The seventh Stop, Guanyin Cave

Uncertainty stronger faith, I thought. Imagine locals’ lives in Green Island—poor agriculture cannot support family so fishing out in dangerous sea was only option. But when the mist shrouded the island or it was in heavy rain, how could they found way to home without modern equipment? Guanyin, one of vital goodness in Taiwan, mysteriously radiated out lights directing fishermen way back. With thanks and several years searching, blessed fishermen discovered stalagmite shaping like Guanyin in the cave I visited.

苦難中產生忠誠信仰，尤其綠島以漁為生的世界。

According to locals, “Guanyin Cave is one of vital religious centers” (meaning there are another deities they worship to in 16-meters-square island). Whenever they went out for fishing or study at nearby Taitung, they came here for blessings and protection. Sometimes, Guanyin will answer their prayers and offer a piece of limestone. Just a knock, here is your amulet.

因為多次海上紅光指引，漁人順利通過嚴厲天氣考驗回到家裡；歡喜感謝之餘，尋得紅光來自石觀音，故建廟感謝至今。

It was like a small garden to me. After a few minute walk from entrance there set Guayin temple. Looking carefully, I pictured an image of face with the stalagmite in my mind. Well, those fishermen discovering this cave did get inspiration from Guanyin, I thought. Praying to her for safety in my journey, I started to observed this cave-- humidity with drifts running slowly, nature abstract artworks performed in gray, brown and black and smells mixed with steam and burning incenses. Limestone formation features weird but intriguing shapes. However, most tourists rush to take a look of Guanyin and then left, leaving limestone shows setting along fences to me.

東瞧西看換位子，終於看到觀音的面像，一切請多保佑。周遭有沒人欣賞卻挺有趣的石灰岩地形，晃晃在石灰岩花園裡，大自然又給我上了一課。

The eighth Stop, Nioutou Hill

The entrance was without signboard showing “Want to go Nioutou Hill? Go inside!” So my hint is follow the trail, not main road with mark, down to Green Island Culture Park and pay attention to a big wall with square hole in and several fences at your right. Good Luck!

很開心，找到自己最喜歡的草原了！寬闊如靜止的綠色波浪，各小山坡讓我爬爬看海岸線；白鷺鷥和山羊和平共處，LUCY很想加入；坐著，看浪拍礁石，看點點漁船划過藍藍太平洋，看白雲湧出地平線，聽著海風波濤，靜靜的好幸福。

Here I discovered my favorite pasture in whole island.

Grazing goats dotted on spacious undulating pasture shaping like back and head of good cow. The peaceful Pacific Ocean embraced this cow in 270 degrees with several rocks at front as protectors. I daze here with beautiful shoreline stretching in curves decorated with rugged emerald beaches caressed by azure waves, milk white sandy path, and lighthouse at far. Fascinated by greenish blue seawater, I listened symphonies of waves—stirred by winds, crashed into firmed rock and then broken into white foams, forming series of pretty whirls. Some fishing boats sailed through sparkling ocean, drawing white lines in sapphire canvas. Gulls flied through crystal azure sky and giant clouds slowly rose from horizons.

I could sing like Maria in The Sound of Music.

The Ninth Stop, Lighthouse

最後一站，燈塔。

It is not the symbol of friendship, Green Island Lighthouse but its surroundings attracted me. First, Sunset! If Jhaorih Hot Spring is ideal for sunrise, the opposite spot, Lighthouse, conjures up image of splendid sunset sceneries. It got some luck to see it. Sadly, we didn’t but others did. Secondly, secret ponds. Actually, that is not secret anymore but difference lies in swimming suits and courage. Smart tourists will have swimming suits on ahead of visiting lighthouse. What’s more, most Taiwanese are afraid of being drowned in unknown pool. I found they just touched the seawater, looked around for a while and left beautiful swimming pool to me. YA~~~

燈塔有什麼看頭？夕陽與秘密天然游泳池，就值得跑一趟。

Plus, locals promised me it is a safe pool for grown-ups like me to swim in.

The height of water was around 0.3 to 1.5 meters, I guess. I just swam around edge around beach, feeling extremely free in nature for the first time in my life. Crystal warm seawater gently massaged my body. Stretching my arms and legs, I embraced this world. I though towering lighthouse, the azure, cotton-like clouds and melodies of ocean all will agree with me.

曾趁一大清早自己去游泳，一句話：第一次將自己融入於大自然天地之間。