The People of Formosa

When the Portuguese explorers first discovered Taiwan some 500 years ago, they decided to call it "Formosa" which means "Beautiful Island".
In my recent trip to the southern part of the Formosa, even though I was only able to see a fraction of it, I can tell their people are just as beautiful in nature.

My sister and I were particularly impressed when we had to stop the locals for directions.  The people we met were exceptionally pleasant and friendly each and every time.  They might not have the answer for us but as if it was in their nature to go out of their way to help us foreigners. 

In one occasion, we must have been looking a bit lost wedging our way through a map.  A bright and sunny face appeared out of nowhere, waving a stack of pamphlets.  And what did that occur to us?  No doubt he must be after something.  No he wasn't.  Absolutely not. He stopped right there, just trying to offer help even we didn't ask for any. 

If that helpful, sunny little boy knew what went through our minds then, he must be broken-hearted and what would that make us - two killers with no mercy wouldn't it? 

The fact that the place was ruled by the Japanese for half a century might have distilled some of the Japanese style of hospitality in them.  But the Taiwanese was able to do an inch better by augmenting that extra bit of sincerity in whatever they do. 


I am not in anyway saying the Japanese aren't sincere, they truly are, but their courtesy somehow appears like an unvarying habitual procedure to me, if you know what I mean.