香灣西地（二）新一天 Journey to the Land (II) One Fine Day

累，要繼續走嗎？還是開始嘗試找順風車？空氣稀薄乾燥，不能走太快，慢慢來，一呼一吸，一呼一吸，背包很重，肩膝疼痛，要堅持下去。現在應該有零下幾度吧，停下來就冷得要命，幸好有太陽藍天作伴，沿途的牦牛也挺可愛，只是牠們怕陌生人，不能走近。縱使過去幾年周遊列國，卻從未用過這種方式體驗異地，沒料到於這裏誤打誤撞海拔越走越高。

雖然獨自在西藏裏埗步搭車一點也不容易，但路上感受山林脈搏的每一刻都是整趟旅程之精髓，除了經過些小鎮村子外，大部分路段人煙稀少，常要與己作伴。今天好嗎？ 早睡早起，除了未知，就是與山神對話，偶然唆擺到志同道合方向相同的背包客跟我走一段，生活簡單如此，夫复何求？

差點忘了其實有位一直堅守在旁的伴侶－恐懼寶寶：「天色漸暗，仍未見任何住宿，沒車願意停怎辦？他們定在想為何有個沒廉恥不要臉的騙子在公路上裝模作樣。晚上找到旅館的話，拼死也要講價，昨天超出預算，如再下去，便不夠錢回家，或許吃少些，但沒力氣怎能繼續，近日感覺好像又變瘦了，不要這樣！為什麼總是危機處處，問題多多⋯⋯」

藏區正在大興土木，發展中痕跡遍佈四方，原以為可遇到靈性上啟發，可惜眼見塵土亂飛、垃圾亂丟，心痛已蓋過一切。究竟這趟旅程意義何在？如此刻苦就是為了經歷生命的韌度？當思想火車正向牛角尖邁進時， 迎面遠處看到一輛灰黑色吉普車，即使方向不對，我本能地把右手伸起，做出很棒頂瓜瓜的手勢，它竟開始放慢速度，停下來把門打開！車內坐滿五人，前面兩名大漢，後坐三位婦女，他們身穿藏族服飾，司機大哥問道：「小子，你自己一個嗎？上車！」

原已路過，什麼驅使他們回頭載這個素未謀面的陌生人？答案從來都不是最重要。 畫面瞬間由遼闊天地轉到一個細小的移動空間，往後七八小時我們擠在一起，分享了自製牦牛乾、大餅，還有人的體温。今天辛苦了，小休一會，明日再續。

Too frigging cold and dry!  This piece of rock on my back is making my body weary.  Should I start to hitch for a ride now?  Take it slow.  Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale.  Shoulder and knee pain are starting to emerge.  Don’t give in so soon yet.  Marvel at the crystal blue sky.  The yaks are flurry and cute, but do not walk too close.  They are not big fans of strangers.  How do I end up walking and hitchhiking here in the middle of nowhere if I didn’t really do it in any other country?

Though it is physically challenging, I enjoy being alone in the mountains.  Nothing compares to the serenity in my heart at those particular moments when I can only hear the rhythm of Tibet.  Grounding myself in the grassland and river yesterday was magical.  It could only happen in solitude.  Companion is comforting sometimes, but it would create an extra layer of human compromise, which is exactly what I don’t need in a soulful expedition.  Guess I am eventually turning into a freaky loner.

Development is shouting at this raw piece of land.  I see trash, pollution, and construction almost everywhere.  No one seems to take care of its natural beauty and culture.  Capitalism and money is the ruler.  Whoever gets in the way shall perish.  Never thought the damage is that enormous until I see it in my own eyes.  Meanwhile, my darling fear continues to whisper in my ears, “It’s getting dark.  What are you going to do if no one offers a ride?  They think you are a fool and liar.  Last week has already been over budget.  You will have no money to go home.  Maybe skip a meal tonight, but you’re loosing weight and energy to sustain till the end.  What a disaster you put yourself into.”

Just when my eyes are losing the sparkles, there is a dark gray jeep approaching from afar.  I instinctively raise my thumb up even though its direction is not correct.  Yet it starts to slow down and opens the door right in front of me. The car is full with two guys in the front and three ladies in the back.  They are in Tibetan clothing.  The gentle but masculine driver asks, “Are you alone, young man? Get in the car!”

They have actually passed by quite a while ago.  What makes them turn around to take me on their wings?  Not to mention I’m the sixth passenger!  Well, I will just let this puzzle sits overnight.  All of a sudden my view shifts from the widest horizon to a tiny moving vehicle.  For the next seven to eight hours, we will be stuck together sharing snacks, stories and most importantly warmth.  Who knows what’s in store next?  It is break time now.  Ciao.

Press on, bitch!

The god of Mountain, please keep me sane today.

An anonymous location where I spent hours lying around.

OMG!  The sky is not blue.  The mist helps to calm the mind into a reflective mode though

Traffic in Tibet?  Nah, the soldier blocked the road for some %#*X$?* construction.

Anything can happen on the road.  This is 10 mins after hopping on the truck...

The famous Potala Palace in Lhasa

Alleyway in Sera Monastery

There is a mountain behind Sera Monastery.  For some reason I felt urged to climb it.  Not exactly the wisest decision. 

The gorgeous view of Lhasa half way through the mountain.  I was catching my breath every few steps.  

Um... yea, that's what I just climbed.

Make a prayer, my dear.

Worshippers prostrating themselves outside of the Jokhang Temple everyday

Walking into the alleys of Bakuo Street where no tourist is found

Calm view of Bakuo Street at night when all shops are closed.

Structure surrounded by beautiful Tibetan prayer flags and the modern looking Yak Museum

"Where are you heading, sir?" with my favourite traveling buddy for a few days

Stop screaming!  I'm trying to help you break free from the fence, baby. 

Truck rides usually take much longer cos they couldn't go fast; yet the experience is surely worth it.

Places I usually stayed look like this.  No toilet, hot water, wifi, + trash everywhere...  I've been trained well. 

The truth behind those pretty images

Road could be blocked for hours due to this... Gosh, it hurts my eyes

Zayu, located in the southeast of the Tibet Autonomous Region, is quite a remote location for tourists.  位於藏東南高山峡谷區的察隅是西藏比較偏遠的地方，遊客會較少。

The aboriginal tribe living in Zayu claims to be the oldest and most native one in Tibet.
住在察隅的僜人被稱為西藏其中最古老及原住的族群。

Ran into a young man living in the village.  He took us to sneak in a tangerines farm, haha...

This Chinese girl is 10 years younger than me and called me Uncle.

This random shot outside a monastery is enough to take my breath away.

近日與兩個巴西導演合作了一個MV(tfvsjs - 之between間) ，他們正在用80個MV環遊世界，有幸成為其中一份子！Around the World in 80 MV, baby! What a privilege to create & shoot with two talented directors from Brazil.  Below is the MV & making of:

^Etolan

「不想回台北了！」在都蘭常聽到旅人這樣說著。對港人而然，其實台北仍有可喘息的空間，因東方之珠早已令人喘不過氣了。不只地小人多，還有一種無形壓力，彷彿有一道氣場把大部份人與心裏的一片天隔絕，每天活在納悶與麻木之中，唯有靠週末狂歡來暫時忘卻心靈之死寂。

我又何嘗不是一個活生生的例子？在港經歷第三個低潮，帶著胃病老師出走台灣，除了要療癒身心、尋找創作機會及養份外，過程中與生命之河重新連結， 順著流水漂動，感受活著的美好。四個多月前的繃繄狀態，現已彷如隔世。

一個月前的形體表演「唵呢」把我從平地領到一個高峰，在山海交界能量充裕但不穩的都蘭鼻，進行一場與自然界交流的生命禮讚。這是天時地利人和，可一不可再的榮幸。行為藝術不是我所擅長，但靈感來臨，可以抗拒嗎？完成後身心疲憊卻充滿力量，參加者紛紛讚嘆這個不完全明白的演出，其實天地藉著這支體訴說了一個故事，我只是個媒介也是第一位觀眾。

上山後當然要下山，放下整個過程點點滴滴之奇妙，從回平和，讓前路繼續牽著我走。下一站的未知，不是擔憂，是期待，是相信。

這種智慧同樣可以應用在政局不穩、民主人權屢被剝削及能量混亂的香港嗎？我沒有一個完美答案，現能做的，是每天遠遠地祝福這個家，願有天我修成正果時，可用些微的影響力為這片土地做一點事。

Goodbye, ^Etolan, thank you for taking a piece of my heart. That morning I felt the sun kissing my face around 6am as usual.  Then came the ants running on my tanned skin to lead me back to the conscious world.  They were the best company in this empty room though I accidentally stepped on them from time to time.  Tasting the breezes through my body as I cycled to the tip of ^Etolan’s nose, I was aware that this would be the farewell to my love.

Mother Earth gave me an opportunity to deeply connect with her at the East coast of Formosa.  Humbly accepted the invitation, I fell in love with the light all over again.  She is always generous and patient, taking all the agony of human life and exchanging with the warmest energy for our soul.  How could I have missed her before?  Perhaps too occupied with the on-going thought marathon in mind. 

Though the enormous ocean may roar like a wild beast at times, her gentle embrace also nurtures our body like a mother to child.  Every morning the water held my being in a resting spot where waves were calm.  A tune may breathe through my lips to sing with gratitude while a flow may take my waist to dance with surrender.

The climax of the experience was the Om Lar performance on August 30^th.  It was no longer directed by my own suffering as a human, but ^Etolan filled my being with inspiration to carry out the act.  Here are two lines to illustrate the piece:

“The last soul of the legendary Om Lar tribe is conjured to perform the life ceremony at the holy land of ^Etolan 'Amis.  When life is death and beginning is end, Om Lar believe all beings will become one with heaven and earth.”

Om Lar persistently tried to be at peace with nature, but they also had to go extinct at the end.  Can anyone escape from fate, from life, from karma?  Would my beloved Hong Kong stand a chance against the wheel of destiny?  More importantly, where you and I are heading in this ever-changing world?  There may never come a solution once and for all.  Yet we shall not stop pursuing.  For it is only when we walk with a pure heart would we see the magnificent light in this journey.  The answer will take a different twist.  Nothing will ever be the same.

Thank you Gua Gua for your soulful marks on the skin.  They made the body come alive!

謝謝冠中，你音樂的互動令演出得以完整，是舞動的力量。Thank you for your music improvisation with my movement!

猴子，沒有妳充滿靈魂的相片，可一不可再的形體演出只會隨水流走，不留裂痕，謝謝妳！Thank you for Monkey's brillant capture of the performance.  Check out her studio fb page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/大樹影像-x-小屋工作室/1432696313665608

Of course, I wouldn't forget to give thanks to the company of 小妞.  She always waited for me as I meditated by the sea.

Performance for a lifetime.  The connection is now close to the heart.  Thank you, my Mother Earth.

My mural at Ku Art Museum in Kaohsiung 我在位於高雄谷敏昭美術館外牆上的壁畫

What I love about creating outdoor is talking to curious locals!  Language barrier couldn't stop us (they mostly spoke in Taiwanese, ha)

Often wonder how the mural evolved to be like this.  Got to love the creative flow in me!

謝謝龍哥龍嫂，谷敏昭美術館館長，我台灣的二爸二媽！是你們一句話啟發我來台尋找一條新的創作之路，也一直給我支持和鼓勵。Special thanks to the directors of Ku Art Museum, Brother Lung & spouse.  Without you two, I wouldn't even be here.

First sitting through a complete Beijing Opera.  Can't believe I actually enjoyed the whole show.

Love this piece in the sun.  That's all.

An impressive retrospective show by Dean-E Mei 梅丁衍.  His art is closely linked to society & politic.  Every work has something to say about our world today.

司馬庫斯 Qalang Smangus, an indigenous tribe deep in the mountains.  Thank you, 小吳, for taking me there.

Tree god over hundred years old.  Wish I could hug & feel them.

There is something about this view which grab my eyes.  Perhaps it reminds me of some Japanese animation from childhood.

On the scooter!  YEE-HAA!

Scuba diving at Formosa.  Such lovely day & view.  

First night artist residence at Good Nest Homestay 好的窩 at ^Etolan.  Thank you for this precious opportunity to create with nature.

Art renovation with greens in the abandoned sugar factory at Taitung.  Some say dusty I say calm.

Grandpa Sufin named me Futol in 'Amis.  It means brave warrior and um... men's balls... Here's the simple ritual to go with the naming.

Adorable kids from the tribe.  Love their smiles.

Their performance moved my heart.  So fresh and genuine.  Hope they don't have to face too many obstacles in the society as native of the land.

Helped with colouring a 3D map of ^Etolan, so the 'Amis elders can name all the locations in their own language to preserve their culture.

The yearly ceremony of another 'Amis tribe at Yuli  玉里安通部落豐年祭

A lovely place to chill & chat at ^Etolan - 小客棧

My 2nd mural at Taiwan - Fang Ca Lay Homestay 泛札來民宿，謝謝楊媽媽給我這個創作的機會！

Can you hear the waves?

房間Ka'iroran ，意即想念你！

Growth is everywhere

房間Ng'ay ho! ，意即好嗎？

Dream. fly. life

房間'Aray ，意即感恩 Let the warm flow take you to bed.

Saying goodbye to this pair of pants which went through the past 10 years with me.  He was with me for the tough hike, vibrant creation, and the magnificent travel...  I will miss you.

At this very moment, Hong Kong is facing one of the biggest crisis ever.  People vs government on the street.  Do you hear the people sing?

Peace be with you, my home.