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 Villa? 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 have plan B in our pocket. In the sand storm, "Taxi", I visited 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 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 temples and tombs. Being a party animal, I was more interested in 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 Villa 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 Villa, 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, "wow" 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.

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. 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.

The world is a big classroom. The more people we meet, the more places we visit, the more challenges we encounter, the better we know ourselves, the happier we become to reach out! Mark Venture to Egypt on your bucket list! 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.  

All's Well that Ends Well

All's well that ends well. That's the conclusion of the party I organized for my friend's 82 Birthday today.

The party was scheduled from 11:30 till 17:30. On my way to the karaoke venue, I collected a bag of ballons from the Wheatland Care Center at 11:15 with a hope to create a colorful BD atmosphere.

The BD star didn't arrive when all the dishes were served at a quarter to 12. While worrying about somebody might not show up, I announced the begining of the luncheon before the delicious food got cold.

I paid the total expenditure of NT$4,000 when all the dishes were served. The BD star finally arrived, but no sight of her younger sister. I told the BD star that we two shared the charge of her younger sister. I was a little sad that the rest five people didn't show much appreciation. I guess I was probably a little unhappy that I didn't sing much. 

Fortunately the BD star's younger sister finally arrived at half past one. She told us that she thought that the BD party will take place tomorrow. At least I felt a little happier that I could collect some money from the late arrival.

Four remained after another four left early at 3 o'clock to a Mahjong game. I sang, danced, and chatted a lot. It turned out to be a great BD party in the end. I felt grateful from the bottom of my heart. Life is indeed full of surprises. All's well that ends well.

Trip to Egypt 2026.1.7~1.16

The older I get, the more I believe that the pleasure of traveling is to meet local people, and to chat with them. Through human connections, we can leave stronger impressions in the memory about the foreign land and people. 

I am a book lover and a movie goer. Solo travel and short stay abroad helps me relate to the story in the novel and in the movie. I am in general particular and selective about books and movies, I seldom touch anything in a language I am not familar with.    

Before my journey to Egypt, I read books and saw movies to get familar with the Egypt and the Egypitians, the mixed descendents of nubian with ancient Greece, Persia, Rome, Byzantine, Ottoman. 

I thought of the first Egyptian lady I met at the Louisiana State University Eye Center in early 80s. She was a research fellow, specialized in Herpetic ocular infection. She was one of the three committee members to approve the thesis for my master degree.

Taiwan was colonized by Japan for 50 years, Egypt was colonized by Great Britain for 73 years from 1882 till 1954, one of the reasons is seize the control the Suez Canal, the gateway from Europe to India. 

Be there many book about Ancient Egypt, none were about Modern Egyptian history at the Taipei City Library. Taiwanese go to Egypt mainly to see the ancient civilization, the pyrimid, to ride the cruise on the Nile, and I am no exception. When my friends mentioned about the cruise on the Nile, I didn’t think twice and pay the total cost at once. For the 10 days trip, there are 7 overnight stays in Egypt, including 1 night on the train from Cairo to Aswan, 3 nights on the cruise on the Nile, 2 nights at the Red Sea Villa, and 1night in Cairo. 

https://www.lux-holiday.com/products/group/detail/ME103U60107P?reg=0018-

The Purpose of Life

For Area Speech Contest in English, District 67, January 17th, 2026 

Fellow Toastmasters, ladies and gentlemen. good afternoon! Have you ever been to a surprise birthday party in person? The birthday star was in tears and laughter when hearing a full house of people shouting "surprise". Today, to your surprise, we have an unprecedented living funeral for Distinguished Toastmaster Sherry Li. Being the Toastmaster of the living funeral, I am honored to deliver the eulogy. (standing in the center on stage with a chair behind, dressed in a Toastmaster T-Shirt, a Toastmaster Cap, with a big file of eulogy)

Part I:

Sherry Li was was born in October 1955 in a military community in Chia-Yi. Both her parents came from China, her father from the north, and her mother from the south. They got married in Taiwan, raised four children, Sherry is the eldest. Sherry became interested in communication when she was six years old. She was the only child from Mainlanders parents at a Taiwanese elementary school in her neighborhood. To survive, she had to acquire Taiwanese fast to mingle with other young kids. Guess what? Sherry eventually married a man from a native Taiwanese family in Chia-Yi subconsciously and successfully.

Part II:

Sherry joined Grand Toastmasters Club when she was 28, just coming back from the US with her master degree in Microbiology and Immunology. While working at Ministry of Health during the day, she taught English at a cram school at night. When she was invited to Toastmasters by her boss, the President of Grand Toastmasters Club. “Imagine when your boss tells you to do something, what do you do? You say, ‘Yes, boss.’ Sherry had been enjoying Toastmastering till she got married at 31. Sherry rejoined Grand when she became the Secretary General of Taiwan Pharmaceutical Industry Association at 36, because she was desperate to hone the leadership skills. When She was the Vice President Education and the President, Grand was prosperous because the meetings were held at the big conference room of her office free of charge.

Part III:

Sherry is passionate about Toastmastering. She chartered the first Japanese speaking Toastmasters Club in Taiwan in 1998, and became the Charter President of Kyoto Toastmasters Club in year 2000 while she was an exchange student at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto. Whenever sherry traveled abroad, she visited local Toastmasters club, in New Zealand, Italy, just to name a couple. She flew to Mongolia in January with the temperature 30 below to help charter the first Toastmasters Club in Mongolia.

Part IV:

Sherry is a polyglot. She hones her language skills in Toastmasters. Three months ago, sher celebrated her 70 birthday. Being a septuagenarian, she is active with several on line reading groups, two in Japanese, two in English, including Toastmaster magazine reading group. She will be teaching Korean at Taipei City Library from March, with the aim to charter the first Korean speaking Toastmasters Club in Taiwan. 

Wow, what a purpose of life Sherry found in Toastmasters. What a legend in District 67! (Pick up the eulogy file)

~~

Thank you all for attending my living funeral by surprise. I have attended many Toastmasters' funerals in the past four decades, but never a living one. It’s a serendipity you attend mine today, both red and white envelops are welcome. If you don’t know me before, now you know me. I am grateful to Toastmasters for making who I am. Time to say Goodbye to Sherry of the past. 

Oops, it is a taboo to say goodbye at a funeral in Taiwan. The reason is obvious, funeral is for people to say sorry, funeral is to grief over the loss of a loved one. But what if a living funeral, a happy gathering for family and friends to cherish the good time with the person who is still alive.

With much being said, I'd like to propose a toast! To the living funeral, to the new life journey, to the purpose of life! Cheers! Contest Chair!

人生的終極目標

上午到全聯買了一袋黃耆紅棗人參鶏，燉煮了高麗菜，加了細麵條，老公吃的很開心。

午餐後，我上床午休，我說吃得好，睡得好，老公說這就是人生的終極目標。想來也是，老來別無所求，就求一個好吃好睡的人生境界。

25/25

上午十時就接到秋燁打來電話來，已過了秀朗橋，我急忙出門，到了麥當勞，她已在二樓等我。我約她去搭貓纜，結果她沒有帶悠遊卡，我只好借她我的卡。搭 793 到了動物園，她沒有任何證件，必須買全票，只好作罷。

搭捷運到大安，再轉淡水線到中正紀念堂，再轉捷運到公館，結果水源市場週一不營業，再搭公車回到大坪林，車上碰到金葉，三人一起到麥當勞午餐，已經過了十二點了！

晚上帶上了第廿五幅牙套，最後一幅，醫生說牙齒矯正手術已完成了百分之八十。我很好奇最後的百分之二十為何？

Home Coming in Kyoto 3/5

Michi made Miso soup for breakfast. I had two bowls with rice, salad. What a relaxing morning to start the day. Michi and I talked for three hours straight in Japanese and English before Michi took me to Yukaki's house in her newly bought red car.