Year of Horse

The six days Chinese New Year holidays came to an end today. The beginning of the Year of Horse was peaceful and blissful. As I shall start teaching the basic Korean language at Taipei City Library every Saturday morning, from 10:00 till 11:30 from March, I spent most of the new year holidays studying and refreshing the Korean I’ve learned in the past six years. 

On New Year Eve, there was a small dinner gathering of three at Brother Jimmy’s place, including me, my husband, and his older brother.

On New Year Day, Brother Jimmy and I met at the ShanDao Temple at 10 o'clock to pay tribute to my late parents. Then we walked to ChengHuang Temple downtown to pray for the good fortune. We had oldie and goodie simple lunch at a 40 year old eatery near the temple. After lunch, we said goodbye and went separately in different directions.

On the Second Day, I arrived at the WuGu Rehabilitation Center before 10 o’clock, Brother Jimmy was waiting for me at the bus stop with three of the residents. Four of us returned to the center together to meet up with other residents. I played “Five in a Row” with one resident. She was very good at it and taught me how to play the game skillfully. We left the center at 10:30, a total of 18, took Bus 899 to Luzhou, stayed at the local family mart till 2:00 in the afternoon, because we didn’t have a reservation till 2:30 at the Noble Family Steak House. The restaurant was crowded with people, nowadays, Taiwanese people enjoy family gatherings by eating out.

On the Third Day, I stayed home in the morning, and went to the gym in the afternoon.

On the Fourth Day, I prepared lunch for 9 WuGu residents at Brother Jimmy’s place. We played table games, storytelling, and chorus singing after lunch. Jimmy prepared redbean riceball soup for dessert.

On the Fifth Day, I stayed home in the morning, and went to the gym in the afternoon. 

Venture to Egypt (Rewrite)

Habibi Toastmasters and Friends.

In January, I ventured to Egypt for the first time. Why Egypt? The Pyramids of Giza? River Cruise on the Nile? Red Sea Resort? I had them all. On top of that, I ran into a sudden sandstorm, all outdoor group activities were cancelled. What? It took me almost 20 hours to fly from Taipei to Cairo, with 6 hour time difference!  

We are Toastmasters, we thrive on difficulties. In the sand storm, "Taxi, please take me to the Hotel Old Cataract Aswan". There I saw the luxurious colonial-era hotel opened in January 1900 and famed Agatha Christie wrote her popular detective story “Death on the Nile” in 1933. Then I visited the main bazaar with goods of the past and of the present, bought palm dates, spice herb tea, and I smoked shisha, the water pipe, for the first time. Yes, Toastmasters turn adversity into opportunity. The sandstorm opened my contest speech!

The Pyramids of Giza, on many people's bucket list, so were on mine. Three grandiose pyramids of King Khufu, his son, and his grandson. Humble King Khufu built the biggest pyramid 4,500 years ago, but left no paintings, no statues of himself for people to remember. I saw the humility of humanity. 

River Cruise on the Nile from Aswan to Luxor, four days and three nights. We hopped on and off the river cruise to visit magnificent temples and tombs. Being a party animal, I was busier knowing international passengers than seeing the breathtaking Nile River landscape. I made friends with 5 Russians, 4 Tunisians, more than two dozens Spanish, 40 plus Chinese, 2 Koreans, 1 English, Irish, French, and Colombian, not to mention the Egyptian staff on board.

Red Sea Resort at Hurghada, three days and two nights, according to the Bible, the place where the sun shone on the earth only once, Where? Yes! God parted for Moses, the Red Sea. At the Red Sea Resort, all you can eat buffet, all you can drink alcohol with a non muslim hand band, free ice cream by the sunny pool side, disco at night. It was a paradise to escape the cold in the winter.  

Riding the Land Cruiser at the world biggest Sahara Desert was thrilling. The driver looked very much like Omar Sarif in the movie of Lawrence of Arabia. No sooner had he asked, "speed up or slow down", than he stepped on the gas pedal, we all shouted, "woo" in unison, while flying over the bumpy desert rock. 

At a Bedouin Arab tribe, I met a petite woman fully covered in black veil and robe, surrounded by many of her young kids. She invited me for tea sitting by the fire on the sand. She was so dark and small, I couldn't forget her sweet smile. In her, I saw my distant evolutionary ancestors from Africa. In her, I saw the legacy of humanity.

The world is a big classroom. The more people we meet, the more places we visit, the more challenges we face, the more we learn about ourselves! Fellow Toastmasters, Go explore Egypt with your very own eyes. Share your Toastmasters spirit with Egyptians, young and old, men and women. Yes, Habibi Toastmasters in Egypt, I shall return! Contest Chair!

TMM Reading Group

Eight people, including two guests, participated in the Toastmaster Magazine Reading group dim sum gathering from 11:15 till 12:45 at Brother Hotel today. As the Chinese New Year is approaching, the Brother Hotel was crowded with gourmets and food lovers. The meal time was tightly restricted to one and a half hours, only less and no more. We decided upon a new time slot for our weekly TMM reading from March, every Monday evening, from 9 o'clock till 10 o'clock.  

After the meal, I grabbed the opportunity to rehearse my contest speech at the waiting area in front of the elevator. I am very grateful to our group members for their time and immediate visual response. As soon as I arrived home, I rewrote my contest speech.   

Venture to Egypt

For Division D Speech Contest in English, District 67, Saturday morning, March 28th, 2026

To: Egyptians Toastmasters in Area G25 & G26, District 20

Habibi Fellow Toastmasters and Friends,

In January, I ventured to Egypt for the first time. Why Egypt? The Great Pyramid? River Cruise on the Nile? Red Sea Villa? I had them all. On top of that, I encountered a sudden sandstorm, haboob, all outdoor group activities were cancelled. What? It took me almost 20 hours to fly from Taipei to Cairo, with 6 hour time difference!  

We are Toastmasters, we have plan B in our pocket. I chartered a taxi to visit the Hotel Old Cataract Aswan where famed Agatha Christie wrote her popular detective story “Death on the Nile”. I visited the main bazaar with goods of the past and of the present, bought palm dates, spice herb tea, and I smoked shisha, the water pipe, for the first time. Yes, Toastmasters turn adversity into opportunity.

The Great Pyramid at Giza, the only exiting one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, the stunning feat of engineering and human accomplishment. Three grandoise pyramids of King Khufu, his son, and his grandson. King Khufu built the biggest pyrimid 4,500 years ago, but left no paintings, no statues of himself for people to remember. I saw the humility of humanity. 

River Cruise on the Nile from Aswan to Luxor, four days and three nights, an ecstatic Toastmasters adventure full of acting and improvising. I knew half of the international passengers and Egyptian staff members on Blue Shadow 2. Toastmasters are icebreakers and small talkers. I made friends with 5 Russians, 4 Tunisians, more than two dozens Spanish, 40 plus Chinese, 2 Koreans, 1 English, Irish, French, and Colombian, age between 16 and 80 plus. I hosted Toastmasters gatherings whereever possible, on the roof deck, in the restaurnt, on the dance floor. 

Red Sea Villa at Hurghada, three days and two nights, according to the Bible, the place where the sun shone on the earth only once, God parted for Moses, the Red Sea. The water of the Red Sea was icy cold, but the open swimming pool of AMC Royal Hotel and Spa was warm with a temperature above 20 degree Celsius at noon. People enjoyed free icecream by the pool side. What a destination of choice for winter vacation at the Red Sea Villa.  

At a Bedouin Arab tribe in Eastern Sahara Desert, I met a petite woman fully covered in black veil, surrounded by many of her young kids. She invited me for tea sitting by the fire on the sand. She was so dark and small, I couldn't forget her sweet smile. In her, I saw my distant evolutionary ancestors from Africa. In her, I saw the legacy of humanity.

Egypt has a lot more to offer, Sphinx with philosophical riddles in Greek mythology, Koshary, a spicy Egyptian vegan staple, with UNESCO recognition, handsome man like Omar Sharif in the movie of Lawrence of Arabia, and not to mention Naguib Mahfouz, the first and only Arab writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1988.

When I was in Egypt, Taiwanese were often hailed with “Taiwan No. 1”. Yes, we have No. 1 TSMC. From an once notorious island of products made in Taiwan, to the world best chips manufactured today, Taiwan has come a long way. Taiwan is No.1 in friendliness. I am a proud Taiwanese, a modern good Samaritan in East Asia! 

Roman Emperor Caesar once said, "Veni, Vidi, Vici". Fellow Toastmasters, with the communication and leadership skills I honed at District 67, I enjoyed the venture to Egypt twice as much as other 30 Taiwanese tour group members. The world is a classroom. I encourage you to make Egypt your next travel destination. Go explore Egypt with your very own eyes. Share your Toastmasters spirit with Egyptians, young and old, men and women. 

We are the world, We are the children, We are the ones who make a brighter day. So let’s start giving. Yes, Habibi Toastmasters in Egypt, I shall return! Contest Chair!

Departure for Egypt

Today is the long waited departure day for Egypt! I had my hair dyed in the street yesterday afternoon at a cost of NT$150. My husband helped me set up another smart phone at the last minute last night, because my old HTC couldn't fit in the new SIM card. Finally I gave in to a new smart phone!

For the past few month, I have been training myself physically, visiting the gym, hiking in the wild, to build up the muscle strength. I have also read intensively and extensively, watched many YouTube videoclips and DVDs to get to know a little bit more of Egypt.

It's the second time in my life I visit the north Africa. During a business trip to Casablanca, Morocco 30 years ago, I bought two local robes, one in black, the other in pink, I brought both of them along in my suitcase. along with one Parkistanti costume. I am not going to take them back to Taiwan.

When Egypt was colonized by the Great Britain, rich and noble Englishman would spend their winter vacation in Cairo. I couldn't believe that I could be so lucky to set foot in Egypt in my life!

I am excited to experience another culture, another part of the world, be the oversea trip quite a long distance one.

Happy 2026

As a patron of Taipei city library Jing-Xin branch, I visit the place at least twice a week, therefore I have more opportunities to run into new arrivals of books and DVDs. In addition to mine, I also have my husband's library card with me, and I can borrow 30 books and 14 DVDs upon one visit. My desk is always piled with books and DVDs for me to spend a good spare time.

I didn't get up until 9 o'clock this morning, I was very tired yesterday, the last day of 2025. I got up before 7 o'clock to attend the online Toastmaster magazine reading for one hour, rushed to a year-end Karaoke party in Bang-Qiao. We sang from 10 in the morning till 3 in the afternoon, for 5 straight hours. I took Bus 930 back to Xin-Dian, changed to Bus 909 to Da-An Sports Center to exercise for one hour. I felt exhausted after dinner and went to bed at 10 o'clock.