The Year of the Horse has arrived. The Lunar New Year is upon us again.
That “again” can convey both frustrations and anticipation. Are you fed up with the New Year’s holiday, or looking forward to it?
Some suggest that the New Year has lost its savor, that it has become boring.
Others argue that though the flavor has changed, it remains enjoyable.
Taiwan’s high-speed rail system has cut travel times between Taipei and Kaohsiung greatly. Does that change the meaning of going home for the holidays?
Chen Ching-fu, the director-general of the Kaohsiung City Transportation Bureau and a distinguished professor in the Department of Transportation and Communication Management Science at National Cheng Kung University, states that transportation systems have indeed changed the way people journey home.
What he means is that high-speed rail, metropolitan rapid transit systems, and convenient city bus transfers have greatly reduced time wasted stuck in traffic. This extra time opens up new ways in which to spend the Lunar New Year holidays, making it much easier for us to visit friends and family, or even to visit a scenic hot spot.
It permits us to plan New Year’s activities that used to be impossible.
Has this changed the character of the holiday in Taiwan? No need to answer right away. Wait until you’re back from your trip!