YinJ's travelling note!

I have to say I was really lucky to have the chance to work for Taiwanlook in 2008 and 2009 summers. The OCAC (Overseas Compatriate Affairs Commission) trips in these two years shared a very important part of my summer vacations. I am grateful that I got to travel around Taiwan, especially we went to many places that most tourists wouldn't go, and that I got to know a bunch of wonderful friends.

It might be cliche to bring this up again now. But I never wrote anything about the trips before because there were too many things for me to write them all down. But few days ago when I was reorganizing the photos, they reminded me of some incredible moments and experiences. Then I decide to put down something about the amazing trips before I get too old to remember them all.

So here is the start...

my team member of 2008, Even took us to Elephant Mountain on the first day of the activity - it was my first time to visit this wonderful hill. It's such a good place for night view. And it only takes less than 30 minutes of bus to get there from my home. After that I go there and introduce it to my friends very often.


Then I had the chance to visit government organizations like OCAC, Office of the President, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Council for Culture Affairs, Tourism Bureau, a nd Legislative Yuan.


For the first time, I went to river tracing.... It was really really really exciting that I think it was one of the highlight of the trip in both years. I enjoyed diving a lot! Although I almost chickened out when I did the 6-7 meters diving, but I finally did it and it was awesome! We had a blast!!


This year, when we almost finished the river tracing course and on our way back to the bus. I walked and talked to S-wei at the same time. Wasn't pay attention to the big rock behind me, I hit the rock and fell down. At first I felt the pain but I didn't know it would be such a big wound so I just kept going. But when the pressure on my leg was released when I took off the diving suit, I saw a would of 2.5 centimeters long, 1 centimeter deep. I was then sent to the emergency room in a nearby hospital and got three stitches. That was really an unforgettable memory.


And since it was not a "normal" trip, we had the chance to make something ourselves. We went to Luoshan and make Tofu with volcano water. Fortunately I couldn't find a photo of me using stone mill. Making rice dumpling was really hard but interesting! We also got to make fan. That was my first time making all those things.


During the bus tour, we enjoyed the beautiful scenes a lot. Taiwan has high mountains, beautiful sea, and all kinds of beautiful views all on this small island.


There were interesting moments like a pig fell in love with Kevin or I accidentally got on TV when John and Jerry were interviewed at the time we visited Keelung for the opening ritual of ghost month of last year. (I appeared in the background between John and Jerry )


or like Ben, Adam, and I pulled William up from the breathtaking Chingsui Cliff.


There were touching moments, like last year we visited the 921 earthquake memorial center. We watched a documentary about the earthquake. After that, we chatted with the director on the sports field of an elementary school. Although those kids didn't experience or even heard of the earthquake before, I could see them really cared about their motherland and that they felt sad for the people suffering from the disaster. I still remember the moment that everybody sat on the ground and quietly listened to the director...


There were really exciting moments, like last year the whole group went to see baseball game of Chinese Professional Baseball League. Most of us didn't actually watch CPBL games before that. But we chose the team we wanted to support and shouted with their fans!! That was so much fun!! (Look at Ben's personal cheerleader!!!!!!!!!)



During the trip, we were fed really really well! This year I gained two KG in only two weeks! We had hotel breakfast every morning. And for lunch and dinner, we had spicy hot pot, great aboriginal food, Hangzou cuisine, etc. There were too many to mention!!


But one thing worth mentioning is that when I took my member of this year to Longshan Temple, we had snake at the nearby night market. Besides fried snake and snake soup, the most horrible part is these small glasses of wine made of some part of snake.......


Other than great food, we stayed at different great hotels every nite. Some hotels were luxurious that one of them even had great hot spring. Some of them were located in the beautiful mountains that I woke up at 5 in the morning just to see the amazing morning views.


Last but not least, people. In 2008, I was closer with those boys. Now I am still in touch with Jerry, John UK, John Princeton, Will, William in NZ, and Ben. In 2009, I had a blast with Angela, S-wei, Daphne, Joanna, and other cute girls.


Sometimes we had the chance to meet famous people like Ms. Fang-Yi Hsu, an internationally renowned dancer.


Also, I had wonderful time working with my dear old friend, Weifu.


Now, here comes the post-trip trips! This year, Tim stayed in Taiwan for two more months after the OCAC trip. Being a good tourist guide, I was more than happy to show him the beauty of Taiwan. And I also enjoyed all those post-trip trips very very much!
In the middle of September, Tim joined our Turtle Island trip. I enjoy the sea, the beach, the time spending with friends, and the atmosphere so much!!

Tim's article about turtle island.

In the end of September before Tim getting back to UK, he visited my hometown Taitung. I took him to my favorite spots like the Mountain of 60 Stones (六十石山). Although the petals of tiger lily (or gold needle, if directly translated) were almost fallen. It was still beautiful up there.


In Taitung, I also did my first 9-hour bicycle ride!!!!!!! I don't think I'd ever do that if it wasn't Tim visiting me. It was very very tiring but it's worthwhile to ride all the way through Taitung forest park and then up to a small mountain. I still remember how wonderful the weather was on that day.

Tim's article about his Taitung trip.

I am happy that Tim stayed longer. Otherwise I don't think we would ever become friends! It's nice to have you here Tim!


Next year, Taiwanlook shouldn't be able to join the tendering of this case. I am lucky that I got to join these two trips. I do think this is a meaningful activity.

At least for me, it's really meaningful. =)