Walking for a cause: walk for the blind

步步獻光明

Activities/Actions:
Walk 8K on 步步獻光明 http://www.orbis.org.tw/Default.aspx?cid=7759&lang=3

Stat:
8K walk started from GuanDu temple; Started 10a.

Walk Completion Certificate

Course condition:

The course along GuanDu Mangrove Park

Note and reflections:

Walking for a cause: walk for the blind. After warming up with rhythm led by a group on the stage, Wayne, Xiao Hao, Maji, Yan-Ru and I started our walk along the biking trail in Guandu Mangrove Park with other 500 or so walkers. Woken up by Wayne around 7a, I biked out around 7:15 and got to Guandu Temple at 8:10, eating some Mi Fen, and waiting until the gang showed up around 8:40. Various activities started around 9, including an appearance of a pretty Hong Kong actress, 袁詠儀 Anita Yuen.

The sun on the bright sky and cool breeze made the walk joyful. Various tales were told as I got to know Maji and Yan-Ru. After the first kilometer, we had to blind ourselves to experience a life without a sight. Wayne was leading me and Xiao Hao as we were walking in darkness for about a kilometer (actually, I was not totally blinded because of my glasses underneath the blind mask). Even though I had been biking on this trail many times, walking slowly and enjoying the scenery made a whole different experience. Often, many of bikers did get mad because we crowded the way. However, they should be appreciated for this activity.

We made our way passing the 2.5 kilometer post and continued to the 4th kilometer just a little pass 11 o’clock. The sun has been high up on the sky with his intense ray shinning down. By the time we were heading back, many people had been gone—only few people were walking with us. I had an idea to entertain the volunteers who were staffing the trail. I asked one in Mandarin whether he wanted to do running competition with me. He gave a weird response, “No”. For the next two groups, I asked them “Guess, where do you think I came from?” in Mandarin and Taiwanese, respectively (Wayne and Xiao Hao taught me how to say). They were guessing Japan, Hong Kong, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam but not Thailand. My Taiwanese pronunciation was not good, so I talked to a girl in Mandarin, telling her that I am a “Tai Wan Ren.” She quickly replied that I am a “Pian Ren” (a liar).

We made it back to get our certificate around 12:30. Wayne had to leave for his tutoring, so the rest of us stayed for lunch. Maji worked for a semiconductor company that has many Thai workers, so he knows many Thai words. I asked him whether he knows any bad Thai words; he said he did not want to know because he did not want to upset the workers [he is a good supervisor]. After the lunch, I tried to ask Xiao Hao to hike Yangmingshan with me but he denied. So, I walked them back to GuanDu MRT Station and continued my way to DanShuei [วิ่งไม่หยุด: DanShuei Fisherman's Wharf in Autumn].

It was a good walk for a great cause: for blind kids. Thanks Xiao Hao for getting us to join the activity since the mid October!


Photos:

Warming up before the walk.

"Put your hands up and clap!" Wayne and Xiao Hao!

Maji and Yan-Ru after the warm-up!

I am going to the walk on my dad's shoulder.

Mr. Eye showing us a way.

Wayne leading the way!
(credit: Wayne)

Wayne and I in a stimulus conversation.

A cute couple

We had made the halfway, and about to turn back

We will walk back in blind.
(credit: Wayne)