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!

Sunday week 3, April 10

After a great party night you have to rest and what is better that taking a long walk in a wonderful mountain park with our guide Copper.







Note the Rotary symbol on the sign that is everywhere in Taiwan society.

After some more sightseeing after the nice lunch at Green Garden restaurant ( owned by a nice Rotarian) the evening ended with a wild party at a German beer restaurant also owned by a Rotarian.

Oh, this is a really Sunday. Tired after all the tense at the big conference ended up with some Rotarians at a karaoke club. But also this was a experience of Taiwan.

I´m very glad that Cooper was taking care of use today. He is so extremely caring and today was no exception. Walking in a sunny park was just what I needed. After the walk we were starving and we went with Coopers family to a green house restaurant. Delicious Italian food! Some rest and then beer – again.

Saturday week 3, April 9

Today is the big day ! District Conference for 3500 rotarians. More than 2500 gather for a party during two days and some important messages from leading Rotarians in the district. This was a totally unexpected experience comparing to how a DC is performed in Sweden.
It was also the opportunity for The VTT team to speak to 2500 people about life in Sweden and send our greetings from district 2360 to Taiwan 3500. We got much credit over the coming days for our performance.


We also had the offortunity to meet with the VTT team of Taiwan 3500. Wonderful girls that was full of expectations for going to Sweden but also nervous. We assured them there was nothing to be afraid of except wolfs and polar bears !!

The evening ended with a marvelous performance of all spouses and Rotarian dond different shows that was second to none compared to professional artists. We had a wonderful time that will last in our hearts and memories for the rest of our lives !

I have never had a speech in front of so many people. Nervous, but it went well and now I´m very glad to have this experience. I think it will be useful to have it in the future. To know, yes I can do it. If I managed it in Taiwan I will manage it now. Just breath and start.

The VTT theme of Taiwan had lots of question. I didn't know so much about Taiwan before I came so I understand them so well. I feel that Taiwan is already as a second home because I have seen so many things here. I am sure they will feel the same when visiting Sweden. That is very good bridge building I think!

Friday week 3, April 8

Incoming secretary Copper was our guide and he had done a very good and documented plan for our day that ended with cocktails on 12th floor of the fancy Ambassador hotel.
We started off having a wonderful lunch, eating pasta at a neat restaurant, welcome change to Taiwanese cuisine although we now enjoy it very much.
We took a stroll in a nearby University park, that was a nice example of how US war price was used to develop Taiwan community after Japan had to surrender in WW II.

We moved on to HsinChu downtown to see wonderful examples for Japanese architecture, today totally misplaced by Taiwanese local tax building. Even though the tax building in it self was a nice architectural composition it was a offense to the old traditional building.






Further to the old square with a wonderful enterence to the old fortifications in center of town. Today a playground for young people.












Having a look at what the bucher has to offer for tonight's dinner !

Thursday Week 3, April 7

Today we had the opportunity to go by High Speed Train to south of Taiwan. We had sun and nice temperature and nice companions.

One of my wishes was to see more of Taiwan than just the region we visited. Today it came true. Tainan, a city in the southern part was our destination. We passed different landscapes when we went with the high speed train which, by the way, was right on time, clean and very comfortable. More than you expect of Swedish train. In Tainan we visited a temple and I prayed and thanked to the exam God which the temple was for because of my good result at the last exam this week I have been working with when having one or two minutes over. After the temple we went to a historic house that told us about all the different countries which have influence the Taiwanese history. Tainan and the Portuguese had a long relationship and the common goals were the trade and export. We never study the Chinese history in school in Sweden so this was good to know and a refresher of what I have heard before.

Wednesday Week 3, April 6

Yet another day where a Rotary club had done some very detailed and fine planning of our day. Starting out at CATV cable TV station we were interview for a later show in the local news. Going to the glass museum was another good example how Taiwan use the museums to teach people while seeing fine displays. Your learn everything from early glass production to today's sophisticated use of glass in high tech products like mobile phones and fiber optics.
Hsinshu vision city was a great model of the town and future projects. More pictures will follow if Blogger will start transfer them !!
New food to try our, this time octopus sausage.
The visit at the city recycling plant was a great visit where you burn and recycle in combination with a recreation area where you could see a delicately designed building that is a landmark to be seen from far away.

The Inventiveness I talked about last week continues when we visited the city recycling today. A project for students they have had was ”new things made by litter”. That can be anything! The building was big, next to the city, but with a relaxing area for the inhabitants. I have never seen that in Sweden. A public park people use next to a treatment work. An idea to bring home to Sweden. We didn't even feel the smell of trash.

On the private plan we met a wonderful woman and were discussing the life and dead. She wants to celebrate here funeral instead of the birthday when she is turning because she wants to meet her friend at the funeral and celebrate life instead. Not that they are eating nice food when she has passed a way. She wants to join them. This is a journey with new insights!

Tuesday week 3, April 5

Today we left our wonderful families again for new uncertain destinies. The only thing we know for sure is that they will take good care of us where ever we will stay. Even in the early morning lots of Rotarians and their wifes show up to wave us goodbye . Everyone is eager to commence the Tomb-sweeping day where you give presents to the dead and celebrate with lots of firecrackers. The table in front of the tomb is full of food, drinks, and loads of fake money.

Other activities today was to visit Xian Beer Co. and see how they produced a most exquisite German like beer.

Highlight of the day was when Frida and Sten-Ake tried out their weeding dresses !! and had professional photographers produce a wedding album.