A Lesson from a Butterfly

Lately, I've been taking the same walk everyday.

Along the creek

Up the steps

Past the tree where I like to perch

To the shrine

Yesterday I was going through the same motions of walking past these now-familiar landmarks, until suddenly a butterfly fluttered across my path and perched on a blooming flower before me.

And with out saying a word this butterfly shattered my paradigm that anything could stay the same even from one moment to the next. I realized that I this walk was unique from the one I took the day before. Though I had almost overlooked it, my surroundings and I were both different from the day before. With each flap of its paper-thin wings it proclaimed:

Nothing remains constant

From moment

to moment

to moment

Elements collide

You breathe in

You breathe out

The world pulses

When you observe tiny changes

that occur from moment

to moment

within and around you

Then when something dramatic shifts,

your fresh eyes and new heart,

are more prepared to understand and accept

that nothing could have ever remained constant

And then it was gone, to visit another flower, never knowing that it had changed my world.

May many butterflies cross your path. Perhaps one as beautiful as this peacock-patterned butterfly who I came across in Taiwan.

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Taiwan: Something for the Whole Family

For my family. Wish you were here in Taiwan with us. I'm sure you'd love it!

For my Mom, who shares my love for hot springs and massages. Of all the hot springs that bubble up in Taiwan, perhaps you would love the one tucked away in Jhihben most. The water flows into a huge pool that is outfitted with massage jets in dozens of individual stalls. So you can float through the naturally warm water to massage your feet, your lower back, your neck, and so on... so relaxing.

For my Dad, who has an adventurous spirit and an impeccable sense of direction, I'm sure you would love winding your way through all of the nature trails that go over the mountains and through the woods… where they end, nobody knows.

Maria, my sister, the dog lover. You would meet many of your 4-legged companions in Taiwan.

They roam the streets, sun bathe near monuments, and pass out in parks.

And really lucky ones, like Willow, have homes where they get to curl up under the kitchen table.


Nick, my brother, an engineer with an artistic bent, you would love to get your hands on some of this driftwood that has washed up on the coast. I'm sure you'd find all sorts of use for it.

And when you were done with that project, perhaps you would like to make a little side business by selling plastic bead keychains at the night market :).

And last but not least, for Nathan, my youngest brother who has an infinite appreciation for bathroom humor, I'm sure you would get the greatest kick out of riding the Diing Dong Bus.

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Love is What Makes this World Beautiful

While in Hualien, Taiwan, Danny and I went for a visit to a the Tzu Chi Buddhist Foundation. I really didn't know much about it before going... just what I read on the Taiwanese Secrets travel site - there's a beautiful roof and free lunch. Free lunch!? I'm there.


It turned out to be an incredible organization founded by a Taiwanese nun in the 1960's - that has expanded from an initial local effort of running free clinics, to building a national network of hospitals and schools, to doing international relief work in times of crisis.

I was especially interested to hear about their relief work in Japan since the tsunami, (which includes preparing and delivering hot meals to the people who lost their homes), since I have been looking for a venue to volunteer once we return to Japan.

We missed the free lunch which was a slight bummer, but were recommended to try out the food at the Tzu Chi Hospital next door. I don't usually go to hospital cafeterias expecting much, so you can imagine my delight when we were served this miso hot pot (below). So fresh, nourishing and delicious!

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Street Eats in Taiwan

Dumplings hot off the griddle. At just 30 cents a piece, a delicious daily staple of Taiwanese streets (Jingmei Night Market, Taipei)

Grilled pumpkin with drizzled honey (Wulai)

I Love Inari: Fried Tofu Pouches usually stuffed with Sweet Sushi Rice. This vendor did something a little different and stuffed some with sweet red beans which was equally as delicious! (Jingmei Night Market, Taipei)

Florence and Danny about to indulge in some candied fruit skewers: strawberries, loquats, and cherry tomatoes (Lehua Night Market, Taipei)

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