A story of two cafes
Lu Shuya, for example, quit her job as a civil servant in Hsinchu and changed careers just before she turned 40. She learned how to bake and make good coffee, and opened a cafe in the mountains. One year later, she and her family decided to move to Nanzhuang. The five members of the family built their own house in 10 months, including facilities for a hostel and cafe. Because of its wonderful location and lovely views, the place has become a favorite with not only friends and neighbors, but also large numbers of tourists.
Another cafe in the mountains is run by Chark Liu. Liu previously managed a city convenience store with quite a respectable income. But about eight years ago he was bored with his lot, so he decided to close the business and buy a piece of land in Nanzhuang to establish a little cafe. He designed a house and a garden, hiring a master carpenter from Lugang Township in Changhua County to do the building work. Under the guidance of Chen Zhengwu, he quickly got to know about the local flora and fauna, and has taken on the responsibility of introducing the complexities of the local ecology to his guests.
Liu's talent for drawing was aroused by doing some promotions for an environmental event held by the residents' group. Since then he has fallen in love with art, painting mainly on pieces of stone or wood. His self-taught creative skills have become a key element of his rural life, and a major attraction for the guests at his cafe. Living in the mountains has, purely by chance, opened a new page in his life.
The residents' group is also active in other ways, such as organizing hikes and teaching plant grafting. The mountains cover a vast area and there are few inhabitants: the average distance between residences is over a kilometer, so it's very easy to believe that you're alone. However, through these and other activities, people get together, making friends and creating the consciousness of a new community. With the support of friends and neighbors, life in the mountains, though remote, should never be lonely.
Chen has been living in the region for 10 years, and has seen many people who want to live the dream of an idyllic life in the mountains. But many ignore the practical issues that will need to be dealt with. With his rich experience of mountain life, he always advises them: "Think carefully before doing anything rash."