Zhuhai Island Slow Living｜The Right Way to Embrace a Gap Year at 26

Leaving behind the concrete jungle of Chongqing, I escaped to the small island of Zhuhai to rejuvenate my body and soul at "Yinlan Baise." This "wabi-sabi healing retreat" features a rustic wooden café, a centuries-old kapok tree, and adorable pets, giving me the courage to finally "slow down" at the age of 26. 🏡 A Poetic Ode to Wabi-Sabi Aesthetics ▪️ The "Warmth of Home" in the Café The first-floor wooden space is filled with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the sweet scent of cinnamon. Sitting at the "old wooden long table," I write in my journal as sunlight filters through the curtains onto my notebook. I order a "White Peach Oolong Latte" (¥38), its creamy foam so delightful that I wish time could freeze. The walls display an "Island Life Photography Exhibition," with each photo narrating the "power of slowing down." ▪️ Timeless Moments Under the Kapok Tree Outside, a 300-year-old kapok tree serves as a "natural light filter." In the afternoon, I sit on a rocking chair under the tree, watching sunlight create "puzzle-like patterns" through the branches. A gentle breeze scatters a few fallen leaves, making me feel that "life's tranquility" is nothing more than this. I take out my sketchbook to capture the tree's silhouette, and "Conan," the corgi, comes over wagging his tail, adding a lively touch to the scene. 🐾 Daily Joys of Healing with Pets ▪️ The Adorable Duo: Conan and Watt The resident pets, "Conan" the corgi, wags his tail at everyone. Offer him a "dog treat" (available at the inn for ¥20 per pack), and he'll spin in circles. "Watt," the lazy cat, is always curled up by the window. A gentle stroke under his chin makes him purr contentedly. While petting them, the staff shares that "both were adopted," making the place feel even warmer. ▪️ Pet-Friendly Surprises The inn provides "pet water bowls," "cat scratching boards," and even a "pet bathing area." Guests vacationing with their furry friends can watch their cats sunbathe on the balcony or their dogs chase butterflies, truly achieving "human-pet mutual healing." 🌅 A Gap Year Diary of Island Life ▪️ Morning: Slow Moments Awakened by Coffee At 7:30, the chirping of birds in the kapok tree wakes me. A 5-minute walk to the beach reveals an "orange sea" sunrise. I collect a few shells to use as paintbrushes for sand art before returning to the inn, just in time for the café's "handmade croissants" fresh out of the oven. ▪️ Afternoon: A Reading Party Under the Tree I cuddle up with the inn's library book "Island" on a rocking chair, with Conan napping at my feet and Watt jumping onto my lap to join the fun. Sunlight filters through the leaves onto the pages, and as I read "we will eventually meet at the sea," I look up to see a distant fishing boat, feeling as if "the scene from the book has come to life." ▪️ Evening: Healing Conversations Under the Stars On weekends, the inn hosts "Island Salon" gatherings. Sitting under the kapok tree, we listen to a guitarist play "Rice Shop" and share our Gap Year stories. Some have quit their jobs to travel around the island, while others have disconnected from social media. It turns out "pausing" is never retreating but "recharging for a fresh start." 💡 Essentials for Gap Year Travelers ✓ Sketchbook + Colored Pencils (to capture island light and shadows) ✓ Pet Treats (to bond with Conan and Watt) ✓ Mosquito Repellent (a must for tree-side naps) ✓ A Free Spirit (to savor every sip of coffee and every flicker of tree shadows) Summary: Yinlan Baise taught me that "slowing down allows you to hear your own heartbeat." Here, time isn't meant to be "rushed" but "soaked in"—soaked in the aroma of coffee, the sway of tree shadows, and the companionship of pets. My 26-year-old Gap Year may be brief, but this "courage to slow down" will become a "safe harbor for the soul" when facing the chaos of life. Next time I return, I'll bring new stories to reunite with the timeless moments under the kapok tree.