First 3 Days

After separating from Michelle and officially starting my solo trip, I started helping out in exchange for accommodation at Bayhouse Comfortel in Hualien.

It's been a fascinating experience so far. Really a chance to start fresh and socialise with other travellers, listen to their stories and exchange cultures and ideas.

The first night, Fiona, the other helper at Bayhouse who's a Taiwanese studying in Sydney, invited us to the other hostel that her friend Wesley was at, they were gonna jam. So together with my host Ah Qian and Cindy, a guest whom I got close to, we headed over at night. Their hostel was more crowded and really happening. So we chatted about things, trying to guess where each other was from. Then when the band was finally ready, all of us crowded around the dining table and just listened and sang along to the words we know. Manz, one of those memories I'll keep close to heart.

The next day was officially my first day of work so Ah Qian taught me how to fold bed sheets and change pillow casing. Was super amazed by her speed and efficiency! Pro. Then while I was changing bedsheets halfway, this celebrity (Sun Qi Jun?) suddenly came in and was doing some live feed. So was caught in my unglamness >.< you must be thinking wtf? So random? But I swear it's true. They were using our hostel as set for some Taiwanese program.

Had a tiring day so decided to be chill and catch a movie, Collateral Beauty, with Cindy. Headed back and had a very heartfelt and warm beer session with the whole group of them :)

There was also a Japanese grandpa who was very keen to share about his experiences, talk about historical events and even taught us how to fold butterfly origami. He seemed like a well travelled and knowledgable man who used to be a journalist in the States.

I'm having abit of dilemma about these kind of interactions though. At some point it feels enriching, but when people you feel connected to have to move on and leave, there's this feeling. Like. You're really happy to have met them but regretful that this was just a moment in time that may never come by again.

But in any case, I'm embracing and enjoying every moment of it :)

loves,

marilyn