What a group of great people! It is the people that made the experience memorable.

We started the retreat with an exploration into ONEness and other terms came up during the journey: connection, integration, community, listening, openness, acceptance, clarity, creativity.

Eva summed up the experience so aptly.  Here’s what she said:

“I’ve attended many retreats before.  Those retreats tend to focus on inner abundance. This retreat, apart from connecting inward, it also draws us to outer abundance, to connect with the community and the environment.”

Couldn’t have said it better myself.

Thank you, to the attendees who came all the way from Taipei and Hong Kong, to my friends here in Dulan, to Mr Huang of the guesthouse, for making this retreat such a memorable one for all.

 

Start the day with a good healthy breakfast.

The guesthouse and its compound, lovingly nurtured by Mr Huang and his mother, with the help of an Indonesian maid, is the perfect spot for a silent retreat.

No books, no phone calls, no conversations, no eye contact. I wonder how will the guests experience the silent morning. Thank you, Janice Leu,  for allowing me to use her amazing photos. Her pictures show the beauty of Dulan despite the overcast and wet weather.

It’s time to venture outside of the guesthouse to connect with the people and the community. A little sightseeing and then off to the sea where A-Qi taught us how to fish  and showed us how Amis people live off the sea here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No free dinner here. We worked hard for our food. A-Qi and his wonderful friends cooked  the catch for us at Sugar Factory Cafe.

As we head back to the guesthouse, the sky cleared a bit so we went to the hill top for a little star gazing. Several people spotted shooting stars. Lucky them!

Then, the most amazing thing happened. The moon appeared, cast a very long moon river over the Pacific ocean. We walked in silence, basked in moonlight, making our way slowly back to the guesthouse.

Here’s a picture from Janice of that magical moment.

Thank you for another super day.

Much as I want the guests to rise early and experience the tranquility of early morning, a good rest is in order, especially after a long day and travel from Kaohsiung last night. After all, a good sleep is key to rejuvenation!

The proprietor Mr Huang was puzzled that breakfast could go on for two hours. We were having so much fun connecting with one another. Two hours went by too quickly.

This wooden pavilion (Mia came up with a brilliant name 圓劇場 and Mr Huang built on it with 緣聚場) is the reason why I chose this guesthouse for the retreat.

I am grateful to Mia and Scott of A Moving Sound for coming all the way from Taipei to facilitate the session on ONEness voice. Voice is an important and primitive tool for expression. In modern urban life, many of us have lost the connection with our voice. Through breathing practice, voice and movement games, free improvisation, world sound appreciation, and wonderful group chanting; we explored our vocal range and experience the voice’s potential to connect us all to a universal expression.

The highlight of the day is definitely the after dinner concert. We scrapped the original plan due to the rain (great for the thirsty soil of Dulan) and all congregated at the Pavillion for Mia and Scott’s concert. We invited many friends from the community to come and join the fun.

What can I say. The evening was simply magic. Mia and Scott’s world music repertoire set the scene for my talented local friends to join in. Tang Yao on the drum, BK and Fei Yu joined in. With all the lights off,  in candle light, Hei Niu and Sakulie chanted. Their voices, the most primitive tool for expression,  took us to another sphere of existence. What a night!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I know the experience tonight has touched many people’s heart. My friend K sent me a text message afterwards,  “Thank you for the beautiful gift tonight”.

 

Claudia and Emily flew in from Hongkong on 3/18 to help with the preparation. Couldn’t have done it without their loving attention and help.

We had so much fun preparing the gift bags, which will greet the guests when they walked into their room.  Imaging the surprise! Wish I could be there to capture that surprise moment on their faces. We also added a welcome mesage (written on stone) and a giant size custard apple 釋迦, which is the specialty produce of this area.

The paper bag is made by 南頭埔里廣興紙寮, an entrepreneur supported by Taiwan Lovely Foundation (台灣好基金會)

We also decorated the reception area with the help of the proprietor’s mother, who kindly chopped some small traveller’s palm leaves for us.

 

Dulan Coach Retreat provides a unique experience to experienced coaches to connect and share. The retreat speaks to the need of every person to reconnect with self and the natural world as a source of renewal. You will come back refreshed, energized and full of fresh ideas and perspective.

The theme is ONEness.

• ONEness voice
• the many ways we achieve ONEness
• ONEness and our coaching practice

One of the highlights of the retreat program is ONEness Voice.

Voice is an important and primitive tool for expression. In modern urban life, many of us have lost our connection to Nature and to our own creativity. Mia Hsieh, accompanied by Scott, both founding directors of A Moving Sound, draws from her experience with both experimental western and traditional eastern vocal styles. Through breathing practice, voice and movement games, free improvisation, world sound appreciation, and wonderful group chanting; workshop participants will have the opportunity to explore their vocal range and experience the voice’s potential to connect us all to a universal expression.

“When you open the door to your own unique voice,

the free sound and jumping notes will flow naturally

and extend you into infinite joy.”

——– A Moving Sound ———–

Who should attend?

Professional coaches. The retreat offers an inspiring atmosphere for coaches to connect, explore themes for personal growth, have  plenty of fun and relaxation. The best attitude to bring is “go with the flow” and  “enjoy the moment”. It is not a formal learning and content heavy experience.

When?

• 2011.03.20 starts at 0700hr (we suggest you check in the night before)
• 2011.03.22 ends at 1200hr

Language

• English

Fee

• NT$12,500 (HK$3,200) per person, includes all local Taitung expenses (meals, transportation, three nights accommodation and retreat program).  We can assist with arranging the train tickets for guests coming from Kaohsiung. The two-way train fare between Kaohsiung and Taitung is approximately NT1,000 (HKD250)
• Registration close on January 10, 2011

REGISTER NOW Registration is now full. For waiting list please contact tanyeeming@thirdthinking.com

Retreat Program

Day 1, March 20 (Sunday)

• Retreat theme exploration: ONEness
• ONEness Voice  (Finding flow through voice and movement) 身心靈合一: 身體與聲音開發
• Celebration dinner and concert

Day 2, March 21 (Monday)

• Sun salute and silent walk on the beach
• Dulan village exploration
• Retreat theme exploration: ONEness
• Sunset gratitude ritual

Day 3, March 22 (Tuesday)

• Mountain trail-walking (easy and gentle walk)
• Closing and celebration ceremony
• Departure

What is special about Dulan?

Several years ago, Ming started to yearn for a special place where she could build a simple retreat. 18 months ago, having explored many places by the sea or in the mountain in Hongkong and Taipei, she stumbled upon Dulan. Described often as the back garden of Taiwan, it is sandwiched between the majestic Atolan mountain and the Pacific Ocean. It is the combination of the mountain, sea, sun, moon that lends this place its irresistible charm. This is it. Ming has found her secret garden.

Dulan is a small, peaceful coastal town located 20km north of Taitung city, on the east coast. This tiny community of Amis (Taiwan’s largest aboriginal tribe) is nestled between mountains and sea along Highway 11.

Dulan boasts awesome coastal scenery, one of the quietest stretches of beach in Taiwan, a thriving local art scene, music and aboriginal festivals.

The sunrise and moonrise in Dulan are magical. It will be full moon on March 19th so if we are lucky, we might be able to catch moon rise over the Pacific Ocean during our stay.

Accommodation

Palm Grove Guest House. Nestled in 25 hectares of land in the mountain, looking out to the Pacific Ocean, the guesthouse provides a most natural setting ideal for a retreat. There are palm groves, trails, ponds, and plenty of outdoor space.

Accommodation is on twin-share basis, with most rooms having en-suite bathroom. There are a few rooms (they are in 3- or 6-room bungalows) that will share bathrooms.

Rooms are air-conditioned, clean with basic amenities. We hope you will take advantage of the beautiful surrounding outside and not spend too much time indoor.

Maximum participants: 18 persons.

REGISTER NOW