My schedule in Taiwan has been extremely busy and have been away from home and on the road all day the last two days. It’s now 11:39 PM and I’ve just posted the first message from here in Taiwan. It should be better the next few days–I hope!
Author: Charles Dittmeier
Taiwan–Day 1
One of my last tasks while before returning to the United States is to say goodbye to the many good people I have known and worked with in Asia.
I am now in Taiwan and I came here to visit Judy Wu and Henry Wong and their son Dominique. Judy was the main force behind the Catholic deaf people and the volunteers for the group when I was in Hong Kong. I had to transit through Hong Kong on the way to Taiwan.
The flight to Hong Kong was about 2:20 hours and was rather uneventful. The new HK airport, which was build while I was living there, is now expanding still again and it a long time to get from the remote terminal to Immigration inside.
The flight to Hong Kong was delayed but I had a three-hour layover there so it was no problem and I landed in Taiwan after a 1:30 hour flight.
Judy Wu’s and Dominique’s smiling faces were there to greet me and we took an airport train and then a taxi to their home in Taipei. A good first day of the trip.
The roof leaks…
Today I went to Russian Market to buy a few gifts for people I will see in Taiwan and Hong Kong and Macau later this week. The market is quite an experience as you might surmise from this photo.
Then it started raining–really raining–outside and water started coming across the floor from different directions.
The vendors don’t pay much attention to the rain coming through the ceiling except when it drips on their merchandise and then they have plastic sheets to cover the counters.
The rain certainly cuts down on the number of tourists, though, so all in all, it was probably not a good afternoon for the marketers.
Respect for Creation
A tree located in the girls’ area of our hostel fell over a few days ago. Before staff and students organized to cut it down, chop it up, and dispose of it, Mom, a houseparent (squatting) organized prayers for the tree.
Mom and the students offered coconut, water, sweets, and incense to the spirits of the tree who are now displaced.
New Clothes
Clothing is much cheaper here than in the US so I am getting some things to wear when I get back. Today Sophy, a very competent and practical member of our management team, took me on a DDP moto to a small tailor shop located by our DDP barbershop. Sophy helped me with Khmer, to make sure the tailor understood what I wanted him to do.
The young tailor has made some clothes for me before so I trust him for this relatively big job. I take him clothes that fit, to copy, and pick out some material from a swatch book, and then he checks measurements as a precaution.
I ordered a black suit, three clerical shirts, and two pairs of pants, and he is charging me $232. The clothes will be ready in two weeks.
Kike’s Anniversary 6
The morning after the anniversary we headed out on a circuitous route to Phnom Penh, for some sight-seeing. First, though,we had breakfast.
The first stop was a durian plantation. Our group really enjoyed that and bought probably a couple hundred pounds of the fruit with the spikey hull and pungent smell.
The second stop was at a park along really high and really fast river. People enjoyed nature for an hour and then we ate lunch in the little shelters around the area and then headed home. Good trip….
Kike’s Anniversary 5
After the mass, many people crowded around Bishop Kike to congratulate him and take photos with him.
Then there was a dinner for everyone, and after the food, there was an hour of dances and performance of various kinds.
The next morning there was a mass at 6:15 AM for those who wanted to pray before starting their return journey home.
Lots of goodbyes and photos followed.
And then it was time for the clean-up to begin.
Kike’s Anniversary 4
Prior to the anniversary mass, there was a welcome to all the guests near the church compound entrance and then an introduction to the evening’s celebration.
There were four classical Khmer dances throughout the evening. This one included young women in wheelchairs, recognizing Kike’s work with people with disabilities.
Young boys with peacock feather headgear waiting to participate in the procession.
Then the whole gathering, followed by the clergy, processed to the stage where the mass was held.
Arriving at the open-air mass site. About 2,000 people were expected for the event. Luckily the rain stopped during the mass.
One of the Jesuits explained what was happening to a Buddhist monk invited to represent the Buddhists Kike works with. The poor monk was probably rather bored sitting through the 2:15 hour ceremony.
Kike’s Anniversary 3
Before the actual anniversary mass started at 5:00 PM, there was an exhibition in another building where everyone gathered.
Kike (with flowers) greeted the families and others who had come to celebrate with him.
A central table had many albums of photos. Kike himself is quite a photographer.
The exhibition displays showed many events and people from the last 25 years.
The exhibition was a good opportunity for me to meet with people and tell them goodbye. I will be leaving Cambodia August 11th and most of the people at the anniversary I will not see again. Here I am with Korean Jesuit Fr. Oh Chang, the superior of the Jesuit Cambodia mission.
Kike’s Anniversary 2
Today was the 25th anniversary of the installation of Bishop Kike as apostolic prefect of Battambang. I had attended the installation years ago and went to the anniversary.
We left the pastoral center in Phnom Penh at 6:15 AM and stopped an hour later for breakfast in this typical highway restaurant.
Four hours later, a little after noon, we arrived at our hotel which had the mandatory Buddhist shrine and a typical huge wooden sculpture.
At 2:30 we went to the church compound where the anniversary was celebrated. Bishop Olivier arrived shortly after we did.
There was a heavy rain shower after we arrived. We were concerned because the anniversary mass was held outside. There were two rainy periods before the celebration but luckily it held off when the 2,000 people were gathered.
While waiting for the exhibition to begin, we circulated among several displays of events of the last 25 years.