Green Island- a few days of Paradise!

I just had a most needed and fantastic weekend! I confess that while I love it here- there are times where I definitely need some R&R. Green Island is on the south eastern side of Taiwan. We got on the train at 5:30p.m. on friday and didn't arrive until 6:00 a.m. on Sat. It was an interesting 12 hrs to say the least! We bought our tickets in advance- but still didn't have seats for some of the trains. This first picture is of Lindsay and I crammed in the doorway in between cars! We took pillows to sit on!



Once we arrived on Green Island- we got our scooter rental and found our hotel! It was a pretty sweet little flat!


Once we unloaded our packs- we immediately set off to find a Scuba shop to set up our dive! I was really excited because this was my first real dive! This is a picture of our scuba instructor!

These are some other dive friends we met. They were really fun to talk to- and very helpful with translation! haha!

This is me! I am so happy to be diving!

Lindsay and I diving with the fish! They kept nibbling our fingers. Crazy moment on the dive- we were headed back toward shore when Lindsay and I noticed a Spotted Moray Eel down below us. It was following along with us- and they are kinda scary looking- but I decided that if it wasn't a big deal to the Instructor- it shouldn't be to me! Then he looked down and jumped! He then pulled out this long, thin metal stick and started to jab it at the Eel. The Eel would advance toward the inst. then retreat as he jabbed at it. He kept motioning for us to swim around and get ahead of us. He repeated the jabbing a few more times until the Eel finally started to retreat. It was a little freaky and I am glad he was there to help us. We later found out from our dive buddies that that kind of Eel likes to bite divers! Dodged a bullet! haha!

Fantastic sunset and some weird foreigner jumped in the picture!

The scenery around the island is gorgeous!







Lindsay and I met some Germans at the hot springs we went to, and they invited us to dinner with some other foreigners they had met! Denmark, Germany, America and South Africa were represented! It was really fun to talk with them and trade stories and adventures. It is always amazing to me when you take the time to meet new people and learn a little about where they are coming from and the experiences they have had. It was a really fun dinner and fun to be united in our foreign-ness!

This is the boat ride home. I love this little asian man in his huge hat and small shorts! He is too legit to quit!

These are some more friends we met! They were very helpful with getting tickets to and from the island- and also helped us figure out our train ride home- WITH seats! haha. We had a fun time standing outside on the trip back- trying to stay up right. They call this the barf barge because so many people throw up on it. They have bags at every seat- it is one of the rockiest boat rides I have ever been on! I never felt sick- but I saw plenty of others who were.



Lindsay's hair was pretty wild after the windy boat ride back! It took her about a gallon of conditioner to comb it out! Loved it.

We were pretty exhausted on the train ride home- but it was an incredible weekend and I am so grateful that everything worked out so well! and I LOVE scuba diving! I live for the next dive!