I can't see the sun, the moon, or the lake, much less the banks in the distance. On this wet day, mist is rising from all around me, blurring the divide between water and land, and anything else before me. The damp air clings onto my hair, clothes and skin.
The scenery that surrounds me, in monochromatic blobs of varying shades of grey amid patches of white, reminds me of an ink painting - more specifically, a work by Hong Viet Dung, an artist renowned for his abstract interpretations of his country's Ha Long Bay.
Instead, I am on a cruise across the legendary Sun Moon Lake in Yuchi Township of Nantou County in Central Taiwan. The eastern side of the alpine lake is round, like the sun, while the western side is indented like a crescent moon, giving it its name: Sun Moon Lake.
To some, the shape is a natural representation of the Taoist concept of yin and yang. And to these people and some others, the lake is a deeply spiritual place. To the Thao minority, the earliest inhabitants in this area, four aways away from Taipei by car, it certainly is.
TALE AS OLD AS TIME
Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan's largest inland body of water spanning 7.93sqkm with an elevation of 748m above sea level, is the stuff that folklore is made of. Nestled deep within the region's most fertile agricultural areas, the banks surrounding this unique geological beauty is the home of the Thao tribe, which is the smallest aboriginal ethnic group in Taiwan.
Legend has it that Sun Moon Lake was discovered by Thao hunters who were chasing a white deer through the surrounding mountains. Deep into the heart of a flatland, the deer leapt. Water suddenly sprang forth and rose quickly, forming a lake. The waters quickly filled with fish, while vegetation on the banks that encircled the lake flourished. And this is how the Thao tribe's heritage began.
この記事は Prestige Singapore の August 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Prestige Singapore の August 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
GLAMOUR AND BEYOND
PRESTIGE'S BEYOND THE HORIZON BALL PULLS OUT ALL THE STOPS.
RACING BULL
Lamborghini's breakthrough plug-in hybrid, the Revuelto, might be the supercar it needs to pull ahead in the electrification space race.
SYMPHONY OF THE SENSES
Prestige sits down with world-class pianist and Rolex Testimonee HÉLÈNE GRIMAUD as she shares her journey through sound and silence.
Tapestry of the Heart
Jaipur Rugs, which recently launched in Singapore, is one of India's largest manufacturers of hand-knotted rugs. Its secret commitment to a social mission of equality and empathy.
FJORDS, FREEDOM AND FINE FOOD
Oceania Cruises' Riviera will make its debut voyage to Alaska in 2025, bringing guests deep into the wilderness of America's northernmost state while delivering The Finest Cuisine at Sea.
LESSONS FROM THE LONG ROAD
An extended cruise from Vancouver to Tokyo proves that to go further and deeper, you sometimes have to slow down.
Checks and Balance
Louis Vuitton's latest fine jewellery range, Le Damier de Louis Vuitton, is inspired by the house's Damier check. Artistic director for watches and jewellery FRANCESCA AMFITHEATROF takes us through the process.
IN DAZZLING FORM
Powered by a new movement, the Asia Pacific exclusive editions of the Round Skeleton Baguette 31 editions by Franck Muller sparkle with baguette-cut diamonds or coloured precious gemstones.
A TIME FOR SQUARE
In October, Patek Philippe unveiled its first wholly new collection of timepieces in 25 years. Prestige Singapore was among the first in the world to see the Cubitus trio of timepieces and find out how they were created.
STILL THE ONE
With a distinctive design including an off-centre dial, outsize date and an asymmetrical layout, the Lange 1 stood out from the horological pack when it was launched in 1994. It continues to do so even today, three decades on.
