Spontaneous Afternoon at Tamsui

Last 2018, me and my sister Ate Judy went to Taipei in Taiwan. We were there for four days and during our third day, we decided to split up with our own itineraries. We were so excited and a little bit nervous too because it will be my sister's first time to travel alone, so I was quite nervous for her but also excited so she can experience how it is. She decided to took up the high-speed train south all the way to Taichung, a city in the south. I on the other hand really wanted to go up Yangmingshan Mountain and around the trail leisurely and hopefully catch some Autumn leaves which I have always wanted (and which I did not catch, sadly, since they all have fallen of already).

Selfie with Canadian Missionary Dr. George Leslie Mackay

I had an awesome time and I got back to our apartment just after lunch time. I rested for a couple of hours and decided that since it's still early, I'll ride the train going to another city in the north, Tamsui. the journey to Tamsui from Taipei took two metro train rides which were not so long, around 30 minutes in total. Tamsui is situated at the northwestern tip of the island of Taiwan so the views were nice on the way there. I alighted the train and the first thing I noticed was the Spanish inspired design of the station.

Brick train station of Tamsui

Okay I hope you don't get fed up with my selfies, I was alone that time haha but there you have behind me was the train station. It is symbolic since Tamsui was once a fort by the Spaniard during the area of colonialism which also colonized my islands for 333 years that's is why it looks very familiar to me.

The first thing I visited was the Catholic church so I can say a prayer and make a wish. For us Filipino Catholics, we have this tradition that whenever we visit a church for the first time, we can say a prayer and make a wish and it will come true, okay that's not in the bible I know.

Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church

I spent a good few minutes resting from my uphill walk and said my prayers before leaving. It was very quiet and empty but it was open so I decided to go inside and lit a candle at the candle station just outside.

I then went down to continue my leisurely walk downtown. Downtown Tamsui was packed with people and tourists enjoying the perfect cool weather of Taiwanese November. I was looking around from shops, to restaurants, to street hawkers selling their delicacies and pastries and at a small junction, there was this statue.

Dr. George Leslie Mackay

Dr. George Leslie Mackay was a Canadian missionary who devoted his life for the objective of making the lives of the native Taiwanese better. He was a Presbyterian missionary that founded a number of hospitals and colleges all across Taiwan. This statue is a commemoration of his life and his works for the love of the Taiwanese people.

Following where the people went, it led me to a Presbyterian church standing on top of a hill just downtown along the shops. It was beautiful and humble and that day there were a lot of people. I was so curious as to why they were a lot of people when it was not a church day. But before I decided to check the happenings, I asked a kind lady to take a photo of me in front of the church.

Tamsui Presbyterian Church

See the people behind me, it really got me curious so I thought maybe I can check it out since it's still a bit early. So nosey me got into the church and I saw this people lining up on a queue going to the front of the church where there's a guy that seems to be a celebrity taking a photo with the people. I just found out that he was a famous baseball player in Taiwan. 

Baseball is a famous sport in some East Asian countries including Japan and South Korea. The organizers there were greeting me and motioning me to the side of the church. At first I thought they were showing me the exit but then I realize they led me to the end of the queue!

It's kinda funny because I had no plans of queueing up I was just stuck with the crown inside and had no chance because if I leave the line, I would have to excuse myself with the people behind me and people might think I'm disrespecting the athlete so I just went in and had a photo with him. 

A photograph with Brothers Baseball Club's Choi Szu Chi

I did not know him at all before this because I am not a sporty person but I was happy that day because he was a very cool guy and was even surprised when I shook his hand and told him I'm from the Philippines. After a few photos, I thanked him and again another organizer stopped me and gave me this pentagon frame with a signature which I reckon was Mr. Choi's. I still have that autograph with me to this day, an unforgettable souvenir.

Mr. Choi Szu-chi of the Brothers Baseball Club

After that, it was starting to get dark, I did a phone call with my sister and she was still in Taichung. I told her that I'll go ahead and board the train back to Taipei where I'll be looking for a church so I can hear Mass since she's still hours away.

We'll just never know what's in a place and what surprises are in store for us especially on spontaneous side trips like the one I did! I wanted to try some of the cakes and sweets that I saw but I kinda miss my sister so I just did not since she was there and we'll just have something nice for dinner when she arrives back.

Never Stop Spontaneous Side-trips!

Stevenson