Thomas Moore--Thur Morning

Woke up this morning around 6am in Taroko National Park and sat outside. There the quiet is never full, a silence that is never silent; the constant drone of bugs blending in to the background, birds talking amongst themselves, a breeze playing lightly with the full and green leaves. And slowly the cabin doors begin opening, people emerge. A mother walks around holding her still sleeping child. An older woman stretches in the shade of three trees. A father and son return from bug catching, bamboo handled nets in hand, bug box slung over the boys shoulder. It is empty, but he chatters to his father with an enthusiasm that can only be from a child.

Today we will tour the park and see some amazing sights. But, this morning, in the quiet and silence that was never complete, as the sun peaked its way over the surrounding mountains, I saw a simple beauty that will always remain ineffable.