If you’re always racing to the next moment, what happens to the one you’re in?
- Nanette Matthews
I have been looking forward to this trip for some time and the rest and relaxation was much needed. A day before Easter, my mom had a seizure and ended up in the hospital. She hadn’t been herself and it's a difficult thing to watch when you're on the other side of the world. When family members suffer, you feel helpless. All I can do is send prayers her way and hope she can find some clarity in the situation.
Traveling in Taiwan can at times make me nervous. I have no problem doing it in the States, but when you don't know the language it can be difficult. I was able to connect with this great guy Raymond and his wife Sheila. Ray is from the states and moved to Xiaoliuqiu to start a free diving company. The couple arranged my whole trip and made things so easy. You can check them out at (?)
Xiaoliuqiu or Lambai Island is a tiny coral island off the coast of Kaohsiung. It's known for its breathtaking scenery, warm tropical waters, laid-back vibes, temples and it's amazing sea turtles.
Once settling into my hotel, I walked down to the beach, putting my feet in the water. The ocean was so clear and beautiful. I closed my eyes and tuned into the sounds of the ocean. Sitting there for a while, I let the sun hit my face while clearing my mind. Something told me to open my eyes. As I did, I saw this huge sea turtle swimming towards my feet. The creature glided in the water with ease and grace, taking its time to chew on the algae on the rocks near my feet. I felt so blessed to be that close to such an amazing animal. It is forbidden to touch them or else you get a big fine.
I was surprised to meet many people who spoke English on the island. I was worried that I may have some problems with communication but I met many kind people here. One of them was a young man named Sean who took me kayaking and sailing. He went to school in the states and enjoyed American sports so we had much to talk about.
After I told him I was a professor, we had a great discussion and he shared with me the struggles that younger Taiwanese people go through. I thanked him for giving me a different perspective on my students. After not kayaking for two years, it was so fulfilling to be out in the open ocean. I couldn't believe how clear the water was, seeing straight to the bottom in at least 20 feet deep of water.
Due to the island being so small, you either had to rent a scooter or a bike to get around. I rented an e-bike and every morning it was an adventure getting to my activity for the day. I'm usually very good with directions, but on this island I either would take the wrong turn or run into construction so I couldn't continue.
One day, I barely made it to my favorite activity, snorkeling. LOL. I arrived a little late in the instructor took me to the location on his scooter. Many Taiwanese people have a fear of the water, which I don't understand because you live on an island. They have these floaties that we used when snorkeling to hold onto. The instructor took us out into the coral the landscape reminded me of mountains in the ocean. There were so many beautiful sights to look at.
The tropical fish with their bright colors stood out in the sea of aquamarine. Many sea turtles were taking a leisurely nap. Towards the end of our swim, they woke up and began to glide past us’, all different sizes and colors with many different patterns on their shells.
Every night on the island, I would watch the sunset and meditate as the stars shine bright. Rest, relaxation and fresh air also gives you the best night sleep. On my final day, a woman I met snorkeling offered to take me into town to show me around.
Her name is Isabella and she's from Taiwan but has traveled in Europe and knows English pretty well. She brought me to get shaved ice, which was amazing and also showed me where to get souvenirs. We talked about her job as an English teacher to Aboriginal students in Nantou. She explained the Aboriginal cultures that are in Taiwan and some of the history of the various tribes.
I was impressed by the kindness of strangers here and how they took their time to help in any way that they could. The pace of life here is slower than the city so maybe people have more patience. All I know is that it was the break I needed to reset my body, mind, and spirit. Now back to reality!
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