15.2 KM run at Orchid Island in 2015

= 20~23 - May-15 =

Attended to the Orchid Island (Lanyu) for a 15.2 KM run. 

The Orchid Island is off the southeastern coast of Taiwan. 

This marathon is a two-day event, once a year in May. 

Each day only has 200 spots for marathon (43 km), 

200 spots for half-marathon (only 15.2 km, maybe it shouldn't be call half-marathon) 

and 100 spots for people who want to participate without a long distance (just 5.2 km). 

去年五月參加了蘭嶼的路跑，大家應該知道蘭嶼是在台灣本島的東南方吧！

本人沒有鋼鐵般的意志和體力可以跑全馬，所以只報名了15.2公里的挑戰組，

是志在參加與玩樂，從沒想過要得金牌，哈！也拿不到啦！

他們還有個5.2公里的健康組，想去輕鬆拿獎牌和贈品以及玩樂的人，

千萬不要錯過了。

=20-May-15=

First night, we took a train to Taitung (the East side of Taiwan). I had a beer on the train! Yes, people are allowed to drink alcoholic drink at the public place. 

We stay at a lovely B&B, it called "Yourself Home." They have many cute handicrafts for sell in the house. Their cats are adorable but you can't let them get into your rooms. The room rate was reasonable and the location is quite close the Taitung Station & the Taitung Fugang Ferry Terminal. 

第一晚，我們是從台北搭火車下台東，還在火車上就已經開喝了，這是我一次喝到台啤的蜂蜜口味，不是很愛這種甜口味的啤酒。

台東對我而言，也是著有回憶的地方（嗯！不多說）。

今晚，我們入住『自己來＋』，它的地理位置還滿方便的，算是靠近台東火車站和富基漁港，屋內有擺售不少手工藝品，大多是其他文青（這詞對嗎？）所寄賣的。

屋裡面有四隻貓，都很漂亮也很可愛！祂們一直想跑去我們房內吹冷氣，每次開門進房間都要小心翼翼的，有不少次都讓祂們得逞，還得辛苦地抓貓，哈！

------------------------------------------------------------

=21-May-15=

You have to phone the ferry company "The Star of Green Island" to book your seats for the ferry in advance. Otherwise they might not have any seat for you when you arrive there. 

The weather didn't look great when we took the ferry, but we were still so excited about this trip. This was my first time visiting Lanyu. There is an aboriginal tribe "Yami" live on this island. I am fond of their culture, artworks and life style. Everything is related to the ocean and island. The aboriginal character is very strong and beautiful. Also, the landscape is just stunning!


耶！要搭船出海了，雖然雲層很厚，我們還是超興奮地前往蘭嶼去。如果我記得沒錯，要搭船的人，要先跟船公司打電話預定船票，至於要不要先付費，我就不記得了！因為不是我處理的。如果沒有先預訂的話，好像不一定有位置可以讓你上船喔！

當天的風浪好像頗大，所以趕緊睡覺....醒來後就到蘭嶼了！

We got some delicious traditional Taiwanese style breakfast with an interesting fruit juice. The juice was from that big fruit, on my right hand. This funny looking fruit was from a tree "Pandanus Tectorius." The fact says this juice is good for human body, especially in summer. The taste was very plain, not much flavours. 

All of us had our own chopsticks or forks on this trip. We didn't want to use any disposable chopsticks there. It will leave more garbages on this island. There is no incinerator on this island. All the wastes cannot be destroy here, they need to be delivered to the main island of Taiwan by shipping. The delivery fee is huge and the system is not Eco-friendly. Please bring your own tableware with you if you ever come to visit this lovely place. 

Check-in to a B&B with a lovely cat and nice people for our first night. 

一下船，立馬找吃的！找到一家早餐店，他們的蛋餅超好吃的！但是我不記得店名了，只知道對面有賣『林投果汁』，聽說此果汁對身體很好，可解燥熱！大家很捧場地都點了一大杯，它的味道其實很淡，沒有什麼特別的口味，不過是很新鮮的體驗。

看到沒，我們都是環保小尖兵，人人都自備了環保筷或是叉子！在蘭嶼的垃圾都必須要海運回去台東處理，這裏沒有大型焚化爐或是掩埋場，只有“核廢料”！海運的運費很驚人，所以他們有個『人人一公斤，蘭嶼亮晶晶』的活動，就是鼓勵來此遊玩的遊客都攜帶一包垃圾回去台灣本島，這樣可以省下為數不小的運費，也相對減少在此的垃圾量。

其實，免洗筷一點都不健康也不環保，希望大家都養成自備環保筷的習慣，這樣可以減少很多垃圾量。在台灣的大家，平常都習慣外食，一整年累積下來的免洗筷真的數量驚人。大家要愛台灣也要愛地球啊！

我們第一晚入住了『碧海藍天』，獨立式的小屋滿適合一群朋友同歡喝酒的。

Exploring this small island, you could choose a motorcycle or a bike. I don't think it is necessary to rent a car. If you want to drive a car on a 48.39 km² land, that is still doable. XD

把行李丟到民宿後，當然要立馬上路考察當地風土人情 ; 建議大家可以帶單車來騎或是在本地租摩托車，蘭嶼不大，不太需要租車啦！總面積只有 48.39 平方公里。

I would say May was a good month to visit this island, even thought it was super windy. If you go there in July or August, you probably won't like the heat. 

We had a great ride along the shore and lost the track of time. Every restaurant closed after 2 pm so we could only had some instant noodles in front of a convenience store. That was not too bad. There was a dog came to us when we were eating our lunch. I was surprised by its skinny body. I felt bad for him. Is it very difficult to find leftover on street? (I don't know the answer)

五月其實是個滿舒服的月份來蘭嶼的，風雖然很大而且偶有陣雨，但是不會像七八月那樣有超曬的大太陽。我們玩得很開心！

一不小心玩過頭，錯過了用餐時間，所有的飯館都在下午兩點準時收工，蘭嶼人的生活型態還是很悠閒的。我們後來是在一家雜貨店買了泡麵，在人家店門口的發呆亭享用午餐，還不錯的體驗。門口有隻超瘦的狗，我很納悶....這裏的流浪犬是不是很難討生活，這麼瘦。

We got some lucky to have a dessert in this lovely coffee shop. Their decoration were very local and cute and the food was delicious! I love my taro pie! It was so yummy!! If you love food that made by taro, you should definitely have their taro pie. 


後來，我們找到一家咖啡店，裡面的佈置還算可愛，有用心。我最愛他們的芋頭派，超好吃的！有來蘭嶼的話，不要錯過喔！

Apparently, we did some funny and silly jump there. Ha! That was a lot of fun. 

跳拍照是老梗，但是我們跳得很賣力，還是要ＰＯ一下的。

Just some pictures that we took on this beautiful island. The weather was not perfect for photographying. You should come to visit and see this place through your eyes. The pictures of two motorcycles was funny but it won't make any sense to someone who was not from Taiwan. So please just ignore that picture. 

蘭嶼很漂亮，但是我的手機沒有表現出它的美，再加上天氣都陰陰的，所以我沒有拍得很好。抱歉囉！真的建議大家要去蘭嶼玩，看看這裡的海島子民與獨特的海景，以及嚐嚐當地的風味餐，真的很美味。

右下角的兩台機車的擋泥板很可愛，一個是 『往板橋』一個是『往彰化』，明明就只能在蘭嶼島上繞圈圈，我很喜歡這個笑點，哈！

 

Enjoyed the sound from waves in the night and drank with friends that was amazing. Cheers! 

我們坐在小屋外的陽台，嘻嘻哈哈的聊天，邊聽著海浪的聲音，手裡拿著 台啤！還有什麼比這個更快活。

------------------------------------------------------------------

=22-May-15=

We had a great breakfast with nice view at this breakfast shop. Their triangle, flying fish rice ball is very special and tasty. 

By accidence, we got to see the rewards of the marathon before the run. That was kind of a privilege. 

一早奔去了 『阿力給早餐店』，他們有無敵海景特別座和美味飛魚飯糰，超享受！老闆人很好，而且店裏有賣很多手工飾品。是值得一去的好地方。

Even though it's a small island, we didn't go through every corner of this island on our first day there. Today, we went to the Lanyu Weather Station that is a very important weather station at the southeast of Taiwan. We also saw the nice view from there. It seems the very top of Lanyu. 

Today's lunch was a delicious flying fish special meal. Don't miss the meal that made by the flying fish. They are so tasty! You will love it!

蘭嶼小歸小，我們抵達的第一天還是沒有逛到所有的地方 ; 這裏的制高點好像就是『蘭嶼氣象測站』吧！從這裡看下去的海景很讚，大家別忘了上來晃晃。

終於在這天的中午，我們吃到了『飛魚風味餐』，套餐裡有飛魚、情人的眼淚和我最愛的芋頭...等。大滿足！

Again, just some photos of this pretty place!

吃飽後，當然是繼續上路逛蘭嶼，一路上還是偶有風雨，但是我們熱情不減！

What is the best way to prepare yourself for a run! I would say drinking and eating are the way to go. Ha! 

開跑的前一晚，當然也是要有點心和啤酒伺候的啦！

=23-May-15=

Ha! My friends used to take a picture like this before the run. Is that funny? 

我朋友們真的很愛在開跑前拍這種『腳花照』，很好玩！我們確定每個人都有把晶片綁好後，就各自出發了！因為有三個人是跑全馬，剩下三個人是跑挑戰組，各組的報到時間並不一樣。




I wasn't sure if I was ready or not but I would do my best as always! 

我其實沒有很確定可不可以跑完全程，但是一如往常的全力以赴，總是要試過才知道實力的嘛！加油！

況且，這是可以邊跑邊玩邊拍照的，不用太嚴肅，科！


We had to arrive the starting line before 5 am. It is amazing that people could enjoy the run on this beautiful island. I got to see the views of mountain and ocean on my way to the finishing line. When I got my wrist band was 6:45 am, it was not too bad. I am not a very athletic person so I was kinda walking and running during the run. It rained a lot that morning but it was still a great experience. 

五點前要到起跑線報到，整個路跑路線都很美，可以一邊觀山看海的馬拉松式是要去哪裡找！我好愛這次的路跑喔！雖然一路上偶有狂風暴雨，但是跑在自己國家的土地上的感覺，真的很讚！

我大概在 6:45 am 跑完了一半，拿到信物！總覺得好像拿到信物之前有跑得比較快，過了一半之後，速度也開始變慢了，呵！

From that small map, you could see the 15.2 km was just a part of Orchid Island. I had circled it in orange. The total marathon was 43 km, all the runners had to run through the whole island included the orange line. 

My record was not too bad "3:00:24," I was very happy with it! I nailed it! 

左下角那個小地圖，有我用橘色螢光筆圈出的路線，那是15.2 km 挑戰組的路線，跑全馬的人要跑整個蘭嶼，是紅色那圈加上橘色那圈，真是辛苦那些跑全馬的人了。

我的成績是 3 小時加上 24 秒，覺得還不賴！是女子組的第 49 個跑回來的。完成挑戰的感覺真的是超滿足。大家快去報名 2016 年的蘭嶼路跑！

On this island, you will see goats everywhere! They are cute but watch your steps, you might step on their poo.  

Right after the run, I went snorkelling alone because I was the only one who was available for it. Three members of our group were still running for their 43 km marathon. Another two were not able to soak into the ocean. 

The view under the sea was amazing. Don't miss it!

這裏的山羊真的是隨處可見，祂們很悠哉耶！記得要小心祂們的便便，真的到處都是。

我的腳指頭全都纏上了透氣膠帶，因為太容易起水泡了，如果你也有同樣的困擾，這招真的好用！

跑完路跑，我一個人立馬就騎車去浮潛處報到，因為同行的朋友們有三個還在跑全馬，另外一個怕水，還有一個腳上有傷口不能碰水。

蘭嶼的海底生物群還滿豐富的，很開心浮潛教練有幫我拍照 ; 這裏的浮潛行程，通常有附送免費帶你去跳港，本人不會游泳，真的是超怕的...衝刺了好幾次，才跳成功！還滿好玩的，後來又跳了很多次！

Finally, we gathered together again and ready to go home. Before we got on the ferry, each of us carried one bag of garbage back to the main island of Taiwan. We were helping the environment and reduce their cost of shipping fee. 

On the way back to main island of Taiwan, the ferry stopped by the Green Island. There was one drunk senior who left the ferry because he thought it was the place he wanted to go. The captain was so kind and nice, he went back to Green Island and picked this senior up. What a sweet thing that he did! 

終於，一路跑跑跑的朋友們都跑完了，我們就全都在 開元港 會合要搭渡輪回家了 ; 優秀的我們自然是人手一包垃圾啦！為蘭嶼的環保盡一份力。希望有去蘭嶼的朋友們，也別忘了帶上一包垃圾回台東喔！

回台東的航班會繞去綠島一趟，有位醉醺醺又睡著的老伯不小心下了船，去了綠島。島上的工作人員通過無線電聯絡船長，還好我們的船還沒有開離很遠，好心的船長就又繞回去接他上船，不然這位老伯要在綠島露宿街頭或是游回本島了！

It was a wonderful trip. Join this annual marathon event if you get the change! It is really a fun thing to do. 

Sometimes, I still miss my relaxing time there. 

You could check this link for the 2016 Orchid Island Marathon event. 

真的是很棒的三天遊，希望大家也有機會去蘭嶼參加路跑，也同時體驗當地的人文風情和在地美景。

我時常懷念起在那的悠哉日子，真的好愜意。

這替附上 2016 年蘭嶼路跑的報名網站 『2016 蘭嶼路跑』。