After a dreary start to the day, we
proceeded to the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall. Watching the guard changing
ceremony, I am very impressed by their highly- maintained discipline and
ability to stop fidgeting. Their behaviour and movement are akin to that of
animated toy soldiers. Moving only to breathe and blink, they become live
statues until the end of their shifts.
Heading to Di Hua Street, the guide there
took us walking back and forth down the street, introducing various shops
selling a variety of traditional goods and building structures of the old shop
houses. I have to admit, the hot weather had taken a toll on me and feeling as
if I was about to melt into a puddle with all the perspiration, I did not pay
much attention to the guide.
When the guide led us to pose for a photo in
front of a Chinese temple, it was greeted with much wild protests from some of
my friends, who had different religious beliefs. If, say, you were a Christian,
would you like to take a photo in front of a temple? This goes for any other
religion. Empathizing with their feeling of having their religion disrespected,
perhaps we should not intrude on such religious issues next time.
All too soon, we were on the way to Taoyuan
International Airport. On the bus, our tour guide of 6 days dropped tears
saying her parting words. Each of us signed on two gigantic, pink and furry
rabbit soft toys with permanent markers. It was then that I realized I would
miss Taiwan. I would miss the picture-perfect landscape, the delectable food,
the fine weather, the bustling night markets and most importantly, the affable
people. However, just as Taiwan has left us with unforgettable memories, we
have left our footsteps on the streets, our cheers heard and our raucous
laughter ringing. It is not wrong to say that we have made a mark on Taiwan
too.
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