Cape Maeda

This weekend was lovely, so we headed on down to Cape Maeda to snorkel.  First we had to get me some sea shoes, so I wouldn’t shred my feet on rock.  Now, I’m sporting some bright yellow awesomeness on my feet.  On to the cape:  There are island moments that are ridiculously lovely and surreal, and Cape Maeda holds such moments.  I set up the beach umbrella and bounded off into the water with my camera.  Shu Lan came wandering by about 20 or so minutes later telling me to be careful of the sea urchins.  Only at this moment do I realize that I am surrounded by purple spiny monsters.  Of course, every step from this point forward was filled with mild terror – despite my jubilant and childlike joy before.  Once we got far enough out to swim, bright colored fish and otherworldly plants greeted us.  We had some mild issues with leaky masks but it was still fantastic.  That is, until we had to walk back home through the minefield of urchin.  Thankfully, there were no problems.

A seaside ballad

While I was walking along the seaside, I heard a melodious baritone.  At first, I thought that I was hearing someone playing from the nearby apartments.  As I walked, the tune grew louder and louder, though I could not find it’s specific source.  I stood at one spot where it was loudest and realized that I needed to look over the embankment.  There, a young student was practicing, producing a rich and warm tune.  Shu Lan says that many apartments forbid horned instruments – so students practice at their schools or occasionally play in parks.  Something about this seems mildly romantic, playing your baritone out to the open sea:

Adventure + Ship

This last Sunday, I went on an ‘Adventure Ship.’  Adventure Ship is a cool organization where groups go on ships and do activities that require you to rely on each other, overcome your fears, and become a better human. How do you learn this great lessons of leadership and camaraderie? On Adventure Ship, you get to travel in style on a Chinese junk, while completing arbitary physical tasks. Fun things like walking a plank, held by all your friends, to touch a piece of paper dangling from a pole!  Hoisting yourself and all of your friends over a horizontal mast suspended 8 feet in the air!  Jumping off the boat in a million different ways!

Now, Adventure Ship typically does activities for younger adolescents, and special needs kids - which is one of the really cool things about them.  Problem is, some of these activities pose a problem when you put a 240 pound man into them.   When I turned to tell one of our instructors how much I weighed, I realized he didn’t really have a conception of pounds.  I quickly converted and said, ‘About 100 to 110 kilos.’  His eyes widened and he laughed, a little nervously.  Apparently, this deterred the Captain none – who came over and immediately ushered me toward tasks, saying, ‘Conquer your fear! Trust us! Trust your friends!’  I’m sorry, but trust doesn’t help two tiny Asian girls hold a plank while a 240 pound man bounds out to touch a paper trinket. 

 I and many others were really skeptical of this ‘adventure.’  That said, it was amazingly fun.  I did get hoisted over the mast, I walked the plank, and I jumped from great heights into the water. I also got to remember how much I love the sea and to be on a boat.  I also got bruised, some sore muscles, and a nice sunburn.  

Me steering the raft.

 

Me making it up onto the mast.

 

After a hard day of seamanship, a man needs a rest.