Page 66 - BSAM 2015 Q1

promoting international friendship through bonsai
Bonsai & Stone News
HUA FONG BONSAI EXHIBITION, TAIPEI, TAIWAN, November 2015.
By Malcolm Hughes, UK
It was a very unexpected pleasure—my visit to Taiwan to see this amazing exhibition.
I was unable to accept an invitation back in September to attend an event in China as the guest
of the Shanghai Botanical Gardens and the Shohin Bonsai Group since I had scarcely returned from at- tending the Bonsai Clubs International Convention in Australia. Shortly after, I was both surprised and delighted to be invited as a guest at the Hua Fong Bonsai Exhibition in Taipei and participate in the of- ficial opening ceremony.
It was an extraordinary experience over a five-day period; the hotels, the hospitality and the bonsai were all of an exceptional standard. From the very first mo- ment of arriving, nothing was overlooked, the comfort absolute and every need attended to with thorough- ness and care.
Initially, I had expected to be the only European but was delighted to find two others present, namely
Left column, top to bottom;
Front entrance of the Grand Hotel in Taipei
Part of the exhibition
Professor Amy Liang presents a special award to Kunio Kobayashi
Polished stone - height 46 cm, Viewing stone with accent Right column;
Ficus - height 1 m 5 cm. Juniperus chinensis
66 | BCI | January/February/March 2015