My fiftieth birthday, Year-of-Covid “road trip to Changhua” didn’t go to plan, in a year in which plans have had to be largely abandoned across the board anyway. This was no glorious return to the Bayon; it was a trip to the middle of nowhere for a business room in a second-rate love hotel. It started with a tetchy exchange and ended with Trump being denied a second term. Not all bad, then.
Lukang was a pleasant surprise, with the old streets and gaming parlours and the Tianhou Gong Temple, one of the nicest examples of an old temple in Taiwan that I have seen. The beauty of this architecture juxtaposed with some really run-down garden “displays” and forever-parked vehicles summed the trip up nicely for me. One highlight was stopping by a shop selling lanterns and having a second-generation painter write calligraphy and a seal on one for mother’s garden in Blighty. I hope to be able to deliver it in person come summer.
Anonymous says
Through the mire one plods to find, higher, sacred ground. As with passing years, lives are enriched by cumulating experience and wisdom, and passing it on. Thanks for the post, Grasshopper.
carylon says
Is that you, Anonymous?
Ingrid says
Happy birthday Paul ๐ Things will keep getting better this year! These temples are amazing ๐ I was so fortunate to see a number of them. You captured these beautifully. Iโm sure your mom will be delighted with that lantern, especially when you deliver it in person ๐ Ingrid
carylon says
Thank you, Ingrid. And she’d better like it, or I will fire her.
Anonymous says
Trust me it would be worse if Year-of-COVID were at your forty. At least, itโs…to me who like to travel so much but is locked in a tiny island for a year…
Nice to see Custer and you in a photo after years, both look great, specially Custer ^_^
Anonymous says
Oops… not meant to be Anonymous. Itโs Confy.
carylon says
I was wondering: not many people know Custer personally ๐
And then I noticed your comment on A Walk in the Woods. Singapore is a lovely place, one that I have had reason to visit over the last couple of years. But I can understand it must have been difficult with the circuit breakers. You take care, too.