Indeed, the list of attendees read like a U.N. roll call: H. E. Njabuliso B. Gwebu, ambassador of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Swaziland; Mrs. Ann Keke, wife of Ambassador Dr. Ludwig Dowong Keke of the Republic of Nauru; Mrs. Lale Lorena Eroktem, wife of the representative of the Turkey Trade Office; Mrs. Beata Pfeiffer, wife of Mr. Gerhard Pfeiffer, deputy director of the Austrian Tourism Office; Mrs. Deepa Seetharam, wife of T.P. Seetharam, director general of the India — Taipei Association; Mrs. Zawiah Ahmad, wife of Mr. Abdullah Mohd Salleh, who is the president of Malaysian Friendship & Trade Centre, and Mrs. Choo Hien Keow, whose husband works in the investment department of the same Malaysian trade center.

They are honorary members of TIWC, a club founded in 1951 and guided for years by Honorary President Madame Chiang Kai-shek. TIWC consists of women of Taipei's foreign community and has, for half a century, enabled them to meet and increase their understanding of their host country. The club's wide array of activities encompasses everything from education and culture to foundations and fundraising.

Apart from honorary members, the trip also included TIWC President Ruby Sung, past President Lansing Chen and her husband George Wang, and members Jinlee Faung, Kelly Cheng, Sophia Lu, Alice Lee, Yo Ching Chang, and Pearl Chen.

The purpose of Wednesday's trip to Hsinchu was to visit the One House Three Looks lodge owned by Peckhee Lin and her husband, Mr. Chou. Pong first visited the lodge with Zawiah Ahmad and her husband Abdullah Mohd Salleh a week ago.

“The first time we went in the car, we saw oranges dropping from the trees. If we wind down the windows, we could practically pick them!” enthused Pong, who with Faung, arranged the trip for the small group.

Once in Hsinchu, Pong's prophesy materialized as rows of trees dotted with oranges came into view. The wood lodge, nestled between trees perched on a hill, was so picturesque that Swaziland Ambassador Gwebu later exclaimed, “It looks like Switzerland from here!”

Owners Lin and Chou appeared and allowed the ladies to pick their prized oranges by handing out gardening scissors and plastic bags.

“Here [in Taiwan], there are a lot of vegetables and fruits [even in wintertime],” observed Lorena Eroktem, the newest TIWC member. As a vegetarian, she was pleased with the selection Taiwan has to offer. She is currently enjoying herself here and “joining all kinds of trips because I want to see [everything]. I am a very curious person.”

Inside the two-story, cabin-styled lodge designed by Lin, Deepa Seetharam examined the decorative rocks with detailed animal paintings. Seetharam owns an art gallery in India and often returns for art openings. All rocks and paintings adorning the lodge were done by Lin herself.

A true Renaissance woman, Lin, who is from Malaysia, conceived of the lodge with her husband, which welcomes guests through appointment. With the help of specialists, she planted a vast amount of trees and other plants in the space of two years. For lunch, she made traditional Hsinchu mee hoon (rice noodle), fresh cabbages from their garden, and organic carrot soup with famous Hsinchu meatballs.

Fan Wan-chao, Director-general of Hsinchu County Government Tourism and Recreation Department, stopped by with his family for lunch. He was amused by the smorgasbord of cultures, especially when Pfeiffer held up her glass of red wine, stared at him pointedly and said, “Prost!”

“You have to look people in the eye when you say 'prost' [cheers],” explained Pfeiffer. “It's impolite not to.”

After choruses of “Prost!” made its way 'round the table, everyone lounged about the spacious cabin, nibbling homemade orange-flavored cakes and sipping orange tea. Aside from what the ladies hand-picked. Lin and Chou presented additional boxes of oranges as parting gifts.

“Taiwan was made in Heaven! They have a big heart,” exclaimed Gwebu graciously. She eagerly demonstrated her acquired skill from Swaziland by balancing the huge box of oranges on her head, scoffing, “This is too light! I could [balance] a two-liter jug and still carry something in each arm.”

Although she misses the dancing and barbecues of her homeland, Gwebu has made great accomplishments in her four years in Taiwan. “[Swaziland] has one of the strongest relations [with Taiwan]. We just celebrated 40 years [of good relations].”

Nearing sunset, the bus ride back to the city was a quiet affair. But the adventure was far from over: the ladies were scheduled to dine at the FranSir Dining Room, where some of their husbands, among them, Abdullah Mohd Salleh and T.P. Seetharam, were able to join them. The meal was the cherry on top, as husbands and wives, friends and families came together to talk about the eventful happenings of their day.