A special day for mother - Yunlin 媽媽的故鄉-雲林

When we got up the air very clear: We had a local breakfast with Taiwan coffee then we decided to go for a walk. We had the choice of two different walkway paths. One was the Literature walkway path and the other the Coffee walkway path. During the daytime, hoards of people make the trip up the mountain to eat breakfast, or just enjoy the atmosphere.

We walked on both sides of the Literature Walkway, there we saw the twelve megaliths on which the manuscripts and works of famous writers, from Yunlin County, are engraved to correspond with the surrounding landscape of mountains and rivers. We completed the Literature walkway path. We then decided to follow the Coffee walkway path.

The scenery is fantastic but the path is quite steep, however it is worth the effort for the sheer beauty. We saw coffee trees on the sides of the walkway path. It was a sunny day but we walked through the shaded betel palm tree forest. The wildlife is spectacular, especially the brightly colored butterflies. It is a lovely peaceful town. My mother bought some home grown orange and waterlilies. From there we drove back to home.

A special day for mother - Yunlin 媽媽的故鄉-雲林

On the second day of the Lunar New Year it is the time for married woman to return to their natal home. We awoke early so that we could return to Yunlin, my mothers birthplace. We were invited, by my mother's brother and his wife, to a restaurant for lunch.

On the way to the Linnei Township in Yunlin County, wthe traffic was very heavy and the roads were jammed. So instead of taking about one and a half hours for the journey the time was doubled and took three hours for us to arrive at the restaurant. My mum's brother and his wife and their children were pleased to see me as we had not met for a long time. In the restaurant two tables had been set to accomadate the twenty guests expected.

The food took about fortyfive minutes to prepare but it is well worth the wait as it is really delicious. This is one of my favourite restaurants and the food is always excellent. After lunch we went to my uncle's home, where my mother grew up. The house has changed a lot but the rice fields, around the house, are still being farmed. For one hour we all chatted and time passed quickly as the talk was so entertaining.

We then went to the Gukeng Green Tunnel it is two kilometers long and mango trees, aged about fifty years, provide a green canopy over the road. This gives a nice shaded area and we strolled along, which was very relaxing, as we explored the food markets along our route. We also tasted some of the food, probably too much.Next was a drive to the Bed and Breakfast (B+B) on Huashan Mountain, which is 1304 metres high. The Huashan area is Taiwan's best-known coffee-growing region . After settling in at the B+B, we wnet out for a local dinner and watched the lights of the nearby towns and cities. We also saw firework displays from the mountain. The view was stunning. It was a clear night. My sister, Wan Yu, saw "The Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper" in the sky, then told us, it's the Dipper, it was the first time I had seen it and it was fantastic.

Lunar New Year - A day of peace and tranquility

Today is the First day of the Lunar New Year; My parents, two sisters and I visited the Wunchang Temple and Mazu Temple, in Taichung, to attend the New Year services, held this morning. There we pray for a good year which belongs to the OX. It was very crowded but even more so inside but it was done in an orderly and graceful manner.

Then we visited another temple in the Sioushuei Township. This is a 40 minute driving from Taichung City. There my female cousin (my father's brothers daughter) is a Buddha nun. We arrived at this amazing Buddhist temple, Cosmos, the fields of flowers at the front made a very nice picture.

When we entered the temple, everyone is smiling and holding red candles. The sweet smelling scent of the burning incense sticks and the heavenly mixed sounds of Buddha music and the buddhist nuns singing made an everlasting impression. My parents are very sincere worshippers of Buddhism and I am always amazed at how they carry out the steps of their worship to exact detail.We spent fifteen minutes praying for peace, health and prosperity. After that we admired the architecture and decoration of the temple. It was truely a memorable and heart warming ceromony.

Lunar New Year family party

After an early breakfast my parents, my sister, Wanyu and I went to the Temple of the Land God to offer our prayers and receive blessings. When we arrived back home, my other sister Nico and arrived from Taipei so we could all eat lunch together.

The biggest event of all Lunar New Years is the New Year Eve dinners. The families hold it as a reunion celebration. I really looked forward to this as I had not been to one for twelve years. We went to my grandmother's home. I noticed on the journey, a thirty minute drive, that the district, in three years, has changed considerably. Several large building can now be seen.

It is good to see my grandmother, who is 101 years old, even if she cannot rememer me. At least she is in good health. I am glad that, after two years away, I can now spend the Lunar New Year celebrations with all my family and relatives.

At our Lunar New Year's Eve dinner there were too many dishes to mention. All were very good and we can thank my mum, my auntie and the wifes of two of my cousins, as they prepared all the food. All excellent Cooks.

During the meal we watch the firework displays. My aunt put coal into a pot, under the dining table.Afeter the meal we were all full-up sp decieded we needed some exercise. My cousin as a Wii game, with a sports disc. It was good fun. I played tennis but I am not a good player. It was funny and we were all laughing. My cousins two children showed up their paintings. Lovely pictures with big smiling faces. Everyone had a good time.

Spring Couplets - Desires and Objectives

My dad is hanging Spring Couplets

During the Lunar New Year celebrations families are busy pasting spring couplets to their front doors. My father thinks that calligraphy is an elaborate art of writing. He writes spring couplets every Lunar New Year. They generally consist of lucky words and short poems. On creating them he and my sister, Wan Yu, hang them one the sides of the gateway. (Pictures 1).

We visited my grandmother's home and saw many large pieces of red paper embellished with beautiful Chinese calligraphy, written by my cousin. These had been pasted on the walls and doors. (Pictures 2-3)

Every family decorates their walls and doors, with spring couplets, to reflect that families own interests, hobbies, culteral tastes, goals and offering good wishes.

Childhood memories兒時回憶

My parents and I are very busy preparing for the Lunar New year! Yesterday my father, sister WanYu and I visited the house of my aunt and uncle. We take gifts to relatives and friends for the Lunar New Year, plants, flowers or food. It is nice to chat with my relatives and see them as I remember them before I left to complete my education. I spotted a little wooden rocking horse (picture attached) and I had vague memories of riding it when a small child. I asked my aunt if I had played with it as a child and she confirmed that both my sister and I use to ride the rocking horse. The horse is fortytwo years old. In my mind I can imagine myself riding now.

Green Tea Treat 清香綠茶味

Yesterday my sister, WanYu, arrived home from Taipei rather than Friday. The traffic on Friday will be extremely busy, many traffic jams, as people return home to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Before returning home Wanyu called in to see my other sister, Nico, who works at Pekoe in Taipei. While there she bought two cakes one chocolate cake and the other green tea cake. I had some of the green tea cake, it is so lovely and very elegant indeed. There was a really fresh green tea flavour to the cake. Most delicious.

A beautiful morning 美好的早晨

We arose at 6am and went for a walk around the Taichung Metropolitan Park 臺中都會公園. As we walked the cool, fresh morning air, was enjoyable and refreshing.

As we walked through the park we noticed turtles sunbathing on the rocks below. It was heaven, a natural sight as if the family of turtles were there on holiday. My mother said that she had watched the turtles laying their eggs.

The trees, in the park, are full of birds singing their morning chorus. Unfortunately, I forgot my hearing aid so I could not listen and identify the bird's song.We were walking in the park for 3 hours. A most enjoyable time spent with parents and nature.

Morning Market 晨間市場

My parents set off, from home, at 6:30am for the Shueinan Market 水湳市場. A typical Taichung large morning market. It is a 10 minute drive to reach that market. The morning market allows you to buy fresh produce be it: vegetables, fruit, or livestock such as chicken. There are a lot of vendors, of all ages, selling their goods and therefore the market is very busy as people are looking for fresh and cheap produce.

It is a busy time here, presently, as people are preparing for the on-coming Lunar New Year. They are making new clothes, decorating their homes, preparing food and buying presents. Parents being parents mine returned from the market with lots of fresh vegetables and meats so they can spoil me while I am still staying with them. God bless mothers...

Postman's Knock 郵差來敲門

I was planning to take a coach to my hometown Taichung City, but my friend Wei said his wife wants to go to my hometown to buy Taro cakes, Sun cake for Lunar New Year, because there are very famous bakeries here. These specialties with delicate gift boxes, are good for giving gifts for the Lunar New Year.

Wei gave me a lift to my home, it took 2 hours from his home. I asked my sister WanYu to keep my parents at home to wait for me. They did not realise I had arrived in Taiwan early. My sister said to my parents, please wait at home for a post parcel, but it's not really a post parcel, it was me. When I rang the door, I saw my father's huge surprise on his face. He had to come from the third floor to the ground floor. He said he thought it was a postman. He was going to say to the postman, I'm coming down, I'm coming down, please wait, but he heard no response from the postman, until he saw me. He had such a huge surprise, because he said he felt like sending me from UK to here by email though the computer, hahaha. He called mum down and said that our son is here now. Mum was on the 3rd floor when she said to him, which son? We only have one son. She came down and got a big surprise too. It was well fun! My friend and his wife said to me, Kai you are a naughty boy!

Then we went out for lunch not far from my home, Wei's wife said you are lucky as you live in such a good place, easy to get what you want, to eat, shopping. We ate a lot and I was very pleased to eat Taiwanese local food here again. Then they went back home.

I am in Taiwan 終於回到臺灣ㄌ

My flight to Taiwan was fine but 18 hours duration. Luckily I had a seat for the upper deck. To pass the time I read, watched in-flight movies and had a nap. Wei, his wife and son collected me at the airport. Which they live near to. I am staying at their home. I met Wei at a university. I bought his son some chocolates (personally I don't like chocolate).

At the moment I am having difficulty in sleeping, probably due to "jet lag". Tomorrow I will take a coach to my hometown. My parents will be suprised as they thought that I was not leaving the UK until 22nd January.

Picture: This is the view from my friend's home