Thursday, January 9, 2014

Taiwan's Love

Taken at Taroko Gorge

 Holiday has been beautiful, extremely beautiful. 
As much as it was only a month long semester break, it was a productive and inspiring one. Even before the last submission, my family and I left for the perfect (A.C) weather in Hong Kong. It was good wandering back and forth streets from day to night, stopping by small dessert shops for a drink and a snack or two only because our feet were begging for a break. All we really do in Hong Kong was basically eat and shop. Even when we were in ocean park or victoria peak, we snacked from the hair raiser roller coaster ride to the crazy galleon, from watching couples do their wedding shoots to admiring the sparkling skyscrapers. 

But the eating was only a warm up for the Taiwan trip.
You see, the family prefers Taiwan cuisine to Hong Kong's. We like almost everything that was along the street market including the smelly tofu. In fact, that is my favorite Taiwan dish. It's almost like, four squares of smelly tofu for everyday keeps the doctor (and everyone) away. Similar. We ate from day to night, starting the day with the best oyster noodles(蚵仔麵線) hidden in a corner near Taipei 101, and ending the night with a bowl of hot dessert. Of course, along our way while traveling, sightseeing and visiting, we saw food carts which we always stopped to do something we consider as "tasting" before we continued. I mean, don't you agree that mountains are greener and skies are more blue with a snack in the hand. Double happiness!
Taken at the (unknown) Lake

Definitely the trip was not only about eating throughout the day. 
It was about the wonders of the Greatest's creations and blessings which were showered on us through the locals. The other half of the trip was spent in Hualien and there we received so much love, care and knowledge about the tribes and cultures there. At the home which we stayed by the pacific ocean was almost perfect. The host and staffs treated us as though their own family and it felt more sincere and homely than ever in another country. We had steamboat and fellowship when they shared with us about the history and culture of their tribes. The Truku tribe(太魯閣族) reminded me of the Maoris where facial tattooing is/was an important cultural practice. However, both differs in the significance and design of the tattoos. To the Truku tribe it symbolizes adulthood, eligibility for marriage and is a pass for them to join the ancestral spirits after death. Whereas, the tattoos on the Maori tells the story of the wearer's family and tribal affiliations, and their social status.

These cultures never bore me and i guess it is what intrigues me most about traveling. 
Till May,
xoxo
p.s. Thank You, Dad & Mom<3




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