Monday, October 17, 2016

2946. Travel Stories - Laggards get scolded in a tour

Oct 16, 2016   Slovakia
Bory Mall, going to Bratislava


"Why are you so late!" the wife, waiting outside the coach with the tour leader, admonished the husband who arrived with another retiree, Charles.  The lunch at Bory Mall was for one hour and strictly no shopping. When the husband went to the spot where the coach had stopped for passengers to disembark for lunch, there was no coach and no other fellow travellers. Why?

"I think the others may be waiting at the other exit of the Mall. Let's go and look for them."  Charles is one person who tends to "think out of the box". This was not logical thinking and the husband did not let him do it.

Both walked further up the car park. They saw the blue and white coach parked far away from the original disembarkment spot and the angry wife with the tour leader waiting.

A good tour leader would have gathered all at the same disembarkment spot or at the exit of the Mall. He would count them and all would walk to the coach parked further away.

Charles had a poor impression of him earlier and this served to reinforce his bad assessment of this experienced tour leader. Yet he did not tell the tour leader of this failing. Neither did the husband. No confrontation and so no learning for the tour leader to improve his management.  

The tour leader could have informed all that the coach would be waiting far away from the disembarkment point. However, not everyone in the large group of 31 travellers could have paid attention. In a large group, the meeting point should be inside the Mall in this case or at the place of disembarkment. Tour leaders do make bad judgments but wives should not scold their husbands and able-bodied daughters should not scold their old fathers for being late in embarking.        
  


Sunday, October 16, 2016

2945. Travel_Prague_photography

Selfies more commonly seen nowadays














2944. Taiwan Travels - travel photography

Rainy days, overcast skies not good for pics.







2943. Taiwan Travels: A mind as sharp as a tack

"A long long time ago," I was starting a conversation to  a 78-year-old man during his birthday celebrations.  His children were educated overseas in the 1960s. "I was born a rich man's son."
"No, not me," he did not elaborate.
In those days long time ago, many Malaysians were poor and yet he got his children educated in Australia and Canada.

He may be old in years but his mind is as sharp as a tack when I asked him which address would his elder daughter be staying 50 years ago, since he had shifted house 3 times. His daughter was less than 50 and so he would have to think.

"She was not even born then," he said.
"You have long term memory," I was glad that he had no signs of dementia.    
This is a man old in years but his mind is as sharp as a tack. His elder daughter orgainised a surprise early birthday celebration and I was to keep it secret. He would know, I told the daughter. His mind is as sharp as a tack.    

Thursday, October 13, 2016

2942. Taiwan Travels: Hugs and kisses for an aged father



Hugs and kisses are touches
They are taboo in the Chinese culture
Of respect for the elders

One-to-one contact that lasts a few seconds
But they are very rarely, if ever presented
From an adult daughter to an aged father

Hugs and kisses matter much
To an aged father
Whose tomorrow may never come
Whose diabetes mellitus will never disappear

Hugs and kisses flash back
Memories of his little girl
Whom he hugged
Every time he carried her up
Onto the baby chair to feed her

To comfort her whenever she was sick or
Who hugged and kissed him
When she manipulated him to buy things for her

Hugs and kisses are sunshine
To an aged failing heart    
So so very hard to receive from his adult daughter
Now that she had grown up to be prim and proper

Hugs and kisses
Waft the fragrance of the adult daughter's perfume to an aged father
Making him believe he is young and vigorous on this special day


Hugs and kisses are touches
They are taboo in the Chinese culture
Of respect for the elders

One-to-one contact that lasts a few seconds
But they are very rarely, if ever presented
From an adult daughter to an aged father


The daughter googled to buy a sugar-free cake
To celebrate his 78th birthday
"Happy birthday to you," the family and friends sang this song

All the words sung are perfunctory

Nothing beats

Hugs and kisses for an aged father

One who had made much sacrifices
One who had to be frugal to ensure
That his daughter needed not worry
About non-payment of tuition fees
And would receive the best education

Hugs and kisses are touches
They are taboo in the Chinese culture
Of respect for the elders

One-to-one contact that lasts a few seconds
But they are very rarely, if ever presented
From an adult daughter to an aged father


A peck on his cheek 
Is not Chinese culture
But it is sunshine in his heart
And it matters



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FIRST VERSION

HUGS AND KISSES FOR AN AGED FATHER

Hugs and cheek pecks are touches
They are not in the Chinese culture of respect for elders
Hugs and cheek pecks
Matter much for an aged father
Much more than words of "happy birthday to you!"


The fragrance of the busy adult daughter
In hugs and kisses
A contact that takes a few seconds
But is very rarely, if ever presented

Bring back memories of the little girl
Who was hugged every time he carried her up
Onto the baby chair to feed her
Whenever she was sick or was manipulative to get things from him

They are sunshine in an aged failing heart
So so hard to get from a daughter
Who is now a healthy busy adult
Who googled and presented a sugar-free cake
To surprise and celebrate his 78th birthday
"Happy birthday to you," the family sang this song
But for all the words

Nothing beats
Hugs and kisses for an aged father
Hugs and cheek pecks are touches
The waft of perfume from the busy adult daughter
In hugs and kisses
Makes him feel strong and vigorous

A peck on his cheek
Is not Chinese culture
But it is sunshine in his heart
And it matters

 



Monday, October 10, 2016

2941. Taiwan Travels: Filial Piety

Oct 10, 2016

The diabetic father has twice a day insulin injections. No sweet things at all.

At an Alishan bed and breakfast on Oct 10, 2016, he gathered some  sweet things to go with his porridge. His daughter spotted them and admonishes him as he will suffer badly. No sweet ice cream for him and so much deprivation to watch his diet.

This picture of a daughter's admonitions is captured as an essence of filial piety. It is a role reversal now that the diabetic father is very old  and this daughter hawk-eyes what items he gathers for breakfast in this Alishan tour.


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