A prayer for good health and peace...

Days in Taipei, travelling by the MRT route, by the public buses,stopping at different places....

Heading to STARbucks in XingMeng Ting every evening to pen down my thoughts and experiences on my travel journal, reading my book, soaking up the warmth in the cafe and the aroma of my coffee...stop and listen to songs so sincerely sang by the buskers... before heading back to my hostel (it's just one stop away from my hostel)

It has become my routine here. Travelling at a very leisure pace at this moment, learning that it is okay to be enjoying myself...

It is 2.30 am now but I am so happy being able to update my blog... take care, my friends.

on the way walking to Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall, these young school boys were guarding as Traffic Controller for their schoolmates. The main gate of this school faces the main road. They stood dutifully and proudly with a black & yellow metal pole and act like a barracade or traffic guardiance' It was after school time.

he happened to look back when I was trying to take his back shot.~_~

The calligraphy '博爱' (Universal Love) by Sun Yat-Sen, the Father of The Nation.Sun Yat-Sen used "universal love" as one of the foundations for his idea of Chinese democracy. I respect this leader a lot, the first president and founding father of the Republic of China.

TianXingGong (天行宫) * A very popular temple among the Taiwanese. Many go there,queued up to get blessings and also have their future related by fortune tellers. It was very peaceful there despite the crowd.Everyone maintain maximum silence to their best. The quiet and stillness much needed when offering prayers for loved ones. I offered prayers for my family and friends there too.

devotion comes from dilligence

 

our Chinese root ...

Of plum blossoms and the sun...

T

Took a bus out of Taipei City on Thursday (21 Feb) to Yangming Shan. It cost just TWD30, about S$1.30 to the mountain area. On this day, Mr Sun finally showed off some of his mighty rays, casting gingerly through the bus windows.The Taiwanese in the bus cheered and some clapped! It has been cloudy and raining on some days. Though it drizzled throughout, it was not cold but quite comfortable. Dear Mr Sun, please shine more on us!

 

plum blossoms blooming everyone in Yangming Shan! They are really pretty!

Capture, capture! Captivating and so uplifting for the spirit, these flowers.

I wish I have a longer lens to just zoom in on the flowers on the bride's hair, her flowing veil and the docile delicate plum blossoms.

Did an unexpected short hike up 500 flights of steps in the forest to the top of one of the mountain. Descend by walking down the curvy road and came across this nameless shop selling noodles. It's full of flowers. The vegetable noodle soap is covered with heaps of fresh green spinach,carrots, cabbages and sea weed.Reminds me of the healthy food in REAL FOOD at ClarkeQuay, Central

And this is the view from where I was sitting, sipping in the noodles, warming my stomach. I sat there for a long time, listening and looking the swaying movement of the trees when the strong wind blow, the glistening on the tips of the leaves from the raindrops each time they move. Almost heaven....

 ponder with the blossoms

.

Shifting of perspective....

Finally tried to copy some of the pictures from my camera SD card onto the desktop of the guesthouse laptop. Taipei has been easy to travel, great transport system, very good service from the people, from the aunties selling noodles to the people at the MRT, trains (TRA) and Bus stations. Even people you meet on the street are quite helpful and easy to talk to. Taiwanese do not naturally start conversations but once started, they are quite friendly. Very Asian in all of us.

Last night, the 2 young ladies from Beijing who shared the same dorm room as me were back real late. It was their last night in Taiwan and they had been busy getting all the stuff they need. The things are much cheaper here than in China due to the higher tax.

Zhao Wei {曹伟}shared quite a bit of the Chinese culture as we started chatting. She was quite apologetic for the loud and rude behaviours of Chinese. 

I shared with her my unpleasant first brush with some mainland Chinese tourists when I was at the National Palace Musuem,and the Sun Yet San Memorial Hall earlier that day.

There were hordes of Chinese tourist groups and they spoke real loudly, almost shouting to one another across the room.I got quite a shock when a lady shouted near my ear to her companion across the hall. I was being shoved aside out of the blue when I was stamping a chop from the museum on my journal book.

Had a rude shock after experiencing much pleasant orderliness and patience from the Taiwanese, my first thought was, 'Must be Chinese from mainland.' True enough, a group start gathering the small stand, literally oblivious to me trying to stamp the chop, not even waiting. I actually blurted, 'Can't you wait?' to deaf ears and blank faces. Have to prepare myself mentally before China in July...

Zhao Wei was apathethic and she agreed to the rowdiness of Chinese at home and overseas. She apologised and hope foreigners like me can give Chinese time to change. She too is not proud of their behaviours as she witness how they were where sight seeing in Taiwan. However, Zhao Wei and her friend are the rare Chinese I got to know. They have been very considerate when sharing the dorm room, whispering in the morning as they woke real early that day, so as not to wake me up. I was already half awake.They did not even switch on the small lamp next to each bed so as not to disturb me.

Zhao Wei mentioned her friend's plight when she was studying overseas. When the floor has been dirtied, the friend's uni-mates will first think it was done by her. Zhao Wei then shared the reason why Chinese are so self-focused and always aggressively fighting for themselves. The Cultural Revolution have caused so much harm and torture to the Chinese psychologically and socially. The 10 years China suffered under the revolution had pulled her people regressively almost two decades. People learned to be thinking and fighting for their own needs. She however, stresses that the younger generation of Chinese like her are changing and different. She hopes we can give China time, a lot of time to change. Her sharing shifted my perspective and help me see through her, China's hope is in the young generation to be more cultivated, open hearted and keen to change for the better. 

Zhao Wei and her friend did still prepare me to be more aggressive when in Beijing. ~_~

"Must '争取' fight for yourself!" They joked half seriously. How small can the world be when I learned that they were both teachers, and Zhao Wei's sister is a Special Ed teacher. Both of them joined teaching immediately after graduation. However, they both major in Film Literature.So they laughed when I told them I was in the Film& TV production line for many years before switching to Special Ed.

So Zhao Wei gave me her number and asked me to contact her when I arrive in Beijing. 'It will be easier for you if I can bring you around, cos you know Beijing people are...' 

"Dont worry. I will prepare myself mentally to 争取 (fight for myself)!" and we both laughed. 

We continued to chat till 2 in the morning. Thanks my new found friends, for helping me to look at your people from a different and more tolerant viewpoint. Mankind will benefit if we can always shift our view a little sometime, zooming in,zooming out, moving a little of our lenses can make human relationship so much better.

 

Tanshui 淡水 

This is the northern coast of Taipei.It was quiet when I was there early in the morning. Can be reached by taking the MRT from Taipei Main Station (near to FlipFlop Guesthouse)all the way to the end of green line.Takes about 25 mins to reach there.

Tanshui 淡水 * Quiet moment

School students * Attire in the cold season

Men's Hairstyling Salon * Self-Reflection

2 Great Men of China * Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) and Sun Yat-Sun (孫中山)

I really like this painting of a rare photo of these 2 great men together.

Sense of familiarity

Taking the bus from Taipei Taoyuan Airport to Taipei city is a bliss.
Things work efficiently here. Took the bus with the cheapest ticket (90TWD / S$4) to Taipei Station (mrt) in the city. A Taiwanese man seemingly in his 50s boarded 2 stops after the airport. He greeted New Year greetings in Taiwanese hokkien to the driver uncle. I felt a sense of familiarity and at home immediately. I am Hokkien. 

It was a 10 to 15mins walk to my hostel. Generally, Taiwanese don't really give strange look to this tiny lady with her 45l backpack on her back. It pleases me when I notice that all the people in the crowd are Asian (mainly Taiwanese, of course). Hardly any western expatriates seen as like in Singapore or cities in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. 
It does take long for one to be impressed by the Taiwanese sense of civil mindedness. 
Everyone stand on the right-hand side while using the escalator. Young and old.
They line up in a line along the marked line while getting ready to enter a train. It just work faster that way. And, Taipei is truly a clean and enviromentally friendly city. Every where you see recycle bins with a bin just for garbage. My fellow Singaporeans have lots to learn from our neighbour.

Taipei Mrt system works systematically and efficiently. The train interior is also quite similar to Singapore's. The train route covers more area, in different directions. Very well colour-coded and easy to understand for a blur-queen like me. Today is the second day I'm here and I am already understanding the way to navigate and pay via the Mrt. I am now just travelling very leisurely at my own pace. I am looking forward to taking a train to Ping Xi for the Lantern Festival. Ping Xi is a small town about 2 hours away from Taipei.

Weather is comfortably cold but the wind can be chilly and it gets colder as it progresses to night. Today, as I took the MRT, I dozed off during part of the journey. That moment, I felt like I had dozed off in Singapore Mrt on my way to school. This sense of familiarity is quite welcoming. I had been to Ching Kia-Shek Memorial Hall, Ximeng Ting, TanShui and ShiLin. Tomorrow, I shall be taking a short trip to Yangmin Shan, away from Taipei city.

I would love to upload some pictures but may have to do it in an internet cafe. The computers in the hostel have their USB locked. 

It has been pleasant so far in this familiar land. ~_~

A single step is all it takes...

So here it is. My first step unto fufilling my dream... in a few hours time.

The Chinese New Year weeks were busy but so much fond memories... time with family... meals with friends... happy feasting and sharing.

My heart is filled to the brim with so much unconditional help, assurance, good wishes and love from my family and the small group of close friends. I am leaving with mixed emotions, excitement and anticipation, missing my family and friends already.

In the span of short few days, I recieved so so much from family and friends...

Recieved Shin's book by Paul Theroux and an interesting illustrated card she did and experimented with snow. Of course the set of heat-tech garments from UNIQLO will keep me warm during the cold weather. Most of all, I got to meet Pek Ha, Shin's mum who so kindly meet me and drove me to where I am supposed to meet my friends for dinner. I was really happy to see her glowing and put on some weight, healthy and happy. When she gave me a tight hug before we seperate, I almost teared. I wish Pek Ha good health and youthful spirit always. ~_~

Ann-chi and Germaine gave me 2 packs of travellers' body wash and shampoo with conditioner, in paper form. Real compact and clever. And a loud red safety alarm which beats the whistle that I packed. Another heart-warming time with the ladies again (yes...Mama Pat and Lisa too). We had a special guest this time, Seetha! As usual, we took a long time to part, standing in circle talking somemore, in the toilet, in the empty mall...

And Peggy, my dear dear friend and the one who inspire me so much with her life... You are missed dearly. I know you are watching over me from heavens. Thanks!

My sisters and hubbies gave me a hat which fits my small head and gives very good shade. "Will be great for your farming." How ideal! It is a very lovely earth-coloured one, with UV protection. Japanese designed and I simply love it. My brother and wife gave me a turtle neck warmer-top from MUJI. His wife, Kelly passed me a red packet from the temple. "For good luck and protection."

And yes, little brother Wee and wife, Jo gave me a travel journal to pen my thoughts and experiences.

My siblings and their spouses helped me so much with my flat, my getting ready for my trip... the list goes on. I really cannot do it without them.

Friends... I am lucky, so lucky and blessed to have friends like them:

Yanee tried real hard to squeeze time to meet up for breakfast and send me her wishes and real delicious (and expensive) cupcakes. ~_<

Then I recieve a sling bag from Nur, who had earlier passed me her Olympus Pen; a purple shawl from sweet Marina... seeing Geok Choo again and yes, a great surprise indeed. Meeting beautiful Lydia and Zie with her baby Arshaq....great time sharing each other's presence and dreams...Bee Leng, you are there in spirit. Ha ha!

Helen passed me her Swiss knife much to my pleasant surprise. Mine is not working too well.

I was litterally brimming in my heart and spirit with their sharings and love.

And, to end the night yesterday, I recieved a surprise call from Shin. My eyes feel quite teary listening to Shin's voice so close and warm, despite us being oceans apart. From the bottom of my heart, I wish her and hubby the very best in their life in UK.

It did not stop here... a few hours ago, Norlinah called me and made me miss her silliness and nonsensical chit chat. Kawan, you always make me laugh.

My mother, the one who live her life just for her children so unconditionally.
I know I have caused her much worries whenever I travel. This time, she is worried as how mothers will, but she never uttered any negative words. She is still her usual self, giving, helping and loving me in her quiet dilligence.

I often travel with some adventure and sometimes, ventured into some risky places and incidences. It must be the prayers and good wishes from my mum, family and friends which keep me safe all this while.

This time, I will be more mindful and safe, for my mother.

I love these words and wishes from Sharifah, which I am bringing with me as a constant reminder and guidance.

"In everything you do, have a purpose,
Prepare to pursue with a prayer,
Ask for guidance, protection & direction,
Give thanks to answered prayers,
Have faith in your ability to succeed,
Be positive & never look back.

If you keep all this in your mind, you won't wrong."

To Mom, my family and friends (many of whom I just could not list), and the kind parents of my students, I pass these wise words and wishes to you.

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

 * pardon my long entry today... see, I'm filled to the brim, no... overflowing with love from so many people. ~_~

Very thoughtful & useful gifts from the ladies.

Feel so loved when I recieve this from dear Shin... all the way from UK.