on becoming a Traveller . . .: Scenic HuaLian . . . and a fellow Singaporean

Ａｆｔｅｒ　ａｌｍｏｓｔ　ａ　ｗｅｅｋ　ｉｎ　Ｔａｉｐｅｉ，　Ｉ　ｔｒａｖｅｌｌｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｅａｓｔｅｒｎ　ｃｏａｓｔ　ｏｆ　Ｔａｉｗａｎ，　ＨｕａＬｉａｎ．

Ｉｔ　ｉｓ　ａｂｏｕｔ　３ｈｏｕｒｓ　ｔｒａｉｎ　ｒｉｄｅ．　Ｔｈｅ　ＴＲＡ　ｔｒａｉｎ　ｏｆ　Ｔａｉｗａｎ　ｉｓ　ｑｕｉｔｅ　ｏｎ　ｔｉｍｅ　ａｎｄ　ｃｌｅａｎ．　Ｉ　ｏｆｔｅｎ　ｒｅｌｉｓｈ　ｔｒａｖｅｌｌｉｎｇ　ｔｉｍｅ，　ｏｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｔｒａｉｎ　ａｎｄ　ｂｕｓｅｓ　ｅｓｐｅｃｉａｌｌｙ．　Ｉ　ｆｅｅｌ　ｌｉｋｅ　ａ　ｔｒａｖｅｌｌｅｒ．．．ｗｉｔｈ　ｍｙ　ｂａｃｋｐａｃｋ，　ｓｏｍｅｔｉｍｅｓ，　ｗｉｔｈ　ｍｙ　ｓｈｏｅｓ　ｏｆｆ，　ｌｅｇｓ　ｆｏｌｄｅｄ　ｕｐ　ａｓ　ｉｔ　ｃａｒｒｉｅｓ　ｍｅ　ｔｏ　ａｎｏｔｈｅｒ　ｎｅｗ　ｄｅｓｔｉｎａｔｉｏｎ．

Ｉ　ａｍ　ｎｏｔ　ａｆｒａｉｄ　ｏｆ　ｌｏｎｇ　ｊｏｕｒｎｅｙｓ．　Ｉｎ　Ｉｒａｎ，　Ｉ　ｔｒａｖｅｌｌｅｄ　１２　ｈｏｕｕｒｓ　ｂｙ　ｂｕｓ　ｆｒｏｍ　Ｓｈａｒｉｚ　（ｓｏｕｔｈｅｒｎ）　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｃａｐｉｔａｌ，　Ｔｅｈｅｒａｎ．　Ｉ　ｒｅｍｅｍｂｅｒｅｄ　ａ　Ｂｒｉｔｉｓｈ　ｂａｃｋｐａｃｋｅｒ　ｆｒｏｗｎｅｄ　ｗｈｅｎ　ｈｅ　ｌｅａｒｎｅｄ　ｏｆ　ｍｅ　ｔａｋｉｎｇ　ａ　ｂｕｓ　ｉｎｓｔｅａｄ　ｏｆ　ｆｌｙｉｎｇ．　Ｈｅ　ａｄｖｉｓｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｐａｙ　ａ　ｂｉｔ　ｍｏｒｅ　ｆｏｒ　ｃｏｍｆｏｒｔ．　Ｔｏ　ｍｅ，　ａ　ｒｅａｌ　ｔｒａｖｅｌｌｅｒ　ｔｒａｖｅｌｓ　ｂｙ　ｌａｎｄ　ｏｒ　ｓｅａ　ｉｆ　ｐｏｓｓｉｂｌｅ．．．　ｏｎｌｙ　ｔｈｅｎ　ｏｎｅ　ｃａｎ　ｓｅｅ　ｍｏｒｅ，　ｔａｋｅ　ｉｎ　ｍｏｒｅ　ｖｉｅｗｓ，　ｅｎｃｏｕｎｔｅｒ　ｉｎｔｅｒｅｓｔｉｎｇ　ｃｈａｎｃｅｓ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｔｈｅ　ｌｏｃａｌｓ．　Ｔｒａｖｅｌ　ｌｉｋｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｌｏｃａｌｓ　ｄｏ．．．Ｎｏｔ　ｍａｎｙ　ｌｏｃａｌｓ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｃｏｕｎｔｒｉｅｓ　Ｉ　ｈａｖｅ　ｔｒａｖｅｌｌｅｄ　ｃａｎ　ａｆｆｏｒｄ　ｄｏｍｅｓｔｉｃ　ｆｌｉｇｈｔｓ．　Ｔｈａｔ　ｉｓ　ａｌｗａｙｓ　ｍｙ　ｃｏｎｖｉｃｔｉｏｎ　ｉｎ　ｍｙ　ｔｒａｖｅｌｌｉｎｇ．　Ｍａｎｙ　ｔｉｍｅｓ，　Ｉ　ｅｎｃｏｕｎｔｅｒｅｄ　ｒｅａｌ　ｉｎｔｅｒｅｓｔｉｎｇ　ｅｖｅｎｔｓ，　ｓｕｃｈ　ａｓ　ｂｕｓ　ｂｒｏｋｅ　ｄｏｗｎ，　ｓｏｍｅ　ｐａｓｓｅｎｇｅｒｓ　ａｃｔｅｄ　ｕｐ，　ｓｏｍｅ　ｊｕｓｔ　ｓｈｒｕｇｇｅｄ　ａｎｄ　ｒｅｍａｉｎ　ｃａｌｍ；　ｂａｂｉｅｓ　ｃｒｙｉｎｇ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｎｉｇｈｔ　ａｎｄ　ｐａｓｓｅｎｇｅｒｓ　ｔｒｙｉｎｇ　ｔｏ　ｓｏｏｔｈｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｂａｂｙ．．．　ｓｍａｌｌ　ｔａｌｋｓ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｔｈｅ　ｌｏｃａｌｓ，　ｂｅｉｎｇ　ｏｆｆｅｒｅｄ　ｏｒａｎｇｅｓ　ｏｒ　ｏｔｈｅｒ　ｆｒｕｉｔｓ　ａｎｄ　ｓｗｅｅｔｓ　ｂｙ　ｔｈｅ　ｌｏｃａｌｓ．．．　ａｌｌ　ｔｈｅｓｅ　ｌｉｔｔｌｅ　ｅｎｃｏｕｎｔｅｒｓ　ｈａｐｐｅｎｅｄ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｍａｎｙ　ｌｏｎｇ　ｂｕｓ　ｏｒ　ｔｒａｉｎ　ｒｉｄｅｓ．

Train ride to Hualian

Ｕｐｏｎ　ａｒｒｉｖｉｎｇ　ｉｎ　ＨｕａＬｉａｎ，　ｔｈｅ　ｆｉｒｓｔ　ｔｈｏｕｇｈｔ　ｗａｓ，　’Ｓｏ　ｆｅｗ　ｐｅｏｐｌｅ．．．’

ＨｕａＬｉａｎ　ｉｓ　ｗｅｌｌ　ｋｎｏｗｎ　ｆｏｒ　ｉｔｓ　Ｅａｓｔｅｒｎ　Ｃｏａｓｔ　ｆａｃｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅ　Ｐａｃｉｆｉｃ　Ｏｃｅａｎ　ａｎｄ　ｏｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｏｔｈｅｒ　ｓｉｄｅ，　ｌｉｎｅｄ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｍａｇｎｉｆｉｃｅｎｔ　ｍｏｕｎｔａｉｎｓ．　Ｓｈｅ　ｉｓ　ａｌｓｏ　ｗｅｌｌ　ｋｎｏｗｎ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　Ｔａｒｏｋｏ　Ｇｏｒｇｅ．

Ｔｈｅ　ｆｉｒｓｔ　ｄａｙ　ｈｅｒｅ，　Ｉ　ｓｐｅｎｔ　ｔｉｍｅ　ｗａｎｄｅｒｉｎｇ　ａｒｏｕｎｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｔｒｅｅｔｓ，　ｇｅｔｔｉｎｇ　ｌｏｓｔ，　ａｓｋｉｎｇ　ｄｉｒｅｃｔｉｏｎｓ　（ａｓ　ｕｓｕａｌ　ｆｏｒ　ｔｈｅ　ｂｌｕｒ　ｑｕｅｅｎ）　ｗａｎｔｉｎｇ　ｓｏ　ｍｕｃｈ　ｔｏ　ｇｏ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｃｏａｓｔ．　Ｉ　ｗａｌｋｅｄ　ａ　ｌｏｎｇｅｒ　ｗａｙ　ａｎｄ　ｃｈａｎｃｅｄ　ｕｐｏｎ　ａ　ｑｕｉｅｔ　ｌａｎｅ．　Ｉ　ｓａｗ　ａ　ｍａｎ　ｃｕｔｔｉｎｇ　ｂａｍｂｏｏｓ　ａｎｄ　ｄｒｉｌｌｉｎｇ　ｏｎｅ　ｂａｍｂｏｏ　ａｔ　ａ　ｔｉｍｅ　ｏｎｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｉｄｅ　ｏｆ　ｈｉｓ　ｎｏｏｄｌｅ　ｈｏｕｓｅ．　Ｉ　ｓｔｏｐｐｅｄ　ｂｙ　ａｎｄ　ｃｈａｔｔｅｄ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｈｉｍ．　Ｈｅ　ｗｅｎｔ　ｕｐ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｍｏｕｎｔａｉｎｓ，　ｃｕｔ　ｓｏｍｅ　ｂａｍｂｏｏｓ　ａｎｄ　ｂｒｏｕｇｈｔ　ｔｈｅｍ　ｈｏｍｅ　ｔｏ　ｃｈａｎｇｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｏｌｄ　ｂａｍｂｏｏｓ　ａｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｉｄｅ　ｏｆ　ｈｉｓ　ｈｏｕｓｅ．　Ｈｅ　ｅｖｅｎ　ｓｈｏｗｅｄ　ｍｅ　ｈｏｗ　ｈｅ　ｐｒｅｐａｒｅｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｂａｍｂｏｏｓ　ｓｏ　ｔｈａｔ　Ｉ　ｃａｎ　ｔａｋｅ　ｐｉｃｔｕｒｅｓ．　Ｉ　ｅｎｊｏｙ　ｓｅｅｉｎｇ　ｉｎｇｅｎｉｏｕｓ　ｗｏｒｋ．　

the man and his tool

the quaint noodle house along the quiet lane

Ｉ　ｃｏｎｔｉｎｕｅｄ　ａｆｔｅｒ　ｗｉｓｈｉｎｇ　ｈｉｍ　ｇｏｏｄ　ｌｕｃｋ　ａｎｄ　ｋｅｐｔ　ｗａｌｋｉｎｇ　ｔｉｌｌ　Ｉ　ｓａｗ　ｔｈｅ　ｏｃｅａｎ．

Empowering waves ...

Calm water at the other end

Ｏｆｔｅｎ　ｔｉｍｅｓ，　Ｉ　ｆｅｌｔ　ｅｍｏｔｉｏｎａｌ　ｗｈｅｎ　ｎｅａｒ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｅａ，　ｍｏｒｅ　ｓｏ　ｗｈｅｎ　ｆａｃｅｄ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｔｈｅ　ｏｃｅａｎ’ｓ　ｇｉｇａｎｔｉｃ　ａｎｄ　ｅｍｐｏｗｅｒｉｎｇ　ｗａｖｅｓ．Ｉ　ｓａｔ　ａｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｂｅａｃｈ　ｔｉｌｌ　ｎｉｇｈｔ　ｆａｌｌｓ．　Ｔｈｅ　ｍｏｏｎ　ｗａｓ　ｏｕｔ　ｔｈａｔ　ｎｉｇｈｔ　ａｎｄ　ｍａｋｅｓ　ｍｅ　ｆｅｅｌ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ａｔ　ｐｅａｃｅ．　Ｏｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｗａｙ　ｂａｃｋ，　Ｉ　ｒｅａｌｉｓｅ　ｉｔ　ｉｓ　ａｌｒｅａｄｙ　ｑｕｉｔｅ　ｄａｒｋ　ａｎｄ　Ｉ　ｃａｍｅ　ｂａｃｋ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｎｏｏｄｌｅ　ｈｏｕｓｅ　ａｇａｉｎ．　Ｉ　ｓａｗ　ｔｈｅ　ｗｉｆｅ　ａｎｄ　ｏｒｄｅｒｅｄ　ａ　ｂｏｗｌ　ｏｆ　ｎｏｏｄｌｅ　ｓｏｕｐ．　Ａｔ　ｏｎｌｙ　ＮＴ４５，　ｉｔ　ｉｓ　ｓｉｍｐｌｙ　ｏｎｅ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｂｅｓｔ　ｎｏｏｄｌｅ　ｓｏ　ｆａｒ．　Ｎｏ　ＭＳＧ，　ｒｅａｌ　ａｕｔｈｅｎｔｉｃ　ｈｅｒｂｓ　ａｎｄ　ｓｏｍｅ　ｂｅｅｆ．　Ｔｈｅ　ｗｉｆｅ　ｉｓ　ａｍｉａｂｌｅ　ａｎｄ　ｗｈｅｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｍａｎ　ｒｅｔｕｒｎｅｄ，　ｃｈａｔｔｅｄ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｍｅ　ａ　ｌｉｔｔｌｅ　ｍｏｒｅ．　Ｉｔ　ｉｓ　ａ　ｑｕａｉｎｔ　ｌｉｔｔｌｅ　ｓｈｏｐ．　Ｉ　ｗｉｌｌ　ｐｏｓｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｐｉｃｔｕｒｅ　ａｎｏｔｈｅｒ　ｔｉｍｅ　ａｓ　ｔｈｅｙ　ａｒｅ　ｉｎ　ｍｙ　ｈａｎｄｐｈｏｎｅ．

Ｍｙ　ｉｎｔｅｒｎｅｔ　ｔｉｍｅ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｔｈｅ　ｉｎｔｅｒｎｅｔ　ｃａｆｅ　ｉｓ　ｒｕｎｎｉｎｇ　ｏｕｔ．．．

Ｂｕｔ　Ｉ　ｈａｖｅ　ｔｏ　ｓｈａｒｅ　ａｂｏｕｔ　ｔｏｄａｙ，　ｍｙ　ｌａｓｔ　ｄａｙ　ｉｎ　ＨｕａＬｉｅｎ．　Ｉ　ｔｏｏｋ　ａ　ｂｕｓ　ａｌｌ　ｔｈｅ　ｗａｙ　ｏｕｔ　ｔｏ　ＳｈｉＴｉＰｉｎｇ，　Ｓｏｕｔｈｅｒｎ　ｏｆ　Ｈｕａｌｉａｎ　（２　ｈｏｕｒｓ　ｒｉｄｅ）　Ｗｈｅｎ　Ｉ　ａｌｉｇｈｔｅｄ，　Ｉ　ｗａｓ　ｗｅｌｃｏｍｅｄ　ｗｉｔｈ　ａ　ｖａｓｔ　ｐａｄｉ　ｆｉｅｌｄ　ｊｕｓｔ　ｆａｃｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｅａ．

the padi farm at the coast of ShiTi Ping

the mushroom made of stone and wood...this padi farm owner is different

the Tin-Man overlooking the farm * some character this padi field

Ａ　ｙｏｕｎｇ　ｍａｎ　ｗａｓ　ｐｕｓｈｉｎｇ　ａ　ｍｅｔａｌ　ｗｈｅｅｌ　ｉｎｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｐａｄｉ　ａｒｅａ，　ｗａｖｅｄ　ａｎｄ　ｇｒｅｅｔｅｄ　ｈｉ．　Ｗｈｅｎ　ｈｅ　ｌｅａｒｎｅｄ　Ｉ　ｗａｓ　ｆｒｏｍ　Ｓｉｎｇａｐｏｒｅ，　ｈｅ　ｗａｓ　ｅｘｃｉｔｅｄ，　ｃｌａｉｍｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅｒｅ’ｓ　ａｎｏｔｈｅｒ　ｖｏｌｕｎｔｅｅｒ　ｆｒｏｍ　Ｓｉｎｇａｐｏｒｅ　ｗｏｒｋｉｎｇ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｆａｒｍ．．．

Ｉ　ｆｏｌｌｏｗｅｄ　ｈｉｍ，　ｗｈｉｌｅ　ｈｅ　ｒｏｌｌｅｄ　ａｎｄ　ｐｕｓｈｅｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｍｅｔａｌ　ｗｈｅｅｌ　ｏｎｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｆｉｅｌｄ．　Ｉ　ｍｅｔ　ｔｈｉｓ　Ｓｉｎｇａｐｏｒｅａｎ　ｌａｄｙ，　Ｊａｎｅｌｌｅ．　Ｓｈｅ　ｉｓ　ｏｎ　ａ　４－ｍｔｈ　ｃｙｃｌｉｎｇ　ｔｒｉｐ　ｏｎ　ｈｅｒ　ｏｗｎ　ｉｎ　Ｔａｉｗａｎ．　Ｓｈｅ　ｈａｓ　ｂｅｅｎ　ｃｙｃｌｉｎｇ　ｈｅｒｅ　ｆｏｒ　１　ｍｏｎｔｈ．　Ｓｈｅ　ｃａｒｒｉｅｓ　ａ　ｃａｕｓｅ，　ｔｏ　ｓｐｒｅａｄ　ＮＯ　Ｖｉｏｌｅｎｃｅ　ｍｅｓｓａｇｅ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｐｅｏｐｌｅ　ｓｈｅ　ｍｅｅｔ　ｉｎ　Ｔａｉｗａｎ．　Ｓｈｅ　ｉｓ　ＷＷＯＯＦｉｎｇ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｐａｄｉ　ｆａｒｍ　ａｓ　ｉｔ　ｉｓ　ａｌｏｎｇ　ｈｅｒ　ｐｌａｎｎｅｄ　ｃｙｃｌｉｎｇ　ｐａｔｈ．　Ｓｈｅ　ａｌｓｏ　ｓｕｇｇｅｓｔｅｄ　Ｉ　ｃａｎ　ｖｏｌｕｎｔｅｅｒ　ｔｏ　ｔｅａｃｈ　ａｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｍａｎｙ　ａｂｏｒｏｇｉｎａｌ　ｖｉｌｌａｇｅｓ　ｉｎ　Ｔａｉｗａｎ．　Ｔｈｅｙ　ｎｅｅｄ　ｔｅａｃｈｅｒｓ．　～＿～　Ｗｅ　ｔａｌｋｅｄ　ａ　ｌｉｔｔｌｅ　ａｂｏｕｔ　ＷＷＯＯＦ　ａｎｄ　ｈｅｒｓｅｌｆ．　Ｓｈｅ　ｔｏｏｋ　４ｍｔｈｓ　ｕｎｐａｉｄ　ｌｅａｖｅ，　１００　ｄａｙｓ　ｂｅｆｏｒｅ　ｈｅｒ　ｂｉｒｔｈｄａｙ．　Ｔｈｅ　ｌａｓｔ　ｄａｙ　ｏｆ　ｈｅｒ　ｊｏｕｒｎｅｙ　ｗｉｌｌ　ｂｅ　ｈｅｒ　ｂｉｒｔｈｄａｙ．　Ｉ　ｒｅｓｐｅｃｔ　Ｊａｎｅｌｌｅ’ｓ　ｇｕｔｓ　ａｎｄ　ｈｅａｒｔ．　Ｗｅ　ｗｉｓｈｅｄ　ｅａｃｈ　ｏｔｈｅｒ　ｔｈｅ　ｖｅｒｙ　ｂｅｓｔ．　Ｉ　ｆｅｌｔ　ｓｏ　ｈａｐｐｙ　ｔｈａｔ　Ｉ　ｗｉｌｌ　ｂｅ　ｏｋａｙ　ｎｏｔ　ｇｏｉｎｇ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｅａ　ａｔ　ａｌｌ．

Ｉ　ｍｅｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｏｗｎｅｒ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｆａｒｍ，　ｒｅｄ－ｆａｃｅｄ，　ｗｉｔｈ　ａ　ｃａｐ，　ｖｅｒｙ　ｓｍａｒｔ　ｆａｒｍｅｒ　ｌｏｏｋｉｎｇ．　Ｈｅ　ｗａｓ　ｗｅｌｃｏｍｉｎｇ　ａｎｄ　Ｉ　ｍａｎａｇｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｓｎａｐ　ｓｏｍｅ　ｐｉｃｔｕｒｅｓ　ｂｅｆｏｒｅ　Ｉ　ｇｏ．　

Ｔｈｉｓ　ｅｎｃｏｕｎｔｅｒ　ｍａｋｅｓ　ｍｅ　ｌｏｏｋ　ｆｏｒｗａｒｄ　ｔｏ　ｍｙ　ｃｏｍｍｉｎｇ　ＷＷＯＯＦ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｔｈｅ　ｆａｒｍ　ｉｎ　ＰｉｎｇＴｕｎｇ，　Ｔａｉｗａｎ　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅ　３ｍｔｈｓ　ｉｎ　Ｊａｐａｎ．　Ｊａｎｅｌｌｅ’ｓ　ｈｏｐｅ　ｆｏｒ　ｈｅｒ　ｔｒｉｐ　ｔｏ　ｓｐｒｅａｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｍｅｓｓａｇｅ　ｏｆ　ｎｏｎ－ｖｉｏｌｅｎｃｅ　ｉｎｓｐｉｒｅｄ　ｍｅ．　Ｉ　ｓａｗ　ｈｅｒ　ｂｉｋｅ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｏｒｇａｎｉｃ　ｃａｆｅ　ｎｅａｒｂｙ，　ｗｈｅｒｅ　ｔｈｅ　ＷＷＯＯＦｅｒｓ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｆａｒｍ　ｓｔａｙ　ｔｏｏ．　Ｏｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｂｉｋｅ　ｉｓ　ａ　ｆｌａｇ　ｐｒｏｍｏｔｉｎｇ　ｎｏｎ－ｖｉｏｌｅｎｃｅ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｗｏｒｌｄ　ｕｎｄｅｒ　’Ｈｏｐｅ　Ｇａｒｄｅｎ’．

ShiTiPing * the young man who greeted and waved to me, brought me to meet my fellow Singaporean traveller

Janelle, the Singaporean lady who i WWOOFing in this farm. She is one brave and inspiring woman, cycling on her bike alone, in Taiwan spreading the message of non-violence