Moon Festival 2007

This is the longest moon festival in Taiwan, four days off, from Saturday till Tuesday. Most people take advantage to return to their hometowns. My husband and I decide to stay in town on the day of a full moon in 2007.

Day 1 (Saturday) Autumn Outing Day of Grand Toastmasters Day

At 10:10, we got on the Keelung bus for Jinguashi(金瓜石), an old gold and copper mining town on the north-east coast of Taiwan. The bus was packed with foreigners from all over the world. The majority was from Japan, because of Hou Hsiao-hsien's (侯孝賢) film--A City of Sadness (悲情城市). I was happy to have a chance to hone my languages in both Japanese and English. With a lot of activities going on the bus, we invited a Japanese passenger to answer one of our table topics question, we listened to Helen Lin, Grand's President 2004-2005, about her recent adventure in NY, the one and half hours ride seemed short and quick.

After a super sumptuous lunch (12 dishes of local delicacies) arranged by diligent Carrie Chiang, Incumbent MVP, we hiked up the hills to Gold Ecological Park. When the other members were having the relaxing afternoon tea, I helped four members put on summer kimono to have photos taken in front of the Crown Prince Chalet. Five of us, including Judy, Yvan, Helen, Erin, and I, were a little crazy posing in the rain for a long while, but it was fun and memorable. Then we divided into two groups. One continued the chatting at the teahouse, the other headed for Jiufen (九份) to find the scenic spots in Spirited Away (神隱少女) directed by famed animator Hayao Miyazak (宮崎峻).

Day 2 (Sunday) Holiday Hiking Ritual

My husband and I left home at 11 o'clock for our Sunday hiking ritual along the Hsin-tien River. On our way, we saw the huge amount of water released from the Green Dam where I used to go swimming in summer. The river became muddy and surging like Yellow River because of the heavy rain in the mountains for the past few days.

After a pleasant five kilometers walk in this beautiful autumn weather, we stopped by a small temple near the Cat Guardian Rock(貓巡岩) for lunch as usual. There were not many people today. It was a cool and peaceful Sunday with the whole hiking trail of falling leaves to myself.

Day 3 (Monday) A Canine Story

My husband and I visited the Mountain Tea Farm, ten kilometers from Hsin-tien, today. We discovered the hidden and magnificent hiking trail overlooking Emerald Dam (翡翠水庫) ten years ago. Nobody knows this secret and secluded part of the forest except a few local resident farmers and their pet dogs.

It has been two years since we last went there. The mountain views are pretty much the same as before. After we hiked for one hour, we reached a remote mountain hut where we usually have lunch. But no sooner had we arrived at the hut, we were surrounded by four tamed dogs immediately. Judging from their healthy appearance, they must be fed by some hunters regularly. The dogs should be of a family, a father, a mother, and two sons. The baby dogs approached us in a playful mood to win our trust. The mother dog sat afar to wait for our signs. The father watched us further away on the outskirts, just in case!

Trying to avoid the dogs, we decided to seek for a new location for lunch. But, no matter how far we walked away, how hard we tried to get ride of the canine family, we were followed by four of them, in different directions. Finally the dogs gave up, and we settled for a bamboo forest for our barbecue. As soon as my husband opened his backpack, he realized that one big chunk of prime steak was devoured by a baby dog at the remote mountain hut. The dogs were shrewd and fast indeed.

I didn't know the mother dog was sitting persistently and patiently about three meters away from me all the time. Just about I sank my teeth into a juicy rib eye, my husband mentioned that desperate mother dog behind me. I turned around and saw her waiting like my faithful body guard. As a female, I felt certain sympathy and compassion for her. And I left her with most of my food. After lunch, she limped along with us all the way down the mountain trail. Her front left paw was gone and she had to walk on her three legs. What a dog she is! No wonder human beings like dogs. They are the best friends and companions of people.

Day 4 (Tuesday) Moon Gazing Night

Helen invited us to her home for dinner to continue our endless chatting among Grand's members. We talked about Ang Lee's new film Lust, Caution (色，戒). Eric Chou, Incumbent Area H1 Governor saw the film and praised Ang Lee's interpretation of a true story that took place in Shanghai during the Second World War. He was extremely pleased with the three great lust scenes in bed in the movie, and we could do nothing but opened our eyes to echo his excitements.

After drinking, eating, watching photos of photos, replaying Grand's 30th anniversary DVD, we left Helen's sweet home at a quarter to nine. The full moon shone brightly in the dark blue sky. What a night of lust it is to be caressed by the autumn breeze with a full moon shining my way home on Moon Festival 2007! Sherry