Taiwan!

I just want to take a quick second to express my feelings for what might be the coolest friendliest country, Taiwan. Every single time I find myself in this country I'm dazzled by the people I encounter.

This time, I booked a flight with Tiger Air from Singapore to Tokyo, with a layover in Taipei. Unexpectedly, thunderstorms rocked Singapore before take-off, and we were about 2 hours late getting off the ground. I expressed my worry to one of the flight attendants, and she was genuinely concerned whether or not I'd make the connection. Halfway through the 4 1/2 hour flight, she asked me if I wanted to move up to the front row so I'd be the first getting off the plane. At that point, I thought that, damn, I had really troubled her unneccessarily, and I thanked her profusely, but I told her I was sure it would be fine. Getting off the plane and realizing that the walk to transfer was a lot longer than I'd expected, I started feeling like, "Shoot, I might actually miss my flight. . . " and as I have an appointment with the apartment rental company in Tokyo to get my keys tomorrow. . . But in these situations, I always feel it's best to play it cool. I saw the long queue at the transfer counter and took my place. There was an elderly clerk standing near me, and not sure if I were in the right line, I asked him which line I should be in. "Your flight's in the morning?" he asked. "No, tonight," I said casually. "At 11." Immediately, he directed me to come with him over to another counter where he explained the situation to some young colleagues--- they looked confused and a bit resigned -- and this guy who was probably about 70, with a great sense of urgency but without the slightest trace of annoyance, went behind the counter and took over at the computer for the younger folks and printed out my boarding pass for me. I couldn't believe it. I was so humbled and grateful. 

And on the way to the gate, starving, I even had time to pick up a little something. . . . 

smoked tofu!

no wifi, but the best connection

I just spent four days getting reacquainted with real life on Nipah Beach--- a unique little part of Tioman island in Malaysia.

 There is no cell service or wifi anywhere on Nipah, and at first, it was so strange to be totally disconnected from everyone and everything. Truly though, I had been longing to get away from the commercial and material world. Living in Singapore, though it has its good points, has weighed heavily on me with it's need for speed and drive to get more things. And, I will be leaving Singapore very soon in fact--- but before I return to Japan, I wanted to come once again to Tioman-- the place that is perhaps the origin of my love for all that is Malaysian.

Being at Nipah was a 'trip' in all senses of the word. I spent three of the four days going on adventures --everything way out of my comfort zone-- jungle trekking that was beyond any sort of trekking I've ever done-- ocean swimming for a mile against the current to get out to a particular spot that was good for snorkeling-- where I saw three big sharks and a stingray-- and then, the following day, snorkeling in the middle of a formidable tempest (which was super interesting-- all was calm underwater, while above the surface was like something out of the movie 

"A Perfect Storm". 

I remembered what it is to be really brave and that I am capable of more than I think I am. But more than that, I felt a connection to the natural world that I'd forgotten about--- I can't speak for other human beings, but for me, that connection is necessary to fully experience life.

And (with the exception of missing people I talk to regularly) I didn't miss the internet one bit!