train booking out of Hualien to Ruifang on 3 Apr 2024 was originally
for 9.45 am train but somehow earlier in Chiayi- we change the train
to an earlier train at 7.26 am. Previously 9.45 am was the earliest
available train.
When
we reach Nanao around 7.58 am- we received Presidential alert on
earthquake and the train float and sway from left to right and came
to a halt.
The
last earthquake was in 1999 or 921 earthquake ie Sep 21st-
so it came as a surprise and shock.
The
train stopped for 3 hours ( we were told that cables has snapped and
it took several hours to repair them) and we continued to experience
several tremors while sitting in the train.
We
tried to contact our friends – one group of 3 Vietnamese ladies was
to go Taroko on Wed 3 Apr 2024 that morning and another Singapore
couple/ Doris was to visit Ocean dophin viewing trip. We were told
by Doris that it was frightening with hundreds of tremors
throughout the day and there was no more train to Taipei as the
earthquake has damaged the tracks between Hualien and Yilan up north
towards Taipei. 
The
Four Miracle
was the completion of all the tours and trips in accordance
with our plan. Whilst friends were affected by the earthquake – we
also change our plans of going to Ruifang- Shi fen and Jiu Fen by
ourselves. We did 2 things – extend our train to Taipei ( while on
the train with the conductor) and take the local tour from Taipei –
we just managed to book the tour at 7.57 am before all signals
were lost.

We
managed to reach Ruifang and due to the chaotic situation we
purchases additional ticket to go to Taipei instead of Ruifeng. We
change the itinerary and book the tours from Taipei- Ximending. It
was a miracle as we managed to book the tour for Shifen, jiufen and
Yehliu while on the train at 7.57 for the credit card to process
before the earthquake at 7.58 am. We were able to go to Yeliu,
Shifen and Jiufen.



SHIFEN



JIUFEN


In
Taipei, we did the elephant Mountain on the first day and also
visited Xinbeitou hot springs on the second day.
.
Xiang san
Tamsui River
Xinbeitou

 
The
fifth miracle is when God never give up on us
When
we were about to go to TaoYuan Airport from Neijiang Hotel ( next to
Ximending ie take the blue line to Taipei station to transfer to
Taoyuan via train) – around 6 pm while doing our final check, we realise the passports was not in my backpak. We lost our passports.

We
have a limited window until 9 pm as checking in time was about 10
.30 am. Without the passports, we did several things.
-
Contact the Trains stations to check lost and found
-
Contact Scoot air to reschedule flights
-
Contact the Singapore Trade Office for advice ( to issue a
DOI for me to fly back)
-
Go to Police station in Ximen Station exit 4 - to make a
Police report
-
Freeze the WISE card and block the credit cards.
-
We took the train to back track to Xinbeitou areas -hot
springs where we have lunch, and visit their rail museum,..etc even
seach the lost and found section of the rail museum and view the
CCTV video footage of me at the entrance to the hot springs.

The
hotel staff was very kind and helpful to contact Scoot to inform
that we need to cancel and rebook flights on Monday , and also help
us contact Ms Siew Han at Singapore Trade office at Taipei for
assistance on issuance of DOI ( Document of Identity) for flying.
They also help us check Lost and Found at the Police stations and
MRT/metro stations at Xinbeitoiu and Taipei Stations
As
it was the national Children day and also Cheng Meng Tomb sweeping
day – Taiwan was on extended holidays and we will need to stay
another 3 days until offices start working again. As we were at hot
springs in Xinbeitiou we backtrack to those locations that we
visited- the rail museum, restaurant, hot springs and even see the
CCTV if we drop the pouch containing the passports. When all hopes
were lost we tried to book new tickets with Scoot but we were not
able to do it as we have already check in online. The Singapore Rep
also explain the steps to me to go to ICA website to report loss and
seek the issuance of DOC and inform their once we have request for
travel doc. It was irreversible ie if our passport were found they
will be cancelled. We decided to wait for while until Sunday. The
bigger concern was my wife with Indonesian passport as it was
Lebaran and Indonesia embassy was far away and they may not open due
to Lebaran and the prospects of differing timing for passport
processing meant we have to wait for the latter to travel back
together. We also tried to reach out to our insurance company Etiqa.

As
we were totally lost and only need to wait- we only knew we would
not be able to fly that early morning at 1.30 am without the
passports.
We
decided to go back top the police station to update the declaration
on report of loss as we only mention passport whereas there were 2
credit cards and an iphone. Upon entering the police station for the
second time, we were pleasantly surprised that we were immediately
informed by the Police officers – our passports have been located at
Taipei station police station. We also received the incoming call on
the good news at around 11 pm.
 
Location to collect passport at Taipei Train Station ( West Gate
level 1)
As
it was already close to 11 pm at night, we wasted no time to rush
back to our hotel to collect the luggage and then to Taipei station
to pick up our passports and to Taoyuan Airport ( another hour away
by train).
As
our flight was 1.30 am it was already 11 pm and time was running. As
we were walking back, at the traffic lights, there was a miracle
God send taxi in front of us alighting some guests- we
approach it to send us back to hotel to collect our luggage and then
proceed to Taipei Metro Poilce station to collect our passports and
then head straight to the Taoyuan International Airport T1. It was a
miracle that God send the taxi infront of us to enable us to reach
the airport on time. Despite the immigration having long queue and
boarding at 0.45 am- we managed to board smoothly.
This
fifth miracle
was really a series of divine help - - -
Even
as we have given up hope and already arranged the police report on
loss of passports, book an extra day stay at hotel, we still managed
to fly back to Singapore.
Firstly - as we have checked in online, therefore our flights
cannot be cancelled or rescheduled for next week.
Secondly Singapore Rep Siew Han ‘s kind help and advice that once
declared lost of passport is done online on ICA website- I cannot
fly even if we were to find it back later and we have to wait for
issuance of DOI next week. I did not follow the declare loss
route.
Thirdly, miracle taxi to take us on the last mile ( 3
locations – hotel, Taipei train station to collect passports and
then to Taoyuan airport)
Fourthly, friendly Taiwanese hospitality from Neijiang
Hotel, the Police and Metro station staff – all rallying behind us.
Even
as we reach home safely – flying scoot on time on both flights – and
landed and reached home safely- the aftershocks and new tremors
continue in Taipei and Taroko.
With God, there's always an appointed time for things, and when you
put Him first, trust in His timing, and keep the faith, miracles
happen! Every moment is His miracle. Miracle is never ending and it
still happens. Every moment of life is like a sacrament in which we
can receive God - to allow Him to speak to us and direct us. Even when we give up, God
never give up on us. Therefore, above all, dont fear difficult
moments. the best comes from them. God
will not give up on us. With the spirit of humility, it is not I who
lives . it is Christ who lives in me. Vivi ego, iam non ego. Vivit
vero in me Christus!.There is no limit to the amount of good He can
do for us and through us as testimony.
 

台湾——奇迹永不停歇xie
老师、各位同学、朋友们
大家好.
今天我要讲与旅游有关的事情.
我的两个儿子已经长大,有了自己的活动,
我也有更多的时间和妻子一起旅行.
最近
我们去了槟城、古晋徒步旅行和爬山,
几个月前,
还去了希腊和地中海岛屿巡游。
但这些不是我要讲的故事.
今天我想说说
台湾跨kua岛之旅.
这是一个真实的人和真实的故事.
这次旅行是从
2024年3月25
日至 4月6日的:
从桃园——台北
到嘉义,
台中,
然后到宜兰,再往南到花莲,
再回到瑞芳和台北,
最后返回再桃园机场。
在每个城市,我们停留了2
天 1
夜。
在计划和准备旅行时,
我们查看了 Nick Kembel
和各种
YouTube
视频等,
但没有什么
能让我们
为
将要遇到的事情
做好准备。
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
医疗-
牙科状况
我们的航班是
Scoot
3
月
25
日星期一(午夜)。
就在起飞前两天,我因神经感染而出现严重的牙痛,我试图联系我们的
AIA
牙科小组,能在早上让我做紧急牙根管治疗手术,以便我当天可以飞行。享受一个无痛的假期,尤其是台湾的美味的食物.
第一个困难是解决了.
嘉义-阿里山
抵达嘉义后,我们在城市散步,参观了桧村Gui
cun Hinoki Village
和艺术博物馆,并在庆昇Qingsheng餐馆
享用了美味的晚餐。
为准备第二天去阿里山的旅行,我们查看了嘉义火车站
7322
公交车的出发时间表。我们选择了第一班巴士,并购买了预定座位的车票,早上
6
点出发。
在阿里山——我们坐火车进去看柏树Bóshù/cypress和多代树,因为樱花期已经结束了。
接下来,我们坐公共巴士去探索Tànsuǒ
凤栖湖Fengqihu老城区
和 以茶园闻名的石召
Shizhao.
台中-日月潭
我们的下一站是台中,第一天早上,
我们跟随
游览团集合在宫原Gōng
yuán
冰淇淋宫前往台中城市花园和第一奶茶的所在地、高美湿地、彩虹村……还有一些传统的寺庙。
第二天,我们去了日月潭——乘船游览
徒步环岛到寺庙,还骑自行车环湖
huan hu 欣赏风景,然后回到码头旧城小巷吃饭。最后回去台中,吃了越南菜晚餐。
宜兰-礁溪-太平山
抵达宜兰后,我们在车站寄存行李,并进行了宜兰城市之旅。参观了噶玛兰威士忌酿酒厂
kevalan whisky factory。
我们乘火车回到礁溪Jiaoxi温泉区的酒店。我们也参观了礁溪的一座长老教会,沿途享用了当地晚餐。
第二天早上,我们跟随宜兰的旅行团前往太平山,观赏雄伟的日本野柳(松树)和魁树(柏树)Kui
Shu,并进行了几次徒步旅行。
花莲
-
太鲁阁峡谷Tàilǔgé
xiágǔ
是我们在花莲的主要目的
我们于
2024
年 4
月 1
日首次抵达花莲,在城市漫步时,我偶然发现了圣保罗牧民mùmín 中心和圣保罗雕像。
我研究了很多关于圣保罗的事工和早期教会历史,所以这对我来说非常有意义,我们做了一个简短的祈祷
Qidao 和
祷告
daogao
太鲁阁
我们在
2024年4月2日美丽的星期二早上游览了太鲁阁。
从七星塘海边开始,然后在太鲁阁我们去了燕子沟、砂卡当步道、布洛湾和吊桥..
等等
deng。
这就是我的故事的开始。
花莲地震
第一个奇迹是我们在403地震发生前一天到达太鲁阁,欣赏太鲁阁——地震摧毁了整个风景区峡谷和小径。如果我们晚了一天,我们就会被困在太鲁阁或被埋在废墟
feixu下。
第二个奇迹是在东大门。第一天我们在那里吃早饭,第二天我们在那里吃晚饭。那里是花莲地震的中心。你可以在
Youtubes
上看到天王星大楼倒塌到侧Cè面倾斜qīngxie。
第三个奇迹是在那个决定性的早晨逃离花莲—特快列车
207
是离开花莲的最后一班车。
2024年4月3日,我们于早上 7
点 26
分乘坐 207
号列车离开花莲前往瑞芳。
地震发生在早上
7
点 58
分。
我们预订的
207
次特快列车于 2024
年 4
月 3
日从花莲开往瑞芳,原本是上午
9:45
的火车
-
因为在网上预订,之前上午
9:45
是最早的火车。但不知何故,早些时候在嘉义
-
我们将火车改成了早上
7:26
的早班火车,以便提前出发。
当我们在早上
7:58
左右到达南澳时
火车开行半小时-
我们收到了总统关于地震的警报,火车左右摇摆并停了下来。
火车停了
3
个小时(我们被告知电缆断了,花了几个小时才修好),我们坐在火车上继续经历几次震动。
我们试图联系之前在花莲遇到的朋友和旅伴
-
一组是 3
位越南女士,另一组是新加坡夫妇。有些仍有计划将于
4月3日星期三去太鲁阁
我们被告知,地震令人恐惧,一整天都有数百次震动,而且没有火车(从花莲出发)前往台北,因为地震损坏了花莲和宜兰之间通往台北的北路。
朋友们受到地震的影响——我们也改变了计划
我们改变了原本行程,我们没有自己前往瑞芳-十分和九份,而是将火车延长到台北,,并从台北参加当地旅游.
第四个奇迹发生在火车上,我们在早上
7点57分-
在火车上预订了
十分、九份和野柳的旅行,地震发生前
一分钟预订了旅行.
处理信用卡支付
地震在7点58分
发生时.
互联网也被切断了---然后所有信号都丢失了。
我们很幸运,但是在那些面临倒塌建筑和废墟的人我们感到悲伤和担忧,包括失踪的新加坡夫妇,直到今天都没有找到。
上一次台湾地震是在 1999 年或
921 地震,即 9 月 21
日——主震级为 7.7
级,死亡人数达 2,400 人,约
10,000 人受伤。导致约10,000
栋建筑物倒塌,导致超过 100,000 人无家可归。
这场袭击xiji台湾花莲县的
403地震-7.4
级地震造成至少
18
人死亡,1,100
多人受伤。
太鲁阁太鲁阁墙上qiangshang的字也是我们的的教诲
.
值得我们反思
人定胜天開此奇局
如阳之迴hui
如河之曲 qu,
从这些地震来看-人类的骄傲无法战胜自然.
地震让人感到意外和震惊.
我们不再谈地震了.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
第五个奇迹是上帝从未放弃我们。
我们的台湾假期即将结束,是时候回去了。
但我们的问题才刚刚开始。
4
月 5
日最后一个晚上,
就在星期六,大约晚上
7
点,当我们正要从内江酒店(西门町旁边,即乘坐蓝线到台北站,转乘火车到桃园)前往桃园机场时.
在做最后检查时,我们发现护照不在我的背包里。我们丢了护照袋。
首先,我们立即考虑需要采取哪些行动例如
:
-
联系火车站检查失物招领处;
-
联系酷航重新安排航班;
-
联系新加坡贸易办公室寻求建议(为我签发
DOI
以便我飞回)
-
去西门站
4
号出口的警察局报案
-
冻结
WISE
卡并封锁信用卡。
其次,我们时间有限,直到晚上
9点,因为机场办理登机手续的时间是上午10:30,而返程航班是凌晨
1:30。
在这段时间里,我们乘火车回到我们之前去过的地方,在新北投温泉区,我们在那里吃了午饭,甚至搜索了铁路博物馆的失物招领处,并在我们排队的温泉入口处观看了闭路电视录像。我们回溯到我们参观过的那些地方——铁路博物馆、餐厅、温泉,甚至如果我们丢了装有护照的袋子,我们还能看闭路电视。
第三,我们也有非常友善的人帮助我们——例如:
酒店工作人员非常友善,乐于助人,他们联系了 Scoot
告知我们需要取消并重新预订周一的航班。他们还帮助我们在新北投和台北站的警察局和捷运/地铁站检查失物招领处。
新加坡贸易办公室的工作人员也愿意协助我签发
DOI(身份证明)以便我飞回。
说起来容易做起来难,复杂的事情接踵而至:
1.
那天是全国儿童节,也是华人清明节——台湾延长假期,我们需要再呆
3
天,直到办公室重新开始工作。
2.
我们试图重新签发/修改 Scoot
的机票,但无法做到,因为我们已经在线办理了登机手续。
3.
新加坡代表还向我解释了前往 ICA
网站报告丢失并申请
DOC
和请求签发旅行证件的步骤。这是不可逆转的,即如果我们的护照被发现,它们将被取消。我们决定等到周日。
4.
更令人担心的是,我妻子持有印度尼西亚护照,因为当时正值开斋节,而印度尼西亚大使馆离得太远,由于开斋节而没有开放,护照办理时间可能不同,这意味着我们必须等待后者一起返回。
5.
我们还试图联系我们的保险公司 Etiqa。
当所有希望都破灭时,我们完全迷失了方向——我们只需要等待另一个奇迹——我们只知道,如果没有护照,我们将无法在凌晨
1:30
飞行。
我们决定回到警察局更新丢失报告声明,因为我们只提到护照,而还有其他物品,例如
2
辆信用卡
我们决定回到警察局更新报失声明。
第二次进入在警察局时,我们惊喜地发现警察立即通知我们
-
我们的护照已在台北车站找到。当我们走进的时候,我们的手机也接到了好消息的来电。当时大约是晚上
11点。
由于已经接近晚上
11点,又开心-但有压力,
我们不可能赶回酒店取行李,然后赶到台北车站西门
1
楼的台北捷运派出所领取护照,然后前往桃园机场(再坐一个小时的火车)。
由于我们的航班是凌晨
1:30 AM
所以已经是晚上
11
点,时间不多了。
当我们往回走的时候,回酒店的路上-
在红绿灯处,我们前面有一辆奇迹般的天赐出租车,载了一些乘客
-
我们走近出租车大叔。上帝派出租车在我们面前,让我们准时到达机场,这真是个奇迹:
第一
-
回到酒店领取行李
第二
-
到台北捷运局警察局领取护照
第三
-
直接前往桃园国际机场
T1。
尽管移民局排了很长的队,而且登机时间是凌晨
0.45,但我们还是顺利登机了。
简jian而言之-
总chong而言之
即使我们安全到家——两趟航班都准时——安全降落并到家——台北和太鲁阁的余震和新震颤仍在继续并维持.
奇迹永无止境
zhijing,它仍在发生。
生命中的每一刻都像是一种圣礼,我们可以在其中接受奇迹.
因此,最重要的是,
不要害怕困难的时刻。
最好的时刻会从中产生。
你还记得这
5 个奇迹见证吗
第一个奇迹是我们在403地震发生前一天到达太鲁阁
第二个奇迹是在东大门。。
第三个奇迹是在那个决定性的最早
也是最后一班火车晨逃离花莲—特快列车
207.
第四个奇迹发生在火车上,我们在早上
7点57分-地震发生前
一分钟预订了
十分、九份和野柳的旅行。
这第五个奇迹真的是一系列的神助.
尽管我们已经放弃了希望,并安排了护照遗失的警察报告,在酒店多住一天,我们仍然设法飞回新加坡。
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