In this edition of Taitung Slow Proposal, we’re changing things up. Instead of interviewing long-term residents, we’ve turned our theme to “A Love in Taitung, Even When I'm Not There.”
We’re treating Taitung as a romantic partner, inviting voices from those whose hearts are connected to Taitung, even if their bodies aren’t always there. Together, they share their experiences of a “non-committed love affair” with this place.
We hope to bring you these love stories in a light, breezy tone—like love letters to Taitung. Put on your rose-colored glasses and fall in love with Taitung all over again!
Preface
心動指數
心動爆擊！暈船合理！你也為 了臺東心率不整嗎？這次邀請
與臺東有著淺薄到深厚關係的 受訪者、撰稿者，在訪談、撰
稿期間量測各自的心率。
一起來看看當提及「臺東」這
個對象，
將會激起什麼樣的波瀾各自心中的小小世界 ，以下
指數純屬參考，歡迎無限腦補，
對「愛」入座！
Heart racing, butterflies swirling—We asked our interviewees,whose relationships with Taitung range from fleeting to profound, to measure their pulses as they reflected on their love for Taitung. These love metrics invite you to imagine your own emotional connection!
“We’re in the ‘dating’ phase!” Dadado and PUZZLEMAN reflect on their budding connection with Taitung. Though still new and light, the pull of Taitung stirs that initial, intoxicating wonder—fresh, curious, and magnetic, like love’s first spark.
黃玠：夜貓遇上陽光派！無限擴充的約會時間
Dadado Huang : Night Owl Meets Sunshine! A Date in Taitung Feels Like Forever
PUZZLEMAN：我們之間，有著一見如故般的戀愛頻率 PUZZLEMAN : Our Instant Connection, A Love in Perfect Sync
Dating 愛情×連國輝×書籍推薦
Dating Love×Kuo-Hui Lien×Book Picks
夜貓遇上陽光派！ 無限擴充的約會時間 黃玠：
Dadado Huang : Night Owl Meets Sunshine! A Date in Taitung Feels Like Forever
In 2014, Dadado Huang and Suming co-wrote “Eastward Bound,” inspired by Dadado’s late-night ride to Doulan a decade ago. Despite his rare visits, Dadado finds peace in Taitung’s breeze, escaping his singer identity. Growing up, Taitung meant carefree summers, and now, it’s where nature’s power and tight-knit connections draw him back. Whether relaxing in Changbin or meeting new friends at the local bookstore, Dadado cherishes Taitung’s simplicity and pure joy.
No matter where he goes, Dadado Huang loves strolling past midnight to see the local nightlife. But in Changbin, the streets are empty after 8PM. To Dadado, Taitung is like a bright, carefree girl, always full of sunshine, waking him up with joyful shouts to come play. Even with no plans, just being with her makes it fun.
In Letter No. 71, Dadado reflects on how life in Changbin runs on favors, not money. Here, people exchange help, not cash. This entry captures the sweet, spontaneous moments he shared with new friends during his trip.
PUZZLEMAN : Our Instant Connection, A Love in Perfect Sync
有著一見如故般的戀愛頻率
2021 年，
在臺東設計中心邀請下，臺灣 Finger
Drumming 代表人物 PUZZLEMAN（ 以下簡稱
PUZZLE）漂流到了臺東，展開一場音樂採集計
畫「BEAT 東山海」。PUZZLE 將一路上採集到
的聲音以 Sampling（取樣）及 Finger Drum（手
打節奏）為創作，在一山、一海、 BEAT 的
相遇與激盪下，推出三首音樂回饋給臺東的
山、海、自然與人。
這幾年 PUZZLE 不時也會在社群分享與臺東的
朋友在海灘、部落裡 Jam（即興表演），我們
開始好奇，當年壁咚後的 PUZZLE 與臺東，產
生了什麼火花，似乎就這樣不謀而合、一拍即
合，開始了 Dating 狀態！時隔三年，我們再次
聯繫 PUZZLE 聊聊與臺東之間的這段超展開的 超友誼關係！
In 2021, PUZZLEMAN was invited by Taitung Design Center to embark on a sonic journey, capturing local sounds through sampling and finger drumming to create three tracks. Now, three years later, we reconnect with him to explore this uniquely evolving situationship with Taitung.
PUZZLE feels deeply connected to Taitung, visiting more than a dozen times in the past two years. It's like finding a rare, kindred spirit—aligned backgrounds, shared rhythms, an effortless harmony. Though from opposite coasts, he instantly knew: this place, this energy, was a perfect fit.
“I keep wanting to return to Taitung to record,” PUZZLE reflects, “because sounds can vanish if not captured.” This desire to preserve echoes the locals’ commitment to cultural heritage, bonding PUZZLE to Taitung. Instead of photos, he captures these moments through sound, jamming memories into melodies.
PUZZLEMAN often imagines intriguing sounds as melodies, tapping objects to explore their rhythms. Taitung’s natural sounds captivate him—each one inspiring creativity. This article highlights the places in Taitung that spark PUZZLE’s sampling and sonic exploration.
都蘭鼻 ①
PUZZLEMAN：
今年 5 月來都蘭跟「追風少女 FALI」
起創作，錄音那天，我們去了都蘭鼻，
一開始被小徑終點的那片海美到，後
來靜靜聽著追風少女介紹都蘭鼻，喜
歡上這個地方。都蘭鼻在阿美族稱為 Pacifalan」，除了是都蘭部落漁季和
海祭的祭場，也是阿美族人的傳統領
域，當天在這片海前聽著追風少女唱了
這段歌詞，真的是太喜歡了！
♫ malacafay kita tayra i pasawalian a riyar micelemay kita i riyar pingsiyang no a’mis ♫
Dating 愛情的指標人物， 令人聯想到美劇《 追愛總動員 》（How I Met Your Mother）中的巴尼一角，自製的搭訕手冊（Playbook）收錄所有他與女性攀談的搭 訕招數。同樣的情境放在臺東，大概就是能在山海各處捕獲野生國輝，正和茶農、 咖啡農們聊得超起勁，像極了戀愛初期總忍不住向對方展開身家調查（正經一點說
Since launching the "Red Oolong Tea Cooperative" in 2020, Kuo-Hui Lien's bond with Taitung has deepened. Expanding from tea to coffee, his research spans the Mountain Line, Coast Line, and South-Link. Kuo-Hui feels like he’s fallen into an endless whirlpool of knowledge about Taitung.
位二地居民們和跨越縣界通勤兩地的工作者， 一起聊聊各自的地方戀愛觀。比起移居、比起 一對一的固守承諾、比起 All in 在一個地方的感 情太單調無聊，也許若即若離對他們來說，情 感的維繫能更長久！
As we mature, we realize love comes in many forms. While typical romance is one-on-one, those who split their lives between two places may experience an “unconventional” love with Taitung. In this unit, we explore how these fleeting, comeand-go relationships might actually make emotional bonds last longer.
臺北↔成功，時差篇
Taipei ↔ Chenggong : Love Across Time
高雄↔卑南，離家篇
Kaohsiung ↔ Beinan : Finding Love Away
新北↔長濱，長大篇
New Taipei ↔ Changbin : Growing Up in Love
越線的戀愛關係，來回兩地工作的人
Crossing Boundaries : Love in the Rhythm of Two Cities
As a lifestyle journalist, I’ve explored countless cities and villages but never took time to truly experience Taiwan. Living between Taipei and Taitung has been eye-opening— time in Taitung just flows differently, making a whole day feel blissfully unplanned.
How does working between Taipei and Chenggong differ in terms of time flexibility?
In Taipei, I control my time, finishing tasks on schedule and exploring freely. In Taitung, time controls me things are unpredictable. Time is spent waiting, having long talks, or enjoying slow meals, often interrupted by spontaneous, fun events that everyone joins.
高雄
卑 南
Unconventional Love
高雄↔卑南 離家篇
Kaohsiung ↔ Beinan : Finding Love Away
原映像攝影工作室 / 林士哲
「原映像攝影工作室」的林士哲說：「我是一個坐不住的人。」平常住在高雄老家， 為了工作總在臺北、宜蘭間到處跑，擅於拍攝 Fine Dining、品牌形象與婚禮紀實。只 要沒工作，就會到臺東住，化身「有人在家」的民宿小幫手，「臺東是個可以讓我 離開家裡的地方」士哲為臺東下了這樣的定義。以不鎖門聞名的「有人在家」民宿， 主打不一定有人在家，卻也意味著任何人開門走進都能自在的當成自己家，對士哲 而言，從高雄到卑南，離家卻也回家。
Frankie Lin from “Stay Weird Photography” describes himself as restless. He splits his time between Kaohsiung, Taipei, and Yilan for work but always returns to Taitung when he’s free. For him, Taitung is the perfect escape from his busy city life.
Taitung has its own time zone. I love hearing, "Even when you're doing nothing, you're still doing something important." The connection here is just right people help when needed, without being too pushy or distant.
Kuan-Lou discovered Taitung during life’s darkest chapter, where solitude led him to rethink strained family ties and an unhappy self from New Taipei. Now in a “grown-up” phase, his bond with Taitung feels like a transformative love, teaching him the art of self-acceptance through change and growth.
What has been the biggest change in your life since living in Taitung?
Raised with strict discipline, I grew up hiding behind lies, dodging truth wherever possible. But Taitung taught me the power of honest words. When I began speaking openly, my family’ s responses remained the same, yet our connection improved magically simply because I had changed
For those traveling between Pingtung and Taitung or Hualien, crossing county lines isn’t just a physical shift—it’s a lifestyle change, full of unique stories that define their love for Taitung.
These two playlists are like a double album or a tape’s side A and B, each begins and ends with post-rock. The music feels like floating between two places, echoing the journey. With Indigenous Taitung artists and different versions of the same songs, the playlists resonate deeply.
Among those who’ve “dated” Taitung, some leave heartbroken, others move on. But here, “goodbye” isn’t about burned bridges; it’s a soft release, wishing each other joy and health. For these “exes”, Taitung remains a getaway.
Coobe：調成更好的自己，尋求復合的再次相遇！
Coobe : Let Me Become a Better Me, Then I'll Win You Back
但妳依舊是我的假期
張瑜庭：與曾經的靈魂伴侶分手，我已往前走 Yu-Ting Chang : Breaking Up with My Soulmate, But Moving On
汪仁傑：會走路的白榕，移植後的根仍在臺東
Ren-Jie Wang : A Walking Banyan — Roots Still in Taitung
那些我們帶著走的情感遺產 Emotional Keepsakes We Carry 不在場戀愛×吳俞萱×電影推薦 Absent Love×Yu-Hsuan Wu×Movie Picks
“Let me become a better me, then I'll win you back.” To Coobe, this isn’t just a breakup line—it’s genuine. An artist and bartender that is now based in Tainan, she holds a quiet dream of returning to open a café in Taitung. She’s in no rush; to Coobe, Taitung is a reliable partner, always there for her no matter the distance.
文／王淳慧、照片提供／ Coobe
在我的沒自信中，
加入一點開朗和溫柔
在 Coobe 的人生中，可以分成三個
階段 18 歲以前的彰化，18 歲以
後的臺東，此刻 25 歲的她，人生劇
本被安排到了臺南。在 18 歲到 25 歲
這段青澀、懞懂、卻也最毫無畏懼的
時期，Coobe 像是遇到一位長自己許
多歲、成熟且穩重的伴侶「臺東」，
領著她提起勇氣闖過生命中極其重 要的關卡。
「我從小對音樂很有興趣，但就只是
在家裡自己練習，直到來到臺東，在
鐵花村工作時同事鼓勵我上台表演，
我才真正開始有一些演出的機會，
這讓我更有動力的去練習吉他。」 不只是音樂，接觸咖啡和調酒也是
在臺東，在臺東的六年間，Coobe 遇
到了很多願意教她並鼓勵她的前輩， 可以很放心的探索任何自己有興趣
的事情。即便在彰化活了 18 年，但
Coobe 說自己開始長成被社會接受的 樣子，是在臺東形成的。很慶幸 18
歲的自己選擇了臺東，如果不是臺
東，自己可能不會像現在這樣溫柔、 開朗。
“Since childhood, music was just a private pursuit for me—until I worked in Taitung’s Tiehua Music Village and was urged to perform. This encouragement deepened my love for guitar, and here I also discovered coffee and mixology. Taitung shaped my kind, joyful self.”
Opening a shop has been Coobe’s dream, one she hopes to realize in Taitung someday. For now, she’s working in Tainan, aiming to gain skills before returning to bring her dream to life. To Coobe, Taitung feels more like family—forever there, no matter the distance.
Yu-Ting Chang : Breaking Up with My Soulmate, But Moving On
自由接案者瑜庭是個非常喜歡逢人就塞小禮 物給你的人，包包裡隨時放有來自臺東的好 物。即便離開臺東，將前往人生的下一個階 段，但這個曾經的靈魂伴侶 DNA 還是在她 身上，現在時常來往於臺灣各處的她仍會隨 身攜帶臺東好物與大家分享，繼續向外擴散 臺東的好。
Freelancer Yu-Ting always has Taitung treasures stashed in her bag, ready to share everywhere from Taipei to Kaohsiung. Even as she moves on, her “soulmate” Taitung stays close, spreading joy through every shared gift.
“To me, Taitung was all about ‘firsts’!” Yu-Ting says. It was here she first learned to drive, to dive solo at Green Island, and to soak in life’s rhythms by the sea. Like a first love, Taitung walked beside her through every new experience— even through her lowest moments.
② 自我懷疑，是不是做錯選擇了 ① 從雀躍到不捨，難以消化的情緒 ③ 接納過往的一切，繼續向前走 分手後的三階段
When Yu-Ting first decided to leave Taitung, she felt excited about the future. But once she actually left, it hit her like a breakup after five years together. She cycled through emotions, drowning in love songs and tears.
今年，瑜庭告別了臺東，但包包裡仍隨時放有臺東好貨， 只要遇到朋友，就會大肆分享臺東好物，發自真心、語帶 神氣地拍胸脯說：「是不是很讚！我跟你說這是臺東的 OO 品牌」。在未來的人生裡，臺東這個靈魂伴侶的 DNA 也會 永遠在她身上，繼續將臺東的好向外擴散。
Unlike those who left Taitung disappointed, Yu-Ting parted with a heart full of love. Even back in Kaohsiung, her bag’s stocked with Taitung treats she shares proudly, spreading Taitung’s essence wherever she goes. Taitung’s spirit remains her “soulmate,” echoing in every shared moment.
Growing up, I moved nearly ten times and switched five schools in Taipei, making “home” a vague concept, more habit than meaning. High school opened my eyes to Taiwan’s nature, and I soon found myself drawn to life beyond the city, especially the southeast’s lush landscapes and climate. Those early impressions sowed seeds for my eventual move southeast.
Life brought unexpected shifts two years ago, making farewells a lesson to learn. Driving through Doulan one day, I met a friend moving out of her home in Manzhou. She suggested I take over the place, and a night there was all it took. By May, I’d packed up books and specimens, loaded up the Delica, and headed for my new Hengchun Peninsula home.
Thanks to family and friends who helped me settle in, I can now fully embrace quiet mornings—gathering wood, cooking, and feeling rooted yet free. Unlike past moves that meant starting fresh, this one simply expanded my world. I’m now just a short drive from Doulan Mountain and Flowing Lake, able to explore without leaving anything behind.
Leaving Taitung, what do you miss the most? Here, three who’ve left reflect on the keepsakes—tangible or intangible—that they cherish, yet had to leave behind.
TV host and writer Miranda Lu frequently shares snapshots of Taitung’s beaches, mountains, and food online. Curious about her love for Taitung, we delve into how this indescribable “love story” started and what keeps her returning, spellbound.
TV host and writer Miranda Lu and her husband often zip from Taipei to Taitung, as if it were the neighboring city. Visiting for over 20 years, Miranda still finds Taitung full of surprises. This place seems to hold a mysterious allure that pulls her back time and again.
Every visit, Miranda has a few Taitung must-dos: favorite spots and flavors that define her return. Objectively, they may not be “the best,” but there’s an inexplicable attachment that draws her back to these places and tastes. This time, we’ve captured her list of unmissable Taitung delights.
