00:06A ritual to ensure a safe and smooth journey.
00:10The crew of this traditional indigenous Dawu canoe, called a Dawu Tatala, is preparing
00:16to sail from Orchid Island off Taiwan's southeastern coast to the Botanist Islands in the Philippines.
00:46The voyage will cross 100 nautical miles, which is around the world.
00:51Around 185 kilometers across the Basia Channel, retracing an ancient sea route once traveled
00:57by the Dawu people.
01:05For generations, the Dawu have passed down stories of similar voyages, as well as intermarriage,
01:11migration and trade with the Ivatan people of the Botanist Islands.
01:15But it's been about 300 years since anyone has made the trip like this.
01:20Despite the windy and wet weather along with the strong waves, local villagers along with
01:25many tourists all showed up to show their support to the crew and the voyage, in their raincoats
01:30and with their umbrellas.
01:37The voyage is meant to strengthen long-standing cultural ties between the two island communities.
01:42Despite the distance between their islands, about 60% of their two languages are mutually intelligible.
01:50This Tatala is called the Ovayan Golden Friendship.
01:53It's a product of a team effort between six local villages.
01:58At 12 meters long, it can carry up to 20 people and is the largest traditional plank boat built by
02:05Orchid Islanders in the modern era.
02:07The meaning of what I mean is that we've been looking for the first island.
02:13This is the encouragement of the island, because we hope that the culture will continue to continue in the western
02:21world.
02:21Now, with prayers complete and the crew ready to set sail, it's a good voyage for those looking to brave
02:27the seas and reopen a maritime pathway,
02:30not traced for centuries.
02:32Fua Hong and Sunny Chi for Time Plus.
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