Year of the Dragon

I didn't reply to any text greeting message during Chinese New Year except Superman -younger brother of passed producer - music man Tsai Chung Cheng. it don't feel any bad without response with canned greeting. you received many canned greeting, you caculate what's the popular one and what really came out from personal writing. social media and tele-communication change the way people communicate, especially in the country where culture / trandition counted. from the days people dress on new cloth and shoes, got up early on New Years days, knock door to door for the senior, associate and friends. then the telephone replace the door knocking, since when text message overtook the tool and become the most popular means in greeting people, it's hard to image to sent a " Group " message means anything to the person you pay your greeting ?
For the Chinese New Year, on new year eve, we had a very early dinner - to be more precise, it's a lunch, then we move on to Dao Liu for the first time new year in country yard. since father broken his leg, he spend decent time in the Taipei house, Meiling cook for him every day, and we decided to send him back on New Year Eve and brought kids together with us.
Hu Seng Yeng is a nice sceneray spot in the suburb of Dou Liu, it's all dark at where my father live, he live a country life, be a farmer, a poetist, a Tai Chi teacher and making friends with all walks of life there. we check the 3 dogs who we thought are family to my father : the Shio Pan - the yellow skin leader , another 2 black dogs - Shao Bao and Da Bao, they become our family friend when stay for 24 hours. it won't be a comfortable night in the country yard, thank God we brought sleeping bag with us, otherwise , none of us can get sleep.
I woke up early the following morning, take a walk outside the house, the tree, the bird singing and the fresh air -- this is not what money can buy, on my way up to the mountain, I saw a hundrend year old tree, magnaficiant and it took my break away.no wonder father love this land and preach me to live my retire life here? am I enjoy the luxury of retirment? I don't know.
We left the country house around noon time and check a few small city aroung Yulin Country. She Low is the place we visited first, ate the rice cake bowl - She Low is famouse with her rice and water. so, it's nice to be in the country and get the feel of a New Year Flavor.
On our way to Chung Hwa where we book a motel for stay, we pass a small town Si Hu - Meiling and I been there quite a few times - for the mutton hot pot, but this time, we visit the old suger cane factory - the one build in 1904 from the ancient Koo's family and now converted to a local culture musume, to take the suger cane train and have the captain explainted to us the rise and fall of the suger industry history in Taiwan, if quite informative and I really enjoy the ride.
to Si Chu - we went for visit a very old private school - the Hung Si Tutor House - I love the architecture so much, however, kids don't like it. ( wait a moment, this was done the follow day after Chung Hwa )
Stayed in Chang Hwa and take a walk on the night market, not many thing to eat but the small night market consisit 3 ancient temples, they are so beautiful and elegant, To me, it's like a journey of temple worship on New Year Day.
The following New Year Holidays were occuplied by new things, from day 3 to day 7. I didn't keep my promise for doing what should be done, but to stay and enjoy the emotional sensation.
New Year, a lot thing coming, YPO facilitation is kind of heavier than before, which I like it, the Der Ming commitment is a promise hard to keep. books and funding company is on the way.