As my companions’ “ooohs” and “aaahs” synchronized with the sloshing sounds of the rapids of the Tibiao River, I stared at the blue sky while my tube swirled me endlessly. Lying relaxed, I let the movement of the water send my consciousness to a Zen state of mind. Occasionally, I would look ahead to see the nearing rapids. Our guide would holler “hold on” further up the stream to let us know we were approaching what they referred to as the “washing machine zone.” Every time we passed a rapid, I would hear my friends Karla and Erica’s crescendoing voices—that time in a chorus of joyous yells.

As I stared at the carved maxim of the three wise monkeys pinned on an overhead panel at Tōshō-gū, the proverbial mantra it personifies was made apparent to me almost immediately: “See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.” Recognizing where I stood at that very moment, surrounded by temples—concealed under a canopy of autumn leaves—I could not fathom how any of my senses could conjure a negative energy.

My memory of this vibrant neighborhood of Tainan revolved around the pleasing smile of Emily—the EVA Air manager who traveled with our small media group to Taiwan. Mirroring the captivating cobalt art installations at Blueprint Culture and Creative Park, her stares rapid-fired into me with invisible arrows, arresting my full attention. To save myself from (an expected) heartbreak, I remembered ignoring her as we crossed the street by focusing my eyes on the vibrant wall paintings adorning the side of the buildings nearby.

Cebu Pacific Air’s “Juan For Fun” is a premier backpacker challenge designed specifically for university students. Over the years, the program has evolved from an Amazing Race-style adventure into a profound platform where participants not only discover the wonders of travel but also use their journeys as a springboard to spread meaningful advocacies, understand different cultures, and broaden their personal horizons.