July 5, 2021

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

22 comments:

  1. Wondeful photos and what a great time you must have had. I must admit I don't know him either! I don't follow baseball - I did in the 90s when they aired the American game here in Scotland.

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    1. Dear Ananka! Oh even here in the Philippines, we don't have a baseball league. Though it's pretty popular in the younger kids in the provinces.

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  2. Side trips are the best because you never know what you will see and find. Sounds like you had a great adventure. Enjoy your evening, Stevenson.

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    1. Oh it was an amazing trip Bill, thank you so much! I really hope to do it again someday because I haven't seen a lot more of Tamsui.

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  3. Boa noite meu querido amigo. Já passei quando viajei várias vezes sozinho. Espero que um dia você venha ao Brasil. Grande abraço do seu amigo brasileiro.

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    1. Muito obrigado meu amigo Luiz! Grande abraço do Filipinas :)

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  4. Me gusto conocer el paseo espontaneo parece que fue agradable y esa parte de la cuidad. Te mando un beso

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    1. Muchas gracias mi amigo J.P. Alexander! Feliz nueva semana!

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  5. You really know how to fill a day with interesting explorations. Our Irish ancestors passed down the same superstition about making a wish when first visiting a new church.

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    1. Thank you very much brother Kenneth! That is very true, I think it might be a Catholic thing :)

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  6. We have taken road trips without much advance planning, Stevenson, and agree that these have often been the best ones. You certainly had quite a day on your solo outing especially with that quite unexpected meet-up. Hope your sister's day was just as much fun!

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    1. It was a great day for her as well, thank you so much Beatrice :) I really wish to do a spontaneous trip again one of these days when everything lays low again hopefully soon :)

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  7. That sounds like a most enjoyable, but unexpected day with plenty of interest in it :)
    Stay safe
    Blessings
    Maxine

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    1. Thank you so much dearest Maxine! It was an unforgettable trip even if it was really a short one :)

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  8. I find it fascinating to hear about and see your travels.
    (Especially since I've been housebound since 2004--lol!)
    Glad we connected. :)

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    1. Oh that makes me so happy Rita! Thank you very much and I hope to see you often as I visit you often too :)

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  9. I sometimes like exploring on my own. No need to be quick when wanting to take a pic so we all can move on - go where YOU like and not just "swim" along.

    Lille Bro! Smile for your pics!

    I like the wish-making idea a lot, hope yours did come true!

    A baseball player taking pictures in a church?! I always learn new things! LOL, showing you the exit would have been some mean thing, LOL! And that in church! Oh, you have me laughing here, a not-planned queue-stay - but finally a smile :-)
    Great souvenier, too, if just for the memory and not the game itself.
    (To me that´s a very boring sport and it´s not popular in Germany, but it is featured at The Simpsons often... also as it being boring!)

    Thank you for sharing this wonderful, funny, exciting day, hugs from "Cuba", which by funny coincidence I had today. We must be related....

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    1. Oh that is so sweet of you big Sis!!! Thank you so much! I really really have to do more smiling on my pictures, I feel so discouraged with my smiling face, I don't really like it even if I am a person who smiles a lot hahaha.

      That is quite funny too at first to see an autograph fan meeting on a church for me haha I can;t stop laughing about showing the exit being a mean thing, I totally understand what you mean Iris hahahaha

      Looooved Cuba so so much! Thank you for taking me there!!!

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  10. These places look so exotic to me only because they are so far away from New Hampshire. It looks like a great visit and how good your sister traveled alone. I remember the first time I did that and I remember being a little nervous too. Thanks for sharing these photos. Hugs-Erika

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    1. Thank you so much dear Erika! I was a bit nervous too on the inside but at the moment, OMG I would do it again in a heartbeat :)

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