THE CHANGE OF THE GUARD AT C.K.S We missed it the day with our free walking tour as we had to leave a bit earlier. We walked from the campsite to C.K.S memorial hall (8km return). Always impressive! LUNGSHANG TEMPLE TOUR AND NIGHT MARKET – 19th FRIDAY The tour started in a former prosperous area in Wahnua, visited the herbal market then went to visit the temple where we were taught how to pray with 3 incenses sticks, how introduce us to the gods, to make wishes, ask a question and finally the bowing. We went quickly to the "Tawainese Red light distric" (prostitution is illegal but this street is tolerated) and ended up at the night market. Lungshan temple It was founded in 1738 and dedicated to the Goddess of Mercy – Guan Yin in Chinese and Avalokitesvara in Sanskrit. Immigrants from China came to Manka (today Wahnua) and erected the same temple. She is the goddess of the marine voyage, fishermen, sailors. It is a Buddhist and Taoit temple where lots of deities (health, love, study etc) were included due to the course of history. The temple was destructed three times: earthquake, typhoons and war. The main shrine was never survived the weathers conditions and the bombing at the end of 1945. Lungshan temple has become a masterpiece, combining fine stones, wood carvings and stone carvings, beige and green granites, 2 bronze columns (the only two in Taiwan) OLD CITY TOUR - 20THSATURDAY After three months, it was time to get a closer approach of the Taiwanese history, reading is one thing and experiencing it with locals is "same same, but different"
HAPPY TAIPEI HOSTEL 21ST SUNDAY We left our campsite after 9 days of survival. We have to admit the first days were not easy but at the end we enjoyed our independence and being outside! It was time to check in to do our laundry, catch up with the blog, to call our family. It is funny how common things like sitting on a chair can become a luxury! The hostel is like a maze two buildings with a connections. What stroke us most in Taiwan is the hostels. The concept of a hostel differs from what we know in Europe, it is based on quality and design. Little things that made the differences, prices can be very cheap: 11€ included breakfast and laundry! PINXI SKY LANTERN FESTIVAL – 22nd MONDAY
SHILING AND TAOYUAN – 23rd Tuesday One day left and we made it! On our last day we explored Chinese history at the palace museum, one of the 5th biggest museum in the world. About 700 000 artefacts, two exhibitions hall and too many people! The palace museum was founded in 1925 in the Forbidden City in Beijing, thus the word “palace” in name. Due to the impending Japanese invasion in 1933, the palace museum moved its collection to Southwest China. In 1948, the civil between the Nationalist government and the Communists intensified, the government sent about 600000 precious objects to Taiwan. It occurred in separate shipments. During 2 hours, we went through one of the biggest Chinese art and culture in the world.
Lantern festival in Taoyuan After a short rest, we headed of to Taoyuan where the lantern festival took place. This year the event is under the theme “the Golden Monkey offering peaches”. 3 hours to get there, what we did not know, we enjoyed the show during 90 minutes although the weather conditions were miserable. It belongs to an unforgettable memory! BYE BYE TAIWAN – 24th FEBIt was time to pack and leave Taiwan after 3 months travelling, volunteering and camping around the island. We arrived 4 hours in advance at the airport… At first it seemed to be a long time but time flew so quickly. Our last hours at the airport could have been easier. After spending our last NT in food and bakery stuff and a last Oolong tea we had time to relax!
But NO! Our CS declined us two hours before boarding, he was expecting us to arrive before 10pm as he was sick and needed to go to work early and we should have taken a taxi - 20 km! He wrote us that it will cost only 4000 Yen (32€)! At the end without notice he turned us down… Once again we had at the last minute to plan a stay in hostel! Then it was time to check in… It came with lots of stress. We were told off as we were not queuing properly in a straight line! A security lady even parked our cart perfectly straight! Then we left our camping gas bottle, the fine is up to 4500€ if you carry them even in checked luggage. I asked the stewardess to be sited at the window, the answer was straightforward: no, ”you can choose your seat!” After checking, our bags were X-rayed. There, people checked and discussed over a mosquito spray during 20 minutes! We could not wait any longer since our boarding time was in 30 minutes! We left it there with travelling book about Japan! Travelling is not easy sometimes, this time we had enough and could have gone home … but where is home???
0 Comments
ZISHAN ECOLOGICAL GARDEN – THURSDAY 11TH FEB
At 5pm, the garden closes but we were staying in this huge and cold building. It was creepy and felt weird. We felt lost, alone and overwhelmed. I was in such a state of mind and Önder felt screw up. We had to adapt but it was a way too much as at night rats came out and explored the room where we slept! The same night we decided to leave. The first morning, the manager of the place did not even ask us anything but just told us: " over there you can get the tools to do some weedings". Well thank you but what about breakfast?! It was 9am and we were supposed to start at 9! We planned to stay 10 days, once again we had to find an alternative just thinking of staying in Taipei 10 days in a hostel was not appealing at all. We had to go through phases to find light at the end of the tunnel! We ran out of ideas: couchsurfing done and checked, helpx and wwoofing done and checked. We had two options left: hostel or camping. XIMEN - FRIDAY 12th FEB
We made up our mind: we will go camping! HUAZHONG RIVERSIDE - CAMPING 13th-21st feb Let´s go camping in the middle of the city! The weather was very good, 27 degrees, sunny and hot! The best conditions to enjoy camping. The very next day the temperatures dropped to 10 degrees. We had a hard time since it was rainy, stormy and humid. We were determined to stay! On the phone we were told 500NT per tent but for backpackers 100NT per night, per person. Hot showers, electricity round the clock. We had 2 neighbours during the week and on the week end about 20 spaces were rented! Finally we enjoyed it even the weather conditions were rough and tough, we did not want to leave but our laundry was waiting! PINGXI – THE LANTERN FESTIVAL on Valentin´s day It marks the begins of the new Lunar New Year. “Tradition has it that the “sky lantern” was invented during the Three Kingdoms period (AD 220-265) by Zhuge Liang. At first it was used to transmit military information, different from beacon towers yet ingeniously serving the same function, and is now generally recognized as the earliest ancestor to the hot air balloon. In the early 19th century the Lantern Festival was brought to Taiwan, where every year, at the beginning of the spring planting season, people would release “sky lanterns” into the air as a prayer for the coming year. Because in olden times marriage was for the purpose of “adding a son” and increasing manpower, people went to the temple to pray for blessings and released sky lanterns on which they had written things like “May a son soon be born.” and “May the harvests be bountiful.” Sky lanterns were released to follow the wind, rising up to the ancestors to report that all was well and to pray for blessings. Slowly this evolved to become a local event for the Yuanxiao Festival in the Pingxi area.” http://eventaiwan.tw/cal_en/cal_19543#left Shuttle buses were organised from Zoo station. Better than that you really can do! One bus was transporting only seated passengers! The ticket return cost 1, 35€! the lantern festival is for free. The lantern will be released every 20 minutes from 6pm and 8. We arrived early enough to get a ticket and waited for our turn about 2 hours. Meanwhile we enjoyed a coffee with biscuits at the convenience store and a walk in the village. It was rainy and cold but it was still a magic moment! BEITOU – HOT SPRINGS AND LIBRARY –MONDAY 15th Over 300 years ago Beitou was not a popular neighbourhood as it is today. It was “the place where trees don’t grow and the earth boils”. The Ketagalan, the aborigines, called it “the home of witches”. The fumes was associated with sorcery! The Japanese saw in Beitou a business potential. During their occupation (1895-1945) they built up a railway line, a station and hot spring inns. Nowadays Beitou is famous for its hot springs and its Japanese architecture, garden, temples. We spend few hours in the library. It is the first eco-friendly library in town. It has been set solar power, a rainwater recycling system and a green oasis on the rooftop. NEAR 101- THE TOWER -ELEPHANT HILL –TUESDAY 16th On the weekend, at the campsite Önder met Tshoba and his girlfriend. He is originally from Hungary and decided to settle down in Taipei. They invited us for a delicious lunch. On the menu, we had a special drink based on ginger, beef soup, beef stew followed with goat cheese and homemade bread and tea/coffee. When we left, they also gave us biscuits, egg rolls and homemade vodka! We spent the afternoon there, they gave us the tips not to go to Taipei 101 but to the elephant hill. A 20 minutes trail, 2 stations away from where they live. It was only 5pm when we get out. We were not much outside in comparison with the previous days, why not going to the hill?! It was worth it taking the time and right after we walked to Taipei 101. It is where businesses are now. On our way to 101, we discovered this magic bus that tells the story of a children´s book written by a Taiwanese: 月亮忘记了 - The Moon Forgets: WANHUA IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD WEDNESDAY 17th That day we prioritised our activities:
We basically stayed in the neighbourhood! CHILLING OUT TOUR – TAIPEI – THURSDAY 18thTour me away is a free walking organisation founded two year ago and locals take you around the city It has three types of free tour. As we were satisfied with the first one, we took them all! :) The theme for the first one was: "Chilling out tour!" From Daan park to the antiques markets passing through previous Japanese houses to end at the CKS Memorial Hall. C.K.S stands for Chiang-Kai-Shek. We discovered Taipei differently! KEELUNG
Before the celebration, people will clean their house and display New Year decoration. On New Year Eve family prepare lots of food, will gather during the celebration, watch shows and have fireworks. At midnight family may go to the temple, make some wishes and pray the ancestors. We had the chance to take part of the Chinese celebration. Ailsa invited us and we stayed 4 days eating delicious food every day cooked by her mother. We had diverse dishes prepared with the Matsu style. Ailsa´s mother is from Matsu Island which is closed to China mainland. Her background had influenced her cooking style! 4 days long: eating and having tea time :)))) During Chinese New Year people took rest and relaxed a lot. We went with Ailsa, her mother and her boyfriend to Starry paradise! A van Gogh painting made of recycled plastic bottles! 4 million of them to make it possible but the blue coloured ones are difficult to get in Taiwan. It was a challenge. This year marks the 125th anniversary of Vincent van Gogh’s death. A starry paradise!
|
We made our way to Taitung, East coast. It should have been easy: buy two train tickets and get on board. We did not take two factors into account: Winter holidays and Chinese New Year. The train we wanted to take was fully booked. There was no direct train left. We went to Kaoshioung first and then to Taitung. It would take two hours longer, we did not have choice. In Kaoshioung we planned and booked the rest of our trip to Keelung to avoid such situations. |
Dulan is actually a tiny village squeezed between the ocean and the mountain with one main street where we could find enough food to camp.
HUALIEN
The first evening we met Idair.
The lady of the campsite we checked in, wanted to rip us off. Prices for individuals were 400NT for 2 600NT and 500NT. On the website it was 200NT per person. We disagreed and left the place at 9:30 pm and found a place to stay at a temple nearby. We got the authorisation to pitch our tents and we could stay even for free. We had just cold water but it was enough to cook some food, tea and to have a quick shower!
The weather was very stormy, the wind was strong. That night on the other side of the island the earth quaked at 3:57- 6.4 magnitude. Önder felt it, I did not.
My parents and a friend sent me messages on Line and Whatsup as they had the news in the evening. In the morning we were not aware of the desaster.
Earthquakes in Taiwan occur all the time.
THANKS PHYLLIS!
It was time to pack again and leave a nice place. We were heading to Yujing about 50 km South of Chiayi. It did not take long to get to our new volunteering place, an organic farm called Ananda Suruci Master Unit. We did not search for more information but we guessed it had something Indian – just by the name! The description of the place and the profile´s job corresponded to what we wanted to do. We applied for it on Helpx. After few email exchanges, Dada Yogandada, our contact person accepted our request and on the day of our arrival he even went to the bus station to pick us up. What a service! |
Ananda Marga in Sanskrit আনন্দ মার্গ
The organisation, which means“ The path of bliss”, was founded in India in 1955 by Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar renamed Shrii Shrii Anandamurti. Ananda Marga is represented in 120 countries. The goal of Ananda Marga is "self-realization and the welfare of all". The philosophy is based on finding the inner fulfilment. It requires to follow a specific diet, yoga postures and meditation. Dadas and didis are respectically monks and nuns in the organisation. Margis are literally “the one who is on the path”, helpers in the group. |
Volunteering
The work schedule is very organised: working hours are from 8 until 11am and 2 to 5pm. Cooking time 11 until 12:30 and 5 to 6:30. Tasks were assigned either you work in a veg or fruit farm, you can help cleaning at the Wellness Center after retreat, do gardening, and there were activities like carpentry, baking, photography and also painting.
Working in the veg farm was basically weeding or sorting out vegs. The fruit farm jobs were diverse: chopping wood, planting fruits or potatoes, cutting branches, fixing up the water pipes, mulching. It was fun!
We were exited when we heart about painting jobs. In matter of fact it was not only 3 days and 5 rooms as mentioned but the first floor, the whole façade of the entire building! 15 days of intensive work!
and I was busy 5 days with photography!
We took care of Tiger and Monkey :)))
What we appreciated is that organisers took into account feedbacks, requests, suggestions and implemented them!
X-mas and New Year eve are not celebrated in Taiwan. As Westerners volunteers we asked for a day off and also to have a "celebration". On Xmas Eve we made a fire camp and we had marshmallow with chocolate and biscuits. It was fun singing Xmas songs with everyone. On New Year Eve we cooked vegan pizzas and a chocolate cake. Olive one of the employee prepared a fire camp and we grilled sugar cane! 5 of us waited patiently until Midnight to wish a HAPPY NEW YEAR and then we went to bed. From far away we could here fireworks but for it meant a good night sleep! |
Retreat yoga and meditation and cosmic consciousness
As volunteers we could take part in a meditation and yoga retreat for three days. It was an opportunity to practice yoga and meditation in a different way. We put in practice the Ananda Marga´s philosophy and attended yoga and meditation classes which include dancing (Lalita Marmika) and singing the Ananda Marga´s mantra (kirtan). “BABA NAM KEVALAM” We had seminars about dadas´ and didis´ diet, fasting and we learnt more about their life style and how to reach cosmic consciousness. It was an interesting experience! |
Afa and visiting Yujing´s region
It was two great days out!
Thanks AFA !
TAINAN - 2 days
Life starts quite late in the morning around 11am but shops remain open until late! The first day we walked around 90 minutes to find a bakery open (Western style).
We spent two days during our days off.
Visiting Confucius Temple
A SUNNY MORNING AT ANANDA MARGA
TAINAN - KENTING & SOUTHEST POINT TAIWAN
We stayed there overnight but we were not motivated at all to head of the South of the island. The weather conditions were so bad: cold and wet weather. We made a move and hit the road and check the Southest point Taiwan...
Most of the Taiwanese will just go one night to the hotel visit the place and leave. Once we even met people wo drove 4 hours, came late at night, just slept at the hotel and went back to the capitale. They did not even enjoyed the sunny weather or anything.
We cancelled camping the first night as the weather was so rainy until Kaoshiung. We booked at the very last minute a room where we half camped. Once there we were told that it rained only 10 minutes that day...
During 4 days we explored the Southest part Taiwan hiking and camping. Where we stayed, beaches are ecologically protected. Any violations will be fined 3000 NT. We enjoyed the wild side of the island, the reef and the warm weather!
Thanks for posing!
How to conclude 5 weeks at Ananda Marga?
BABA NAM KEVALAM
Archives
September 2018
August 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
Categories
All
Albania Butrint
Albania Gjiroskaster
Albania Greece
Albania History
Albania Independance
Albania Saranda
Albania Saranda 1
Albania Saranda 2
Albania Saranda Getting Famous
Albania Saranda Partisan Liberation
Albania Saranda Stones
Bosnia Mostar-bih
Cambodia Phnom Penh 3
Cambodia Phnom Penh 4
Cambodia Phom Penh 5
Cambodia Siam Reap
Cambodia Siem Reap 2
Cambodia SIem Reap 3
Cambodia SIem Reap 4
Cambodia Siem Reap 5
Cambodia Siem Reap Final
Cambodia Siem Reap Nature
Cambodia Siem Reap Nature 2
Cambodia Sihanoukville
Cambodia To Laos
China 1.0
China Beijing
China Fenghuang
China Fuzhou 1
China Fuzhou 1.2
China Fuzhou 1 And 2
China Good Bye Forever
China Gulanyu Xiamen
China Happy New Year
China Jinan
China Jinan 2
China Jinan 3
China Jinan - Önder
China Jinan To Putian
China Keelung New Year 2
Chinal Final Year 1
China Miyajima 1
China Putian 1
China Putian 2 Months
China Putian Campus
China Putian Farewell
China Putian Halloween School
China Putian Hiking
China Putian Life
China Putian Photoshooting
China Putian School
China Putian Thanksgiving
China Putian Xmas Days
China Putian Xmas Ev
China To Europe
China Wuhan Discovery
China Wuhan Discovery 2
China Wuhan Discovery 3
China Wuhan Halloween
China Wuhan Last Days
China Wuhan Tour With Friends Last Days
China Wuhan Vs Xianning
China Xiamen Halloween
China Xi´an
China Xianning Discovery
China Xianning Discovery 2
China Xianning Eat Out
China Xianning Last Days
China Xianning Magnolia
China-xianning-new-year
China Xianning Pizza Time
China Xianning Snow
China Xianning Spring
China Xianning Streets And Culture
China Xmas
China Yujing Tainan
Craotia Slavonski Brod
Croata Bosnia
Croatia Bosnia
Croatia Montenegro
Croatian Vela Luka
Croatia Portina
Croatia Split
Croatia Vela Luka Island
Croatia Vela-luka-potirna
France Beaune
France Dijon Abstract
France Dijon Colmar
France Dijon Snow
France Flavigny
France Lyon
France Sedan
Germany And France 3 Months
Germany Cologne
Greece Athens
Hong Kong 1
Hong Kong 1.2
Hong Kong 2
Hong Kong 3
India Agra
India Agra 2
India And Internet
India Bylakuppe
India Chennai
India Chidderwala Back
India Chidderwala Dragon Fly
India Chidderwala Drops
India Chidderwala Food
India Chidderwala Nature
India Chidderwala Pictures
India Chidderwala Work
India Cochin
India Conclusions
India Delhi 1
India Delhi 2
India Delhi 3
India Delhi 4
India Delhi 5
India Goodbye South India
India Hampi 1
India Hampi 2
India Hampi 3
India Harkiddoon Final
India Harkidoon
India Harkidoon 2
India Harkidoon 3
India Harkidoon 4
India Harkidoon5
India Kambalakkad
India Khopoli
India Kolhapur
India Kolkata
India Madurai
India Malkapur
India Mamallapuram
India Mumbai Beach
India Mumbai Bollywood
India Mumbai Khopoli
India Mumbai Welcome
India Munbai Discovery
India Mysore
India Old Delhi
India Osla Harkidoon 1
India Panpoli
India Pondicherry 1
India Pondicherry 2
India Pondicherry 3
India Rishikesh
India Sapna Ranch
India Sapna Ranch Goodbye
India Sapna Ranch Stars
India Sapna Ranch Work
India Shenali
India Shenali School
India Shimla
India TO Delhi
India TO Varanassi
India Varkala
Italy Roma
Italy Venice Torino
Japan Fuji
Japan Good Bye
Japan Himeji
Japan Kagoshima Kyoto
Japan Kamikawa 1
Japan Kamikawa 2
Japan Kamikawa 3
Japan Kamikawa 4
Japan Kamikawa 5
Japan Kobe
Japan Kurashiki - Nino- Kochi
Japan Kyoto
Japan Kyoto Kobe Kamikawa
Japan Miyajima 2
Japan Miyajima 3
Japan Miyajima Kobe
Japan Okinawa
Japan Okinawa 2
Japan Okinawa Kagoshima
Japan Tokyo 1
Japan Tokyo 2
Japan Uji
Korea Gyeongju
Korea Seoul 1
Korea Seoul 2
Korea Seoul 3
Korea Seoul 4
Korea Seoul 5
Korea Tongyeong
Laos Luang Prabang 1
Laos Luang Prabang 2
Laos Savannakhet
Laos Thakhet
Laos Thakhet Nature
Laos To Luang Prabang
Laos Ventiane 1
Laos Ventiane 2
Laos Ventiane 3
Laos Ventiane 4
Laos Vietnam
Malaysia Batu Ferringhi
Malaysia Indonesia Myanmar
Malaysia Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia Penang 2
Malaysia Penang Georgetown
Philippines 1
Philippines 2
Philippines 3
Philippines Patoyo
Slovenia Ljubljana
Taiwan 3 Months
Taiwan Chiayi
Taiwan East Coast
Taiwan Shibi
Taiwan Taipei
Taiwan Taipei 2
Taiwan Taipei 3
Taiwan Tsaoling Huwei
Thailand Ban Chang
Thailand Bang Chang 2
Thailand BBK
Thailand BBK 2
Thailand Chanthaburi
Turkey Adana
Turkey Adana Abstract
Turkey Adana Welcome
Turkey Ankara
Turkey Ankara Mausoleum
Turkey Ankara University
Turkey Ankara Xmas
Turkey Cappadocia
Turkey Göreme The Pigeon Valley
Turkey India
Turkey Learning Turkish
Vietnam Hanoi
Vietnam Hao Sa 1-1
Vietnam Hao Sa 1-2
Vietnam Hao Sa 1-3
Vietnam Hao Sa 2
Vietnam Hao Sa 3
Vietnam Hao Sa I
Vietnam Saigon
Vietnam TO Saigon
World Tour 18 Months On The Road
World Tour 1 Year + 20 Days
World Tour End Of Chapter 1
World Tour Equipment
World Tour How Many Months
World Tour Photo Contest
World Tour Photo Contest 2