愛笑瑜伽領袖課程-台灣站

愛笑瑜伽領袖課程-台灣站

2017年5月2日

2017年4月15及16日的愛笑瑜伽領袖課程已在笑聲不絶的氣氛下圓滿結束。心裏極度感謝總笑長、大笑阿麻、得意貓及其他笑長門的總總安排和悉心照顧。

喜歡笑的我，在出發前只抱著多笑無害的心態參加，再者可以同一班好友一起到台灣吃喝玩樂更是一件賞心悅目的事。以往我對愛笑瑜伽認知不多，感覺上大致是玩玩笑笑，跑跑跳跳跟著又再笑笑而已，應該沒有深度可言吧。

但是這兩天的課程和活動，完全改變了我對愛笑瑜伽的想法！這是一種帶著笑聲並結合了呼吸的運動—沒負擔、沒壓力，只有歡笑，但也要對自己的領袖身份負責。課程內容也真是非常豐富又認真，不但包含了多方面的原素，而且意義深遠。有實踐，有理論，還有理據。在許多題目中，最喜歡的就是WOOP、亂語、內觀和靜心。這些都是課程完了之後還會繼續堅持和努力硏究的好課題。

我在未曾訓練前是完全沒有把握帶領大家體驗愛笑活動，但經過資深的總笑長、好好笑笑長和沙拉笑長指導下，加上考核後，現在的我應該可以了吧！

其他的得著就是能吃到這麼非一般棒的健康、美味可口的便當；在很美的陽明山賞風景、聽蟲鳴鳥叫；還有同一班好朋友在晚上睡在木地板加睡袋，真是既痛苦又十分難忘的體驗及回憶。雖然那晚都沒睡好，但那時亦是給我做靜心的好機會，所以第二天都不會頭昏腦脹。這些一切，都是會令我一直惦記難忘的愉快事情。

Wu-fong-ci Falls (五峰旗瀑布) at Jiao-xi (礁溪) , Yi-lan (宜蘭)

October 2011

One of my friends was bored with the rain, which had fallen almost continuously since we had arrived, and was keen to do something in Yi-lan (宜蘭) before we went to Taipei (台北). Her wish was to be fulfilled the next day; when we got up the next morning, we realised it had stopped raining. So three of us decided to go to a hill nearby where there are three waterfalls which are popular with tourists: the Wu-fong-ci Falls (五峰旗瀑布) at a place called Jiaoxi (礁溪). The others thought this was dangerous and decided they would rather wander around again near the hostel.

A taxi took us to a point half way up the hill from where there was a footpath leading up to the waterfalls. It was only a few minutes’ walk to the lowest waterfall. Actually, we were not sure it really was one of the waterfalls as there was nothing much to see: there was no water falling from a great height, it was just running down the stream over some rocks.  

The sun came out when we reached the second waterfall. This time we knew straightaway we were in the right place. It was quite impressive with the water falling some metres. There was also a covered viewing point next to it, but you still got wet even when you stood inside. We thought the large amount of water had come from the rain the night before. We had come at a good time and it was certainly worth a visit.

While we were walking along the path to the last waterfall, we saw a sign warning of rock falls and fallen rocks. It was discoloured with age, but we decided to go back. We wanted to see waterfalls, not rock falls.

Soaking at Yi-lan (宜蘭), Taiwan

 

October 2011

During my trip to Yi-lan (宜蘭), sometimes it rained heavily with strong winds. On occasions this caused flooding; and once, while we were exploring the farms on foot during such a storm, the water came up to our knees. A friend had advised me to buy a rain coat and this was a very good idea; it kept me dry and warm, and it also protected my belongings against thieves. Some of my friends only had umbrellas and they got wet from head to toe.

Unfortunately, I could not keep myself dry for long. I took off my rain coat when we had lunch. I was sitting in a narrow place behind a wall. One of my friends almost upset the table as she got up, spilling a glass of warm tea onto my shorts. I was wet through and had a big wet patch on my jeans now. Luckily, it was raining so I thought people would think this was because of rain rather than other possibilities. When I stood up to show everyone my wet jeans, they laughed.



The entrance of the restaurant, Yi-lan (宜蘭), 2011.

Have you tried jellied soup (糕渣)?
Yi-lan (宜蘭), 2011.



Chef recommendation, Yi-lan (宜蘭), 2011.

We were wet and cold. We did not want to go back to our hostel but at the same time, we didn’t know what to do as a lot of the tourist attractions were closed. So we put on our swimming costumes and went to have a hot spa, where we had a nice long soak together in the warm water. 

Spa rooms. 
We're wearing swimming costumes &
took pictures out of a spa room. Yi-lan (宜蘭), 2011.

This is Jellied Soup (糕渣),
but we didn't know what kinds of food they cooked in jelly. 
Sorry, this wasn't what I likes.
Yi-lan (宜蘭), 2011.

A Spring Onion Pancake in Taiwan

October 2011

Yi-lan (宜蘭) is an area of intensive farming on the northeast coast of Taiwan.  My first impression was of a peaceful, beautiful place with fresh air.  It is famous for its spring onions.  There are bigger than my finger, and twice the length of the ones in Hong Kong.  There was a small exhibition devoted to the cultivation of spring onions.  This was quite simple, but interesting.  I never knew spring onions could be used in so many different ways.


The small exhibition, Yilan, 2011

Inside the exhibition, Yilan, 2011

Spring onion pancakes are one my favourite savoury snacks in HK.  When I saw they were popular over there, I tried many of them from corner stores or street vendors which I passed along the street in the first two days.  After trying lots of pancakes, I found the best ones were sautéed in oil, not deep fried or burnt.  Eventually, I found a street vendor in Taipei, whose pancakes were delicious.  His handcart was surrounded by people, and he grumbled at a man for taking pictures of him.  I wanted to do the same thing, but I was anxious he would object.  Fortunately, he did not get angry with me, but smiled instead.  I thanked him for making good food and gave him a thumbs up.

The best pancakes in Taiwan, 2011