This morning eating the breakfast in the restaurant of Dorint Sofitel in Eindhoven, I faced up to the fact that I am back to the Netherlands, with a mess biological clock. I have stayed in the Netherlands for more than 15 months since September 2004, and at least one third of the days in the past year was spent here as well. Now the Netherlands is kind of my second home country, but still in a distance somehow. Staring at the cheeses, I thought of the discussions about what and how people like and don’t like this country and culture. Sometimes what people experienced could be quite different from what I experienced, but so what? It’s like the discussion about any other country and culture; always diverse from people to people, but still interesting to share. :)
Yesterday the flight was nice because there were less than 50 passengers. I could lie down to sleep, wherever I like. The atmosphere was kind of relaxing and quiet in the passenger cabin. The returning flight is a charter flight so I was just lucky to take this one.
Today I decided to go nowhere, but take it easy to finish an English novel, based on a real story, "for one more day" which I hadn't finished in the airplane. It's a nice book and easy to read. The story starts from the point that a guy tried to kill himself. The reason he did so is that he couldn't forgive himself. Actually he didn't do anything horrible to the society, but just couldn't bear the fact that he didn't recognize and support the love from his mom and didn't treat her well. It's a novel to make people think who the ones really care and love you, what and who you really should treasure in your life, what you should do before it's too late, and etc.
Warren Buffet said “Money doesn't create man but it is the man who created money. Live your life as simple as you are. Listen to what others say, but do what you feel good.” While the world encourages people to be smart and successful, do we miss something critical essentially? As in the story, the leading character was shamed of his mother’s job, but later he realized that the greatness of his mom was the meaning and purpose of taking the job, not the job itself. Sometimes when we think we are smart, we actually miss something. That's why I always hope not to be smart in personal life. “Don’t focus on arguing the logic with your family, but share and support them emotionally.” Maybe I should start to write a letter... :)
2008/03/02
2008/02/11
閱讀 不哭 and 轉山
聆聽 Kevin Kern的鋼琴曲 感受超越生命似的輕盈
閱讀 橘子的不哭 虛擬穿越生命似的無奈
閱讀 謝旺霖的轉山 體驗刻劃生命似的質量
窗外 稀稀落落的雨滴 停過
窗內 拉拉雜雜的思緒 未停
不哭 用不同的角度 切入 一群人的故事
愛情 可以沒有道理
但結局 總在錯綜複雜的時空交替間
想起 另一本書名 you get it or learn from it
學習 放手體驗
單純的人 玩不起複雜的遊戲
複雜的人 受不了單純的遊戲
那麼 單純又複雜的人呢
如果 可以輕易地喜歡一個人
如果 可以喜歡喜歡自己的人
愛情 也許不會這麼難
轉山 真實深刻 紀錄西藏的一段生命體驗
林懷民 貼切地用兩個形容詞描述 誠實與質樸
轉山 讓人內省 讓人回味
彷彿 一步一步 走過西藏
迷失 找尋 認知
循環中 掙扎定位 自我
山野中 應付面對 未知
騎乘中 蹣跚追尋 成長
最終 催促自己上路的 還是自己
閱讀 橘子的不哭 虛擬穿越生命似的無奈
閱讀 謝旺霖的轉山 體驗刻劃生命似的質量
窗外 稀稀落落的雨滴 停過
窗內 拉拉雜雜的思緒 未停
不哭 用不同的角度 切入 一群人的故事
愛情 可以沒有道理
但結局 總在錯綜複雜的時空交替間
想起 另一本書名 you get it or learn from it
學習 放手體驗
單純的人 玩不起複雜的遊戲
複雜的人 受不了單純的遊戲
那麼 單純又複雜的人呢
如果 可以輕易地喜歡一個人
如果 可以喜歡喜歡自己的人
愛情 也許不會這麼難
轉山 真實深刻 紀錄西藏的一段生命體驗
林懷民 貼切地用兩個形容詞描述 誠實與質樸
轉山 讓人內省 讓人回味
彷彿 一步一步 走過西藏
迷失 找尋 認知
循環中 掙扎定位 自我
山野中 應付面對 未知
騎乘中 蹣跚追尋 成長
最終 催促自己上路的 還是自己
2008/02/10
Back to Linkou
Coming back to Linkou yesterday, I spent half of the day to unpack, watch the TV, and do nothing. Today in the rain, I walked to the supermarket and the book store... the holidays are almost gone... would I feel better if the sun would show up a bit? I miss the sunshine in the southern Taiwan. Well, in fact it doesn't matter because I stayed at home, cooking, watching the movies, and reading a novel I just bought.
I only finished half of the novel, so maybe I would stay up late to finish it tonight. Therefore tomorrow I could read the other book about a divagate in Tibet. Travelling with the author through his writing, maybe I would find something to inspire me to answer my own questions about travelling.
Then, I will be ready for the working life again! :)
I only finished half of the novel, so maybe I would stay up late to finish it tonight. Therefore tomorrow I could read the other book about a divagate in Tibet. Travelling with the author through his writing, maybe I would find something to inspire me to answer my own questions about travelling.
Then, I will be ready for the working life again! :)
2008/02/08
Happy Chinese New Year! - visiting my sister
According to the Chinese culture, people celebrate the Chinese New Year Eve and the first day of the year with the family. If married, a wife stays with her husband's family on the first day, and then they go back to the wife's family on the second day. Since my second nephew was just born few weeks ago and my sister is still in the one month-long postpartum rest and recuperation, we visited her instead. It's my first time to meet the little guy as well. He is so lovely, sleeping a lot and staring at me when I talked or sang to him. His name hasn't been decided yet, but will be soon.
My first nephew received the red envelopes and gifts from us. He is happy to have a younger brother and started sharing gifts with his brother already. :)
More photos during the visiting:
My first nephew received the red envelopes and gifts from us. He is happy to have a younger brother and started sharing gifts with his brother already. :)
More photos during the visiting:
2008/02/03
Netherlands - Eindhoven - Business trip - 2008/01/07 ~ 2008/02/03
As usual, I arrived Sofitel Dorint Hotel first and then waited for moving to an apartment. I don't like hotels because they are kind of too cold too stay for a long time... and you could hardly do anything there. This time I got a bigger room with a balcony, it's not bad for one night. :)
Next day I moved to an apartment, with a nice garden. well, it's too cold to sit in the garden to enjoy a cup of tea, but still nice to have such pleasant view during breakfasts and weekends.
There is a huge park next to the corner. Taking three minutes by feet, I could reach the park!
Next day I moved to an apartment, with a nice garden. well, it's too cold to sit in the garden to enjoy a cup of tea, but still nice to have such pleasant view during breakfasts and weekends.
There is a huge park next to the corner. Taking three minutes by feet, I could reach the park! 
In my point of view, this family is extremely lucky to be able to live in the park, with a small lake in the back yard. In the winter they have the breakfast in a indoor dinning room watching the lake~ In the summer they must have the breakfast outside in the back yard to enjoy the sunshine~
2008/02/01
The last working-day evening in NL
Tomorrow is the last working day for this business trip in the Netherlands. Coming here in year 2007... going back in year 2008... I feel like that I have been here for a long time... maybe it's because that I am familiar with the city already, or because I only stayed at the hotel for one night, I enjoy the trip and the stay in the past five weeks.
Away from the stuff which I might be busy in while I am in Taiwan, I had more time to think back and forward, to create the Blog, and to surf on the internet a bit. However, I could never meet people through Internet! If you know Facebook, you would know that it is a good interface for friends to keep in touch. There are lots functions, such as sending/receiving pictures, videos, gifts, beers to/from friends. Two weeks ago a friend invited me to add a function "meet new people". Basically people, strangers, could send message to you to make friends with you, and you of course could do so as well. However receiving the messages few days later, I decided to remove the function. I still can't understand how to judge whether you want to make friends with certain people or not just by photos... to me, it still better to spend time on "real" people around. :)
Respecting others doesn't mean that you couldn't see or feel. Giving others easy way doesn't mean that you have to take everything. If I treat people nice and they treat me nice as well, we would have well and balance interaction. If I smile to people but they don't care, I won't be angry because I can't control them, but I might not smile to them next time. It's all about attitude. People who are willing to give would get even more than what they gave away. The more happiness and care we gave, the more happiness and care we would receive from others. Today one of my colleagues/friends left the company, and I saw such relation between cause and effect again. We will miss you, girl!
Away from the stuff which I might be busy in while I am in Taiwan, I had more time to think back and forward, to create the Blog, and to surf on the internet a bit. However, I could never meet people through Internet! If you know Facebook, you would know that it is a good interface for friends to keep in touch. There are lots functions, such as sending/receiving pictures, videos, gifts, beers to/from friends. Two weeks ago a friend invited me to add a function "meet new people". Basically people, strangers, could send message to you to make friends with you, and you of course could do so as well. However receiving the messages few days later, I decided to remove the function. I still can't understand how to judge whether you want to make friends with certain people or not just by photos... to me, it still better to spend time on "real" people around. :)
Respecting others doesn't mean that you couldn't see or feel. Giving others easy way doesn't mean that you have to take everything. If I treat people nice and they treat me nice as well, we would have well and balance interaction. If I smile to people but they don't care, I won't be angry because I can't control them, but I might not smile to them next time. It's all about attitude. People who are willing to give would get even more than what they gave away. The more happiness and care we gave, the more happiness and care we would receive from others. Today one of my colleagues/friends left the company, and I saw such relation between cause and effect again. We will miss you, girl!
2008/01/28
Belgium - Brugge - 2008/01/27
I visited Brugge with some friends in year 2004 already, but didn't mind to visit there again. I like the lovely houses, tranquil alleys, nice restaurants and cafes, and etc. over there. To me, Brugge combines many elements for a quality life.
Belgium beer is famous. Although I didn't drink this time, I remebered that it's quite good.
Belgium beer is famous. Although I didn't drink this time, I remebered that it's quite good.
More photos for the trips in Brugge in year 2004 and 2008: http://picasaweb.google.com/aprilhsutw/BelgiumBrugge20042008
2008/01/27
Few songs from the TV show
There are few songs/performances I like from the famous TV show 超級星光大道 in TW. :)
1. 林宥嘉 - 你是我的眼
http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=mbcJ0QFfPIo
如果我能看得見
就能輕易分辨白天黑業
就能準確的在人群中牽住你的手
如果我能看得見
就能駕車帶你到處遨遊
就能驚喜的從背後給你一個擁抱
如果我能看得見
生命也許完全不同
可能我想要的我喜歡的我愛的
都不一樣
眼前的黑不是黑
你說的白是什麼白
人們說的天空藍
是我記憶中那團白雲背後的藍天
我望向你的臉
卻只能看見一片虛無
是不是上帝在我眼前遮了簾
忘了掀開
你是我的眼
帶我領略四季的變換
你是我的眼
帶我穿越擁擠的人潮
你是我的眼
帶我閱讀浩瀚的書海
因為你是我的眼
讓我看見這世界就在我眼前
2. 林宥嘉 - Creep
http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=qiiJ8KdZsQc
When you were here before
Couldn't look you in the eyes
You're just like an angel
Your skin makes me cry
You float like a feather
In a beautiful world
You're so very special
I wish I was special
But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What the hell am I doing here
I don't belong here
I don't care if it hurts
I wanna have control
I want a perfect body
I want a perfect soul
I want you to notice
When I'm not around
You're so very special
I wish I was special
But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What the hell am I doing here
I don't belong here
She's running out
She's run
She's running out
She's run run run run ～
run ～
Whatever makes you happy
Whatever you want
You're so very special
I wish I was special
But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What the hell am I doing here
I don't belong here
I don't belong here
3. 蕭煌奇 - 阿嬤的話 (someone sang in the show, but I like the performance by the original singer who is blind.)
http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=T7yyTaHuJk0
在細漢的時陣，阮阿嬤對我尚好，甲尚好的物伴攏會留乎我。
伊嘛定定帶我去幼稚園看人在七桃。
看人在辦公伙兒，看人在覓相找。
伊定定跟阮說，叫阮著要好好仔讀冊。
嘸通大漢像恁老爸仔這麼狼狽。
在彼個時陣，阮攏聽攏嘸。
阿嬤你到底是在講什麼，大漢了後才知影阿嬤的話。
我會甲永遠永遠放塊心肝底。
想可一步一步的過去，定定攏會乎人真難忘。
時間一分一秒塊過去，在阮的心內定定攏會想到伊。
阿嬤你今嘛在叨位，阮在叫你你甘有聽到。
阮的認真甲阮的成功你甘有看到，阮在叫你你知影沒。
阿嬤你今嘛過的好麼，甘有人塊甲你照顧。
希望後世人阮擱會凍來乎你疼，作你永遠的孫仔。
擱叫你一聲阿嬤。
4. 梁文音 - 花香
http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=HyIhxs652mI
離開彼一晚
會記得故鄉的花香
微微啊天未光
伊就起床來顧花叢
不曾一句怨嘆
搖阮大漢
不甘阮在異鄉乎風雨淋
離土的花叢
為一個夢
人茫茫
海也茫茫
伊惦惦在等
阮回來那天
花蕊漸漸紅
伊惦惦在等
看無伊的人
像海上船啊找無帆
行過這多冬
嘛看透人情的冷暖
故鄉彼條小巷
如今猶原
不同是阮返去伊無在等
無人惜花叢
花哪會香
世間阿母
攏共款
伊惦惦在等
阮回來那天
花蕊漸漸紅
伊已經遙遠
誰人著叫著我
甘是阿母的聲
親像故鄉不時在叫我
伊未擱等在那
不敢來哭出聲
叫阮寶貝心肝
有閒就緊回來看我
伊惦惦在等
阮回來那天
花蕊漸漸紅
伊已經遙遠
啦~
啦~
花蕊漸漸紅
伊已經遙遠
5. 林宥嘉 - Last Order
http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=nAww-Gtw55I
沒關係 真的沒關係
我也許 早就該回去
再一杯 我告訴自己
到此為止 乾了不再續
麻煩你 加冰威士忌
對不起 來個DOUBLE的
喝到這裡 終於夠勇氣 說一個經歷
那晚下雨 在這店裡 也放著這首曲
有個男子 搭上一個女子
反正失戀 他當然不介意 有段艷遇
只是回到 他的家裡
十幾坪 家徒四壁
一聲不響
那女的 掉頭離去
就像 三個小時前
未婚妻 初次到來
嫌棄的樣子
沒關係 真的沒關係 一晚上 就失戀兩次
那男子 還不懂懷疑 到底自己是否沒出息
不客氣 別給我ICE TEA 客人們不是我嚇跑的
別看著我 這個不過是 我朋友的經歷
那晚下雨 在這店裡 也放著這首曲
有個男子 搭上一個女子
反正失戀 他當然不介意 有段艷遇
只是回到 他的家裡
十幾坪 家徒四壁
一聲不響
那女的 掉頭離去
就像 我的未婚妻
對不起 好像說成是我的樣子
我是沒關係
1. 林宥嘉 - 你是我的眼
http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=mbcJ0QFfPIo
如果我能看得見
就能輕易分辨白天黑業
就能準確的在人群中牽住你的手
如果我能看得見
就能駕車帶你到處遨遊
就能驚喜的從背後給你一個擁抱
如果我能看得見
生命也許完全不同
可能我想要的我喜歡的我愛的
都不一樣
眼前的黑不是黑
你說的白是什麼白
人們說的天空藍
是我記憶中那團白雲背後的藍天
我望向你的臉
卻只能看見一片虛無
是不是上帝在我眼前遮了簾
忘了掀開
你是我的眼
帶我領略四季的變換
你是我的眼
帶我穿越擁擠的人潮
你是我的眼
帶我閱讀浩瀚的書海
因為你是我的眼
讓我看見這世界就在我眼前
2. 林宥嘉 - Creep
http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=qiiJ8KdZsQc
When you were here before
Couldn't look you in the eyes
You're just like an angel
Your skin makes me cry
You float like a feather
In a beautiful world
You're so very special
I wish I was special
But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What the hell am I doing here
I don't belong here
I don't care if it hurts
I wanna have control
I want a perfect body
I want a perfect soul
I want you to notice
When I'm not around
You're so very special
I wish I was special
But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What the hell am I doing here
I don't belong here
She's running out
She's run
She's running out
She's run run run run ～
run ～
Whatever makes you happy
Whatever you want
You're so very special
I wish I was special
But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What the hell am I doing here
I don't belong here
I don't belong here
3. 蕭煌奇 - 阿嬤的話 (someone sang in the show, but I like the performance by the original singer who is blind.)
http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=T7yyTaHuJk0
在細漢的時陣，阮阿嬤對我尚好，甲尚好的物伴攏會留乎我。
伊嘛定定帶我去幼稚園看人在七桃。
看人在辦公伙兒，看人在覓相找。
伊定定跟阮說，叫阮著要好好仔讀冊。
嘸通大漢像恁老爸仔這麼狼狽。
在彼個時陣，阮攏聽攏嘸。
阿嬤你到底是在講什麼，大漢了後才知影阿嬤的話。
我會甲永遠永遠放塊心肝底。
想可一步一步的過去，定定攏會乎人真難忘。
時間一分一秒塊過去，在阮的心內定定攏會想到伊。
阿嬤你今嘛在叨位，阮在叫你你甘有聽到。
阮的認真甲阮的成功你甘有看到，阮在叫你你知影沒。
阿嬤你今嘛過的好麼，甘有人塊甲你照顧。
希望後世人阮擱會凍來乎你疼，作你永遠的孫仔。
擱叫你一聲阿嬤。
4. 梁文音 - 花香
http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=HyIhxs652mI
離開彼一晚
會記得故鄉的花香
微微啊天未光
伊就起床來顧花叢
不曾一句怨嘆
搖阮大漢
不甘阮在異鄉乎風雨淋
離土的花叢
為一個夢
人茫茫
海也茫茫
伊惦惦在等
阮回來那天
花蕊漸漸紅
伊惦惦在等
看無伊的人
像海上船啊找無帆
行過這多冬
嘛看透人情的冷暖
故鄉彼條小巷
如今猶原
不同是阮返去伊無在等
無人惜花叢
花哪會香
世間阿母
攏共款
伊惦惦在等
阮回來那天
花蕊漸漸紅
伊已經遙遠
誰人著叫著我
甘是阿母的聲
親像故鄉不時在叫我
伊未擱等在那
不敢來哭出聲
叫阮寶貝心肝
有閒就緊回來看我
伊惦惦在等
阮回來那天
花蕊漸漸紅
伊已經遙遠
啦~
啦~
花蕊漸漸紅
伊已經遙遠
5. 林宥嘉 - Last Order
http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=nAww-Gtw55I
沒關係 真的沒關係
我也許 早就該回去
再一杯 我告訴自己
到此為止 乾了不再續
麻煩你 加冰威士忌
對不起 來個DOUBLE的
喝到這裡 終於夠勇氣 說一個經歷
那晚下雨 在這店裡 也放著這首曲
有個男子 搭上一個女子
反正失戀 他當然不介意 有段艷遇
只是回到 他的家裡
十幾坪 家徒四壁
一聲不響
那女的 掉頭離去
就像 三個小時前
未婚妻 初次到來
嫌棄的樣子
沒關係 真的沒關係 一晚上 就失戀兩次
那男子 還不懂懷疑 到底自己是否沒出息
不客氣 別給我ICE TEA 客人們不是我嚇跑的
別看著我 這個不過是 我朋友的經歷
那晚下雨 在這店裡 也放著這首曲
有個男子 搭上一個女子
反正失戀 他當然不介意 有段艷遇
只是回到 他的家裡
十幾坪 家徒四壁
一聲不響
那女的 掉頭離去
就像 我的未婚妻
對不起 好像說成是我的樣子
我是沒關係
2008/01/23
Welcome, little guy!
Walking out of the office building, I saw the full moon hanging on the dark sky silently... felt like I am back to the childhood in the grandmother's garden... staring at the moon... because you told us that you would watch the moon at 20:ooPM everyday during your business trip... so when we were all watching the moon, it’s like that we were together... that's family I think.
Thinking back about what happened in year 2007...
Jan - grandmother passed away
Mar - moved from Taipei to Linkou because of changing my job to ASML
Apr - business trip to the Netherlands
May - back to Taiwan because the other grandmother passed away
Jun - business trip to the Netherlands
Aug - back to Taiwan and rented an apartment
Oct - bought a presale apartment
Dec - flied to the Netherlands for personal vacation and business trip
To me, 2007 is the year with most significant affairs and mental impacts in my life. I lost the most important person in my life and I wasn't there while she passed away. I don't remember how I went to the airport... waited long for the airplane... couldn't stop crying... couldn't believe what I was going to be missing starting from that moment in my life... I was so glad that my brother was there with me all the way back to Tainan. It couldn't be better that someone could understand your feeling and could share the infinite pain, without saying anything... in fact that's one of the reasons my sister decided to have the second child... after the experience, she imaged that if someday she and my brother in law left, not only the only child has to accept the huge impact, but also he couldn't share the pain and sorrow with someone based on the same memory. Of course, there is always some other ways to release the emotion, but it's still nice to have someone to share when you need.
Now at the beginning of year 2008, I am in the Netherlands, and the new member of the family just joined! My second nephew, a little 3.4kg boy, was born on January 19th, 2008! Welcome to the world with tons of love, little guy! :)
Thinking back about what happened in year 2007...
Jan - grandmother passed away
Mar - moved from Taipei to Linkou because of changing my job to ASML
Apr - business trip to the Netherlands
May - back to Taiwan because the other grandmother passed away
Jun - business trip to the Netherlands
Aug - back to Taiwan and rented an apartment
Oct - bought a presale apartment
Dec - flied to the Netherlands for personal vacation and business trip
To me, 2007 is the year with most significant affairs and mental impacts in my life. I lost the most important person in my life and I wasn't there while she passed away. I don't remember how I went to the airport... waited long for the airplane... couldn't stop crying... couldn't believe what I was going to be missing starting from that moment in my life... I was so glad that my brother was there with me all the way back to Tainan. It couldn't be better that someone could understand your feeling and could share the infinite pain, without saying anything... in fact that's one of the reasons my sister decided to have the second child... after the experience, she imaged that if someday she and my brother in law left, not only the only child has to accept the huge impact, but also he couldn't share the pain and sorrow with someone based on the same memory. Of course, there is always some other ways to release the emotion, but it's still nice to have someone to share when you need.
Now at the beginning of year 2008, I am in the Netherlands, and the new member of the family just joined! My second nephew, a little 3.4kg boy, was born on January 19th, 2008! Welcome to the world with tons of love, little guy! :)
2008/01/20
The meaning of travelling
For most of us, travelling is like breathing, normal and natural. We always look for new places/cities/countries/continents to explore, being able to experience others' live in days, in weeks, in months, or in years. By connecting to the world, we feel satisfied and know ourselves more... then... when we are tired of the new things, we go back home and am eager to be surrounded by all familiar things, friends, and family... however, sooner or later... we would take our packs and go for next trips.... it's an endless cycle... we know it, but can't help it...
In the past few trips, I realized that somehow I lost some excitement while travelling. I keep going, still love going somewhere to see new things and meet new people, but am much easier to get bored. I talked to people, but forgot their names in days, or in minutes. I took the maps to walk around, to take photos, to meet nice people, and to do whatever a tourist would do, but then all the difference in various places became one thing, difference, which I might feel sometimes even in Taiwan. There are many places I want to visit but haven't done yet. I just need some new elements for my following trips, although I am not sure what those elements could be. The world is too big and too small. Then I asked myself, what next while even pretending to be local is not exciting anymore?
A good article at http://www.backpackers.com.tw/forum/showthread.php?t=54979 was forwarded by a friend. According to the author, we broke through the definition of beauty once and once through travelling, and then the definition and meaning of travelling and feeling about places became unique only to ourselves, no matter what the rest of world says. To her, the meaning of travelling is to dip in an unfamiliar culture and feel it, the same meaning and feeling as sitting in a cafe in Taipei. To her, travelling is the position by which she reads the world. The Author quotes a line from Osho "People do not reach destinations because of running, but they do when they stop."
The article for sure aroused echo in my heart. However there is still something I have to figure out by myself. Why am I not as excited as before when I heard someone visited a new country, but am more excited when I heard someone describing his experience of bringing some stationary to the kids in Angkor Wat?
In the past few trips, I realized that somehow I lost some excitement while travelling. I keep going, still love going somewhere to see new things and meet new people, but am much easier to get bored. I talked to people, but forgot their names in days, or in minutes. I took the maps to walk around, to take photos, to meet nice people, and to do whatever a tourist would do, but then all the difference in various places became one thing, difference, which I might feel sometimes even in Taiwan. There are many places I want to visit but haven't done yet. I just need some new elements for my following trips, although I am not sure what those elements could be. The world is too big and too small. Then I asked myself, what next while even pretending to be local is not exciting anymore?
A good article at http://www.backpackers.com.tw/forum/showthread.php?t=54979 was forwarded by a friend. According to the author, we broke through the definition of beauty once and once through travelling, and then the definition and meaning of travelling and feeling about places became unique only to ourselves, no matter what the rest of world says. To her, the meaning of travelling is to dip in an unfamiliar culture and feel it, the same meaning and feeling as sitting in a cafe in Taipei. To her, travelling is the position by which she reads the world. The Author quotes a line from Osho "People do not reach destinations because of running, but they do when they stop."
The article for sure aroused echo in my heart. However there is still something I have to figure out by myself. Why am I not as excited as before when I heard someone visited a new country, but am more excited when I heard someone describing his experience of bringing some stationary to the kids in Angkor Wat?