Page 25 - BSAM 2018 Q1

Post-Convention
Tour of Taiwan
Culture, history, geography
and, of course, more bonsai
HBy Gudrun Benz, Germany
ighlights of the post-convention tour were the visit of the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum near Kaohsiung with bonsai exhibition and
the bus ride along the spectacular east coast of the beautiful island even if we could only see a small part of the Taroko Gorge, Taiwan’s top tourist destination. e route along the Paci c Ocean side of Taiwan, goes up and down the steep coastline with stunning sceneries. Sometimes I could see precipices of several hundred metres deep just beside the road—no place for people with fear of heights.
e last part of the tour was a late a ernoon and evening at the opening of the Amy Liang Bonsai Museum on 10th November in Taipei. Once more we could admire most beautiful and precious bonsai, stones and other art objects. Dance and music performances entertained us, and excellent food made sure of the well-being of every guest.
“There are so many things to savor in Taiwan: The beauty of the Island; the beautiful native people; the unusual fruits and vegetables and the hospitalities and friendliness of the people. Wherever we went, there were many things to enjoy and to experience!” —Alicia Dowdell, Canada
Top; Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum’s Eight pagodas.
Top left; Podocarpus bonsai, one of the many bonsai at the museum.
Middle left and right; Taroko Gorge
Bottom; Amy Liang Bonsai Museum Grand Opening
January/February/March 2018 | BCI | 23