The Hualien Earthquake · Our Story

The day after the 0403 earthquake, I went into surgery.

During the operation, I had no idea what was happening outside. It wasn't until I woke up and returned to my hospital room that I learned — across the mountains, Taroko Gorge kept collapsing, aftershocks never stopped, still shaking right up until I was discharged.

In those days, I didn't have much strength left to think about the mountains. My own body was going through an earthquake of its own. Before the surgery, I didn't have much room for "what ifs" — I just faced it, accepted it, and dealt with it.

Mei-Feng held Errantry Lodge steady, every single day, on her own.

By my hospital bed, I wrote down one sentence: "Be someone who can open their hands to all beings, and get along with everyone at ease." That's the hope I hold for whatever life I have left.

Two years have passed. The mountains have slowly steadied. Last month at my checkup, the doctor said I could go from scans every three months to once every six.

I think that's probably what Hualien taught me — no matter how hard the earthquake shakes, the mountains stand back up. So do people.

Hualien is still the Hualien you remember, and we're still here waiting for you.