歸來-愛是一種個人修養

看完電影後更覺得愛是一種個人修養。縱然有批評説電影把小説中嚴焉然在勞改的生活柵掉了。個人認為談人性多於政治的電影更能獲得國際觀眾的同理心，從而將腐敗政權怎樣折磨民生的訊息帶給更多的人。嚴焉然這角色震撼了我。在如此惡劣的環境中，還能活出尊嚴和氣質，這完全是靠着宏厚的個人修養。氣質是從修養裏孕肓出來的，而修養並非完全來自學識。修養是生活態度及個人心態的調整。受了二十年勞改的苦頭，終於能回家了，妻子卻因老人痴呆不認得自己，我想任何人都會抓狂，然後一把抓住妻子拼命地説：「我是嚴焉然、我是你丈夫、你想一想...」直到第三者把抓狂的丈夫拉開為止。如此情景並沒有發生在嚴焉然身上。反而是他把旁邊替他着急的人從妻子身旁拉開。他體恤那一刻妻失憶妻子徬徨的心情，放下了二十年來日夜盼望重縫的欲望。愛是需要智慧、忍耐和尊重的。那一箱用廢紙寫而未寄出的家書，算是嚴焉然在勞改二十年的日記。在如此惡劣的環境中，他的文字可以是那麼的漂亮、動人卻又不失真實感、不造作；再一次章顯了知識份子的氣質。環境可能決定了我們怎麼活，但生活態度決定了我們是否能活出尊嚴、氣質和人性光輝的一面。這是一齣談愛、談人性的電影。如果妻子與丈夫各自為自己的生活展開另一頁，這個故事就不會動人。寫到這裏，慨嘆現今社會風氣和教育制度能否培養出一個嚴焉然？

Day 5/5 Kaohisung back to Hong Kong

9:00am

After enjoying an early breakfast at the Hotel, we did an early check out and then headed to Kaohisung Museum of Fine Arts. The Museum is surrounded by a big park, there are joggers and pedestrians strolling around.  

10:00 am

There is a special exhibit about Man Ray. What is art? the most talented craftsmen might not be the greatest artist. They rather work for top luxury brands. A great artist is similar to an influential politician or a philosopher. Their art piece might not be the most skilled art work, but it sends a message to the world, and remains intact many generations after. I learnt about DaDa movement through this exhibition. A bunch of artists joined world ward I voluntarily.They thought they are fighting for justice, righteousness and a better future. In the middle of the war, they realized that they are fighting for none of the above, but for a bunch of power hungry politicians' own selfish desires and agenda. These artists form a group, withdrew from the war, and started the DaDa movement. They are calling for a change. They threw non conventional art exhibits, and place a signed toilet ceramic in an art center and call it art... why not? They are challenging the majority to think outside the box. And Man Ray is deeply influenced by the DaDa movement. 

One of the shown collection is call "Galaxy".  There are 13 or so photos of milk drips taken by Man Ray when he spilled his milk. Each has a message attached:

• Taste and opinion cannot replace intelligence and knowledge

• Nothing said will be held against you

• The pen is mightier than the sword and ink more indelible than blood

• There is no such thing as being shed (ahead) of the times : the times are always behind

• Misery makes the weak infamous, the strong sublime

• Birth and death are painful not necessarily for the one concerned .It is not death itself but its various causes that are tragic.

• Variety is the vice of life

• Reality is fabricated out of desire

• Do not turn the light for owls

What is art? the greatest artist often send a message. They use art works to draw attention from media and public, they challenge the current system, they provoke alternative solutions, they stimulate people to think otherwise... yet they give you freedom to stay numb to their works and messages. 

12:00nn

Before we leave Kaohisung, we had lunch nearby the museum.

Heading back to HONG KONG 

Day 4/5 Taipei to Kaohisung

12nn

Had a relaxing morning in the hotel, surfing online, making tea...etc. before we leave Taipei City. We bought the 12nn ticket to Kaohisung. 

Check in to Hotel Dua. I highly recommended Hotel Dua, it is perhaps the best hotel in Kaohisung city by far. Their price is very reasonable, one night stay for a bedroom with two single bed is about NT 3,500, which includes free wifi and breakfast on their roof restaurant. Their location is very convenient, it is 2-3 mins walk from Formosa Boulevard MRT stop which is a hub stop. 

Lobby cafe offers self served free tea / coffee counter. It is a very amiable set up especially when the guests are waiting for cab.

3:00 PM

Our first stop in Kaohisung City is Yanchengpu. This is a former government executive district. Now, with the help of the government and volunteer artists, Yanchengpu has successfully transformed into a theater and outdoor art exhibition center.

This "Kaohisung POPO Bing" is highly recommend by the tour book. It has 60+ years history ~~

5:00 PM

Hungry now... find a nice Tonkatsu restaurant to have early dinner ^^

6:00 PM

Time to buy some souvenirs for friends.  

That's enough for today, time to head back to enjoy the hotel facilities and chill

Day 3/5 Taipei

9:30 am 

Started my day with morning coffee, all set for the day!

10:30 am

Headed out to the National Museum. There are a few important art pieces inside the museum that are worth pointing out here. One of them is the jade cabbage. The piece is a jade cabbage with a small locust on the leaves, which is an imperial empress consort's dowry in the Qing dynasty. Locust's 蝗蟲pronounced "huang chong" in mandarin, it sounds similar to 王寵 huang Chong; which means King's favorite. It is a lucky piece of dowry.

1:00 pm

After browsing around the museum for 2 hours, our next mission is to try out the "National Treasures Menu" 國寶宴 at Palace Jing Hua. Each dish at the menu is base off from an antique piece at the national palace museum. 

Each private dining room has a very cool Chinese name, and ours is 大千居 which remains me of one of my favorite Chinese brush painting masters - 張大千。 國寶宴 is around 4200NT per person, it is a pricy lunch. However, it is also one of a kind dining experience that you can't get else where. The service is really royalty like, and we finished our lunch at 3:00 pm - sooo much food for lunch! 

3:00 pm

After the museum tour, we headed down to 中山 for ceramics pottery shopping. Taiwan is definitely the place to get quality tea leafs, tea pots and tools. 

5:00pm

We have a 6:00pm dinner reservation. Since the restaurant is at the top of a mountain, it takes about an hour to cab there from our hotel. The decor, vibe, food and service are impeccable. The theme of the restaurant is longevity, therefore all the ingredients they use are source from organic farms and local farmers. Fresh ingredient makes a huge difference on taste. I am willing to give up eating expensive stuffs for the simple but fresh rice, egg and vegetables. It is totally worth a try! 

9:00pm

We finished dinner, head back to our hotel with a full stomach. 

11:00pm

Went to the 24 hrs eslite - back to the hotel and end of day 3

Day 2/5 in Taipei City

11:00 PM 

We started our day by having a seafood brunch BBQ at the fishermen market in Taipei city.

There are mainly two ways to approach lunch at this fishermen market 1) pick a restaurant ( the one inside the wet market is the most reputable and popular, but long waiting line) 2) buy something in side the market and eat at a booth somewhere. We picked the outdoor BBQ restaurant next to the fish market. Price is reasonable, the calms are around 140 NT each. They also have a variety of food: yakitori , seafood, coconut water, rice ball ... Etc

2:00 PM 

We stayed at the fish market till around 1 ish and then headed down to the Yingge Ceramics Museum in Yingge. Since our hotel is nearby Taipei Train Station, the easiest way is to take the MRT. Ticket is about 30 NT per person, ~20 mins ride from TP station. 

The museum has an outdoor area which is kids friendly :) Many families bring their toddlers here is crawl and "run" around :)

There is a special exhibition going on inside the museum when we visited (4/14/2014). The plate above is from...? Yea, Picasso ! His style is very consistent.

Aside from the special exhibition, Artist Bi Zao's ceramic paintings collection base on H.C. Anderson Story : The Little Match Girl caught my attention. If I were to purchase a set or a piece of art, this collection would be my choice in the ceramics museum.

Another eye catching collection is this ceramic tea pot set. This one is "Crounching tiger and hidden Dragon", the words you are seeing from the magnify glasses are hand craft, amazing!

I learnt so much about pottery techniques and methods through this tour. We ended our time at the museum shop. And I got this tea cup set as souvenir :) It only comes in PIG and COW. The answer is clear , lucky :)

7:00 PM

After so much walking, our legs are tired. Just when we were thinking about dinner, we decided nothing is better than an evening spa in BeiTou :) Be aware that most of the hot spring resorts close at 10pm and restaurants around 8pm. It takes around an hour door to door from TP station to BeiTao. I like taking the MRT, cabbing is about the same time. 

I think we can end our day tour here. 

Bye !