WAGALIGONG

WAGALIGONG - Revised Draft
By Florian & Leonardo Santetti

Hualien, Taiwan | 15.11.2024

It’s incredible how, in the midst of traveling, two strangers can form a profound connection within hours, simply by sharing the same hostel.

During our chance encounter, we discovered shared passions: a deep love for history and a drive to express ourselves through art, each in our own medium. This serendipitous meeting led us to create something special: poetry and music born from our shared journey.

The inspiration for WAGALIGONG began with our mutual experience of being stoked in China due to a typhoon en route to Taiwan. It blossomed through our admiration for this “enchanted garden in the ocean,” our shared love for road trips (me on a scooter, him on a bike), the companionship of stray dogs, and the magic of a place called Dulan.

Dulan, on Taiwan’s stunning east coast, introduced me to Wagaligong, a unique surf community hostel. This romantic guesthouse and surf school, founded by the energetic duo Mark Jackson and Young Yi, became the heart of this creative process.

“Wagaligong” is a Taiwanese expression rich with meanings. It conveys excitement, surprise, disbelief, or the joy of sharing a revelation, all wrapped into a single phrase. It captures the essence of the moment.

In just two hours, we wrote together a song that celebrates Taiwanese culture, the freedom of the road, the camaraderie of the surf community, and the exhilarating spirit of adventure that only travel can bring.

We hope you enjoy this little creation, born from the serendipity of a shared journey.

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LYRICS | WaGaLiGong

Small town, with all you need
Slowing down, with a gentle breeze
See the mountains growing high
Feeling light, since the last goodbye

WAGALIGONG (My friend) I feel home again
WAGALIGONG (My friend) Free from all the pain
WAGALIGONG (My friend) I feel home again
WAGALIGONG (My friend) Hit the road again

Rice fields, across the streets
More colors than my eyes can keep
Feeding rain, and storm slow down
Hear a stray dog, welcome to town

WAGALIGONG (My friend) I feel home again
WAGALIGONG (My friend) after all the rain
WAGALIGONG (My friend) I feel home again
WAGALIGONG (My friend) speeding down the lane

(Solo music)

So many faces are here in town
Strangely familiar, though I’ve never been around
Catch the board, catch the waves
Hear the water, start living again

Start livin, start livin, start living,
start living again

Start livin, start livin, start living,
start living again

Start livin, start livin, start living,
start living again

Start living again

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WAGALIGONG | by Florian & Leonardo Santetti