Trip Continue Part 3:
Lunch at Fu-ko wan wan't on the plan, the administrative office didn't book any lunch today, we found it on our way to Shen-di-men, a resturat with view, I can see a long suspention bridge in front of us. the lunch is delicious, everyone eat a lot -- and the fly over the dishes also.
arrive at the Baiwan tribe home by 3:00, 8 Baiwan people waiting for us, they perform for a hour, singing and dancing, Mrs. Chiang is one of the legenary singer, she lead the 8 tone chiore and we enjoy it so much, the last session is daning with them altogether.
Visit Peng Ho village for the nose flute artist is another interesting one, the family of nose flute is a family of Baiwan living art form; they wish to document everything they have and of course, they pray high hope for the crew visiting them today, oble artist practice the note flute, producer pay more attention to the melody and songs, we found it hamony and we finally capture the element to balance Oble and Flute. it took us 2 hours in the house, the A-Bai they prepare were so delicious, so tasty.
find the dark way to the final stop today, we check at Liang Shang Tunnel and 2 young man leading the road to a small country road, where I found no house, no light, I make a joke about kidnap and ransom; we were attracted by the bonfire, an American is making the camp fire welcoming us - the fire heat not our body but our heart; Race is the last artist we met, she win the Golden Melody Award last year who is a Lukai and originally from Ping Tong, what interested us more is her hushand -- A Nanking native, develop in HK, married a Lukai and adapted as a Lukai -- of couse, this is controversial, we were our of a house - a temporary worker's shelter - more presiely, they prepare A-bai and other traditional Lukai delicacy .
COO went for another business trip, he took trip quite offen in this quarter, more than usual, I knew he is planning his own future and I am not surprised as all; be the gate keeper, I begin with the rubber stamp procedure this morning, " To invite shop clerk for year end party and close our shop earlier for Friday " is the emergency doucment in front of me, the communication between sales manager and COO were copied to me late last night, I feel this is a conditional approval, without thinking further, I sign on the document. after lunch with Linda - Head of HIT music - home to the artist Power station and S.H.E; F and A manager urge to meet me for 10 minutes, she raised the issue of the very short notice of inviting more than 30 people to the year end party will bring unimaginalble trouble to the warefare committee - who in charge of the year end party; My second thought is someone want to breaking the rule, but a collective power asked me to stop it; I told F and A manger., if this annoucement didn't release yet, I will tried to suspend it, if it goes out already, I will seek a way to mild the situation and won't let it bring addition emotion and workload to the committe; the session after is the coffee with Sales Manger; before our converstaion, he confessed that this petition was escalated from the sales office , because he should let the voice up to the management team; but he fully understand the administration office will be painful, so, he will not insist on exercise this alternative; I only asked if we didn't invite the shop clerk to the year end party this time ( same as before ) will that cause any commotion or even riot? the answer is NO, so, we waive it and wait for next year; I also promise them if my schedule is allowed, I will join the shop front party with them.
The session with Sales manager is critical, he worried, worried about the future of the company, the changing of management culture and the confidence to bring positive result next year, the goal and direction to him are not promising; I asked where the idea comes and how he sense the change of the culture; he mentioned that the project system we launched is a formationism, we do really check the feasiviblity and capibality, only foucs on format, schedule and other non down-to-earth business issue; I reply to him that displine is the key to bring efficeincy, we have to make our people used to the tools before it internalize to the self-initaitve power, it take time and minioring before we get rid of all the rules, the concepture of the project is a pain we have to sbsorub, as no one knows the new model will work or not, but to keep the faith and to think hard and simulate to a better picture is what we can do now, a monumure before war is necessary; then he told me the truth beteew Corpartion and manager devlop problem, why they can't deliver the budget on time is due to they can't access to the imformation related to the completion of budetary, why a manager can't access to the number they required to finished a precise budget ? he also echo the voice from Marketing manger, My answer to him is " I don't know they encounted with this problem? " if I knew it, I will break it, I don't mind the transperency in the information exchange, I always think our manger know more is much important then leak out to our competitor, no one can imitate someone by check the document or figures. I told them come to me whenever they facing such a problem. we should not buliding wall between people. the last question is concern about the culture change of the company, I asked why, becaure I sence nothing change, I follow the believe of corporate culture was bulit by the people who work together, no by the one who receive a higher position , and I don't think there is only one culture in one company, should be multiple and colouful; then I dig out the problem, this is due to the panaty clause annouce yesterday by the warefare committe, in order to keep the ? they annouce to all employee that if one apply for year end party won't fail to attend without decent reason, he or she will be fined 300 NT, the panety really demostrate a bad feeling to the employee; I remember when told the committe member not to use panety for controlling of the budget or displine, can be more creative such as : Make it a donation to South Asia disartar, or those who didn't show up with approved reason should prepare a program for everyone one in the following year end party; I am not favor with this but I don't know why it announced?
J. - specially assistant had a review plus conversation with me in the morning, he told me that more than one manager feel that I will leave, devoted myself to NPO or opportunity outside?he would like to follow me, I apprecaite his willing to treat me as the mento, and told him a few senerios below:
1. If Sony asked to to join other entity or devleop the corporation out of Taiwan, I may leave.
2. If nothing changed, I have to working hand in hand with you and COO to transform the So-net operation from now.
3. If Sony doesn't need my service anymore, then I have to think my way our, to be independent or finding other career.
for above 3 scenarios, there's no way he should consider leaving, in additon, I told him the impace about leaving of PR / Ad assistant manager, we all learn from the hard lesson, never deliver message on behalf of someone, and never deliver message which won't bring good intention to the listening party, I share with him the article I learn year ago from Scarlatee - The ancient Greek philoshopher.
Lunch with L. and get to know her better, she had the heart to contribute on culture and non-profit zone, which make me happy, same as David who we had lunch on Monday, now I have resource on hand with big media effect to turn my Snow Ball project a good one.
J. Lu Fan is the person I see after lunch, the tea house she choose is located in Chung-Kawang Park, We notice this antique tea house for a while, but didn't try their cusine before; the tea time experice is good in term of the people I met, but the ambience is bad in terms of the service, the waiter and waitress seems don't understand both English and Chinese, anyway, the chat with J. Lu is fantastic, she had a idea of musical production with the theme " Campus Folk generation " with Chris Babeda - my long lost friend, I am sense this project with be a good one. why invited her for a tea ? this is because when sending gift to friend, I check my cabinet and found the cardh she gave before, with her writing and the photogrape she took in Menchanster, I love it , second, she is the manger of Sino and friend of Jerry, this is how we knew each other, the idea of Financiang music came to my heart, I think it will turn out to be a great project and money generator.
I was really mad last night when wife told me the plan to follow my father and spend Chinese New Year in China, I switch off the light, yell at her and asked her why not think on my shoes ? my father accuse me with no filial twice, never compare me with his friend's son, why why why, my wife want to join his team? never think my feeling, I was so angery, and she walk out our room and sleep alone in Sound's room; I never understand why I should be peace with this, I don't want to, I will never regret about what I insist to, this is me, she owe me an apology, she don't need to be the cataylist, why leave my mother home with me? why ? so selfish, the more I wrote, the more I hate, why can't I have the feeling of hate, why.
Trip contitue:
after visit the Me-lung Hakka musuem, we take a one and half hour drive to Wutai village, on our way to Wutai, we passing through San-di-meng and stop at the oboringal reservervation control station, the police keep a goat as a pet, he love to plan with tourist and asking for all kind of human food, passing through the control point, we enter the Lukai land, with the latitude of 800 meter, we were in the mountain. checking in our home stay - a traditional Lukai village, house are made of stones, as I told the administrator my problem of snoring, they put me in the suite along, this room belong to the owner's son, I see lot of art . sculpture and painting, he is a true artist. when checking in, every body go for a tribe taste local food.
Little rice and A-bi is what we eat the most during the 2 days trip. the dinner is OK, by 7:30 pm, the host -- Daku arraged 4 Lukai elder singer performing traditional Lukai music to us , in the stone house, they all dressing up, Daku she was the translator and interpertor, she explanined to us who are they, what's the meaning of the song and the tradition of Lukai.
to my surprise, we have a wrong imprssion about obroingial, at least to the Lukai tribe; virginaitly is so important to the people of Lukai, the lily on the woman's head demonstrate the honor anf purify of a woman; in the entire villiage, only one elder woman who smokes, drinking problem ? alcohol is so expensive, only the noble and the elder can afford in the old day, since " Bai-lung " ( the han - hakka , non-oborignal ) came, they lost property, work and confidence, the alcololic probalem developed.
4 of them singing for 1 and half hour, the reward, a 300 NT red-envolop with some snack / fruits we bring make their day.
I spend time with Daku and learn more about the culture of Lukai, knowing they relocated from Old Good Tea and stop in Wutai because a dog won't go further, they smell a sign of holy hand and decided to stay.
Long distance racer was normal to see in the old days, because there's no road for car, they have to walk every day, and it keep the stone house alive, not the road pave with tar, wider then before, tourist come and morden life invansion, the value changes, but in Wutai, they keep their tradition still.
Bai-lung is not allowed to buy house in Wutai, they can rent as long as they like, but can't doing business also.
Posion snake is a friend to them, they call it in theri native lauguage -- a good fellow, because they keep the Bai-lung away from the village. we speak until 11 pm, I love the story she delivered and I had a great night.
this is the end of first day.
Follow morning, I woke up by 7:00 am and take a stroll to the mountain, in the day time, you can see clear every house in the village, they keep the traditon in the front door, in the stone carving, wood caring and preserve what they love and showcase the talent we Bai-lung lacked; the Chrismas tree were so high. all of the village people believe in God and share the same religion, although in the village , they had 3 church belong to different saint, but during the Chrismant, they celebrate all together.
I med David - an American in the early morning, he told me there's a wedding taking place today ( it's a Sat. ) an A-mei lady will marry to a Wutak man, I excited about this accidental surprise , and I met Daku's wife - the macho / beard guy, an artsit without further explanation.
The first program in the morning is to see another village in the middle of the mountain, Daku take us toward the Little Goast Lake, another surprise, we saw cherry bloomsing in our way, so beatiful and so amaning. the peak is a base stataion of CHT - Yes, Changhwa tele is every where, looking from this mountain to another mountain, Daku told us stories, the second program is a culture visit to the village, she explained what we see in front of each house, let me tried to memorise:
1. if you hant a bear, you put bear figura in the wall.
2. if you hung wild pig, if it's male, you carve lily, it's female, you put.
3. the holy story of animal hamony with people in the frasco painting, you see all the male -orientaed symbol to present a make dominate society.
4. but they don't beat wife, they think male is stronger then female, this is not a fair game, wife can return to her home, unless the hushand apology , she will not return home.
5. Chinese name was created after simply yet interesting concept - Du marry to Ba , and he is a boy, they will name is 杜巴男, his son was born in Spring, they call it 杜巴春... Dabanam he is a great worrier and artist, sports man, his house is a personal musum ,collect 30 admi fees. he don't speak Mandarin but Japanese and Native laungaue.
6. Hunting king selling craft in front of his house, his house deco with all aninals.
7. Elder lady put on a blue scar in her hat, which mean she is in mouring of relative of her who passing away.
after the village culture tour, we went for the wedding, the priest is conducting the celemory, so pure and so holly, all the people dressing up and singing in the church blessing to the new couple.
then we stop at a Ai-Yu shop tasting the greatest Ai-Yu in the world and watching the shop owner demonstrate how to juice the Ai-Yu.
Finding a place for another tribal lunch at Fu-Ku Wai near San-di-meng.
We dicided to accept the regination of Enginerring VP, on the exit conversation, I invited him to share his uncomfortable feeling with us; the ego in his mind structured still; self-center mindset make his accusition a frangile object to me; this is like looking to the mirrow, what you see is not the reflection of yourself, but somebody else , and the attitude and personality extracted from the reflection is just what you hated. he never aware of his emotion and seldom think of his no-compromise attitude suffered a lot of his co-workers in the office; Yes, I am not saying there's no contribution nor low efforts he made; a very self-displined person and follow every instruction, good in negociate the internet related cost - such as lease line, ATM truck, bandwidth etc. the company in now mature in handling this portion, as he said to us, he didn't know his value in the company anymore, and he didn't agree with the direction we are heading for. this is fine, I shake hand with COO after the conversation with Tech VP, congradulated him on leaving a growing burdon in the office.
Lunch with T. from Tokyo, another expatrate join us from Tokyo, he report to duty last Thursday with a new hair style - very short, he explained to me he shave the head himself, I joke about the " Strating all over agian ", during the lunch, I asked him what cause the operation in HK so difficult and asked his mission in our company; he provide me a good answer : To be successful, or to make a good success story on his career, he's been working for 8 years, from the trading of Steel to AOL Japan and then joing Sony Network Communciation and transfer to the HK operation; he feel frustrated by not deliver success story so far; he wish to write a chapter of success story with us; when asking the project on hand and the challenge he will be facing, he hold strong confidence , and he asked me, do I have faith in what he is doing ? Of course, we believe in the people who belief in what they are doing. the converstaion ended by 2:00 , just before I rush to the Taiwan Expose project meeting.
Together with music elite from all area -- performance, production , lables and governmental body, they are planning a 2008 International Music Event, this is a final session to formation a consumian and committe in structure a monitoring and working platform for the goals, a small scale of tesing water project shall be held in 2006, the it will bring to a major scale of event in 2008, my appearance is not a surprise, but a positve power to lead the industry, I knew they respect me, and I take it naturally and voluntee to be the screening committe offical in identifiing the committe members; they don't have objection, I always stay in mainstrem , in a critical positon but reach my hand to the non-maintream ( independant ) and making friend with; the leader role was naturally created then. C. know how I may exercise my authroity and she is right.
The break with Alex is fun, he is a great pitcher, knowing what I like and dislike and wish to place me to MTV, well, Tom left last month, the brand is jerpordise and no leadership anymore... I am so negitive about this offering, I wouldn't think about i until we went through a family / friend chat, finally, I told Alext under 3 condition, we may have a converstion with them :
1. Greater China positon.
2. Free hand for 2 years.
3. Same or higher perk.
he asked if those 3 condition were accpeted, what's the percentage to join ? I said 60% , he laughed and reply with no way, I raised it to 75% and told him the 25% depend on the person I report to....... he fully understand what I ma saying....
Jean didn't make time for our appointment on this trip, I am OK, after Alex, a causal dinner with Meng, the alumni who I like when return to study 7 years ago, although I didn't finish the course, ( I only study for one semester ) but the relationship build and friendship established were so health, I overheard his illness and frustration from one of the alumni, ( this is a must to me and my wife, we run into person we know in every occation, this happen 3 weeks ago when we go to Shinden -- a local-local market for Red face duck hot pot, this classmate told me about Meng, I decided to invited him for a private dinner ), the situation wasn't so bad, he did take a long rest, like 2 months, didn't feeling well, heavy workload. we share a few thing on the dinner table, I recommend him to read the book " 7 habits " and encourge him to take the training couse, this is a paradigm shift , a assessment to your work and life.
yesterday, when discussion the 2008, I discovered a great Italian restaruat- Casa della pasta -- I love the deco and ambience, this coming Sunday, Sound's birthday, I am planning to bring everyone there.
the snow ball project discussed with Hochen during the breakfast chat last Thursday; the idea concept were well received by him; as we had a platform to know each other more by joint support the documentary movie ' life " the development of intimacy growing stronger and stronger. we set a monthly breakfast chat routine and he seems to be favored with my intention.
lunch with C. on last Thursday was a good one also, she brought me to a Middern decorated vege restaurant for lunch, it located in Ching-Yung street, an old street with some 100 years old house next Sheta; I didn't find this place before , I go over the concept of Snow ball and send her Kate Spake book " occation " as a new year sourvonier, she also invited me to a 2008 event on Tuesday; heading home for 2 movies with wife afterward, " The punisher " is an interesting one, another animation turn film, cartoon culture in the US and Japan are different, but the had a market system supporting the transformation of pop art, check how success Spiderman hit the market; I am ready for the Friday outing.
return to office today and found the diary recored I kept in new Clie th55 were vanished, the battery was dead, all the record I wrote were gone, I am so mad, asking Eu. - my assistant to turn the system back to my NZ50 model and urge her to aution TH55, it bring anger to me and I don't want to use it anymore. as I promise all the trip member provide them with the complete document, fortunately, I had the memory stick which keep the voice of Rece, otherwise, I will never forgive myself of ignoring the back up system and check the digital device battery all the time, this is the sin of being digital.
I had to rewrite it again, but the emotion and instant touching, spontaneous felling neve come back. I need my blog to do it again, be awared, blog is digitalize somewhere in the electricy, I have to print it out tomorrow.
Sat morning, I arrived at the Shung Shang airport by 8:00 am , I am 30 minutes ahead of the meeting time, scrolling around, I received the call from Yang - the trip orgainzer by 8:20 who informed me the traffice stopped him in middle of the road, if I see Stan, take care of their couple, Yang rush to the airport by 8:30, Stan didn't show up yet, Celloist Fan appeared, plannier Yu and Wu appeared, then Stan bring his wife arrived, Stan announce his retirement on Dec. 30, this is his first trip after retire, everybody know him, but I didn't really understand him, the first hello is a courtesy; I help loading the luggaege, checking the bag and we boarding the Far Eastern airline to Kaoshung; KS is warm, we took off all the heavy coat , leaving only a long sleeve shirt / polo with us, agreeting us , oble aritst , her hushand - conductor Chu and their father, the owner of the Feng-Cha musemn, on the bus with me -- Professor . Dr. Wu he introduce us our fist stop - Hakka culture in May long county and the Hakka eight tone on our trip to May long, Dr. Wu is a genius, he not only telling the story of Hakka music, but singing some songe to color the story, we were impressed by his knowledge of traditional music and his compelling story telling skill; the trip is too short because we had too many story to listen.
stop at one Hakka Old restaurat, where we had our first culture meal and meet up with 4 musician from the Eight tone group, the food is great, especially the stew winter mellon win everyone's heart; after the lunch, we drove 5 minutes to a temple where these artist preparing their first showcase to us. Dr. Wu told me he have arragned a trip for them on March 13, they will fly to Europe for the traditoanal music fesital, the soul of the group Mr. Chung learning Sona 50 years ago, he gave me his name card with the credit of living legend. 8 tone is gentel and detailed than Baikwang. insturment talking to each other. one one session, they invited a singer, yung yang to sing one Hakka folk song, th voice is so beautiful, so beacutiful.
the story contiune.
The Culture and Eco trip for the last 3 days were really an once in a life time experience to me ; the encoutner with traditional aboriginal music, Hakka legendary artist , the nose flue legend ; 8 tonantion hamany and the purpul butterfly velly in Mao Lin ; the people , the culture . the trip, the surprise and the inspiration of every thing we didn't know before.
I love the land, the culture the heritage and the people more and more, I can't wait to contribute more to the land I grow and to fertilize for a better land for the generation next.
I am planning to write an trip artice report what we've been done these days, Liang Sang love song is the ending of the journey and a begin of new adventure.
