Taipei Then and Now

Among all metropolitan cities in the world, I like Taipei the best. It is a city of rich histories, versatile cultures, and demanding and giving people. Taipei has a lot to offer, from the Palace Museum, the Yangmingshan National Park, Taipei 101, night markets, not to mention many big and small theaters.

I saw the Jewelry Pouch*, the last show of the Beijing Opera Theater of Fujian Province, with Toastmaster Kate Hsu and Gina Fu at Chung-shan Hall this evening. Before the show, three of us enjoyed wanton soups at a 50 year-old Wen-chou Wanton Shop on Tao-yuan Street. The shop was busy like a market, full of loyal patrons and new comes. What could be better off than having a good bowl of Wanton Soup before seeing an authentic Peking Opera at the Chung-san Hall?

Among the seven performances of Fukien Beijing Opera Theater, I was lucky to be able to see three of them. I sat at the 4th row number 30 on 12/25, at the 3rd row number 20 on 12/27, at the 3rd row number 2 on 12/30, as I sat closer to the stage, I could see better the hand gestures, eye contacts, and body movements of the performers. I sat between two gentlemen, one was a senior citizen originally from Tien-jin, the other was a young gentleman fan of Chinese oepra.

After the last show, Kate and I were honored to have a photo with the Principal of Fukien Beijing Opera Theater. Principal Liu was very pleased with the performance of 89 members of her Opera Theater on stage at the Chung-shan Hall. She was very impressed with the numbers and quality of Chinese Opera fans in Taipei. From the big smile on her face, I knew she was contented with their successful opera tour in 2010 in Taipei. She looked forward to meeting more Beijing opera fans in Taipei in the future.

Taipei then, during the second half of the 20th century, was fully charged with energies. Everybody was busy contributing to the fast growing economy of the Formosa. After work, people in Taipei would enjoy the night life at Hsin-men (West Gate) District, Chung-san Hall, Military Arts Center, Tri-services Club, big or small restaurants of various cuisines from all over China. Taipei then, was a city of delight and pleasure to the eyes, ears, and mouths.

Taipei now attracts more attention from the world. People across the strait are waiting in line to come see the Formosan Jewel. Some are eager to invest in the real estate of Taipei. The older I get, the more I enjoy meandering along the samll alleys in Taipei to reminisce the good days of Taipei then.

Remarks:
*The Jewelry Pouch tells a rich bride gave away her jewelry pouch to a poor bride who was crying at Spring Autumn Pavilion on a rainy wedding day. The rich bride heard the poor bride cry because of her lack of dowries, the rich bride gave the priceless jewelry pouch to the poor bride without leaving her name.

Six years late, the rich lady lost her family due to the flood in her hometown. She found a job as a servant to look after a rich man’s son. She cried when she found her jewelry pouch in the loft by accident. When the rich man's wife heard of the news, she was grateful for the jewelry pouch, help once rich bride reunite with her husband and son.

The Jewelry Pouch is an old popular story. It is to praise the altruistic behavior of human beings and the merit to reciprocate the good deeds from others.