The planet is such a beautiful place. There are so many gorgeous views. I feel lucky I am seeing them. I wonder it should not make me want to protect them. I can see that being a definite outcome.
We think of the earth as having so many people on it, but I'm surprised how often I find myself completely alone with no other humans in sight. Today, at the beach in Doulan, that was not the case, but there were only six other people on this huge stretch of beach and they were so far away from me, I felt alone. It's pouring rain today, but the temperature is warm enough so I don't have to leave the beach. It is a lovely place to contemplate.
I feel like this is the "time of my life" - on so many levels. The most important level being, having taken this time out of my regular life, for myself, and spending this time in a quiet place communing with nature and listening to my thoughts.
Finding those places to take a break from life, quiet, natural, perfect weather places to sit and think. I love this. I definitely want to do more of this in my daily life. I think this is why Victor enjoys fishing so much.
Why are the people of Taiwan so happy? Why do we as tourists perceive them to be so happy? And if they truly are, why? What are they doing differently? Or have they just decided at some point to be happy and now it's part of their culture, an illusion sustained by all. And on the other hand, for that matter, Why are we so serious?
Amazing Vietnamese food for dinner today. The noodle bowl had mint instead of cilantro and the beef was mixed with bean sprouts and some hot pepper and the noodles were cold instead of hot. Delicious! And the lady showed me how to eat the fried rolls as part of a lettuce wrap. Delicious! Been eating those wrong at home all this time. LOL. And the green papaya salad came with mint and was also spicy with a bit of hot pepper. Delicious 2! I know it's Taiwan and not Vietnam, but so happy to finally gave a great meal here. And something familiar. It can be really hit and miss to eat here when you don't have pictures and you interpret the description totally wrong, or even somewhat wrong, and you just get something you don't really want.
There are a LOT of cats and dogs in rural Taiwan. Anyone who may have had the notion that Chinese people eat dogs can rest assured. If this were true, I don't think there would be any dogs, pet or stray, hanging around all over like they do. On the contrary, the Taiwanese are very pet friendly and I've seen them take dogs to restaurants and on the metro. Not many places you can still do that.
Is it possible that they grow palm trees for wood?
They have these amazingly wide riverbeds everywhere. They're just so beautiful, but there's no water in any of them. They're just streams. It must be awesome to see them when they're full.
Went to Luye today on the bus and had a lovely noodle soup at a tiny little place. Then I walked the hill to Longtien and rented a bike and rode around the township. Lovely! I tried to go to the visitors center but it was up in the mountains so I just rode around the flat part of town and saw all the different crops they are growing here. Bananas, pineapples, tea, and a bunch of other things I didn't recognize, Buddha fruit maybe. It was so beautiful and relaxing. No one around, as usual.
Then I took the bus to Chihshang because the hostel guy said they had a famous lunchbox. Unfortunately it was not that great. Five kinds of meat that tasted overcooked, half an egg, a piece of ginger, some cabbage on a bed of rice. Pretty disappointing actually. I got a much better one with chicken at the Taitung train station the next day. So much for fame.
I had a nice dinner at Smile - a local cafe. Dumplings and green onion pancake and hot tea and a juice that tasted like Orange Hawaiian punch. All yum!
It was wonderful to once again eat exactly what I was craving.
Thought I might go to Ludao, an island off the coast of Taiwan, but I talked myself out of it. I decided it was going to be too expensive with the ferry both ways and expensive accommodation and expensive activities. It will be a nice thing I can do when I return to Taiwan for a second visit!! Anyone who's interested, let me know. Taiwan is awesome.
While I was talking myself out of it, my fellow hostel guests, Vincent and Peggy, invited me to share breakfast with them. We had eggs and toast and fried tomato and cilantro (my addition) and basil, and boiled asparagus . A really strange combination, but it was so tasty.
They are so kind and friendly, typical of the Taiwanese people. Then they invited me to this soap shop near by, but it was closed so we went up the mountain to the cafe. It had a beautiful view although the ocean was fogged out. And there was a lovely art installation and a gift shop. I bought some unique bracelets for cheap and we had wonderful hot tea! Though it rained all day, it was a wonderful day hanging out with them. They are from Taipei so I hope to meet up with them again when I return to Taipei next week.
In the late afternoon, I decided to go to Tainan instead of Ludao and we hustled back down the mountain so I would make it to the train station on time. Now I'm on the train and I just booked a hostel for the night. I'm starting to see just how last minute things can get when you travel.
Still loving Taiwan!
