Coffee and Grace at the Ideal Store

#2026-0415

Today, Jean and I shared a brief but meaningful coffee hour at Starbucks “Ideal Store” with the Rev. Minglong Wu and his wife, Ms. Xiaolan Lao.

They have both been very busy in recent weeks, so we were especially glad that, after our invitation, they were able to find a little time to join us. Over coffee, we enjoyed a quiet and refreshing time of conversation outside the church.

We are truly grateful for their gentle guidance in our spiritual lives. In such simple moments—often through private conversations—we have come to understand more deeply what it means to grow into sincere and faithful Christians.

It was, in its own way, a small hour of both coffee and grace.

May the Lord continue to bless them with wisdom and love, with health and joy, and with every good gift from above.

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相關文章 (See also)：

1)  The Ideal Store of Starbucks     (2024)

2)  星巴克．花蓮理想門市     (2024)

3)  再次造訪「星巴克理想門市」     (2025)

4)  墾夢莊園（新光兆豐農場）     (2023)

蓮城蓮花園

#2026-0410

蓮城蓮花園

Liancheng Lotus Garden

A Hidden Floral Paradise beneath Mount Qilai

（奇萊山下花之秘境）

地址 / Address: No. 66, Nanhua 5th Street, Ji’an Township, Hualien County (花蓮縣吉安鄉南華五街66號)

開放時段 / Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

關於蓮城蓮花園  / Notes on the Lotus Garden:

Covering about one hectare, this is the largest lotus-growing area in eastern Taiwan. The ponds are fed by fresh spring water from Mount Qilai (奇萊山), creating a clean and refreshing environment for the lotus.

More than 60 varieties of lotus are cultivated here, each with its own color and delicate fragrance. During peak season, thousands of lotus stems can be harvested each day. The garden’s owner was honored in 2002 with the “Top Ten Outstanding Young Farmers” award.

Contrary to the common image of lotuses growing in muddy water, the ponds here are supplied with clear, cool mountain spring water—so pure and refreshing that visitors are even welcome to soak their feet in it, free of charge.

One of the most soothing pleasures here is simply listening to the sound of flowing water. An irrigation channel runs alongside the garden, and the lively rush of the stream creates a natural, rhythmic sound.

Close your eyes for a moment and listen—the steady, flowing sound seems to carry your worries away, as if they are drifting downstream toward the sea.

The ideal time to visit the garden is between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM. Lotus flowers follow a unique daily rhythm: they open their petals in the daylight and gradually close again toward evening, returning to a bud-like shape. If you are not aware of this natural cycle, you might easily think the flowers have not yet opened.

You can also enjoy a pot of lotus tea along with lotus petal crackers—light, crispy, and gently sweet. A pack of seven crackers costs NT$100. Dried lotus flowers are available as well, making lovely souvenirs or small gifts. These locally produced items are perfect for both personal enjoyment and sharing with friends.

In the quiet of the lotus ponds, time seems to slow down. Whether watching the blossoms open beneath the soft daylight or listening to the steady flow of water nearby, one cannot help but feel a sense of calm. It is a simple place, yet it offers a quiet reminder of how nature, in its own rhythm, brings peace to the heart.

附近景點 / Nearby Attractions: 

• "Fenglin Trail (楓林步道)" 
• "Baiyun Trail (白雲步道)" 
• "Chuying Water Ecological Park (初英親水生態公園)" 
• "Chuying Cycling Trail (初英親山自行車道)" 
• "Ji’an Qingxiu Monastery (吉安慶修院)"

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相關文章 (See also)：

1)  楓林步道、白雲步道     (2022)

2)  回程     (2022)

3)  Lotus Flowers (荷花)     (2020)

4)  實景詩：《水也見證》     (2026)

5)  An Outing: Matai'an Wetland     (2025)