"atri's new Taiwan Page" a Taiwan Travel Page by atri

I'm planning to be back in Taiwan in the end of May, although not very sure about it because of all the immigration restrictions due to the situation with SARS virus.

I miss Taiwan, even though I was afraid to go there first time and felt always bored and depressed while there most of time....

anyway, as saying says: "the road will be overcomed by one who is walking"

so this is one of those times when I have to move on, walk the ROAD - proceed to certain physical destinations existing on this earth planet and in my heart, as well as to meeting ppl so important to me in my life, whom I haven't seen for very long time, again, due to my constant travell and life of wanderer... and I feel excited - strong and fresh again despite of almost 10 passed years of my life since I'd steped on the Road...

wish u all too to move on, to undertake some journey - at least into that wonderfull country inside ur heart what ppl call inner world... u don't need any visa to go there and it's free of charge !

meanwhile - c u around and happy journey! pls wish me the same....

sincerely
Atri

this old man was my host for almost 7 months while I was living in his house in small Yuan-Li town, Miao-Li county.

he does this business already more than 50 years - day after day, week after week, month after month .... making these typical chinese wooden steamers which u can see in any place where there is chinese community. They use these steamers to keep warm their famous white buns, chinese sort of bread stuffed with vegetables or whatever other stuff.

his son told me that old man used to supply his crafts all over Taiwan and even many countries abroad. now business reduced so much.

yet still old man continues his work, I believe not beacuse of money need - he has few children who live in Taipei and Taichung cities with their families, have good job which I'm sure is enough to help financialy their parents as well. they come to visit old man almost every weekend and of course on holidays... so he doesn't need to worry about money - that's for sure. he does this craftmanship simply to keep going, be engaged in some usefull job instead of being idle as most of men in his advanced age and even much younger than he. he is very active in general, doing most of work in their household of two as well as going shopping to the morning market , since his wife is quite ill and can't do much physical work.

I admire him forever as simple and honest man, not tall in height but big in heart, represantative of old generation of craftsmen who remain less and less nowdays. for me he is kind of symbol of honest work, self-sufficiency for me - in the sense that he depends on the results of his earning from his own production. I think he is typical example of a person common to any country or culture who say or about whom other say something like : "I have to hands and whatever I'd achived in my life is by using them".

I think I'll visit him, given a chance - I have developed sort of kinship or familiy relation with him, although we hardly spoke few words together (shame on me for my bad chinese !) he and his wife were totally sincere somehow managing to let me understand what they were trying to say - that I am and will always be welcomed to visit them anytime and stay in their house. I'm afraid though that time works against them and I may not see them anymore in this lifetime if I postpond my visit too for long....