Taipei International Women's Club outing: One bus, 7 countries

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.”

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