Last summer, I went to visit Taiwan for the third time, and really enjoyed the homey feeling of this beautiful island. People say third time is a charm, which is truly the case with my experience. The feeling of home away from home is, to everyone, something worthy of remembering.
In fact, 25 years ago, when the Communist regime slaughtered thousands of students in Beijing’s Tiananmen square in 1989, a private foundation in Taiwan felt, strategically, the need to connect with Chinese students and scholars in America when such a drastic change was taking place in China. Fortunately, I was among 50 Chinese students in all American universities chosen to go to Taiwan as a recipient of Taiwan Visiting Scholarship; unfortunately, my advisor would not grant me leave as the lab was too busy at that time. So of the 4 planned trips to Taiwan, fulfilment was done on three, a charm that it truly is.
My first visit was in 2005. During my two weeks there, I stayed at a Japanese style hotel called Gloria Prince, and came across Typhoon Talim and an earthquake! That trip enabled me to change many wrong perceptions about Taiwan and cleared away much improper indoctrination instilled upon us when growing up and attending schools in China. I felt the shame and sadness coming from a country where the Communist ruled, but the feeling there is one place on earth where Chinese people can enjoy freedom and liberty, is surely satisfying.
Then 3 years ago in 2013, I visited the island for the 2nd time because of the publication of my book over there, ‘The Dragon’s Vault” was published by Broad Press. For the 10 days of stay, I asked the publisher to help find a hotel near a night market and public transportation for me, as I had heard so much about the delicatessen in the night market. The Grandee Hotel was exactly what I needed, it is right across from the famous Shilin District Night Market, and near the subway. In fact, I could look down and see the night market from my hotel room window, and observe the night market into late night with many food stalls, and the morning market which is kind of like a whole sale food distribution center, in the open.
