Water, Trains, and More Food!

I'm trying hard to keep my mornings quiet and a time for listening and prayer. It rains hard in the nights here but so far the days have been dry. Having overcast skies keeps the temperature more moderate. I put on a long sleeve shirt for the air-conditioning. For the rest, it just means I turn off the fan.

Started my trek on Monday by travelling one stop to the end of the transit line. There's a river/canal and a park. Took some time to walk and appreciate the massive highway tressels, flowers, quiet water ... not so many folks there after a busy weekend.
















Then it was time to jump back on the train and head into the city to WanHwa -- the area that keeps me coming back to Taipei. I change transit trains twice and it's interesting to me to see the changes in those who ride the trains from the busy commuters to students, to the weathered faces of those whose lives has been hard. Observed 4 middle aged women (I have to be careful who's middle aged and who's old, you know) chatting. The years of hard living and tough exteriors were evident in the lines on their faces, their clothing, the way they wore their make-up and even the way they spoke with each other.
















My destination: The LongShan Temple Station. One of the most famous Buddhist temples sit directly behind this station. In between is a plaza/park where all sorts of things happen. (I can only put 5 pictures in each post so I'll put the pictures and news of what I saw there in the next post.)

I always have a sense of excitement as I come up the escalator to the area and at the same time, it's not many steps from the entrance of the transit station before I sense the same heaviness that you experience when you walk in the Main and Hastings area. There's such a collection of pain and struggle it seems. Fortunately we can bring light and hope.
















The city has tried to make some beauty in the area. Since I was last here they have installed a lovely water park feature that gathers all sorts of folks a few times a day -- I was there for the 5pm display.
















It doesn't matter where you go, meal time is interesting here. The cafeteria's weren't this "high class" years ago in the countryside but here we are decades later in the city. On my way home I met Amy, my roommate, and we went to this cafeteria just a couple of blocks from home. The choices are endless. The prices are cheap (I think I had 4 different things rice, soup etc. for $2.50) This cafeteria is more upscale than most but I tell you, the choices elsewhere are just as varied and good -- only the containers the food are in are a bit more ordinary.