“Sometimes you have to choose between planting roots or growing wings

I considered myself as a quite experienced person at the time I graduated from the University of Economics in Prague, Business administration. During my studies I gained work experience in marketing fields, digital agency and small companies where you can collect opportunities and skills you had never thought about before. Recently I was more interested in making a content, ecological issues and observing society and its behaviour. Quite wide range. I know.

Similar to my peers and classmates I could have focused on deepening my business proficiency in international companies or favourite corporations.

At that time, I did not want to plant my roots in Czech Republic or Slovakia (where I was born). I am too curious, too excited about this Earth altogether and maybe not mature enough to settle down. I am not saying the decision was seamless, not at all, but I was getting insane from that persistent refrain “do what you really want”. With so many opportunities around, it is difficult for some to find something that makes them feel fulfilled, useful and happy.

I needed to cut off all the influences I was affected by to make my mind clear, otherwise it would have simply overwhelmed me. I took the risk, left Prague, came back to my hometown in Slovakia and emptied my head from everything I was fed for the last few years. That was one of my first steps to feel more present, more myself and satisfied with all that I had in that specific moment. In general, there is a phrase that goes like this: Anything you do, there is going to be people who do not agree with you, your decisions, your life. It just depends on how you react to that and I simply didn’t take it personally anymore. Even though I have been traveling a lot all my life, the answer for what I want was: I want to explore, not just in the travelling way, but also get to know how other cultures work and becoming a part of it. I just needed to leave (one more time) and see what the world had to offer. Better said and cliché at the same time, I wanted to find the lost piece of myself.

Anyway, I started searching about the possibilities. I wanted to go somewhere outside EU, work with local people and become an equal partner with them. The field of marketing would remain but I preferred to be a part of the content more than “promoting products”.

I need to admit It took time, determination and a LOT OF PATIENCE (I am still in process of embracing the patience) as everything what is worth in life. Particularly, when you don’t believe in yourself. Well, who does entirely?

But THE day came and a start up company named RTM (redefine tourism mix) in TAIWAN announced me joyful news about me being part of their group in one specific project.

RTM (Redefine tourism marketing), meeting in Tainan

After this long story short about me getting to Taiwan, allow me just jump to that moment when I came here related to my first impressions and what the Project of RTM called Taiwanderland is about.

The project Taiwanderland in RTM

Among the lot of networking and tourism marketing RTM does, Taiwanderland is the project associated with exposing the accomplishments of Taiwanese local communities.

Communities here are defined as not just a group of people living in the same neighbourhood.

Citizens within those communities share their life together, try to live in ecological friendly way and help each other as much as they can.

Usually they are a group of young and determined people who left from big cities back to their villages to make an impact. In other words, those people come back to utilize what is left behind, or just reuse the abandon places in order to renovate it. Local communities try to engage people from outside such as travellers, students or foreigners to show them how they work and what kind of output they produce or provide.

Although each community is located in different counties of Taiwan and provide a different purpose and insight.

My task is going to be visit and live during these following months in three of them, Kaoshiung, Keelung and Changhua as well as help them to expose their know - how and make their tourism itself more english speaking friendly.

Quick two days cross through local communities

Let me refer to some of my first visits to several communities in Chiayi, Tainan and Miaoli with RTM team I was honored by after my quick adaptation in Taipei.

Local community Chun-a-tau, Chiayi 船仔頭社區, 嘉義東石鄉

Chiayi is the city located 3 hours from Taipei by car. While other colleagues were going to café to catch up with their work schedule, Daniel (CEO of RTM company) and I, got off from the car and the large surroundings of plantation could have not stayed without noticing.

Warm welcoming was obvious from the fist moment. Local owners and farmers explained to us that what used to be a farm several years ago is now transformed to foundation Chun-a-tau. This park is known as the place where you can steam a chicken in unique tool based on steaming process as well as collecting the crops, fruits and vegetable from the yard and lay down it straight forward to the table.

The major planted crop is green bean. The loads of oyster shells were used to be plant in the ocean at the coast are nowadays natural decorations.

From farm to table activities we smoothly moved to another activity they provide. I assumed the activity would be rafting or canoeing as I could see a bunch of lifejackets.

Wrong. The competition of boats with heads of dragons is popular here. The main director sits beside the dragon head and as he is drumming and commanding the steersmen paddle in rhythm. The person in the back keeps the boat in the right direction. After watching a promo video of their foundation and eating a small juicy snack, we put the typical hats on our heads and went for a small bicycle ride tour around the Chun-a-tau along its clear river Putsu.

Authentic houses from three parts forming the square served for three generation of family and the created courtyard met the function as a coop of livestock.

The host showed us Air BnB apartments that are located in this area and you could observe the position of beds is always higher than the ground itself. Mattresses lay on wood floor similar to what occurs in Japanese style. Therefore, it seemed to be cozy and comfortable at the same time.

You can read about this earliest park transformed from farm in local school Taiwanese textbooks for primary school.

This fact just emphasises what the local community Chun-a-tau have already accomplished and why tourists like to come back.

Local community Ark Fish Park, Aogu Wetland 方舟休閒魚塭鰲鼓溼地

After our seafood lunch we were taken for in local proclaimed restaurant nearby the park in Taichung we moved to the second location called Ark Fish Park in Aogu Wetland. This was as well in Chiayi area.

As soon as I came into the object I saw interesting promenade which formed square with inside pool and something what seems as a fountain coming above the surface at laid down frequency. One part of this promenade included karaoke stage as I found out Taiwanese love karaoke every time and everywhere.

We met a friendly and always laughing girl who is working in this area. Her name sounded as Shrimp, so when she introduced herself she started to laugh right away on herself. She was excited to show us this place and we started with walking around the pool. Meanwhile I learned this estimated fountain was made from reused pipes and its crucial function is to filter the water in the pool to maintain the environment for fish living inside sustainable. On the promenade low tables are placed with typical metal kettles in the middle. So basically it serves for barbecues with listening to karaoke in background. :)

Same as in the previous community you could do some activities. We got onto a boat. In a few minutes they handed me a trap and showed me how to catch a planted seaweed. Afterwards, we could take it with us for reasonable reward.

Next fun. Clamming in other close pool used for planting clams. Despite the others, I have not got anything, just the pinch from crab’s pincers. And the empty clam. Lucky girl.

“Shrimp” hosted us with a tasty pineapple while we were conducting the short chat about their mission they had accomplished. This organisation won the competition among the ecological organisations with their architecture of building those unique pool surrounded by promenades, primary made from reused pipes and bamboo leaves. Also another purpose of their organisation is to protect some particular Taiwanese plant species and close environment.

Certainly I need to admit this place looked peaceful with spreading out the positive energy.

On the way we pulled over, and all the Taiwanese friends got off the car nearby a large area of lakes. One of them started pointing on something very intensively. In few minutes later, I saw already set telescope and them watching through.

Bird watching.

We estimated one as Mr. Happy

and second as Ms. Hatching one.

I forgot to mention, Taiwan is famous because of its wide variety of birds.

Local community in Madou, Tainan 麻豆, 台南

The weather was getting still more and more humid and hotter, as the European girl I found it quite tiring. But the third community we got into definitely awaked me. Pomelo farm.

Those people have done quite a work so far. They returned to their hometown called Madou after graduation and renovated the farm that their ancestors left behind. The large pomelo plantation of approximately one hundred trees where a tree can harvest five hundred pomelos requires huge amount of work and time. The way how they prevent their trees from parasites using two wood sticks where the parasites can lay their eggs (instead of laying it on the tree trunk) and afterwards can be disarmed by farmers is interesting.

The harvest season is from August to October and in mid September, they organise one pomelo market where a piece of pomelo is sold per NTD 100 ( almost 3 € ). One year, pomelo trees turnover is around NTD 5 000 000 ( almost 148 000 € ) and It can sustain all the farmers families during one year.

Beside the planting, they utilize the wood from pomelo tree to make handmade goods. The wood is fine and pleasant to touch.

We were impressed by wooden glasses frames and round trays with carvings.

Local community in Gongguan Township, Miaoli 公館, 苗栗

Next day we quickly visited the last community of our trip in Miaoli. Even this welcoming was not different. Warm and nice as always. Although, this time I spent a lot of time with this member of family, this cutie. She loved to play hide and seek.

This small village was surrounded by stone walls years ago in order to protect them against the Chinese. We could still see the remains of those walls while we were walking around. The citizens of Miaoli were known as they used to cut the head off in case of a betrayal and hang out it upon the stone wall.

Fortunately, that was not the mission of the community we came to visit. As the only one in Taiwan, they plant Red Jujubes. Interesting fruit with even more interesting taste. Among other things, they use it in soups or produce the particular alcohol beverage of it. This fruit is contributive to the health and is used as part of medical treatments.

Near Red JuJubes fields we found taro fields (the most popular Asian Crop, similar to potatoes) and also rice fields. The more about this community will introduce Sam ( my collegue) while he will be staying there for two weeks.

On the way back to Taipei, I did feel tired, but deeply enriched by those three local communities and their background stories.

The girls by me are helping me study Chinese while they keep laughing at my accent. As usually.

During the next week ( before I will move to the first local community in Southern county Kaoshiung) I will be exploring Taipei, its surrounding and stories behind.