My year end greeting 2023/Carlos Pueblo

 My year end greeting 2023/Carlos Pueblo

It's been a week since coming back from a Transatlantic cruise. The itinerary is the reverse from a trip of 2022 with the same ship between Civitavecchia, Italy and New York City. It's very interesting to write about it. I flew from Houston to Istanbul and transferred to Rome, after a 10 hours wait to pick up a friend we took trains to the port city and marched to the gate of the port in order to get a free ride to the ship. On my way back, we took a straight route from Ponta Delgada, Portugal directly to Manhattan Port to avoid a hurricane in Bermuda. Finally, I caught three late or final buses at midnight to reach home. It has been an exciting year of travel including 11 cruises and two 3 weeks high speed rail trips in Japan. I even got a chance to call my elder sister Mary at TPE airport, which made me decide to visit Formosa next year.

Amy negotiates a big contract to renovate our house foundation and the waste sewer plumbing system. A 42 piers will be installed around the sinking area while a total replacement of the PVC pipes is required simultaneously. I was on my cross Atlantic Ocean trip and had no argument but agreed to pay. The work is going to begin today. Owning a house must also face the cost of the real estate taxes and the maintenance.

Michelle is changing her job again. This time it is a healthcare company. Arthur is still with his original supermarket company. Amy is quite busy at home. I feel aging yet still like to avoid loneliness. I write about my senior life and travelling. 

Happy New Year.

歲末問安2023／莊峻華

歲末問安2023／莊峻華

今年過得真快，一眨眼又是歲末，好不容易塵埃落定，靜下心來寫信問候親朋好友。我剛從歐洲搭乘郵輪回家，甚是疲倦，家裡又需整修地基和破裂污水管道，心神未定，琳兒從高維斯敦釣魚回家，取回其舊日手機，我正手忙腳亂，翻箱倒櫃，找出另支三星舊手機，重新設定網站，以便出外旅行，買賣股票，也設定連線，繼續清晨網球局，還有一處台灣老友電話機會。

今年我搭乘11班郵輪行，另加兩次3週之日本新幹線行，非常忙祿，有一次甚至在桃園機場轉機，和萬里姊連絡上，姊已近84歲，講話精神抖擻，我決定明年回台灣訪問。

我們全家均安，琳兒新換工作，準備蓋一新居，舊屋已拆除，正待奧斯汀政府批准設計圖，元兒仍在超市工作，英敏亦甚忙碌，這老屋翻修工程等，都是她一身抗下，比較上我較不若當年逞能，如此避免爭執，我僅承擔我的金錢部份，我在船上也訂購一打肖像，以為後事備。

敬祝聖誕節快樂，新年愉快。

Coming back from a Transatlantic cruise in 2023/Carlos Pueblo

 Coming back from a Transatlantic cruise in 2023/Carlos Pueblo

Three days ago, I was coming back from a Transatlantic cruise in 2023 embark at Civitavecchia Port on north of Rome, Italy. It's was a long trip hard on both flights from Houston to Rome and Newark to Houston while quite comfortable on a 15 days cross Atlantic Ocean cruise. I was tired and required a three days rest at home.

I was taking a credit card promoting points to purchase one way airplane tickets; therefore, I was routed to a long distance and an odd hour flights in order to get cheap plane tickets. First, I flied form IAH to Istanbul, Turkey and wait 3 hours to transfer another flight to Rome. While landing at Rome airport, I waited 10 hours to my specialty restaurants dinner partner to land and accompany her to take trains to the cruise terminal. In order to save 6 Euros, we walked along a busy traffic streets to the gate of the cruise port.

On my way back to Houston in the Manhattan cruise terminal, I was lucky to caught a shuttle bus to Newark Airport in New Jersey. Waiting for 10 hours to catch a night flight back to Houston; yet I didn't realize my luggage was arrived early than myself. Finally, I was lucky to catch my third bus after the midnight to be home.

Many house chores are awaiting for me to settle. There are two major house improvement awaiting for me, a foundation repair and a plumbing replacement with a grand cost of $40,000. Amy has already packed and removed some furniture and staff in order for the sticks 42 of them in and out of the house to be established. What I need is to get my share of money to be ready when the jobs are completed.

It will be costed more if I let the house sinking more and tear down the house and rebuild a new one while we can do some renovation and live here until the end of our life because we love the house and the neighborhood.

自歐洲返美郵輪行2023／莊峻華

 自歐洲返美郵輪行2023／莊峻華

三日前甫自歐洲搭乘郵輪返美，正值歲末，諸事纏身，心神稍定後，再寫報告。我是在十二月二日晚，搭乘土耳其航空，經伊斯坦堡機場，抵羅馬機場，然後搭火車到羅馬北郊之一外港上船，經馬賽港，巴瑟隆那，卡迪斯，里斯本，碰達德拉卡達，閃避颶風百慕達，直奔紐約港，一共在船上15日，旅途順暢，本無驚訝，但因節省，引來一些緊張。

我使用銀行卡優待點數，購買機票，以便節省支出，所以機票是免費，但時間冗長，需要長期候機，但我早已習慣，我又想省錢搭公車，又拖笨重行李，非常吃力，一直到船上房間開放，始得換洗休息，真正開始享受郵輪旅行，曼哈頓港下船，還好搭上專車抵內華克機場，然後搭夜機回休士頓，趕到半夜三班公車，抵家門已是翌日清晨二時。

今年，出外搭船旅行多次，全部是舊途重訪，郵輪算法是11次，另外還加上一次陸地旅行到日本，當然我跟不上兩年遊記，這次旅行我也將描述，就是加入回憶。

我們家開始整修地基換地下漏水管等，這是大工程，我們已經準備好經費，工程進度迅速，約四日內完成，然後換木板起居廳，應該是明年初，還有很多老屋翻新工程，均需一一克服，我也需要暫時中斷出外旅行。

The cost of a house remodeling/Carlos Pueblo

 The cost of a house remodeling/Carlos Pueblo

Owning a house to live is a life time achievement, yet we almost forget the cost of maintaining the house. I am leaving for my next cruise tomorrow; however, I need to face an additional cost to fix our house foundation issue to replace the waste sewer lines in addition to the 42 piers to support the shift foundation. The cost of both reach $40,000. I am aware that there are more to come such as the interior painting after fixing the crack on walls, replace the hardwood floor, replace the lawn front and back yard, and furthermore, replace a new roof, etc.

We have moved to this house of 1982 in 2012 and now all issues are appearing. I thought that after we paid cash for our purchase, the only expanse would be just the local taxes and the homeowner association fee. These kinds of maintenance won't happen, yet it is true. The earth underneath is shifting and the plastic pipes, the Polyvinyl chloride PVC, are corroded. The waste sewer are leaking that the mechanic can't fill up the tube to check on the leak. He recommends to replace the whole lines. The PVC is almost 43 years old. I can't do anything but agree. They will come in to dig the underground replace all PVC tubes and fill up muds to spaces. Piers work will be done in one day and sewer lines will take 4 days.

I don't think that I can go to cruise trips that often as this year. Lucky me, the cost of cruise trip is more to meet the inflation pressure. I don't think that I can go to visit abroad like before. I must be frugal again to meet these additional costs.

仍舊是碎事／莊峻華

 仍舊是碎事／莊峻華

明日我又要遠行，赴羅馬外港搭船回紐約共18日，行前仍舊是碎事，修理地基打50支地磚，仍舊需要換污水道塑膠管，兩項工程需耗四萬美金，完工後，仍需要換新木地板，全室內修葺粉刷，我真想離家出走，雖然我們已無房貸，但是房屋稅所得稅等，仍舊令我喘息不已，我仍舊不是富裕人也。

我們社區房屋，都有地基下陷問題，房屋在1982年初建，原屋主在1996年，整修地基，也修理污水道換塑膠管，但現在已經開始出現結構不支，愛美希望整修，找人來估價，我同意因為整修遠較重建便宜，而且社區環境好鄰居友善，交通方便。

專家從後院污水管口灌水，半小時後仍灌不滿，表示地下有破裂漏水，塑膠管壽命有限，但比鉛管安全，記著要隨時換新，否則屋老就有麻煩，像地基移動，牆壁破裂，門都關不上，很是困擾。

好，修理換新地基水管，這是需要挖掘土地打地洞之工程，當然費用高，再來就是換木地板，室內粉刷，換屋瓦，還有修葺庭院草皮等，居屋費錢，即無房貸，也逃不過這些維護費用，我真想離家出走。

Re-visiting Kyoto, Japan in 2023/Carlos Pueblo

 Re-visiting Kyoto, Japan in 2023/Carlos Pueblo

It is about an hour ride on express train from Osaka to Kyoto. That day was a cloudy day and was not that promising; however, I decided to go ahead to re-visit this lovely ancient capital of Japan. there were some places which I missed in he spring this year. I bought a day of the city bus pass and started with the Kiyomizu-Dera Temple and the Gion Area, then I took the same bus 206 to visit Kyoto University main campus, then the Ginkakuji, then across the central part of the city to the Kinkakuji Temple. On my way back, I even made it to visit the Kyoto Imperial Palace.

First, the Kiyomizu-Dera Temple which I visited in March this year is still very attractive to tourists who fill up both Gion area and the Temple. The Temple is over a thousand years old. Tokugawa Ieyasu used to stay here to do his military business against the Osaka Castle. Gion area is a narrow street where the classical movies are taken place. It is still very popular where you can see beautiful ladies dressed the kimono walking on the street. You can rent the kimono dress and the shop would help you to make up.

The same bus 206 took me to visit the Kyoto University campus. I have had a special interest in the Japanese Imperial Universities system. Before the War, Taiwan was under Imperial Japanese rule and Japanese built the schools system according to Japanese system. Kyoto Koto Gakko merged to Kyoto University after the War while Taihoku Koto Gakko in Taipei becomes Taiwan Normal University when Chiang Kai-sek's army occupied Taiwan in 1945.One of my Chemistry department head went to this University to study and that's why I always have a dream to visit this campus.

The Ginkakuji Temple is located north of the Kyoto University campus. It was built in 1482 by Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa as his office. It is a Zen Temple now. I did go through a road called the Philosophy Road of 1.8 Km by a ditch of the Lake Biwa.

After Ginkakuji Temple, I took 206 again to Kinkakuji Temple which I had visited more than 15 years before. Ginkakuji is Silver Pavilion while Kikakuji is Golden Pavilion which was built by Shogun Ashikaka Yoshmitsu in 1408. Both are still well maintain and beautiful, world treasury.

On my way back to the Kyoto Station, I found the Kyoto Imperial Palace. It was closed to the public yet you can still see the large garden and some building inside the high wall. Emperor Meiji didn't like the battle damage in Kyoto before the end of Tokugawa Shogun by one of his supporter army. He decided to move his palace to current day Tokyo. Once he came back to visit this old deteriorated

Palace, he ordered the city to preserve it.

再訪日本京都市2023／莊峻華

 再訪日本京都市2023／莊峻華

今年春天，我們搭機前來日本賞櫻，京都市是一遊之地，但我們僅拜訪清水寺，然後就回大阪市酒店，十分遺憾，這次我隻身旅行，胸有成竹，也從清水寺開始，我先從福島站搭普通車到大阪站，再換快車到新大阪站，然後換新幹線快車到京都站，下車後馬上購買京都府公車一日劵，先上清水寺線，全程都是客滿，巴士是一輛接一輛，全球和日本遊客，雲湧到來，我印象中德川家康經常住清水寺，雲籌維握，處理關西兵事。我很熟練的步行上崗，拍攝相片留念，這清水寺諸廟宇，都有千年以上之歷史，秋季年輕女遊客，更不吝打扮成日本姑娘，穿著美麗多彩和服，頭㻸鮮花，非常美麗。

祇園就在清水寺緊鄰，也是鬧區，電影背景處，真是擁擠不堪，天色陰暗，有下雨之威脅，我連忙回清水道搭巴士北上，上次愛美同行，只求安全，這次我鐵定找到京都大學，地圖上標誌在清水寺北端。當然我也是不斷詢問，下車時已經在京大校區，也找到正門，我對京都帝大特別羨慕，我在台灣師大讀書時，系主任程祥榮先生，早年畢業於京都帝大化學系，據校園內一位溜犬退休老教授曰，當年化學館迄今屹立，我特別拍攝一些相片留念。最近，台灣師大副校長陳焜銘博士來訪，我們提到高等學校，師大前身是台北高等學校，京都也有三高，副校長提到金澤市之四高，真令我驚訝，東京是一高，仙台是二高，先父諱明來公在我考上台師大時，就告訴我台師大和台北高等學校之淵源，也是我旅行日本各地，拜訪舊日高校建築之動機，舊日高校，英帝國學制，在戰前均已改制為帝大，連英國之伊頓高校和落格比高校，均已升格為學院，土井晚翠和夏目漱石在東京帝大畢業後，都先在仙台之二高，和熊本之五高任教。

銀閣寺是下一站，是在京都帝大校園之北端，搭公車下車後，就沿著哲學之道，琵琶湖疏水道前進，我未進入參拜，這是室町幕府一位大將軍之辦公室，環境幽雅，下次再來拜訪。於是我又搭車到另一方向之金閣寺，約是15年前和愛美及琳兒，進入拜訪，非常特殊美麗，是世界之寶藏，這次我也未進入，因為時間和陰雨威脅。

搭地下鐵回京都站前，我看到舊京都京畿皇居，這是明治天皇舊居處，大政奉還後，明治因京都戰亂破壞至巨，遷都江戶，我也是最近才學得知識，長州軍攻入京都，破壞甚巨，後來薩摩軍聯手長州軍擊潰德川幕府。舊皇居仍是緊閉，規模甚大，沒有天守閣。

Welcome NTNU Vice President Chen to visit Houston, Texas/Carlos Pueblo

 Welcome NTNU Vice President Chen to visit Houston, Texas/Carlos Pueblo

Our alumni association vice president informed me that NTNU Vice President Kwun-Min Chen would visit us in Houston one night on his way to College Station and Austin for school business. We would accommodate his vegetarian diet to treat him at the Sultan Pepper Mediterranean Restaurant inside the Memorial City Mall closed to his Westin Hotel nearby. It all went on smoothly as our association executives went to the airport to pick him up and I went to the mall to arrange seats for about 16 of us to welcome him. The restaurant also offers light meal such as chicken dishes in addition to the pure vegan menu which includes four salads.

We feel very closed to our Alma Mater NTNU, the National Taiwan Normal University in Taipei, Taiwan. Last year, University President Chen-Chih Wu came to visit us and also treated us a very nice dinner box and fruits. This year his Vice President continued to visit us because of the universities academic agreement among Taiwanese Universities with two distinguished Texas Universities, Texas A&M University and the University of Texas. 

It's even more closed for me to think about it. Chen graduated from the Chemistry Department in 1982 while I did it 1n 1971. He went ahead to get his Ph.D. degree at the University of Pennsylvania and returned to NTNU as a professor, department head, and the dean of the college of science, a perfect academic achievement and resume.

We all had the opportunity to chat with him that night. I ask him about the school direction since NTNU is no longer an university to train the secondary school teachers. He says that the chemistry department is very busy to prepare students to work for the famous TSMC, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. It's been really amazing that 10 years before in 2014, I had a brief tour of the department at a new campus, the department head showed me how they accepted some jobs request to detect material preciously like to cover the applied chemistry fields. Now, the department goes on further ahead in the material science and electronic fields. I know that is amazing for the current days universities especially he National Universities in Taiwan.

I have had a good chat with him about our mutual teachers at NTNU. He says that the University likes to gather more about our past, the school life and our faculties. It's so nice to converse with a scholar to remember my university life nowadays.

歡迎母校台灣師大陳副校長來訪／莊峻華

 歡迎母校台灣師大陳副校長來訪／莊峻華

週餘前，休士頓師大校友會來訊，母校陳焜銘副校長，將路過休士頓，校友會將招待他一頓簡易素食晚餐，我們在他下塌之大飯店旁找到一地中海型素餐廳，陳是我們化學系1982年畢業，常春藤賓系法尼西亞大學哲學博士，任教母校25年，擔任過系主任和理學院長，學資歷完整豐富，和去年來訪之吳正己校長，都是青年才俊，而且平易近人。

校友會長副會長，赴機場將副校長接來，因為時間蒼促，副校長也不嫌棄，我們就在紀念市大購物中心的食街蘇丹胡椒店設宴，就是將食街雙人桌10套合併擺齊，於是我們坐滿，這餐廳很精緻，素食在美國有廣範定義，副校長是全素，不能有動物產品，餐廳也嚴格遵守，我們可選四種食物，我曾全素11年，因糖尿病又無健康保險之故，副校長選擇素食，是因信佛之故，非常難得。

因為人不多，大家都有機會旁坐與副校長聊天，我與母校行政主管，稍有接觸，因為曾辦理校友會業務，例如2008年和2014年，都拜訪過公館校區母系，和兩位系主任有交談過經驗，也經過學校公關室，拜會過五位校長，幾位院長和系主任，因過世的張清朗院長之好心紹介，2008年還讓音樂系主任請過一豐盛主午餐，非常親切，留下美憶。

副校長告訴我，母系近況，母系教授陣容堅強，我在2014年就讀過教授陣容，大部份是留美博士，有些是留日和留歐博士，我想這是因為美國大學常年提供獎學金之故，2014年那位系主任，帶我參觀實驗室，當年系實驗室，已經可以協助對外實驗偵測，就是做應用化學之功能，副校長曰，最近都進展到半導體，為台積電等提供人才，母校已不再是培養中等學校師資之師範學校矣。

據副校長言，明年六月母校將在洛杉磯舉行全球校友會，我要將該月時間留下，拜會全球傑出校友，群聚一堂。

Compare both National Presidential Elections of the U.S. and Taiwan/Carlos Pueblo

 Compare both National Presidential Elections of the U.S. and Taiwan/Carlos Pueblo

Both Nations are the Presidential Systems, the President has a mighty power to rule the Nation. There are cabinet or the White House in the U.S. secretaries to help the President to manage the government while in Taiwan, there is a Premier appointed by the President to form a cabinet with secretaries to help the President to rule the Nation. Both Presidents are elected every four years when a term ended. The check of balance in the U.S. is much better than in Taiwan because the rule and law system in the U.S. is much more mature than in Taiwan where the system is only 23 years old while in the U.S. is more than 147 years old. It is very interesting that in the U.S., the voters first to vote on the election day and every state decides the party winner in its individual state, the winner takes all electors which is the total numbers of the U.S. Senate and House members of tis state to form the Electoral College to decide the winner of the President. In Taiwan, its a total count of the vote. In the U.S., an individual state is like a nation itself and it's what that meaning of the United States.

Therefore, in the U.S. not every vote count such as my vote is not always be counted in Texas because it is a Republican state while vote Democrat. Trump has never the the total populate votes yet he grasped the electors in 2016 and lost in 2020 both in the populate votes and the electors in the U.S. Of course, he is still denying his loss in 2020 election. He will try again in 2024.

Now, it is getting very interesting for the Presidential Election in Taiwan this year. It doesn't matter if China like it or not, Taiwan is an independent Nation with a National Election  every four years. There are four sets of candidates representing three parties and one independent group to compete early next year on January 13, 2024 while the U.S. election will be in November, 2024. it's almost every day on the international newspaper to report Taiwan National Election. Polls to show more than 60% of voters in Taiwan would like to replace the incumbent, the Democratic Progressive Party while the opposition parties can't form an united front to challenge the DPP incumbent. I don't know the reason why like I don't know why Trump is still very popular in the Republican world in the U.S.

台灣和美國總統選舉之比較2024／莊峻華

 台灣和美國總統選舉之比較2024／莊峻華

明年，台灣和美國都有總統選舉，台灣的蔡英文任期滿，不得連任，全面改選，有四組人馬參選，執政之民進黨候選人賴清德，目前領先群雄，但全球大報社，均報導台灣之選舉有趣，而且競爭劇烈。反而美國總統局，就不若台灣之精彩，拜登年邁，但目前民主黨尚未有人挑戰他，相反的，共和黨的川普雖然官司纏身，但黨內初選，仍舊遙遙領先，甚至最近民調還微幅領先拜登。我長期關注政治，有我個人之意見，而且經常表達。

我認為拜登將繼續擊敗川普，不選川普者眾，而是越來越多，而且是爭先恐嚇的提前投票，2016年總票數川普敗於希拉蕊一百萬餘，2020年總票數川普敗於拜登七百餘萬，像我這種人，過去不投川普，將來也不會投票給川普，川普也不需要我這一票，我們德州漸漸改變，很快有一天我這一票，就可加入決勝負。

台灣總統選舉，票票都算，沒有甚麼選舉人數決，因此，在野的三黨分裂選票，對執政的民進黨賴清德有利，因此中國國民黨想和台灣民眾黨合作，共同戰鬥，但兩黨不同黨性黨員，甚難組合，倒是台灣民眾黨，可以拉到一些民進黨之票，實際上民眾黨已經受到失勢之國民黨人之投靠，雖然尚未能一舉擊敗國，民兩黨，但我們均可拭目以待。

民眾黨的柯文哲主席，是我觀察四位候選人中，最為傑出之一位，他的競選團隊，也是新穎年輕有效率，他個人甚至是品學兼優，深富理想，又有台北市長八年行政經驗，他是唯一可以帶來像明治維新一般之台灣維新機會，台灣需要如此有眼光之領導人，總統。

Second time to visit Kumamoto city in 2023/Carlos Pueblo

 Second time to visit Kumamoto city in 2023/Carlos Pueblo

First time I came to visit the Kumamoto Castle, I noticed that Prime Minster Eisaku Sato was a resident of the city. He is one of the long term Primers in Japanese history and I wish to visit his museum one of these days. Another reason for my admiration of the city is that the city is the birth place of my favorite singer Sayuri Ishikawa. I came from a long railroad ride from Kushiro, Alaska to Kumamoto in one stop at Shin Osaka overnight and still excited to visit the city. Of course, I came for the visit of the Castle and one garden which I had missed in March this year due to lack of time; furthermore, I also like to visit the newly built Taiwan Semiconductor Plant in Kumamoto city.

A hotel front desk clerk instructed me to take the city electric car to visit both the Castle and Suizenji Jojuen Garden. I entered the Castle across the moat and passing by a statue of the previous ruler Hosokawa. The Castle is still under the repair after the big earthquake, yet the twin main castles are still open for visitors. I followed a dry moat now a lovely green valley to another part in order to be closer to the twin towers. It is a Shrine site. I took a seat for a long needed rest from two days train ride. It was in the fall and not as busy as in March when cherry flowers blossom. I decided to go back and was attracted by a large crowds in the field by the Castle. People were watching some kinds of horse riding archery shows. I asked a young lady observer standing next to me about what's going on. She explained it to me that the horse riding archery was more than 1000 years old. I went closer to look more closely and took some posters with explanation. There were three riders repeatedly running back and forth to shoot three targets in high speed. It's all belonging to the fall festival sponsored by the City. The riders are in one of two major group of arch

ery, Takeda, which has been established for more than a thousand initiated by the Hosokawa family.

It's in the afternoon already. I hurried up to take the electrical car to Suizenji Garden which I missed in March this year. The garden was less busy that my previous visit in a spring, yet was still very charming. It's well maintained all ponds, hills, buildings, etc. I could barely walk part of the garden before its closing time at 4 pm. I found one of my favorite spot, the monument of the famous writer Soseki Natsume who was a graduate of Tokyo University and came her to teach English at Kumamoto Advanced High. We used to have one of his novel at home, a Japanese friend left all his library collection to my Dad when he returned to Japan after the War. I was unable to read that novel yet I noticed that Natsume's popularity in the world later on. 

再訪熊本市2023／莊峻華

 再訪熊本市2023／莊峻華

今年春初，愛美和我來訪日本賞櫻住博多，我們重訪熊本市，主要是拜訪被地震震跨之熊本城，沒時間重訪水前寺花園，這次我特別趕到水前寺，心滿意足，有一年我們在水前寺前旅店住四夜，對城和寺有深刻印象，最近台灣之台積電在此設廠，熊本市更加熱門。

旅店櫃台教我，就在店前搭市電車到熊本城，而且事後可再搭該車到水前寺，節省時間。我到古城時，從停車站步行入城，已經有許多遊客，過護城河到天守閣入口，拍攝相片留念，然後走向神社方向，以便接近雙城天守閣，最近我在網誌看到一則介紹熊本城興建史，應該是豐臣秀吉一部將，征高麗後，協助大名細川所建，城設計固於防守，西南戰爭時，擋住薩摩叛軍，其中幾位年輕校佐，引起我注意，像兒玉原太朗和乃木希典，兒玉當過台灣總督，乃木是日俄戰爭之主將。我在神社板凳中靜坐休息，旁邊有一小孩，好奇觀看我的德州牛仔帽許久。

然後我走回原道，準備回去，城前廣場已經圍上一大群觀眾，正在觀看一節目，廣場甚大，是一騎射表演，有主事者介紹，然後有三騎士，馳馬奔馳而過，先是模擬射靶，然後實箭射擊，幾陣歡呼，我請教旁邊一位小姐，她說此武術已經有上千年歷史，後來我在大阪城城也遇到類似之秋祭活動，原來我是遇到日本的秋祭假日。

我走近會場，仔細讀說明，原來這是武田流騎射流鏑馬，約是1100前開始流傳之武藝活動，騎士均著古裝，有壯者有姑娘，三位來回表演，騎射不易，水滸傳上的描述，我想有些誇張，有武田流和小笠原流，這次是武田流俱樂部提供表演，我很心儀如此民間活動，對身心健康有所助益。

不知不覺已經是下午，買票進入水前寺花園，聽到幾處台灣話，花園接近關門，我連忙拍照留念，諸侯細川父子銅像，是花園之創始大名，我也拍到夏目漱石紀念碑，夏目是一位作家，東京大學英語系畢業後，前來熊本高等學校任教多年，我幼年時家中先嚴藏書中，有夏目之作品，並非先嚴有錢購買閒書，實在是一位北工校長終戰離台時，掃地出門，無法攜帶回日本，卻無意間播下我對日本之景仰。

Two Opposition Parties in Taiwan National Election/Carlos Pueblo

 Two Opposition Parties in Taiwan National Election/Carlos Pueblo

Recently, there are two opposition parties in Taiwan attempt to merge their Presidential candidates in one ticket to against the incumbent Democratic Progressive Party. The poll shows that 65% of Taiwanese voters wish to replace the incumbent regime. These two opposition parties are the Chinese Nationalist Party, KMT, and the Taiwan People's Party, TPP. KMT used to rule part of China briefly until Mao's Communist Party kicked it out of China in 1949. Chiang Kai-sek, the one who brought KMT to Taiwan, and his KMT party have ruled Taiwan for a long time effectively until 2016 replaced by the current incumbent, DPP. KMT has a strong hold in the local magistrate and city in number. While TPP was founded 4 years ago by a Mayor of the Capital City of Taipei.

There was a meeting for such merge of candidates arrangement last week. They all agree to have a poll immediately before the candidate registration on November 20,2023. However, both parties can't agree on the definition of the yield percentage either 3% or 6%. On the previous agreement KMT asked TPP to yield 3% and TPP agreed; however, the definition of the percentage is debatable. I understand now the difference is the poll sample 1000 or 2000. The poll is in 1000 category; therefore, KMT say  the yield should be 6% not 3%. TPP disagree.

Now, both parties continue to negotiate for another 3 days; however, I believe TPP candidate Dr. Ko announces and promises that he will run by himself until the end. I shall see if my previous prediction is correct that KMT will let its candidate Hou to come down gracefully in order to make KMT and TPP join effort to defeat DPP on 01/13/2024 National Election.

I firmly believe that the talk of yield 3% or 6% from Ko of TPP to Hou of KMT has made KMT loosing face. A more that 100 years old grand old party asks a new four years old party to yield in poll is really shameful and disgraceful. That is what I say loosing face.

台灣總統民調之爭執／莊峻華

 台灣總統民調之爭執／莊峻華

柯文哲主席的台灣民眾黨和朱立倫主席的中國國民黨，為下架執政之民進黨，做了一總統選舉正副搭檔，對抗民進黨賴清德副總統之民調，結果已經出來，但有爭執，朱立倫說柯要讓6％，因為柯同意讓侯3％，正負加上就是6％，柯說3％就是贏3％而已，不是6％，我對數字非常清礎，贏3塊絕對不是贏6塊，據說朱是留美統計學哲學博士，台大統計教授，我聽他的解釋，不如柯之解釋，參選是朱，還是侯友宜？馬英九如何不加入論戰？馬也是堂堂哈佛哲學博士，統計外行？不敢置嘴？

悲哀矣，這堂堂百年中國大黨，曾經叱吒風雲，名義上曾經統治分裂之中國政府八年，如今落魄到台灣，從蔣家兩代高壓極權統治台灣，淪落到今日乞求4年小黨民眾黨讓分之恩惠，你是港澳生？是僑生？習慣要特權加分，進入台灣大學？

國民黨人真是沒志氣，又有中華文化之死要顏面，越鬧越丟臉，侯是否有統治國家之主張和能力？何以都不吭氣？人家柯全國到處演講，發表政見，接受質問，我都清礎他在講甚麼，其他三人，侯，郭，和賴，都是不學無術，沒有柯之辯才無礙，連世界大報社都注意到這次台灣的總統選舉，只有獨裁中國統治下之中國人流口水。

The foliage at Hokkaido University campus/Carlos Pueblo

 The foliage at Hokkaido University campus/Carlos Pueblo

After a long trains ride from Hirosaki, Aomori to Sapporo, Hokkaido, I selected to visit the old Hokkaido Governor red brick office and its garden as well as the University of Hokkaido campus. Both are very beautiful campus with the great history in the background. I compare the Governor's building to the current day Taiwan 's President office building in Taipei in order to see how important of the Emperor to think Taiwan a\in compare to Hokkaido at that time. Secondly, the University was one of the Imperial Universities like Taiwan University back to time period before the World War II. I have visited both places many times in my life.

Unfortunately, the red brick building is under re-innovation with a large color covered in the front of the building. No one can get in to visit the current day museum. The actual governor's offices are behind the old building. You can see many young workers with neat suits and dresses coming in to work. Gardens are on both sides of the path in the middle of a low wall surrounding with tall trees of aged more than  hundred years old. Pounds with the locus and ducks floating on. I was pleased to identify the poplar tree. The gingko and the maple leaves were changing color.

We continue to walk toward the University campus. There were many visitors of the foliage. I believe that is because Hokkaido is the first in Japan to have leaves color changed. We followed the crowds to an avenue to a side gate by the medical school and hospital. Japanese have a fantasy of the avenue which they call Namikimichi with plenty of songs to describ

e them. The scenery has reminded me of my visits of Colorado mountain towns when I was younger than now. The fall color of Sapporo is amazing.

北海道大學校園秋色／莊峻華

 北海道大學校園秋色／莊峻華

我們在10／29／2023，從青森縣弘前市，搭車一日到北海道之札幌市，先搭特急號到新青森，換新幹線到新涵館北斗，再換特急號到札幌市，新幹線穿過著名的津輕海峽地下隧道，翌日，我在旅店職員協助下，按其彩色電腦印出圖，步行到北海道廳和北海道大學校園，觀賞札幌秋色樹葉變色，再過一週就是落葉時候，我曾拜訪札幌市許多次，也喜愛札幌啤酒。

道廳是紅磚大樓，我喜歡比較台灣的總統府，過去的總督府，因此可見當年日本帝國對台灣的重視，今年不巧遇道廳整修門面，和內部結構，僅在外面掛上一大面彩色布圖，台灣的總督府大廈，幸好蔣介石採用為其辦公室和國防部，不像南韓仇恨日本，一舉拆除漢城那座，仇華也改漢城為首爾，連韓文漢字都改成八掛文，再提到中國人馬英九仇日，當台北市長時，拆掉明治大橋，台灣人後悔，留下橋墩石塊，但無錢拼湊回去，中國執政者之無知。

古道廳已經是博物館，真正北海道廳辦公室是在北後的幾棟大樓，清晨看到許多年輕男女職員，西裝筆挺整潔女裝來上班。看不到紅樓真面目，但紅樓大廳有美麗之日本花園兩側前庭，古樹參天，花園水池流水，許多觀光客，我拍上許多相片留念，也標指水滸傳上的白楊樹。

移至不遠之北海道大學校園，此大學原是帝國大學，非常完整，我們沿著校園內大道，走到一處並木林，在醫學院旁，這就是迷人之日本秋色，紅黃葉色，引來全球旅客，當然也引來許多日本遊客，我將出示幾張相片，我年輕時常驅車旅行科羅拉多州，遇見類式風景，留下多少美憶，倖巧我尚能步行。

Does Professor Ko surrender to KMT?/Carlos Pueblo

 Does Professor Ko surrender to KMT?/Carlos Pueblo

In the National Presidential Election of Taiwan, Does Professor Ko, aka KP, of the Taiwan People's Party, TPP, surrender to the Chinese Nationalist Party, KMT? I think not. I believe that is a way for the KMT Presidential candidate Mayor Hou of Shin Taipei City to get out of the race graciously. The consensus of the KMT bosses and Hou himself is this way. It is better for the field finally becoming one on one, Ko versus Lai of the Democratic Progressive Party, the incumbent National Vice President.

Ko is more personal charisma than both Hou and Lai. He dares to go to any places to deliver his thought and facing the questions and answers in any where universities, local gods temples, and televisions talk shows, etc. He can clearly express his political philosophy, his disciple, and his experience for 8 years Mayor of the capital city of Taipei. He is a graduate of Taiwan University Medical School and a surgeon as well as a clinical professor of that Medical Professor. I see no reasons for him to yield to Hou, a mayor of his second term at a suburban of Taipei.

Ko has been ahead of Hou in polls for quite some time and I don't see how he will be behind for the last two days of the poll in agreement. He will lead Hou in polls much more than needed points to convince everyone including Hou himself. As a matter of fact, Hou's wish is let him be on the ticket and he doesn't be bothered if he is a Vice President partner to Ko. Ko is very confident that if Hou is successful during the selection procedure, he will not win even if Ko is on the ticket as his Vice President partner. He also emphasize that TPP and KMT are two different idealism parties even if Hou win, the TPP supporters will not convert any votes to KMT. I can only see what Ko's yield is only not insisting his choice of Vice President partner. It's very interesting indeed.

柯文哲主席真投降國民黨？／莊峻華

 柯文哲主席真投降國民黨？／莊峻華

昨日台灣民眾黨和中國國民黨當事人，兩小時半協商後，出來宣佈兩黨合作，我的看法是民，國兩黨都想找一台階讓國民黨總統後選人侯友宜退居副總統參選人，他自己也願意，柯同意，不再堅持尋找一能勝選的副總統候選人，給足國民黨顏面，台灣的政治名嘴只有黃光芹和鄭麗文，有類似之看法，反正僅剩一日，大局馬上分曉。

一般中國士大夫，看不起軍人警察，馬英九更加典型，論學資歷口才操守，柯都超越侯甚多，國民黨立委候選人，都期待柯來站台助選，柯面露哀怨，但實在是有口難言，所以大家都在演戲。

柯仍未放棄，仍舊要求民眾支持柯侯配，但又聲稱民眾黨支持者，不會因柯之妥協，而改投國民黨之侯友宜。反而，柯可以拿到一些國民黨人之支持，這是我的看法，現在柯左右站滿前國民黨和民進黨人，銳不可當，當然年輕支持者，尚未知道國民黨萬惡之過去。

再過一日，此政局即將結曉，我是毫無所失，柯也毫無所失，沒有國民黨人支持，他無法擊敗民進黨候選人。

Get my 5th Coronas Virus vaccine shot/Carlos Pueblo

 Get my 5th Coronas Virus vaccine shot/Carlos Pueblo

Before my last trip, the U.S. Government announced that the 5th vaccine shot for the Wuhan Covic-19 was available, yet I was on my way to Canada to catch up my cruise ship with not sufficient time to get it. It's one of the regular business at home that I have to attend to; therefore, I toke it yesterday at a drug store nearby and after that I wanted to get a free 16 ounce frozen fruit bag for Amy to make her morning smoothie.

American are getting used to the pandemic; therefore, not many people pay attention to the reinforcement shot like number 5 dose. I got my shot done exactly one minute after my schedule appointment. I followed the 15 minutes waiting at the store to observe any side reaction. Everything is normal as before.

I drove across the street to a supermarket to collect my free frozen fruit bag. I saw the fresh pineapple price was 97 cent a piece. I attempted to check what was wrong with the produce. In Japan the same one would charge more than $10 a piece. I found out that it's a digital sale that I should have a digital account in order to get a coupon for the sale. No problem I did bring my i-phone with me. The customer service could not locate my coupon due to the account was not updated. He asked me to log in to my e-mail address; yet I forgot my password. It's was so much problem for the clerk.

He couldn't see that I would give up my purchase; so he agreed to use his office code to help me to purchase these 5 pieces of fruits. I paid about $5 with his help or I should pay more than $20 without the coupon. American are really good at doing business.

武肺疫苗注射記／莊峻華

 武肺疫苗注射記／莊峻華

回家後趕緊第六支武漢肺炎注射，我在旅行中，兩次在公車火車上，遇見有人咳嗽不止，心甚惶恐，但願我的五支注射，仍然有效，安然渡過每一關，這支注射是九月十七日生效，我已經需要搭機外出，52日後回家，忙完碎事後，疫苗注射一併解決，十二月二日，我又有遠行18日，這次是到羅馬搭船回紐約港，再返家。

藥局很輕鬆的完成注射，這和當年的風聲鶴唳有異，美國和世界各國，似乎均已控制武肺之肆虐，打完針我到對面超市，領一免費16盎司冰凍藍草莓，給愛美打果汁喝，超市有墨西哥鳳梨賤賣，一粒不到一元美金，我思考一陣，挑上六粒，準備付錢，原來這折扣鳳梨是需要有數位碼客戶，我因手機電腦落後，找客服職員幫忙，但他也找不到項目，我仍不放棄希望，若無數位碼無折扣，則是20餘元美金，客服職員見我堅持，於是研究我手機失效理由，是因為我不曾時時維護更新，於是他要我重新進入網訊站，但我又記不的我的密碼，於是僵持不下，他同意網開一面，使用客服密碼，賣我五粒鳳梨，價錢不到五美金，回家後發現這鳳梨和平常一樣，毫無異處，而且尚算甜美，美國人很會生意。

此超市就是元兒服務16年的公司，他的待遇雖然不高，但一年有四週假日，週休兩日，平常每週可遇到牛排折扣，另外一家也再競爭折扣，我常購買折扣牛排煮牛肉麵，味道也不錯。

Visiting the red crowned crane at Kushiro, Hokkaido/Carlos Pueblo

 Visiting the red crowned crane at Kushiro, Hokkaido/Carlos Pueblo

After a two nights stay in Sapporo, Hokkaido, we left on a limited express train to the Hokkaido West Kushiro for a visit of the famous red crowned crane, Tanchotsuru. It's my dream to visit such rare birds in the nature reserve. I didn't see them flying yet it's still very wonderful and I did visit at least 15 of them beyond the fence.

The bird has a black and white figure with a red color spot on the crown weight between 6-12 pounds. It's a longevity bird. Japanese have put an effort to preserve such bird since 1925 and now they are able to reproduce the bird under their tender care. I was advised by a Taiwanese professional tour guide at the Hiroshima Castle that I at least could visit one of the gardens at Kushiro with all year around birds. Another one may have to be in the season while they either flying to Manchuria and Russia in the spring or flying back to Japan in the winter. I check with the entrance ticket, in 2021 survey 1900 birds in Japan and 1400 birds outside of Japan in the world. Birds stay in Japan all year around. I have taken many photos on the park and shall show you 4 of them.

They are provided a large space with the reed on the back and wet land space in the front with small brook flowing through. I learn the Japanese name of the reed, Susuki grass, from a Japanese song translated by my late Japanese language teacher, Professor Watanabe in Houston, Texas. Generally, in the mid of March, they will fly back to Akan Marchi and Tsurukuo Village in Kushiro for food, then build their nets in the tall Susuki Grass grove to lay 1-2 eggs 10 cm length. Both couple birds take turn to hatch the egg in about a month and the chick break out. In about 100 days, the young chick will grow about the size of its parents yet not with the distinguished red crowned. They will ga

ther around the resource of the food when the winter arrives.

I still have the fantasy to all the migrant birds, geese and ducks in the United States. I read books about them and did attempt to visit them in the rice field outside of Houston, Texas  in vain, yet I do see them flying over my head both in the spring back to Canada and and Mexico in the fall all passing through Texas.

北海道釧路行／莊峻華

 北海道釧路行／莊峻華

此次北海道釧路行，純粹是追著名之丹頂鶴，非常順利，我們一行四人，搭乘日鐵特急火車，清晨從道府札幌市出發，約是八小時火車，橫跨西東北海道，抵達釧路時已是黃昏，旅店職員幫我查好搭車方法，翌晨，我們走回火車站，搭巴士到釧路市丹頂鶴自然公園。其實這是一位在青森縣弘前城相遇之台灣人導遊所肯定之路線，他說有一處是人工培養，一處是天然丹頂鶴聚集原野，都可以看到，釧路市附近有許多景觀點，尤其是溫泉，引來許多觀光客。

我們在門口購買入場劵，迫不急待入園參觀，丹頂鶴果然久違了，自然園約有十圈濕地，前面是空地，有自然小水溝流水，丹頂鶴一般都是一對，園列其名，出生日，來園日，野生或是園生，釧路已經可以繁殖此鶴，圈圈均有廣大蘆葦叢在北後，鶴得自由進出，我數一下自然園，總共有十五隻，可能有幾隻飛出園外，當有圈內鶴鳴，圈外不遠處也聞得共鳴，顯然亦有原始鶴在圈外。

機會難得，我在園內徘徊幾小時，本想再參觀幾處景區，但因無車輛，步行不便且不安全，我們購買多處票價，但僅能參觀一處，於是自然園取消我們原購全票，改為單一處票價，非常公正無欺。

約是下午一點，園職員告知巴士最後一班為一點半，建議我們叫計程車到機場，再搭另班巴士回釧路市，我們回程車票是下午五時，於是我們有一冗長討論，因為我的日文不夠流利，但我堅信巴士公司是大株式會社，應該保證車票回程時間，原來自然園在兩週前改為冬季時間，巴士不再進園接乘客，自然園在下午四時關門，我們需要在公路旁候車，熱心女職員下班時，特別下車指點我們過馬路候車，因為日本是左邊駕駛，有別於美國之右邊。

北海道早暮，下午四點已經烏黒一氣，我看到六隻大麋鹿，熟練安全地穿過馬路。

Yes there is always a hope/Carlos Pueblo

 Yes there is always a hope/Carlos Pueblo

After a long trip away from home, I must adjust myself to meet the realty of life at home. On the vacation, I am temporary away from my real life requirement at home, of course there is a difference on cruise from a land trip even as convenient as traveling in Japan. I was very stressful when I arrived home the other day, I couldn't crank up my old vehicle and Amy was telling me the schedule of foundation repair. I must meet the schedule to help the contractor such as relocation of furniture away from the construction area. 

I took down the dead battery to the shop for re-charging of the battery. The clerk gave me a new battery because that was still under the warranty. I misplaced the cables on the positive from the negative; therefore, there was alight sparked and something was very wrong. The vehicle was still dead. I was afraid that it might cost me to get it back in to functioning. I regret very much that I attempted to save money and ended up costing more.

I was in depress mood. It had been raining since I came home, cold and miserable. An AAA towing technician pointed it out that there was a weak fuse on the battery cable and he used his charger to jump up the vehicle; therefore, I could drive myself to the shop. The cost to replace such fuse was $70, $13 for the part and $65 for the labor. Yes, there is always a hope.

After the rain, I shall go back to the tennis court to resume my morning tennis exercises even though the tennis is not good for my left knee; however, it's good for my body at the old age. There is always a hope for me to get over to the sorry life of aging.

天無絕人之路／莊峻華

 天無絕人之路／莊峻華

剛旅行回家，立刻需要處理碎事幾件，先是需要發動老車，握而瑪送我一新電池，因原電池在保證期內，而無法充電，我想省錢，自己換上電池，結果裝錯正負極，導火線燒掉，還是無法發動，不知這毛病要耗去多少錢？

美國汽車協會拖車司機來，拿手提電地發動老車，讓我自行開到車行，下午車行電話來，已換新導火線，費用$70，救了我一命，過去老車入廠維護，都是兩千，一千起跳，我為出外旅行，擱置老車於街頭巷尾，電池壞，拆裝電池沉重，老身都顯不支，真是氣惱。

幸好天無絕人之路，我精神一振，再查閱郵輪廣告，希望再找到合理路線，再外出旅行。

Meeting a Japanese beauty at the Osaka Castle/Carlos Pueblo

 Meeting a Japanese beauty at the Osaka Castle/Carlos Pueblo

On my first day arriving to Fukushima hotel, I couldn't wait to visit the Osaka Castle Park. I believe that the Castle is the largest one in size and one of the best in maintenance. It was during the Warlord Era before 1600 D.C. in Japan, Lord Toyotomi Hideyoshi first built this castle in celebration for his successful control of the entire Japan. He couldn't be appointed to the Shogun Ship due to his humble background. In order to be a Shogun, you must be from a noble class like his boss Oda Nobunaga or his counterpart later a genuine Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. The Castle has been destroyed three times yet Japanese build it back three times. There are Plume Orchard and Peach orchard inside the moat and the peach were along with the cherry in blossom last March when we visited here. It's totally different now from the latest time I was here in scenery and the mood.

It's the fall festival time, matsuri in Japanese, the Castle has hosted several activities in front of the Castle. Temporary platform was built and programs were scheduled during the weekend. It's quite busy and gathered many audience. Crowds were on the right side in line to purchase tickets to enter the Castle while another big group were in front of the Castle to watch shows. I saw a pretty lady, slender and charming, with a very nice outfit. She is one of the hostess whom I assume. She was talking to an old man in question. At the end of the first show, she walked back to a tent behind the platform and I was disappointed for not be able to speak to her. A Taiwanese young couple sit beside me and chat with me while I was still wondering if I could see that pretty lady again. When the young couple departed, I mentioned to them that I was waiting for that pretty lady and they laughed.

She did come back on the second show which was a samurai duel. She was standing behind the crowds and I believed that she was on duty for any safety concerns. I tapped her shoulder and asked if she was the hostess for the Castle in English and she nodded. I requested to take pictures of her for my collection.

of the world beauty. I always consider that pretty girls are like beautiful flowers.