Taipei Fringe Festival 2014

A clown is an angel with a red nose--J. T. "Bubba" Sikes

It was the third year straight I joined Taipei Fringe Festival. The opening ceremony was held at Daan Forest Park Saturday afternoon, August 30th. I participated in Fringe hair-cut and clown make-up for a change.   After a cheerful opening ceremony, I rode my scooter back home with my clown face. Charlie Rivel said, "Every human being is a clown but only few have the courage to show it," I didn't have any difficulties putting on the exaggerating make up, as I'm used to a white face as a Japanese dancer and Peking Opera singer.

The art of clown is more profound than we thik...It is the COMIC mirror of tragedy, and the TRAGIC mirror of comedy--André Suarès

The Cup of Humanity

Summer is coming to an end. Golden ladies seized a moment of the floating life to enjoy a Zen cuisine at Shi Yang Wednesday, August 27th.

After reading the “Book of Tea” written in English by Okakura Kakuzo, I was happy that golden ladies were seated in a secluded environment to experience the life of simplicity, inspired by tea.

There are seven chapters in the book of tea, the Cup of Humanity, the Schools of Tea, Taoism and Zennism, the Tea-Room, Art Appreciations, Flowers, Tea-Masters.

The more I read the book, the more I appreciated the life of simplicity and the taste of humanity in a humble cup of tea prepared by Tea Masters with their heartfelt respect for each encounter.

Drinking coffee is my daily routine, but drinking tea is a ritual. No wonder it is called the tea ceremony, to celebrate the harmony of body and mind in individuals and the harmony of human beings in the nature.