INFOIntroduction

New Taipei｜Fish Hostel Take a Free-Spirited Journey to Yingge Oh, you travelers who wander aimlessly to the ends of the world like a fish swimming the world’s oceans, where do you want to travel to today? Travelling wherever you will with your pack on your back, you arrive at the Yingge train station where, across the way, your eyes are drawn to a building with aquamarine blue window frames. That is the blue, the color of freedom, from which the home of a traveler is constructed - Fish Hostel. A traveler’s home, a rest station while journeying the world According to legend, a gigantic parrot roaming the blue skies once decided to settle on a mountain ridge in the western part of New Taipei City. The moment it perched itself, the story of “Parrot Brother Rock” (literal translation of 鸚歌石 Ying Ge Shi) was born and slowly passed on by word of mouth to one day become the “Oriole Song” (literal translation of 鶯歌 Ying Ge) we know today. Over the years, the traveler’s melody was added to the Oriole Song. Fish Hostel sits directly across from the Yingge Train Station, perfectly situated to welcome those drifting souls to take a rest along their journey. As you enter the main hall, a large tree limb is used as a merchandise display to the left side of the entrance. A variety of small products from far-off locations hangs from the branches. Available for purchase are ethnic clothing items with tribal designs, handmade jewelry, and much more. Your host Emma also loves travel, and has brought back a rich and diverse world with which to decorate Fish Hostel. “Since this is a traveler’s home, I wanted to give everyone a peaceful and comfortable feeling!” One entire wall on the first floor is covered in graffiti principally composed of blue and white colors, creating an ambiance of peace and harmony. The design was entirely created by Emma who gave life to her ideal through each brush stroke. Emma’s conviction is that, through her skillful creation, fish that once wandered to the ends of the world without a home now have a place to return to. She hopes to energize the travelers that come her way. A little backpacker’s abode built from bountiful graffiti Kicking off your shoes, you head upstairs where you find tidy rows of simple wooden bunk beds that have supported the travel dreams of travelers from around the world. Besides backpacker accommodations, Fish Hostel also offers two- and four-person rooms. The keyring for the room shows a fish swimming through a little heart, like a nimble fish which can, in the blink of an eye, bring you back to the Little Sun Room. The Little Sun Room has its own private balcony and ample comforting daylight. The light bathes the warm tones of the room in which the compelling breeze lightly sways your beautiful dreams. A hand-painted wall with ocean-blue as its base color leads you along to the Big Sun Room. The color designs lead you to the splendid yellow flowers blooming in the Big Sun Room, as if keeping watch over anyone who sleeps soundly in the two double beds. A soft, bright green floor mat covers the floor beneath the beds, to allow guests the utmost level of relaxation and enjoyment. ΙΧΘΥΣ is the Greek word for fish, as well as an important spiritual symbol for Fish Hostel. In the early days of Christianity, when believers were under persecution from the Roman Empire, they would use the Greek word for fish with graceful arcs drawn above and below as a secret sign to identify each other’s status as believers. “It is my hope that every traveler who comes to Fish Hostel can find companions that they are compatible with, as well as to be in the peaceful presence of Jesus.” Emma says that fish are just like our souls; we are all in the middle of a journey, step-by-step to complete our own lives. A traveler’s chance encounter leads to the completion of life Surprisingly, the multi-talented host of Fish Hostel, Emma, redid her university test in order to choose her beloved industrial arts design program. During her student years, she worked as a pottery teacher, using her income to accumulate an impressive store of travel memories from all over. Just like the rich and diverse decor of the living room, Emma used movement to fulfill her heart and spirit. During the summer break of her second year of university, she was an artist in residence in Jiufen. She met many friends thanks to that opportunity. “They were all doing what they wanted to do, and it showed me that life can be very simple.” After two months in residence, Emma had imagined her ideal blueprint for her life, and the dream of opening a guesthouse slowly started to sprout in her mind. She recalls, “I didn’t want to wait until some time in the distant future. I could do what I wanted to do even while I was a student.” After she had made up her mind, she rode all over on her scooter to find a location. She found it on day three. By day seven she had created her business plan! Her past travel experience along with her meticulous craftsmanship all helped to nurture the development of Fish Hostel! “Our lives are always full of speed and light, and Fish Hostel opens a little chink in that speed.” The walls are covered in passionate messages, as well as Emma’s own hand-drawn map of local travel spots, awaiting travelers to continue to add to the map. At Fish Hostel, travel is like an ongoing dialogue. At Fish Hostel, no matter what language is used, whether vocal or silent, whether the dialogue is outwards or inwards; souls that are in love with travel will continue to rush forth as if pushed by a warm current, hurrying onwards for the next ocean journey.