November 6th 2025 Under the sea Under the sea This morning I woke in Okinawa Japan. I love Japan. It drives me crazy with the compliance. Yes, Tony could not get into the car until our driver had seen him walk back across the road and take our luggage trolley, which I had left outside, back into the airport building. At any point of purchase, the process is so thorough that it adds extra time to each transaction. But it is because of this, because of the commitment to precision, politeness,...
2 days ago • 2 min read
November 5th 2025 We are the human family We are the human family Our Taiwanese adventure is coming to an end. Last night, we had dinner with someone I have worked with on and off for 18 years. This was our first time meeting in person. Joining us were his friends, newlyweds Judy and Henry, both more fluent in English than in Chinese. It was the most perfect last night. Tony and I got to ask all the questions we had about Taiwan, including the big one about China. Henry is from an indigenous...
4 days ago • 1 min read
November 4th 2025 Geopolitical Footballs Geopolitical footballs The land where I am writing is one of the geopolitical footballs of our current times. My country is increasing its defence spending in case China moves on Taiwan. The cages are rattled every week or so in the new feed. China is made out to be the bad guy in this game. I have been seeking to understand why China might believe it has the right to Taiwan, and how the people of Taiwan feel. The history of China as the governing body...
4 days ago • 2 min read
November 3rd 2025 I will travel guilt free I will travel guilt free I have been blessed to travel to some amazing places. I visited Lake Como one early January, when it was freezing cold and quiet. Quiet is as I like it. I am writing from Sun Moon Lake, in the mountains of Taiwan. The similarities between it and Lake Como are startling. Yet this is far from the heaving crowds of Europe. Sun Moon Lake is not only beautiful, it is accessible and affordable. The indigenous Theo peoples made this...
6 days ago • 2 min read
November 2nd 2025 Exotic Blocks Exotic blocks Yesterday we spent a few hours walking in Kenting National Park, on the very southern tip of Taiwan. Nature has a way of bringing us to our knees. At an elevation of 280 metres, huge maple and fig trees grow out of what was once coral reef. The porous coral enables the tree roots to take hold. They drop down to the ground in root curtains. At times, we were walking under a canopy of roots. The aeons of time we are talking here make our little...
7 days ago • 2 min read
November 1st 2025 To shatter routines and habits To shatter routines and habits A good morning coffee is hard to find in Taiwan. After 10 AM or even later, yes. But early. Coffee from the ubiquitous 7-Eleven is the only option. Getting to eat enough vegetables is hard work, unless you have your own kitchen. Many of the great cafes look terrible from the outside. They do not say, Come in, through appearance. Broken down and somewhat derelict seems to be cool. I am writing from a very cool cafe...
7 days ago • 2 min read
October 31st 2025 On the folly of maximum effort and going nowhere On the folly of maximum effort and going nowhere I have been going through another one of those steep learning transitions in my surfing. To catch a wave, you need to be on the board moving faster than the wave; otherwise, it will go under you and leave you behind. This is about speed and efficiency. Smooth flow, very little resistance. Including the resistance of the mind. If you have a big, long board, it is easier because...
9 days ago • 1 min read
October 30th 2025 Turning off the world Turning off the world Sometimes it is good to turn off the world. To stop the news feed. To unplug from the drama cycle. To worry about lesser things, or not worry at all. One of the many reasons we chose to come to Taiwan was to understand how the people feel or think about being a political football in a geopolitical game. In my part of the world, it is common for China to be portrayed as the enemy. The drama is that China has the right to govern and...
10 days ago • 1 min read
October 29th 2025 A commitment to truth A commitment to truth Requires the ability to sit in discomfort. To be wrong. To see our bias. To watch vigilantly our mindset, and challenge it the moment we know it has closed. A commitment to truth means we remain endlessly curious. Even when we long to be right. It means asking more questions, from more sources. Getting the whole picture. Refusing to be boxed into one perspective. Challenging the status quo. Asking even better questions. Being in...
11 days ago • 1 min read