Visiting Sun Moon Lake with I-Shou University (Dydy's Diary)
The Student Affairs team had been preparing for this event since the beginning of the semester. The goal was simple yet meaningful: bigyan ang mga estudyante ng pagkakataon na mag-enjoy habang natututo ng teamwork, leadership, at gumagawa ng unforgettable memories outside the classroom.
Since I was the observer for that team, I couldn’t hide my excitement. Imagine, finally makakalabas kami ng Kaohsiung for a school trip—at hindi basta trip lang, kundi sa Nantou at sa sikat na Sun Moon Lake. How exciting is that? The anticipation alone made me look forward to every moment we were about to experience.
DAY 1
My day started pretty early, halos hindi ako nagising sa alarm ko. By 6:30, I finished packing and was ready from head to toe. My Tito drove my friend and I to I-Shou University. Dumating kami nang isang oras earlier than expected, kaya bumili muna kami ng breakfast sa Fam Mart habang naghihintay. As 8 o’clock approached, we lined up for the bus, which departed shortly after.
The ride to Nantou was calm at first. Siyempre, we Filipinos can never resist karaoke, but the atmosphere was a little dull since no one was joining in. That changed when Daniel hopped on our bus and restarted the karaoke. Suddenly, people were singing, clapping, and laughing—kahit sandali lang, sapat na para ma lift yung mood.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Wyndham HotelIn the first major venue, nahati yung bus namin into two groups: one headed to the DreamFactory, and the other—including me, as a hospitality student, went to the Wyndham Hotel. Eksaktong 13:50 kami dumating. The staff welcomed us warmly, shared the history of the hotel, and gave us a tour. Nakakatuwa kasi first-hand naming nakita kung paano nago-operate ang hotel, especially since it connected directly to what I’m studying.
- Owl HostelAfter the hotel visit, it was just a five-minute walk to the Owl Hostel. And since hindi pa dumarating ang Bus B, kami ang unang nakapag-check in. The hostel felt modern and cozy—capsule-style rooms, shared bathrooms, and a common area where you could make coffee. My favorite part was the rooftop, perfect pang tambay at overlooking sa gabi.
- Ita Thao Pier
- Create the most random family photo
- Spell “ISU” using our bodies
- Recreate a famous meme
- Make a Titanic scene
- Act like superheroes assembling
After resting at the hostel, my friends and I decided to head out nung humina na ang ulan. The night market was buzzing with energy—sizzling food stalls, colorful lights, and the smell of street snacks everywhere. Nag-dinner kami, naglakad-lakad, at nag-enjoy sa atmosphere.
By around 9 PM, bumalik kami sa hostel saglit para mag-wash up tas lumabas din ulit. The rest of the night was spent hanging out, kwentuhan, and enjoying the simple joy of being together. The day had been long, but it was packed with laughter, learning, and unforgettable moments.
DAY 2
Another day, another trip. Dahil sa mga kaganapan kagabi, late nanaman ulit akong nagising—but thanks to my friend, she managed to wake us up. Nananaginip pako na ako yung gumising sa kanila, hindi pala. I hurried to prepare, and when I went to the shared bathroom, I was greeted by my other friends who teased me: “You were the one who told us to wake up early!” Yet here I was, the one who overslept.
After washing up and packing our things, bumaba kami to check out and eat breakfast. There were plenty of options, pero pinili ko ang tinapay na may tuna, paired with coffee we brewed ourselves. Simple pero ang sarap.
At dahil may oras pa naman, bago kami umalis, my friends and I strolled around for a short while to take in the place one last time. We snapped lots of pictures as keepsakes. Nakakalungkot umalis, pero the memories will stay forever.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Wenwu TempleThe third major venue of the day was the Wenwu Temple. Pero hindi ko man in-expect na may mini hike pala papunta sa temple. Feeling confident about my outfit, naka-sandals pa ako—wrong choice! But even so, it didn’t ruin the fun. Wenwu Temple was breathtaking: massive, filled with flowers, and even had a koi pond with huge fish.To reach the top overlooking, you had to walk down first, passing through intricate carvings and beautiful characters along the way. Finally, standing at the top, I saw the majestic view of Sun Moon Lake framed by the temple’s structures. The spiritual ambiance was undeniable, parang ramdam mo ang katahimikan at kasaysayan ng lugar.
- Cona’s ChocoCastle ExperienceAnd last but not the least. Once again, the buses split, and we went to Cona’s ChocoCastle. The moment we arrived, para kang naka pasok sa isang fairytale castle. The grandiose interior was royal and enchanting.Our first activity was DIY chocolate lollipops. It was easy to fill the mold with melted chocolate, but the designing part—epic fail for me. Creativity isn’t my strong suit! Still, it was fun. After that, nag-tour kami sa production area habang ini-explain nila yung history at kung saan nag galing ang kanilang mga chocolate. The best part? Free chocolates after every segment. Siyempre, mas ganado kaming makinig.When the tour ended, we had free time to explore. We found racks of princess dresses and decided to try them on. Even our guy friends wore them, which was hilarious. We laughed so hard and took tons of pictures, a perfect way to end the trip with joy and silliness.
And then we all went home—pero hindi muna bago mag-stop for one last dinner in the city. Sharing that meal together, kahit pagod na ang aming mga katawan, was the proof of how much fun we had on this trip. It might have been short, but the experiences, the views, and the bonds we built will stay with us long after we return.
After dinner, we boarded the bus for the final ride back. This time, the atmosphere was different. Unlike the lively rides before, the bus was quiet, filled with a calm serenity. We played music, but only soft, soothing ones. Nang tumugtog ang “Ride Home” by Ben & Ben, the moment felt perfect, the lyrics and melody wrapping around us like a gentle farewell.
Isa-isa kaming nakatulog, lulled by the music and the exhaustion of two full days. I watched as the city lights blurred past the window hanggang sa makarating kami sa Kaohsiung. The trip was over, but the memories we carried made it feel like it would last forever.
