Taiwan travellogue, Day 3 (Sun Moon Lake)

On the third day of our holidays in Taiwan, we encountered a bit of a misadventure. The plan for the day involved checking out from our Airbnb accommodation and catching the Kuo-Kuang bus to Sun Moon Lake (日月潭) from the Taipei Bus Station. The location of this bus station was next to the Taipei Main Station. Although we could have taken the MRT from Ximen Station to Taipei Main Station, which was just one hop away, the idea of lugging our luggage all the way to the station did not appeal much to us. We opted instead for an Uber ride for a more comfortable journey.

However, to our surprise, the Uber driver took us to the wrong bus station. I had my Google Maps app on, and I could see us heading in the opposite direction of our intended destination. Frustratingly, the driver insisted on dropping us off at the City Hall Bus Station. By the time my son and daughter joined us from their separate Uber ride, it was already way past ten o'clock, and we had missed the Kuo-Kuang bus we initially planned to take.

Initially feeling defeated by this unexpected turn of events, we had to quickly implement Plan B. Our new itinerary involved taking the MRT from Taipei City Hall to Banqiao (thankfully a direct connection, no need to change line), followed by a High-Speed Rail (HSR) journey to Taichung. From Taichung, we then boarded a bus to reach Sun Moon Lake. Throughout this journey, we had to carry our luggage with us everywhere.

By two o'clock, we finally arrived at Shuishe (水社), a village on the northern shores of the lake. Shuishe is one of 13 villages that make up the town of Yuchi (魚池鄕). After a short 10-minute walk, we reached the Yue Lake Backpackers Hostel where we registered with the on-duty staff. Very friendly and helpful guy, giving us tips on our transport arrangements. As our room wasn't ready yet, we left our luggage there and went back to Shuishe to look for lunch. Finally entered our room around 3.30 pm after a series of walks between the hostel and Shuishe.

Our day continued with more walking as we decided to take a boat ride to Ita Thao (伊達邵) on the opposite side of the lake. While there was no night market in the area, there was a thriving day market. However by six o'clock when the last boat departed from Ita Thao, taking all visitors away, the shops will call it a day. We purchased our food from the stalls there, took that last boat back to Shuishe, and enjoyed our meal as we strolled through the semi-deserted streets of this small village.

Shuishe village

Ita Thao

Lunch dana @ home

We invited six Theravadin Buddhist monks from the Nandaka Vihara Meditation Society for lunch dana at our residence. Among them were two local monks, one from Myanmar, and three from Sri Lanka. Lunch dana is a practice where monks visit to offer blessings, perform Buddhist chants, and share teachings for the benefit of everyone in the household, including friends and relatives who may be present. This unique occasion allows for open discussions and questions about Buddhism, providing an opportunity for deeper understanding. In gratitude for their blessings and chanting, we had the privilege of serving lunch to them.

Many thanks to family and friends who lent their support. Lai Kuan and Fang Yi contributed their peanut soup and mochi balls, Cheok San and Swee Hiang came with their yam kueh and cut fruits, Sister Yong with her salad bowl, Boon Leong and Eng Keong who brought bananas. Our appreciation to Mohven and Richard who drove the monks to and from the Nandaka Vihara.

#BuddhistMonks #LunchDana #SpiritualBlessings #DharmaTalk #BuddhistTeachings #DanaOffering

We served perut ikan, jiuhoo char, roast duck, chicken varuvel, fried bittergourd, fried chicken, briyani rice and tookar snooi. We cooked the jiuhoo char for this occasion, but everything else were purchased from various vendors. Other contributions came from Lai Kuan and Fang Yi who cooked their peanut soup and mochi balls, Cheok San and Swee Hiang arrived with his mother who brought oar kueh and cut fruits, Sister Yong with her broccoli salad, Boon Leong and Eng Keong with their bananas.

Visitors from Raffles Institution

It is wonderful to note that in this Bicentenary year of the Raffles Institution—Raffles Institution was founded in 1823—their floorball team paid a visit to Penang Free School as part of their Malaysian tour. 

Upon their arrival at Pinhorn Hall this morning, the Free School Guiders—Marvin, Yee Keat, Agilan, Dhevi, Fatimah and Allan—greeted them with a warm welcome, they effectively serving as outstanding student ambassadors for Penang Free School. 

The Guiders, armed with historical insights into Penang Free School, provided an informative briefing for the Raffles students. The online Free School Guide, launched only last mid-October, proved invaluable as it pointed out key features of the Pinhorn Hall. The Guiders later brought the visitors to the quadrangles and the Archives rooms. (All pictures below were taken by the various Guiders.)

Note: Some subtle similarities between PFS and RI:

• Both were the first English schools in Penang and Singapore
• Both were leaders in producing Queen's Scholars in Penang and Singapore
• Both shared three common headmasters in McLeod, Howitt and Holgate

Too much chess for him

There's such a thing as too much chess to the extent that one gets burned out mentally, even physically,, as Tan Jun Ying discovered at the Vezerkepzo November IM tournament in Budapest, Hungary. He took part in this tournament in the hope of achieving his final International Master norm but found the event too tough-going. Prior to this event, he had obtained two norms from inspired play at the Qatar Open in October and the November First Saturday IM tournament. But never mind, I'm sure there will be opportunities again. Just don't get discouraged by this result. Take the bad with the good.

Player info

Name	Tan, Jun Ying
Title	CM
Starting rank	1
Rating	2326
Rating national	0
Rating international	2326
Performance rating	2064
FIDE rtg +/-	-62
Points	2,5
Rank	9
Federation	MAS
Ident-Number	0
Fide-ID	5710413
Year of birth	2003

 

Rd.	SNo		Name	Rtg	FED	Pts.	Res.
1	10	CM	Szalay-Ocsak, Bank	2209	HUN	4	½
2	2	CM	Vincenti, Leonardo	2120	ITA	2	1
3	3	WIM	Vishwa, Vasnawala	2116	IND	3	0
4	4	WCM	Chen, Yining	2130	CHN	5	0
5	5	GM	Neverov, Valeriy	2375	UKR	7	0
6	6	GM	Varga, Zoltan	2371	HUN	7	0
7	7	WIM	Nguyen, Thanh Thuy Tien	2117	VIE	4	½
8	8	GM	Pacher, Milan	2388	SVK	5,5	½
9	9	FM	Rosh, Jain	2248	IND	5	0

[Event "Vezerkepzo November IM"]
[Site "Danubius Hotel Budapest, Szilágyi Erzsébet fasor 4"]
[Date "2023.11.16"]
[Round "1"]
[Board "1"]
[White "Tan, Jun Ying"]
[Black "Szalay-Ocsak, Bank"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO ""]
[WhiteElo "2326"]
[BlackElo "2209"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2023.11.16"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Nge2 c6 6. a3 Ba5 7. b4 Bc7 8. e4 d5 9. e5 Nfd7 10. cxd5 exd5 11. f4 a5 12. b5 Qe8 13. Ng3 f6 14. Be2 fxe5 15. dxe5 Nxe5 16. fxe5 Qxe5 17. Qd2 a4 18. Qe3 Qd6 19. Qd4 Be6 20. Nh5 Qe7 21. Bb2 Rf5 22. O-O-O Rxh5 23. Bxh5 Qg5+ 24. Kb1 Qxh5 25. Nxa4 Qg6+ 26. Ka1 Nd7 27. Rhe1 Bf7 28. Re7 c5 29. Nxc5 Nxc5 30. Qxc5 Bd6 31. Qe3 Bxe7 32. Qxe7 Re8 33. Qxb7 Qxg2 34. Qa7 d4 35. Qxd4 Ra8 36. Qc5 Qf3 37. Rg1 g6 38. Rg3 Qd1+ 39. Qc1 Qd5 40. Kb1 Qa2+ 41. Kc2 Rc8+ 42. Rc3 Qb3+ 43. Kb1 Qa2+ 44. Kc2 Qb3+ 45. Kb1  1/2-1/2

[Event "Vezerkepzo November IM"]
[Site "Danubius Hotel Budapest, Szilágyi Erzsébet fasor 4"]
[Date "2023.11.17"]
[Round "2"]
[Board "5"]
[White "Tan, Jun Ying"]
[Black "Vincenti, Leonardo"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO ""]
[WhiteElo "2326"]
[BlackElo "2120"]
[PlyCount "167"]
[EventDate "2023.11.16"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 Be7 8. Bd3 O-O 9. Qc2 Re8 10. Nge2 a5 11. O-O Na6 12. a3 Nc7 13. Rae1 b5 14. Nb1 Bd7 15. Nd2 Ne6 16. Nf3 Rc8 17. Ne5 c5 18. Nxd7 Qxd7 19. dxc5 Rxc5 20. Qb1 b4 21. axb4 axb4 22. Bf5 Qa4 23. Bg3 Ng5 24. Be5 Nfe4 25. h4 Nd2 26. Qd1 Ndf3+ 27. Kh1 Qxd1 28. Rxd1 Nxe5 29. hxg5 hxg5 30. Nd4 g6 31. Nb3 Rb5 32. f4 gxf5 33. fxe5 Ra8 34. Rxf5 Ra2 35. Nd4 Rb6 36. b3 Rb2 37. Rdf1 Rh6+ 38. Kg1 Rh7 39. Rc1 Rh4 40. Rc8+ Kg7 41. Rf3 Rb1+ 42. Kf2 g4 43. Rf4 Rh5 44. Nf5+ Rxf5 45. Rxf5 Bh4+ 46. g3 Rb2+ 47. Kf1 Bxg3 48. Rg5+ Kh7 49. Rxg4 Rb1+ 50. Ke2 Rb2+ 51. Kf3 Be1 52. Rc1 Rf2+ 53. Kg3 Re2+ 54. Kf4 Rf2+ 55. Kg5 Bd2 56. Rh1+ Kg7 57. Rh3 Bc3 58. Rf4 Rg2+ 59. Kf5 Rg6 60. Rh5 Re6 61. Rg4+ Kf8 62. Kf4 Bb2 63. Rf5 d4 64. exd4 Bxd4 65. Ke4 Bc3 66. Kd3 Re8 67. Re4 Kg8 68. Rh5 Re6 69. Rc4 Kg7 70. Rg5+ Kf8 71. Rc8+ Ke7 72. Rc7+ Kf8 73. Rf5 Re7 74. Rxe7 Kxe7 75. Rf2 Be1 76. Ra2 Bc3 77. Ra7+ Ke8 78. Rb7 Kf8 79. Ke4 Ke8 80. Kf5 Kf8 81. Kf6 Kg8 82. Rb8+ Kh7 83. Rf8 Kh6 84. Rh8#  1-0

[Event "Vezerkepzo November IM"]
[Site "Danubius Hotel Budapest, Szilágyi Erzsébet fasor 4"]
[Date "2023.11.18"]
[Round "3"]
[Board "2"]
[White "Vishwa, Vasnawala"]
[Black "Tan, Jun Ying"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO ""]
[WhiteElo "2116"]
[BlackElo "2326"]
[PlyCount "163"]
[EventDate "2023.11.16"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nf3 g6 7. Bf4 a6 8. a4 Bg7 9. h3 O-O 10. e3 Re8 11. Bd3 Nh5 12. Bh2 Nd7 13. Be2 Nhf6 14. O-O Qe7 15. Bd3 Nh5 16. Be2 Nhf6 17. Bd3 h6 18. Qc2 g5 19. Bf5 Nf8 20. Nd2 Bxf5 21. Qxf5 Ng6 22. Nc4 Rad8 23. Rfe1 Nh4 24. Qd3 Nh7 25. Bg3 Nf8 26. Bxh4 gxh4 27. Qf5 Ng6 28. a5 Kh8 29. Ra4 Rg8 30. Nd2 Ne5 31. Rf4 Qg5 32. Qxg5 hxg5 33. Rf5 Nd3 34. Rb1 Be5 35. Nf3 f6 36. Nxe5 Nxe5 37. Rxf6 Kg7 38. Ne4 Nc4 39. Re6 Rge8 40. Nxg5 Nxa5 41. b4 cxb4 42. Rxb4 Rc8 43. Rxd6 Rc4 44. Rbb6 Rc1+ 45. Kh2 Re7 46. Rg6+ Kh8 47. Rbf6 Rc8 48. d6 Rd7 49. Nf7+ Kh7 50. Ne5 Rcd8 51. Rh6+ Kg8 52. Nxd7 Rxd7 53. Rhg6+ Kh7 54. Rg4 Nc6 55. Rxh4+ Kg7 56. Rfh6 Ne5 57. Rh7+ Kf8 58. Rxd7 Nxd7 59. Rh7 Ke8 60. Re7+ Kd8 61. h4 b5 62. h5 b4 63. h6 Nf6 64. h7 Nxh7 65. Rxh7 Kc8 66. Rc7+ Kd8 67. Rb7 a5 68. Rb5 Kd7 69. Rxa5 Kc6 70. d7 Kxd7 71. Rb5 Kc6 72. Rxb4 Kd5 73. g4 Ke5 74. Rf4 Kd5 75. g5 Ke5 76. g6 Kd5 77. g7 Kc5 78. g8=Q Kd6 79. Qg5 Kd7 80. Rf6 Kc8 81. Qg7 Kb8 82. Rf8#  1-0

[Event "Vezerkepzo November IM"]
[Site "Danubius Hotel Budapest, Szilágyi Erzsébet fasor 4"]
[Date "2023.11.19"]
[Round "4"]
[Board "4"]
[White "Tan, Jun Ying"]
[Black "Chen, Yining"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO ""]
[WhiteElo "2326"]
[BlackElo "2130"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2023.11.16"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. cxd5 exd5 7. e3 h6 8. Bf4 g5 9. Bg3 Nh5 10. Bd3 Nxg3 11. hxg3 Bg7 12. Qc2 Nb6 13. Ne5 Bxe5 14. dxe5 Qe7 15. O-O-O Qxe5 16. f4 Qe7 17. e4 d4 18. Na4 Bg4 19. Rde1 Nxa4 20. Qxa4 O-O-O 21. Qxa7 Qb4 22. Qa3 Qxa3 23. bxa3 Kc7 24. Kb2 Ra8 25. Rhf1 gxf4 26. gxf4 Bd7 27. e5 Rhg8 28. Be4 Rg3 29. f5 Rgxa3 30. Bb1 Rg3 31. Rf2 Re8 32. Rfe2 c5 33. e6 fxe6 34. fxe6 Bb5 35. Rf2 Re3 36. Rc1 Kd6 37. Bf5 Rf8 38. Rcc2 Bd3 39. Bxd3 Rxf2 40. Rxf2 Rxd3 41. Rf7 Kxe6 42. Rxb7 Kd5 43. g4 Rg3 44. a4 Kc4 45. a5 Rg2+ 46. Ka3 Rxg4 47. Rb6 Rg3+ 48. Kb2 Rg7 49. a6 Ra7 50. Rxh6 Kb5 51. Rh5 Rxa6 52. Kb3 Rg6 53. Rh8 Rg3+ 54. Kc2 Kc4 55. Rc8 Rg2+ 56. Kc1 d3 57. Kd1 Kd4 58. Ra8 c4 59. Ra1 Rg1+ 60. Kd2 c3#  0-1

[Event "Vezerkepzo November IM"]
[Site "Danubius Hotel Budapest, Szilágyi Erzsébet fasor 4"]
[Date "2023.11.20"]
[Round "5"]
[Board "3"]
[White "Neverov, Valeriy"]
[Black "Tan, Jun Ying"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO ""]
[WhiteElo "2375"]
[BlackElo "2326"]
[PlyCount "163"]
[EventDate "2023.11.16"]
[EventRounds "9"] [EventCountry "HUN"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. g3 b6 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O e6 6. Nc3 Be7 7. Re1 d6 8. e4 Nbd7 9. d4 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Qc7 11. Be3 Rc8 12. f4 Qb8 13. Qe2 Qa8 14. Bf2 O-O 15. a4 a5 16. f5 Nc5 17. Rad1 Rfe8 18. fxe6 fxe6 19. Ndb5 Qb8 20. Bd4 Nfd7 21. Bh3 Bf8 22. Rf1 Ne5 23. Rf4 Ncd7 24. b3 Rcd8 25. Rdf1 g6 26. Rd1 Bg7 27. Rff1 Nc5 28. Qc2 Kh8 29. Be3 Rd7 30. Rd2 Qd8 31. Qd1 Nxe4 32. Nxe4 Bxe4 33. Nxd6 Nf3+ 34. Rxf3 Bxf3 35. Nf7+ Rxf7 36. Rxd8 Bxd1 37. Rxe8+ Rf8 38. Rxf8+ Bxf8 39. Bxb6 Bxb3 40. Bxe6 Bxa4 41. Bxa5 Bc5+ 42. Kf1 Kg7 43. Bc3+ Kf8 44. Bf6 h5 45. Ke2 Bb3 46. Kf3 Be7 47. Bxe7+ Kxe7 48. Bd5 h4 49. Ke4 Kf6 50. c5 Bc2+ 51. Kd4 Kg5 52. c6 Ba4 53. c7 Bd7 54. Bf3 Bc8 55. Kd5 Kf6 56. Kd6 Kf7 57. Bc6 Ba6 58. Bd7 Kf6 59. c8=Q Bxc8 60. Bxc8 Kg5 61. Ke5 Kh6 62. Kf4 g5+ 63. Kf5 g4 64. Kxg4 hxg3 65. hxg3 Kg6 66. Kf4 Kf6 67. g4 Kg6 68. Bf5+ Kf6 69. Bc2 Kg7 70. Kg5 Kh8 71. Kh6 Kg8 72. g5 Kh8 73. g6 Kg8 74. Bb3+ Kf8 75. g7+ Ke7 76. g8=Q Kd6 77. Qd5+ Kc7 78. Qe6 Kb7 79. Bd5+ Kc7 80. Kg7 Kb8 81. Qb6+ Kc8 82. Be6#  1-0

[Event "Vezerkepzo November IM"]
[Site "Danubius Hotel Budapest, Szilágyi Erzsébet fasor 4"]
[Date "2023.11.21"]
[Round "6"]
[Board "3"]
[White "Tan, Jun Ying"]
[Black "Varga, Zoltan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO ""]
[WhiteElo "2326"]
[BlackElo "2371"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2023.11.16"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 c5 4. Nf3 cxd4 5. Bxc4 e6 6. exd4 Nf6 7. O-O a6 8. Qe2 b5 9. Bb3 Be7 10. Nc3 O-O 11. Bg5 b4 12. Na4 Bb7 13. Rfe1 Nbd7 14. Rad1 Nd5 15. Bc1 Rc8 16. Bc2 Qc7 17. Bb1 Qa5 18. b3 Bc6 19. Qd3 N7f6 20. Re5 Bb5 21. Qd2 Bd6 22. Rde1 Rfd8 23. Qg5 Bxa4 24. bxa4 Bxe5 25. dxe5 h6 26. Qh4 Rxc1 27. Rxc1 Nc3 28. Re1 Nfd5 29. h3 Nxb1 30. Rxb1 Rc8 31. Rd1 Qxa4 32. Rd4 Qxa2 33. Rg4 Kh8 34. Kh2 Qe2 35. Qg3 Rg8 36. Ng5 Rf8 37. Ne4 Qc2 38. Nd6 g6 39. Nxf7+ Rxf7 40. Rxg6 Kh7 41. Rxe6 Qe4 42. Rxa6 Rg7 43. Qf3 Qxf3 44. gxf3 b3 45. Ra1 b2 46. Rb1 Rb7 47. e6 Kg6 48. f4 Kf6  0-1

[Event "Vezerkepzo November IM"]
[Site "Danubius Hotel Budapest, Szilágyi Erzsébet fasor 4"]
[Date "2023.11.22"]
[Round "7"]
[Board "4"]
[White "Nguyen, Thanh Thuy Tien"]
[Black "Tan, Jun Ying"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO ""]
[WhiteElo "2117"]
[BlackElo "2326"]
[PlyCount "153"]
[EventDate "2023.11.16"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. O-O Bd7 5. Re1 Nf6 6. c3 a6 7. Bf1 Bg4 8. h3 Bxf3 9. Qxf3 e6 10. d3 Be7 11. Qg3 O-O 12. Nd2 d5 13. e5 Nd7 14. Nf3 Kh8 15. a4 b5 16. Be2 bxa4 17. Rxa4 d4 18. Ra2 Nb6 19. Bd2 dxc3 20. bxc3 a5 21. Rea1 a4 22. Ng5 Na5 23. Bh5 Bxg5 24. Bxg5 Qd7 25. Bf3 Nc6 26. Qh4 Nxe5 27. Bxa8 Rxa8 28. Qe4 f6 29. Rb1 Nd5 30. c4 Re8 31. Bd2 Ne7 32. Rb7 f5 33. Rxd7 fxe4 34. Rc7 Nxd3 35. Rxa4 Nf5 36. Raa7 Rg8 37. Kf1 h5 38. Ke2 h4 39. Bg5 Rb8 40. Rcb7 Rg8 41. f3 exf3+ 42. gxf3 Ne5 43. f4 Nxc4 44. Rd7 Ncd6 45. Rd8 Rxd8 46. Bxd8 Kh7 47. Bf6 Nb5 48. Rb7 Nbd6 49. Rd7 Ne4 50. Be5 Kh6 51. Kf3 Nf6 52. Bxf6 gxf6 53. Rc7 Kg6 54. Rxc5 Kh5 55. Ra5 Kh6 56. Ra6 Kh5 57. Ra5 Kh6 58. Kg4 Kg6 59. Ra7 Nd4 60. Ra4 Nf5 61. Ra5 Kh6 62. Rxf5 exf5+ 63. Kxf5 Kg7 64. Kg4 Kg6 65. f5+ Kh6 66. Kxh4 Kg7 67. Kg4 Kh6 68. Kh4 Kg7 69. Kh5 Kh7 70. Kg4 Kh6 71. Kf3 Kh5 72. Ke4 Kg5 73. Ke3 Kxf5 74. Kf3 Kg5 75. Kg3 f5 76. Kf3 Kh4 77. Kf4  1/2-1/2

[Event "Vezerkepzo November IM"]
[Site "Danubius Hotel Budapest, Szilágyi Erzsébet fasor 4"]
[Date "2023.11.23"]
[Round "8"]
[Board "2"]
[White "Tan, Jun Ying"]
[Black "Pacher, Milan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO ""]
[WhiteElo "2326"]
[BlackElo "2388"]
[PlyCount "36"]
[EventDate "2023.11.16"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. b3 b6 8. dxc5 Bxc5 9. Qxd8+ Kxd8 10. Bb2 Bb7 11. Nbd2 Nbd7 12. Be2 Ke7 13. Rac1 Rhc8 14. Nc4 b5 15. Nce5 Nxe5 16. Nxe5 Bd6 17. Bf3 Bxf3 18. Nxf3 g6  1/2-1/2

[Event "Vezerkepzo November IM"]
[Site "Danubius Hotel Budapest, Szilágyi Erzsébet fasor 4"]
[Date "2023.11.24"]
[Round "9"]
[Board "5"]
[White "Rosh, Jain"]
[Black "Tan, Jun Ying"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO ""]
[WhiteElo "2248"]
[BlackElo "2326"]
[PlyCount "149"]
[EventDate "2023.11.16"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bc4 Qb6 7. Nb3 e6 8. Bf4 Ne5 9. Be2 Bd7 10. Qd2 a6 11. O-O-O Qc7 12. Bg5 b5 13. f4 b4 14. Nd5 exd5 15. fxe5 Nxe4 16. Qxd5 Bc6 17. Qa5 Qxa5 18. Nxa5 Bb5 19. Bf3 d5 20. Be3 Rd8 21. Bb6 Rb8 22. Rxd5 Rxb6 23. Bxe4 Be7 24. Bd3 O-O 25. Bxb5 axb5 26. Nb3 f6 27. Rf1 fxe5 28. Rxf8+ Kxf8 29. Rxe5 Rf6 30. Kd2 Rf2+ 31. Re2 Rf1 32. Re1 Rf2+ 33. Re2 Rf1 34. c3 bxc3+ 35. bxc3 Bd6 36. h3 Kf7 37. Kc2 Rf4 38. Kd3 Ra4 39. Nd4 b4 40. c4 g5 41. Nb3 h5 42. c5 Bc7 43. Kc4 g4 44. hxg4 hxg4 45. Kb5 Ra8 46. Kxb4 g3 47. Nd4 Rh8 48. Nb5 Rh4+ 49. Kc3 Ba5+ 50. Kd3 Rh5 51. Nd6+ Kf8 52. Kc4 Kg7 53. Re3 Bd2 54. Rxg3+ Kf8 55. Rd3 Ba5 56. Kb5 Bc7 57. Rf3+ Kg8 58. Ne8 Bd8 59. Nf6+ Bxf6 60. Rxf6 Kg7 61. Rf2 Rh1 62. Rb2 Kf7 63. Kb6 Ke7 64. c6 Kd8 65. Kb7 Rh7+ 66. Kb8 Ke7 67. c7 Kf6 68. c8=Q Re7 69. Qf8+ Rf7 70. Rf2+ Kg5 71. Qxf7 Kh4 72. Qf4+ Kh5 73. Qg3 Kh6 74. Rf1 Kh7 75. Rh1#  1-0

Taiwan travellogue, Day 2 Part 3 (Raohe Street night market)

After returning from our visit to Shifen and Jiufen, we decided to head to the Raohe Street night market (饒河夜市) via the MRT. As we exited the Songshan station, we were greeted by a daunting flight of stairs leading up from the underground station to street level. Groaning at the thought of climbing more steps, especially after our Jiufen adventure, we set out in search of an elevator. It didn't matter that the ascending elevator was facing the opposite direction from our intended destination; we were more than willing to ride it just to escape the confines of the underground station! And pretty soon, we reached the eastern entrance to the Raohe Street night market. As to be expected, even on a weekday, the place was packed with people. 

We walked the whole length of the night market which, stretching from east to west, is about 500 or 600 metres. First going down the right lane of the night market and coming back by the left lane, thereby, theoretically, covering all the food stalls along the route. I was told that there were also more food stalls along the side lanes but by and large, most were located along this main stretch. Our food adventure began with some hot Fuzhou black pepper buns (福州世祖胡椒餅). These buns are stuffed with pork, green onions and black pepper, which are then cooked on the inner walls of a charcoal-fired clay and brick oven, much like an Indian tandoori oven from back home.

We ordered a bento of grilled beef fired with a blow torch, but what impressed us most was this stall that served beef tendons that had been stewed to perfection. So succulently soft and without any beefy taste. We wandered into a shop and ordered a bowl of oyster rice noodles and a small bowl of glutinous rice. It surprised me how delicious a simple bowl of rice, well seasoned and cooked, can be. And finally, what we ordered was some oyster takoyaki coated with bonito flakes.

There were lots more food stalls that looked interesting but did not exactly appeal to us, including one that sold something that looked like Penang's roast pork, but it could have been prepared by some other method. We did not try it. Ultimately, we decided that there were too many stalls selling similar foodstuff.