Sunday week 4, April 17

Arriving London Heathrow at 5 in the morning is not so exciting. We got the feeling that temperature is not what is was in Taiwan and Hong Kong. our first instinct wa to return on the first possible plane. At the arrival in Gothenburg we were greeted by our dearest after 4 weeks out in the Far East, a memory for life !

This Bloog is in no way completed but will be refined as we now have more time to add material.

A deep Thank you ! to all our new friends in Taiwan ! You have all invested your valuable time in showing the great hidden treasures of your country and the good cause in Rotarys VTT program.

Frida & Sten-Ake

Saturday week 4, April 16

Full day in Hong Kong. Lots to see in this amazing town. But also the first day in 4 weeks without a program and time to sleep in as long as you wanted. Frida on the roof, 41 floor of our hotel.







Today we went to see the biggest Buddha statue we have ever seen. Amazing !

Back at the hotel we prepared our departure by relaxing in the lobby and listening to wonderful harp music.

Friday week 4, April 15

This morning we were awakened at 6 o'clock to head for the airport--- our stay in Taiwan had come to an end ! Our dear friends did show up despite the late party yesterday night. To be on the safe side a driver was there to take us to the airport. It was a quiet moment not only due to yesterday's wild party but the wisdom that our 4 weeks now quickly had come to an end. 4 weeks had seemed like ages when we arrived, but now the date of our return was here. It was hard to hold back the tears and only the wisdom that we will be back some day kept us going.
Reporter, our dear friend and companion during these weeks was there to wave us farewell ( not good bye), as we all were determined to meet again.

With 35 kg overweight we had a hard time at check-in but managed to negotiate it down to 15 and only 200US$ to pay !!

Arriving in Hong Kong we were greeted with a sign at the gate with Fridas name. Now the problems started that nearly ended with us being refused to board tomorrows flight to London..
All our calls about Fridas peanut allergy had caused the airline to be very cautious. We rejected all their requests for us to go to a doctor to fill in a form to have them stop serving peanuts for drink snacks. Once on the plane all was very well handled by the stewardess that with draw all snacks serving. So much problems for so little, this airline will never be used by Frida again.

Now we entered Victoria Peak to view Hong Kong from above. It must be the most beautiful sight over a city that you can have.

Thursday week 4, April 14

This was both a good day but also a day that we would say good bye to many friends at the subdistricts hosted farewell party.
Many speeches, songs and dancing and of course gembei ( bottoms-up).

I have never cried at an airport before. But today it happened. When Reporter came and said goodbye. Reporter who has the same work as me, who has tried to fulfill our wishes and who has been there everyday as support when experience this wonderful trip. It was also tears because I´m so so tired. All new impressions ever day will take time to sort. I´m sure the will pop up for a long time and help me in my working life and private life. I have learned to be even more open minded. To see that you can actually act in other ways than we do in Sweden even when it comes to new thinking and innovation about environment. We are very good at this in Sweden. But we are not always the best! It takes two for Tango. If we want to change things in the world we need to collaborate. And that is also so much funnier. To share success and transformation! Bridge building is the only way to go.

Wednesday week 4, April 13

We now checked in at a huge hotel called Hotel de Chine in Tofen city. The hotel seemed deserted but it was absolutely impossible to check in before 4 pm, strange ! It was nice to get our own room in a hotel that was of great standards. Probably built to Chinese standards to receive groups from mainland China.




On the agenda today was a visit to a temple at Tofen downtown where Rotaryclun of Tofen had donated a great fountain in stone with the Rotary wheel. Once again an evidence how important role Rotary play in everyday life in Taiwan.
Next we visited the mayor of Tofen Township and tried to speak some English with little success. The mayor was also the president in Rotary club.

We had a lovely lunch at member Hawais restaurant and later were given a 1½ hour hike by Assistant Governor doctor Obey to Taipei where we had arranged a visit at the Swedish Trade Export outside of the standard program.

I have meet so many wonderful people at this stay in Taiwan. Some of them naturally has a special place in my heart. One of them is Ava and today we met again. She is in my age and we can discuss issues for young people in Taiwan and Sweden and compare the ideas. She has also been a VTT-team member before so she knows how it is to discover a new country like this trip has been. I joined Ava at her work today at Charter bank and she joined us at the farewell party this evening. What a party it was! Happy and sad at the same time.

Tuesday Week 4, April 12

The Sun-yi Art village was a new experience as we now had a flat of our own. Frida was on time so she choose the nicest room without mosquito al least the first night.
We also had our first real work-out with 1 ½ hours in the mountains running and walking surrounded by tea fields.
Sun-Yi is well known for all its wood carvings. The museum is just fantastic.

Finally some exercise. When we were running we went through a Tea-plantation where old volunteers from whole Taiwan are coming picking tea. The money goes to the temples which help the temples to be restored and the organization also helps poor people with food when they are praying. At the night today we went to one of the best restaurants we have visited. Out in the countryside where you just could eat when it´s evening because during the day you disturb the animals which are living there. I think that is very respectfully!

Monday week 4, April 11

Time to say good bye to the families where we stayed for 5 nights .











Moving further south in Taiwan we arrive in mountain area Mio-Li. This is heart of Hakka people, the food is different and so are the people, not so busy as the northern part. But just a nice as the rest of the people we have met.

I have been in family with kids in my age and it felt like being home. But today is a new adventure. We are heading south and met new nice people and stayed in an art village with our own studio. People here are very good at sculpture in wood and wood carving and you see them everywhere. I got a present in wood and it is small wood statue that will bring me luck when I drive home in Sweden. Very good!